U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Population Dynamics and Evolution of Drosophila Transposable Elements

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This three-year award supports U.S.-France cooperative research in population and evolutionary genetics between Daniel L. Hartl, Harvard University, and Jean R. David, Biology and Evolutionary Genetics Laboratory, the French National Center for Scientific Research in Gif-sur-Yvette, France. The research focuses on the evolutionary genetics of the transposable element mariner among species of Drosophila. The investigators will study the rates and patterns of sequence evolution to determine the mode of inheritance of these elements in different lineages of Drosophila. The transposable element in mariner makes it a very strong candidate for genetic engineering by means of germline transformation. The element is short and has a simple sequence organization. Mariner sequences are found in a wide range of genomes. The U.S. investigator brings to this collaboration expertise in cloning, sequencing and analysis of the mariner elements. The French group has an internationally recognized collection of Drosophila species. They will carry out the Drosophila screening of mariner elements and some of the cloning and sequencing. The project will provide data on the evolutionary biology of the transposable mariner element and may assist in the development of new tools for genetic manipulation of diverse organisms.