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Evolution of optimal gene expression in females is expected to be constrained by sexually-antagonistic selection on males. Here, Parker and colleagues show that gene expression has in fact become masculinized in female stick insects across five independent transitions to asexual reproduction.

Asexual reproduction is thought to be an evolutionary dead end in eukaryotes because deleterious mutations will not be purged effectively. Here, Brandt and colleagues show that anciently asexual oribatid mites in fact have reduced accumulation of deleterious mutations compared to their sexual relatives.