Genetics of speciation in Drosophila pseudoobscura

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议研究的目的是揭示当一个动物物种变成两个时发生的遗传变化。具体来说，这项研究将确定和表征基因或基因区域，导致行为交配歧视的果蝇pseudobscura。与迄今为止分离的基因不同，在拟议的工作中确定的特定基因减少了当今野生动物的杂交，因此直接促进了物种形成。该物种是拟议研究的理想选择，因为它具有完整的基因组序列，并且之前对其群体中行为交配歧视和物种形成的遗传学进行了广泛的研究。提出了三个目标：1）通过渐渗精确地确定参与区分的基因或区域，并进行初步研究以利用转基因技术潜在地确认候选基因的身份，2）评估D.在所识别的基因座上对伪暗区进行测序，以及3）对具有参与多个菌株区分的基因座的区域进行重新测序，以通过关联识别候选基因或SNP，并检查可能对这些区域起作用的自然选择模式。还描述了几个次要目标。这项研究将填补一个重要的概念空白，并可能有助于了解其他动物群体（包括人类）的物种起源。它还将使用模型系统推进行为遗传学和复杂性状遗传学领域，对开发有关人类行为和性状的假设具有潜在影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of the proposed research is uncover the genetic changes that occur when one animal species becomes two. Specifically, this research will identify and characterize genes or gene regions that cause behavioral mating discrimination in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Unlike genes isolated to date, the particular genes to be identified in the proposed work reduce interbreeding in the wild in the present day, and therefore have contributed to speciation directly. This species is ideal for the proposed research because of the availability of the full genome sequence and the extensive previous research performed on the genetics of behavioral mating discrimination and speciation in its group. Three goals are proposed: 1) precisely define the gene(s) or regions involved in discrimination via introgression, and conduct pilot studies to potentially confirm the candidate gene identities using transgenic techniques, 2) assess the frequency of the high discrimination alleles within D. pseudoobscura at the identified loci, and 3) resequence the regions bearing the loci involved in discrimination in multiple strains both to identify candidate genes or SNPs by association and to examine patterns of natural selection that may have operated on these regions. Several subsidiary goals are also described. This research will fill an important conceptual void and may aid in the understanding of the origin of species in other animal groups, including humans. It will also advance the area of behavioral genetics and the genetics of complex traits using a model system, with potential implications for developing hypotheses regarding human behaviors and traits.