DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Maintenance of a pterin-based male color polymorphism in Lucania goodei

种群内的颜色多态性为生物学家提供了引人注目的例子来研究变异是如何维持的。关于由蝶呤（一种由基因决定的色素）引起的多态性，人们知之甚少。 本研究探讨了基于蝶呤的红/黄鳍多态性发现在雄性蓝鳍金枪鱼Lucania goodei。洛杉矶古代系统的独特之处在于没有与多态性或通过性选择的稀有雄性优势相关的行为类型。 然而，在许多种群中，黄鳍的雄性比红鳍的雄性寄生得少。通过设计多态性的遗传标记，本研究整合了群体遗传学，实验室实验和基因表达分析，以确定红/黄多态性是如何维持的，并更密切地研究免疫和蝶呤生产之间的联系。这项研究不仅解决了进化生物学中如何维持变异的突出问题，而且还利用了一种新的基于蝶呤的色素系统来实现这一点。新开发的RAD标签方法用于开发非模式物种的标记，该项目促进了伊利诺伊大学进化生物学家和俄勒冈州大学遗传学家之间的跨大学合作。这项工作将加强本科生的培训，包括本科生助理和开发一个实验室活动的鱼类学课程，是基于这种色素识别研究。

Within-population color polymorphisms provide biologists with eye-catching examples in which to study how variation is maintained. Little is known about polymorphisms caused by pterins, a genetically determined class of pigments. This study examines the pterin-based red/yellow fin polymorphism found in male bluefin killifish Lucania goodei. The L. goodei system is unique in that there are no behavioral types associated with the polymorphism or rare-male advantage via sexual selection. However, in many populations, males with yellow fins are less heavily parasitized than those with red fins. By designing genetic markers for the polymorphism, this study integrates population genetics, laboratory experiments, and gene expression analyses to determine how the red/yellow polymorphism is maintained and to examine more closely the link between immunity and pterin production. This research not only addresses the outstanding question in evolutionary biology of how variation is maintained, but it utilizes a novel pterin-based pigment system to do so. The newly developed RAD tag method is used to develop markers for a non-model species, and the project fosters a cross-university collaboration between evolutionary biologists at the University of Illinois and geneticists at the University of Oregon. The work will enhance undergraduate training by including undergraduate assistants and developing a laboratory activity for an Ichthyology course that is based on this pigment identification research.