Genetics of Courtship Behavior in Nasonia

题目：nasonia求偶行为的遗传学关于行为的遗传基础知之甚少。一个原因是，行为是复杂的特征，显然涉及许多不同的生物相互作用。本文的研究将利用寄生性昆虫纳索尼亚的特殊特征来研究物种间行为差异的遗传基础。将特别关注影响雄性求偶行为的基因之间的相互作用。这些昆虫在行为模式和时间上有所不同。此外，由于两个物种的基因之间的相互作用，杂交后代也会出现异常行为。剖析这些异常行为的遗传基础将有助于揭示基因相互作用如何影响行为。纳索尼亚具有单倍体性别决定；雄性是单倍体（一组染色体），而雌性是二倍体（两组染色体）。这一特征极大地促进了对影响行为的基因相互作用的遗传学解剖。利用分子标记，对导致雄性异常行为和周期时间差异的相互作用的遗传区域进行定位和表征。这项研究将为未来克隆和测序这些“行为基因”提供必要的工具。然后可以确定类似的（同源的）“行为”基因是否出现在其他生物体中，包括脊椎动物。

Animal Behavior Program Nontechnical AbstractProposal #: 9876356 PI: Werren, John Title: Genetics of Courtship Behavior in NasoniaLittle is known about the genetic basis of behavior. One reason is that behaviors are complex traits that clearly involve many different biological interactions. Research proposed here will take advantage of the special features of the parasitic insect Nasonia to investigate the genetic basis of behavioral differences between species. Special attention will be placed on interactions between genes affecting male courtship behavior. These insect species differ in patterns and timing of behavior. In addition, abnormal behaviors occur within hybrids, due to interactions between genes of the two species. Dissecting the genetic basis of these abnormal behaviors will help to reveal how gene interactions affect behavior.Nasonia has haplodiploid sex determination; males are haploid (one set of chromosomes) whereas females are diploid (two sets of chromosomes). This feature greatly facilitates the genetic dissection of gene interactions affecting behavior. Using molecular markers, the interacting genetic regions causing abnormal male behaviors and cycle time differences will be mapped and characterized. The research will provide the tools needed for future cloning and sequencing of these' behavioral genes. It could then be determined whether similar (homologous) "behavioral" genes occur in other organisms, including vertebrates.