DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Polyandry and Meiotic Drive in Drosophila neotestacea

自私的遗传因子可以促进它们自身向下一代的传播，即使宿主的包容性适应性有代价。它们存在于所有真核生物中，包括例如哺乳动物、植物、昆虫、鸟类和鱼类。自私遗传因素的一个典型例子是X染色体减数分裂驱动。“X驱动”导致男性将驱动X染色体传递给他们所有的后代，这些后代都是女儿。由于这种有偏见的传播，理论预测，X驱动器可能会在人口中迅速传播，并可能由于缺乏男性而导致灭绝。与这一预测相反，X驱动在自然界中经常在低到中等频率下观察到。这项研究的目的是了解雌性交配行为的变化如何抵消X驱动的传播。研究人员将对果蝇Drosophila neotestacea进行实验进化，以提供关于宿主行为如何影响X驱动器是否入侵种群以及它在种群中维持的频率的新见解。本研究的结果将加深我们对X驱动在自然界中是如何维持多态性的理解，并可能广泛应用于其他物种。自私的遗传因素已被提议用于害虫控制制度的昆虫是毁灭性疾病的载体。因此，了解自然界中驱动染色体的动态可能会为害虫管理实践提供信息。此外，该项目将为本科生的研究培训提供充足的机会。

Selfish genetic elements can promote their own transmission into the next generation, even if there is a cost to the inclusive fitness of the host. They are found in all eukaryotes, including, for example, mammals, plants, insects, birds, and fish. A classic example of a selfish genetic element is X-chromosome meiotic drive. 'X-drive' causes males to pass on the driving X chromosome to all of their offspring, which are all daughters. As a result of this biased transmission, theory predicts that X-drive could spread rapidly in a population and potentially drive it to extinction, due to a lack of males. Contrary to this prediction, X-drive is often observed at low to moderate frequencies in nature. The goal of this research is to understand how variation in female mating behavior may counteract the spread of X-drive. The investigators will perform experimental evolution with the fruit fly Drosophila neotestacea to provide new insights into how host behaviors can affect whether X-drive invades into a population, and the frequency at which it is maintained in a population. The results of this study will deepen our understanding of how X-drive is maintained as a polymorphism in nature, and may be broadly applied to other species. Selfish genetic elements have been proposed for use in pest control regimes for insects that are vectors for devastating diseases. Thus, understanding the dynamics of driving chromosomes in nature may inform pest management practices. Additionally, this project will provide ample opportunities for undergraduate research training.