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

种群内的颜色多态为生物学家提供了引人注目的例子来研究变异是如何保持的。关于蝶呤蛋白引起的基因多态性知之甚少，这是一种由基因决定的色素类别。这项研究检测了雄性蓝鳍金枪鱼Lucania goodei中发现的基于翼蛋白的红/黄鳍多态。古代伊系统是独一无二的，因为没有任何行为类型与这种多态或通过性别选择获得稀有雄性优势有关。然而，在许多种群中，黄鳍的雄性比红鳍的雄性寄生率较低。通过为这种多态设计遗传标记，本研究结合了群体遗传学、实验室实验和基因表达分析，以确定红色/黄色多态是如何保持的，并更密切地研究免疫和蝶呤产生之间的联系。这项研究不仅解决了进化生物学中如何保持变异的悬而未决的问题，而且还利用了一种新的基于蝶呤的色素系统来做到这一点。新开发的RAD标签方法被用来为非模式物种开发标记，该项目促进了伊利诺伊大学进化生物学家和俄勒冈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，并为基于这项色素鉴定研究的鱼类学课程开发实验室活动。

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.