Genetics of Courtship Behavior in Nasonia

动物行为程序非技术性摘要建议#：9876356 PI：Werren，John标题：求偶行为的遗传学对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。这里提出的研究将利用寄生昆虫Nasonia的特殊特征来调查物种之间行为差异的遗传基础。将特别关注影响男性求爱行为的基因之间的相互作用。这些昆虫物种在行为模式和行为时间上有所不同。此外，由于两个物种的基因之间的相互作用，杂交种内会出现异常行为。解剖这些异常行为的遗传基础将有助于揭示基因相互作用是如何影响行为的。纳斯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解剖。利用分子标记，导致男性异常行为和周期时间差异的相互作用的遗传区域将被绘制和表征。这项研究将为未来克隆和测序这些行为基因提供所需的工具。然后就可以确定类似的(同源的)“行为”基因是否存在于包括脊椎动物在内的其他生物中。

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.