RUI: A Genetic Analysis of the Production and Perception ofPheromonal Signals

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Mating activity in many insects is mediated by chemical, visual or auditory courtship signals. Changes in insect courtship signals are closely associated with changes in the perception of the signals, so that as the signal produced by a particular species evolves, so does the perception of the signal. Divergence in courtship signals between members of different populations is one of the evolutionary processes that may eventually lead to the formation of new species. The proposed research will provide a genetic analysis of the coupling between changes in production and perception of chemical courtship signals, sex pheromone. This will be accomplished by a comparison of two divergent strains of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. This study will reveal new information about the genetic complexity of the relationship between production and perception of courtship signals, and about the complexity of genetic events that occur during the formation of new species. The results of this study will also be applicable to insect management strategies. Modern insect management techniques often involve the use of an insect's own pheromone to disrupt mating activities or to lure the insect to traps. These techniques are effective on a short term basis, but over the long term insects may evolve resistance through changes in the production and perception of specific pheromone. Knowledge about the genetic basis for changes in the production and perception of pheromonal courtship signals will help in determining whether resistance to pheromonal techniques is likely to evolve, and how rapidly such evolution might proceed.