The genetic basis of parallel melanic evolution in Drosophila melanogaster

这个项目将调查高海拔非洲种群果蝇黑腹果蝇黑色身体色素沉着(黑化)的遗传基础。喀麦隆和埃塞俄比亚人群中发现的色素沉着基因将与乌干达样本中已经发现的基因进行比较，以测试黑色素病是否通过不同的遗传途径进化。高通量DNA序列数据将从果蝇“渐渗系”(深色色素沉着进入浅色果蝇种群)中收集，以确定包含色素沉着基因座的基因组区域。来自野生苍蝇种群的类似数据将使这些区域内的特定基因能够被测试与色素沉着的关联以及自然选择的证据。这项研究将极大地提高对自然选择如何在遗传水平上运作的科学理解。这也将为利用这种模式物种的遗传资源来探索黑色素进化背后的精确突变的研究奠定基础。这笔赠款支持的更广泛的影响将包括(1)为大学进化课程开发教材，(2)让不同的本科生群体参与研究，以及(3)创建一个果蝇种群样本虚拟种群中心，使研究人员能够更有效地管理活苍蝇种群。

This project will investigate the genetic basis of dark body pigmentation (melanism) in high altitude African populations of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Pigmentation genes identified in Cameroonian and Ethiopian populations will be compared to one already identified in a Ugandan sample to test whether melanism has evolved via distinct genetic pathways. High-throughput DNA sequence data will be collected from fly "introgression lines" (where dark pigmentation has been crossed into lightly pigmented fly stocks) to identify genomic regions containing pigmentation loci. Similar data from wild-collected fly stocks will allow specific genes within these regions to be tested for associations with pigmentation and evidence for natural selection.This research will significantly improve scientific understanding of how natural selection operates at the genetic level. It will also lay the groundwork for studies that utilize the genetic resources of this model species to pursue the precise mutations underlying melanic evolution. Broader impacts supported by this grant will include (1) the development of instructional materials for the college evolution curriculum, (2) the involvement of a diverse group of undergraduates in research, and (3) the creation of a Virtual Stock Center for Drosophila Population Samples to allow researchers to more efficiently manage living fly stocks.