Collaborative Research: Genetics of Speciation Factors in Drosophila Mojavensis

个体通常通过使用几个基于遗传的行为或化学线索来选择与同一物种的其他人交配。研究人员试图确定与这些行为和化学物质相关的基因组部分，以测试物种形成的各种进化假说。他们建议在果蝇种群中进行这项研究，果蝇是仙人掌-酵母-果蝇模式系统的成员，因为它与仙人掌腐烂有关并感染。之前对这种和其他果蝇物种的研究表明，嗅觉线索(信息素)和听觉线索(求偶翅膀振动)是个体用来选择配偶的线索。研究人员将使用基于DNA的标记来确定影响这些特征的基因的位置。这种方法将确保这些遗传分析将在自然寄主植物上饲养的个体上进行，因为最近的研究表明，饲养底物对这些试验具有显著影响。这项研究的结果将开始揭示导致物种形成的基因的数量和位置。因此，这项工作将提供对调节地球生物多样性的基本进化过程的洞察。

Individuals typically choose to mate with others of the same species by using several genetically based behavioral or chemical cues. The investigators seek to identify the parts of the genome that are associated with these behaviors and chemicals to test various evolutionary hypotheses of species formation. They propose to execute this research in populations of the fruit fly species Drosophila mojavensis, a member of the cactus-yeast-Drosophila model system, because of its association with and infestation of cactus rots. Previous studies in this and other Drosophila species have shown that olfactory cues (pheromones) and auditory cues (courtship wing vibrations) are the cues that individuals use to select mates. The investigators will use DNA-based markers to identify the locations of genes influencing these traits. This approach will ensure that these genetic analyses will be performed on individuals reared on their natural host plants, as recent studies have shown a dramatic effect of rearing substrates on these traits.The results of this research will begin to reveal the number and locations of genes that are responsible for the beginnings of species formation. Thus, this work will provide insights into the fundamental evolutionary processes that regulate biodiversity on Earth.