Characterizing the Molecular Basis of Supergene Mimicry in Butterflies

蝴蝶表型基因模拟的分子基础研究 项目摘要 性别限制的多态在动物中很普遍，包括各种人类特征和疾病，但我们 对任何生物体中的性别限制的多态缺乏普遍的功能理解。“超级基因”的模仿 燕尾蝴蝶Papilio Polytes是性别受限的一个特别引人注目的例子 多态和一种服从功能表征的多态。虽然许多理论工作都有 探索了超基因拟态的进化动力学，其分子和发育基础实质上是 未被开发的。在过去的五年里，我们已经确定，控制这种模仿的是一个单一的基因，双性 我们研究了拟态的起源和进化，拟态的行为方面， 自然选择，我们已经开发了CRISPR和多功能的工具和方法 基因组学分析。我们建议通过以下方法来研究P.Polytes中表基因模拟的功能基础 整合了基因组学、功能遗传学、分子生物学和发育生物学，提供了最单一的 对这类问题的全面调查。在这样做的过程中，这项工作将极大地扩展性行为的已知作用 决定途径，并产生对性行为的分子和细胞原因的一般见解 分化、二态和性别限制性多态。

Characterizing the Molecular Basis of Supergene Mimicry in Butterflies Project Summary Sex-limited polymorphism is widespread in animals, including a variety of human traits and diseases, yet we lack a general functional understanding of sex-limited polymorphism in any organism. “Supergene” mimicry in the swallowtail butterfly Papilio polytes stands out as a particularly striking example of sex-limited polymorphism and one that is amenable to functional characterization. While much theoretical work has explored the evolutionary dynamics of supergene mimicry, its molecular and developmental basis is virtually unexplored. Over the last five years we have determined that a single gene, doublesex, controls the mimicry switch in P. polytes and we have studied the origin and evolution of mimicry, behavioral aspects of mimicry, natural selection in nature, and we have developed tools and methods for CRISPR and multiple functional genomics assays. We propose to investigate the functional basis of supergene mimicry in P. polytes by integrating genomics, functional genetics, molecular and developmental biology, providing the single most comprehensive investigation of its kind. In so doing, this work will greatly expand the known role of the sexual determination pathway, and generate general insights into molecular and cellular causes of sexual differentiation, dimorphism, and sex-limited polymorphism.