Abstract
Abstract
Understanding genetic basis of traits involved in sexual selection and sexual conflict is key to understand the influence of these processes on the evolution. While we are still far from a detailed picture, some conclusions can be made based on current results in the field. Genetic architecture of sexually selected traits is usually quite complex as these traits are most often polygenic and involve pleiotropic effects. Moreover, sexually selected genes are also under ecological evolutionary pressures and subject to sexual conflict. Sexually selected genes, especially those involved in sexual conflict, often evolve sex‐biased expression. However, while this should relax sexual conflict, it might not resolve it completely. Male‐biased genes, involved in sexual selection on males tend to evolve relatively fast. It is not clear, though, if this pattern should be attributed to intense adaptive evolution of these genes or relaxed purifying selection acting on them.
Key Concepts
Sexual selection and conflict are widespread and are important drivers of various evolutionary processes.
How sexual selection and conflict impact evolutionary trajectories of populations depends on genetic architecture of sexually selected and conflict traits.
Investigating genetics of sexual selection and conflict is challenging, yet our understanding of it has currently increased.
Genetic bases of sexually selected traits in usually complex, with multiple loci involved.
Sexual selection is often associated with interlocus and/or intralocus sexual conflict.
The expression of sexual conflict and selection genes is often sexually dimorphic or even sex limited.
Sex‐biased expression limits intralocus sexual conflict.
Pleiotropic effects can contribute to maintenance of sexual conflict even if the traits are sex limited in expression.
Sexually selected traits seem to evolve faster, either due to strong positive selection or relaxed purifying selection.
Sex chromosomes are hotspots of sexual conflict genes.