The genetic basis of parallel melanic evolution in Drosophila melanogaster

该项目将调查黑腹果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）在高海拔非洲种群中深色体色素沉着（黑化）的遗传基础。 将在埃塞俄比亚和埃塞俄比亚人群中发现的色素沉着基因与乌干达样本中已经发现的基因进行比较，以测试黑化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“基因渗入系”（其中深色色素沉着已被杂交到浅色色素沉着的果蝇种群中）收集，以鉴定含有色素沉着基因座的基因组区域。 从野外收集的苍蝇种群中获得的类似数据将允许对这些区域内的特定基因进行测试，以确定其与色素沉着的关联，并提供自然选择的证据。这项研究将显著提高对自然选择如何在遗传水平上运作的科学理解。 它还将为利用这种模式物种的遗传资源进行研究奠定基础，以追求黑素进化背后的精确突变。 该补助金支持的更广泛的影响将包括（1）为大学进化课程开发教学材料，（2）参与研究的不同群体的本科生，以及（3）创建果蝇种群样本的虚拟库存中心，使研究人员能够更有效地管理活蝇种群。

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.