Projects per year
Abstract
The signature of sexual selection has been revealed through the study of differences in patterns of genome-wide gene expression, both between the sexes and between alternative reproductive morphs within a single sex. What remains unclear, however, is whether differences in gene expression patterns between individuals of a given sex consistently map to variation in individual quality. Such a pattern, particularly if found in males, would provide unambiguous evidence that the phenotypic response to sexual selection is shaped through sex-specific alterations to the transcriptome. To redress this knowledge gap, we explored whether patterns of sex-biased gene expression are associated with variation in male reproductive quality in Drosophila melanogaster. We measured two male reproductive phenotypes, and their association with sex-biased gene expression, across a selection of inbred lines from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel. Genotypes with higher expression of male-biased genes produced males exhibiting shorter latencies to copulation, and higher capacity to inseminate females. Conversely, female-biased genes tended to show negative associations with these male reproductive traits across genotypes. We uncovered similar patterns, by reanalyzing a published dataset from a second D. melanogaster population. Our results reveal the footprint of sexual selection in masculinising the male transcriptome.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2736-2748 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Evolution |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2018 |
Keywords
- DGRP
- gene expression
- sex-biased genes
- sexual conflict
- sexual selection
Projects
- 2 Finished
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One genome but two sexes: Conflict and the evolution of sexual dimorphism
Dean, R. F. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
Australian Research Council (ARC)
1/09/15 → 29/04/16
Project: Research
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The oxygen paradox and the evolution of sex differences
Dowling, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Nystrand, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Garcia-Gonzalez, F. (Partner Investigator (PI))
Australian Research Council (ARC), Monash University, University of Western Australia
3/01/12 → 31/12/14
Project: Research