Genomic responses to the socio-sexual environment in male Drosophila melanogaster exposed to conspecific rivals.

ABSTRACT: Socio-sexual environments have profound effects on fitness. Local sex ratios can alter the threat of sexual competition, to which males respond via plasticity in reproductive behaviors and ejaculate composition. In Drosophila melanogaster, males detect the presence of conspecific, same-sex mating rivals prior to mating using multiple, redundant sensory cues. Males that respond to rivals gain significant fitness benefits by altering mating duration and ejaculate composition. Here we investigated the underlying genome-wide changes involved. We used RNA-seq to analyze male transcriptomic responses 2, 26, and 50 h after exposure to rivals, a time period that was previously identified as encompassing the major facets of male responses to rivals. The results showed a strong early activati

SUBMITTER: Mohorianu I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5473139 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature