NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology: Evolution of Drosophila wing spot: mechanisms of phenotypic divergence

这项行动资助了2022财年的NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金，扩大了生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。该研究金支持研究员的一项研究和培训计划，该计划将增加在生物学领域代表性不足的群体的参与。该研究员的目的是了解动物色素模式是如何在自然界中产生的-从蝴蝶翅膀上的彩色鳞片到哺乳动物皮毛上的条纹。这项对动物着色的研究将提供更多关于调节色素沉着模式的基因的信息。在这个项目中，一种昆虫，果蝇，一个最容易理解动物色素的遗传系统，将被用来分析特定基因如何产生颜色模式，以及基因本身是如何被控制和组织成功能过程的。 该项目的更广泛的影响包括为中西部多个机构的博士后研究人员和早期教师创建一个西班牙裔和拉丁裔开放的在线论坛。这将填补一个空白，为招聘和保留提供支持性社区，以应对“泄漏管道”，并提高STEM的代表性。本计画将利用果蝇属苍蝇翅膀上的黑色素图案，作为了解色素图案如何发展与演化的系统。一些更好理解的基因涉及苍蝇翅膀色素沉着，包括黄色（控制黑色素）和乌木（促进黄色色素）。最近，遗传图谱显示，在一些果蝇物种中，雄性特有的翅斑的存在和不存在之间的主要开关不是由这些基因中的任何一个控制的，而是似乎由一种称为optomotor-blind（omb）的基因控制的。鉴于这种转录因子控制苍蝇身体其他部位的色素沉着，研究员的目的是阐明这种基因在翅膀中表达的时间和地点。研究员还将确定OMB是否足以引导黑斑的形成，或者是否需要其他成分。该项目将支持研究员的科学发展，为在遗传模型系统中开发新的实验技能提供机会，补充以前在非模型方面的工作，支持研究员成为教授的愿望。该研究员还将创建在线资源，以促进来自代表性不足群体的其他科学家的专业发展。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2022, Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology. The Fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. The Fellow aims to understand how animal pigmentation patterns are generated in nature—from the colored scales in butterfly wings to the stripes on the fur of mammals. This research in animal coloration will provide more information about the genes regulating pigmentation patterns. In this project, an insect, Drosophila, one of the most genetically tractable systems for understanding animal pigmentation, will be used to analyze how specific genes generate color patterns and how the genes themselves are controlled and organized into functional processes. The broader impacts of this project include creating a Hispanic and Latino open online forum for Postdoctoral researchers and early Faculty across multiple Institutions in the Midwest. This will fill a gap by providing a supportive community for recruitment and retention to counter the “leaky pipeline” and enhance representation in STEM. This Project will use melanin patterns on fly wings from the genus Drosophila as a system for understanding how pigment patterns develop and evolve. Some of the better-understood genes involved in fly wing pigmentation include yellow (controls black melanin) and ebony (promotes a yellow pigment). Recently, genetic mapping has shown that the primary switch between the presence and absence of a male-specific wing spot in some fly species is not controlled by either of these genes but instead appears to be controlled by a gene called optomotor-blind (omb). Given that this transcription factor controls pigmentation in other parts of the fly body, the Fellow aims to elucidate when and where this gene is expressed in wings. The fellow will also determine whether omb is sufficient to guide the formation of the melanic spot or if other components are required. This project will support the scientific development of the Fellow by providing opportunities for developing new experimental skills in a genetic model system, which complements previous work in non-models, supporting the Fellow’s aspirations to become a Professor. The Fellow will also create online resources to promote professional development of other scientists from underrepresented groups.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.