Connecting Molecular and Phenotypic Variation in Drosophila

连接果蝇的分子和表型变异

• 批准号: 0548991
• 负责人: Artyom Kopp
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-03-15 至 2010-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0548991&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Connecting; Molecular; Phenotypic; Variation; Drosophila

Recent technological advances have enabled large-scale analyses of molecular variation in natural populations. Very little is known, however, about the phenotypic consequences of this variation. The goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms that translate DNA sequence variation into phenotypic differences among individuals, using the Drosophila bab gene as a model. bab is responsible for a large proportion of variation in sexually dimorphic traits in natural populations. In this project, the entire bab genomic region will be sequenced from 100 Drosophila lines that show different phenotypes in order to identify DNA sequence changes associated with phenotypic variation. The level of bab gene product will then be quantified in the lines that show the greatest phenotypic differences, and the effects of each molecular polymorphism on gene activity will be determined. These data will be used to develop a quantitative model that links variation in DNA sequences to differences in individual development and, ultimately, in adult traits.This project will facilitate the development of individualized approaches to human health by facilitating and understanding of the mechanisms that connect genetic variation to health and environment - that is, not only which DNA sequence changes are responsible for trait variation, but also how these changes produce different phenotypes, and why do they vary in nature. This work will also provide opportunities for undergraduate students to acquire first-hand research experience in evolutionary biology.

最近的技术进步使大规模分析自然群体中的分子变异成为可能。然而，人们对这种变异的表型后果知之甚少。该项目的目标是以果蝇bab基因为模型，了解将DNA序列变异转化为个体间表型差异的机制。BAB是造成自然种群中性二型性状变异的主要原因。在这个项目中，整个bab基因组区域将从100个表现出不同表型的果蝇品系中测序，以确定与表型变异相关的DNA序列变化。然后在表现出最大表型差异的品系中定量bab基因产物的水平，并确定每种分子多态性对基因活性的影响。这些数据将被用于建立一个定量模型，将DNA序列的变异与个体发育的差异联系起来，并最终与成人特征联系起来。该项目将通过促进和理解将遗传变异与健康和环境联系起来的机制，促进人类健康的个性化方法的发展--也就是说，不仅是哪些DNA序列的变化导致了特征变异，还包括这些变化如何产生不同的表型，以及它们在本质上为何不同。这项工作也将为本科生提供机会，获得第一手的进化生物学研究经验。