Collaborative Research: Genomic Analysis of Dimorphism in Stalk-Eyed Flies (Diopsidae)

合作研究：茎眼蝇（Diopsidae）二态性的基因组分析

• 批准号: 0444886
• 负责人: Gerald Wilkinson
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Maryland, College Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-03-01 至 2010-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0444886&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Genomic; Analysis; Dimorphism

This project aims to identify genetic variation responsible for the evolution of elaborate male traits. Head shape of stalk-eyed flies will be studied because this trait can exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism. In some species the eyes of males are separated by a stalk that is longer than the body. Genes and genetic pathways that exhibit sexually dimorphic expression during eye-stalk development will be identified and then DNA sequence variation at several candidate genes will be examined to elucidate the functional roles of these genes. Candidate genes will be chosen using microarrays, a technology that compares expression of thousands of genes between two samples, such as males and females. Those genes with sexually dimorphic expression will be implicated in eyestalk development by comparing closely related species with or without dimorphic eyestalks. The functional significance of these genes will be confirmed by detecting associations between sequence variation and eyestalk lengths of individuals in a large pedigree.Despite having most of their DNA in common, males and females often exhibit dramatic differences in shape and form. Which pathways create these differences and how these pathways evolve over time is poorly understood. This research will examine, at the level of the entire genome, variation in gene expression associated with a specific sexually dimorphic character. Overall, the results from this project will provide insight into the relationships between selection, the evolution of sexual dimorphism and DNA variation.

这个项目的目的是确定遗传变异负责复杂的男性特征的进化。柄眼蝇的头部形状将被研究，因为这种特征可以表现出极端的两性二态性。在一些物种中，雄性的眼睛被一根比身体还长的茎分开。将鉴定在眼柄发育过程中表现出两性二态表达的基因和遗传途径，然后检查几个候选基因的DNA序列变异，以阐明这些基因的功能作用。候选基因将使用微阵列来选择，这是一种比较两个样本（如男性和女性）之间数千个基因表达的技术。通过比较具有或不具有二形眼柄的亲缘物种，将这些具有两性二形表达的基因与眼柄发育联系起来。这些基因的功能意义将通过检测大谱系中个体的序列变异和眼柄长度之间的关联来证实。尽管男性和女性的DNA大部分是相同的，但在外形和形态上往往表现出巨大的差异。哪些途径产生了这些差异，以及这些途径如何随着时间的推移而进化，人们知之甚少。本研究将在整个基因组水平上研究与特定两性二态性状相关的基因表达变异。总的来说，这个项目的结果将提供深入了解选择、两性二态性进化和DNA变异之间的关系。