The Genetic Architecture of Aggressive Behavior

描述（申请人提供）：攻击性行为是一种数量性状，受多个相互作用的基因影响，单个影响较小，其表达对环境敏感。我提出了几个互补的方法来研究果蝇雄性攻击行为的遗传基础，使用我开发的一种快速和可重复量化攻击行为的方法。具体而言，我将：（1）定位影响攻击变异的数量性状位点（QTL）。我已经定位了一个具有较大效应的QTL，并将使用互补测试定位候选基因的缺陷和突变，以确定对应于QTL的候选基因。(2)使用人工选择来获得具有增加和减少的攻击水平的品系。该实验目前处于第7.1代，将评估其他性状是否已进化为对攻击性选择的相关反应，并使用全基因组表达谱来鉴定候选基因，其表达在选择系之间存在显著差异。(3)通过对纯合遗传背景下单个P元件插入系的攻击行为进行定量，鉴定调节攻击行为的新候选基因。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Aggressive behavior is a quantitative trait, affected by multiple interacting genes with individually small effects, whose expression is sensitive to the environment. I propose several complementary approaches to investigate the genetic basis of aggressive behavior in Drosophila males, using an assay that I developed to rapidly and reproducibly quantify aggressive behavior. Specifically, I will: (1) Map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting variation in aggression. I have localized one QTL with a large effect and will use complementation tests to deficiencies and mutations of positional candidate genes to identify candidate gene(s) corresponding to the QTL. (2) Use artificial selection to derive lines with increased and decreased levels of aggression. This experiment is currently at generation 7.1 will assess whether other traits have evolved as correlated responses to selection for aggression, and use whole genome expression profiling to identify candidate genes whose expression differs significantly between the selection lines. (3) Identify new candidate genes regulating aggressive behavior by quantifying the aggressive behavior of a collection of single P-element insertion lines in a homozygous genetic background.