RUI: Genetic Analysis of Drosophila Pheromones

9614934斯科特当物种形成时，一个物种的不同种群已经分化到在基因上相互隔离的程度。这种新物种的雄性和雌性不交配。在这个项目中，定量遗传分析将显示雄性求偶信号（信息素）和雌性对信号的反应在两个果蝇品系之间差异的遗传基础。这两个果蝇品系具有部分的行为生殖隔离，因此是研究物种形成早期阶段的一个很好的系统。一个菌株的特定染色体片段将渗入到另一个菌株中，由此产生的菌株将被分析雄性信号和雌性反应的改变。这种方法最终将允许识别参与配偶选择的雄性和雌性成分的基因。物种形成是生物多样性产生的一个基本过程。除了阐明物种形成的早期阶段外，本研究还与利用信息素的害虫综合治理技术有关。从这项研究中获得的关于果蝇的知识将有助于确定对基于信息素的害虫管理技术的抗性是否可能在相关害虫中进化，如蚊子、蝇蛆和采采蝇。

9614934 Scott When speciation occurs, different populations of a species have diverged enough that they become genetically isolated. Males and females of the new species do not mate with each other. In this project a quantitative genetic analysis will show the genetic basis for variation in male courtship signals, which are pheromones, and female responses to the signals, between two strains of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. These two fruit fly strains have partial behavioral reproductive isolation and so are a good system for study of the earliest stages of speciation. Specific segments of the chromosomes of one strain will be introgressed into the other and the resulting lines will be analyzed for alteration of male signals and female responses. This approach will ultimately allow the identification of genes involved in the male and female components of mate selection. Speciation is a basic process in the generation of biodiversity. In addition to elucidating the early stages of speciation, this research is relevant to integrated pest management techniques using pheromones. Knowledge about the fruit fly gained from this study will help to determine whether resistance to pheromone-based pest management techniques are likely to evolve in related pests, such as mosquitoes, medflies and tsetse flies.