Mating system manipulation and the evolution of sex-biased gene expression in Drosophila

Sex differences in dioecious animals are pervasive and result from gene expression differences. Elevated sexual selection has been predicted to increase the number and expression of male-biased genes, and experimentally imposing monogamy on Drosophila melanogaster has led to a relative feminisation of the transcriptome. Here, we test this hypothesis further by subjecting another polyandrous species, D. pseudoobscura , to 150 generations of experimental monogamy or elevated polyandry. We find that sex-biased genes do change in expression but, contrary to predictions, there is usually masculinisation of the transcriptome under monogamy, although this depends on tissue and sex. We also identify and describe gene expression changes following courtship experience. Courtship often influences gene expression, including patterns in sex-biased gene expression. Our results confirm that mating system manipulation disproportionately influences sex-biased gene expression but show that the direction of change is dynamic and unpredictable. Sexual selection on males is thought to favour male-biased gene expression. Here, Veltsos et al. experimentally evolve Drosophila pseudoobscura under different mating systems and, contrary to expectation, most often find masculinization of the transcriptome under monogamy rather than under elevated polyandry.