Genetics of Courtship Behavior in Nasonia

动物行为计划非技术摘要提案编号：9876356 PI：Werren，John标题：纳索尼亚求偶行为的遗传学行为的遗传基础知之甚少。原因之一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的特殊功能来调查物种之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。这些昆虫物种在行为模式和时间上不同。此外，由于两个物种的基因之间的相互作用，杂交后代中会出现异常行为。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如何影响行为。纳索尼亚有单倍二倍体性别决定;雄性是单倍体（一套染色体），而雌性是二倍体（两套染色体）。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。使用分子标记，相互作用的遗传区域导致异常的男性行为和周期时间的差异将被映射和表征。该研究将为未来这些行为基因的克隆和测序提供所需的工具。然后可以确定类似的（同源的）“行为”基因是否存在于其他生物体中，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.