Population and Biochemical Aspects of D. melanogaster G6PD

这项计划中的研究的目的是检查是否有证据表明，在DNA序列中反映出来的自然选择在两个突变酶变体的长期进化持久性中发挥了作用。果蝇作为研究果蝇体内重要代谢酶--葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶的模型系统。早期的研究表明，与常见遗传变异相关的生化特性存在显著差异，但这些差异是否与自然种群中这种多态的长期进化命运有关尚不清楚。目前DNA序列进化数学理论的进展预测，非常特定的模式将与由于自然选择而在种群中长期保持的遗传多态有关。这一模型系统提供了应用这一新理论的机会。如果我们想要了解影响包括人类在内的所有物种的自然种群中普遍存在的遗传变异的力量，这样的研究是必不可少的，它也将帮助我们理解塑造DNA序列变异的力量。

The objective of the planned research is to examine whether there is evidence, reflected in DNA sequences, that natural selection has played a role in the long term evolutionary persistence of two mutant enzyme variants. As a model system that study focuses on the essential metabolic enzyme, glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase, in the fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Earlier studies indicated that there are significant differences in the biochemical propoerties associated with the common genetic variants, but it is not clear if these differences contribute to the long-term evolutionary fate of the polymorphism in natural populations. Current advances in the mathematical theory of DNA sequence evolution predict very specific patterns will be associated with genetic polymorphism that have been maintained in populations for long periods of time because of natural selection. This model system presents the opportunity to apply this new theory. Such studies are essential if we are to understand the forces that effect the genetic variation which is ubiquitous in natural populations of all species, including humans, and it will also help us to understand the forces shaping DNA sequence variation.