CAA: Molecular Genetics of Fitness in Drosophila Mercatorum

在分子水平上，DNA与发育异常表达的关系将以黄柳果蝇（Drosphila mercatorum）为模型系统进行研究。近年来，分子技术的发展促进了控制特定性状的分子定位基因。PI建议将这些技术应用于D. mercatorum的异常腹部综合征。在过去的20年里，科学家们一直在研究黄颡鱼的遗传学，因此这个系统允许PI调查发育异常的遗传基础。在过去的10年里，研究的重点是识别与这种异常有关的基因，并了解这种异常对受影响个体的影响。发育异常由两个基因控制，在其他染色体上有修饰因子。实验表明，这种异常是由散布在基因组中的几个基因修饰的。也就是说，这种性状受到许多基因的影响。PI的目标是确定这些主要基因的修饰因子。例如，我们知道糖尿病的主要基因；然而，这种特性的表达似乎取决于其他基因。很可能是不同人的不同基因影响了糖尿病的表达。这个项目类似于鉴定其他基因。PI将确定不同果蝇的相同或不同基因是否会影响这种异常。PI将寻找群体内部和群体之间的差异。

9407217 Stevens The relationship between DNA at the molecular level and the expression of the developmental abnormality will be examined using the fruit fly Drosphila mercatorum as a model system. In recent years molecular techniques have been developed facilitating the molecular mapping genes that control particular traits. The PI proposes to apply these techniques to the abnormal abdomen syndrome in D. mercatorum. For the past 20 years, scientists have been studying the genetics of D. mercatorum, thus this system allows the PI to investigate the genetic basis of a developmental abnormality. In the past 10 years, the research has focused on identifying the genes involved in this abnormality and understanding the effect of this abnormality on affected individuals. The developmental abnormality is controlled by two genes, with modifiers on the other chromosomes. Experiments have demonstrated that the abnormality is modified by several genes scattered throughout the genome. That is, the trait is affected by many genes. The PI's goal is to identify modifiers of these major genes. For example, we know the major genes for diabetes; however, the expression of this trait seems to depend on other genes. It is likely that different genes in different people affect the expression of diabetes. This project is analogous to identifying the other genes. The PI will determine if the same or different genes in different flies affect the abnormality. The PI will look for differences within and between populations.