A predominant role of genotypic variation in both expression of sperm competition genes and paternity success in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Sperm competition is a crucial aspect of male reproductive success in many species, including Drosophila melanogaster, and seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) can influence sperm competitiveness. However, the combined effect of environmental and genotypic variation on sperm competition gene expression remains poorly understood. Here, we used Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) inbred lines and manipulated developmental population density (i.e. larval density) to test the effects of genotype, environment and genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) on the expression of the known sperm competition genes Sex Peptide, Acp36DE and CG9997. High larval density resulted in reduced adult body size, but expression of sperm competition genes remained unaffected. F

SUBMITTER: Patlar B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10509582 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature