Genetic Dissection of Behavior/morphology Drosophila

我们将研究果蝇的两种行为和形态特征的遗传基础。silvestris和D.异脉类这两个种虽然亲缘关系近，生境相似，但在行为和形态上却有很大的差异。我们以前的研究表明，物种之间的攻击性相互作用的强度和形式不同.这两个物种的杂交后代表现出两个亲本物种的混合行为。一些攻击行为表现出显性遗传表达，这是由于少数基因或许多基因的阈值表达。在其他攻击行为中，杂交体显示出中间表达，这可能是由于许多基因或少数基因的加性效应。求偶行为的差异已经达到了一定的程度，这两个物种之间的交配是不对称的，D。heteroneura雄性更容易与D. silvestris女性比反之亦然。然而，杂交种很容易与两个物种交配，表明这种行为的非加性遗传。我们将确定数量性状基因座（QTL）之间的差异，这两个物种使用回交育种设计。从这个育种设计，我们将开发一个分子连锁图谱使用AFLP分子技术。然后，我们将确定候选QTL的攻击和求偶行为和形态性状，并检查QTL的物理连锁和多效性之间的各种性状的特定QTL的鉴定和遗传特性的QTL将进一步我们的理解的遗传基础的行为和形态。

We will investigate the genetic basis of behavioral and morphological traits in two species of Drosophila: D. silvestris and D. heteroneura. These two species have diverged to a great extent in their behavior and morphology event though they share a close genetic relationship and habitat. Our previous research indicates theat the species differ in the intensity and form of aggressive interactions. Hybrids between the two species display a mixture of behaviors of the two parental species. Some of the aggressive behaviors display dominant genetic expression due to a few genes or a threshold expression of many genes. in other aggressive behaviors hybrids display an intermediate expression which may be due to many genes or an additive effect of a few genes. Courtship behaviors have diverged to such an extent that there is an asymmetry of mating between the two species with D. heteroneura males mating more readily with D. silvestris females than vice versa. However, the hybrids readily mate with both species indicating a non-additive inheritance for this behavior. We will identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for differences between these two species using a backcross breeding design. From this breeding design we will develop a molecular linkage map using AFLP molecular techniques. We will then identify candidate QTL for aggressive and courtship behaviors and morphological traits and examine the QTL for physical linkage and pleiotropy among the various traits The identification of specific QTL and the genetic properties of the QTL will further our understanding of the genetic basis of behavior and morphology.