The study of genetic conflict is developing at an almost explosive rate. The recognition that genes or alleles residing in individuals of the two sexes may have conflicting interests is transforming evolutionary biology and, likewise, conflict between genes showing different modes of transmission may fundamentally affect adaptive evolution. The research proposed here will push the frontiers of genetic conflict research and establish new domains. It is aimed at exploring the novel possibility that conflict between mitochondrial and nuclear genes have far-reaching implications for adaptive evolution and at advancing our understanding of the biological consequences of sexual conflict. The project consists of several interrelated parts and will employ insects as model systems. First, I will assess to what extent genetic variation in fitness is sexually antagonistic and what life history traits contribute to sexually antagonistic variation. Second, I will elucidate the genomics of metabolic rate and measure selection on metabolic phenotypes. Third, I will test whether sexually antagonistic epistatic interactions between mitochondrial and nuclear genes generate conflict over metabolic rate. Fourth, I will test the hypothesis that sexual conflict contribute to the evolution of primary and secondary sexual traits. Fifth, I will shed light on the complicated evolutionary interplay between sexual conflict and mating system evolution. I will employ an innovative research strategy, ‘experimental genomics’, in which genomic data is used to guide experimental evolutionary work with distinct genotypes. The research outlined here will collectively provide an unprecedented wealth of information into the role of genetic conflict in several horizons of adaptive evolution, ranging from DNA sequence evolution over life history evolution to speciation, and will set the standard for a new generation of insightful studies aimed at bridging the gap between phenotypic selection and genomics.