title: Evolution under monogamy feminizes gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Many genes have evolved sexually dimorphic expression as a consequence of divergent selection on males and females. However, because the sexes share a genome, the extent to which evolution can shape gene expression independently in each sex is controversial. Here, we use experimental evolution to reveal suboptimal sex-specific expression for much of the genome. By enforcing a monogamous mating system in populations of Drosophila melanogaster for over 100 generations, we eliminated major components of selection on males: female choice and male-male competition. If gene expression is subject to sexually antagonistic selection, relaxed selection on males should cause evolution towards female optima. Monogamous males and females show this pattern of feminization in both the whole-body and head transcriptomes. Genes with male-biased expression patterns evolved decreased expression under monogamy, while genes with female-biased expression evolved increased expression, relative to polygamous populations. Our results demonstrate persistent and widespread evolutionary tension between male and female adaptation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Houle
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland [2].
authors.forename: Tadeusz J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kawecki
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland [2].
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D010152:Pair Bond; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins