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Evolutionary Genomics of Behavioral Isolation in Drosophila Dr. Jennifer Gleason, University of Kansas {Link to Dr. Gleason's Home Page} The genetics underlying courtship behavior are poorly understood, yet the evolution of premating isolation may be a primary cause of speciation in many taxa. Drosophila species provide a good model system for studying the genetics of species differences because not only has the genome been sequenced, but behaviors are well described and easy to quantify. During Drosophila courtship, both sound and smells play a role in species recognition. Female mate choice is affected by male courtship songs, which are produced by wing vibration. Male mate choice is affected by female cuticular hydrocarbons, long chain fatty acids present in the cuticle. Recent work using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping has found that there are different QTL affecting courtship song within species (D. melanogaster) compared to between species (D. sechellia and D. simulans). QTL for cuticular hydrocarbons imply genes of large effect that are well localized. The goal of the project is to further characterize the genetics of courtship song and cuticular hydrocarbon differences between Drosophila species. For courtship song, the genetic architecture of D. simulans courtship song will be examined through selection and QTL experiments to provide a stronger within versus between species comparison. Cuticular hydrocarbon differences will further be elucidated through the use of introgressions and the candidate gene approach. The long term goals of the project are to both identifiy genes contributing to these traits as well as start to elucidate the genetic architecture of preference for these traits. Publications: Gleason, J.M., S.V. Nuzhdin, M.G. Ritchie. 2002. Quantitative trait loci affecting a courtship signal in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity 89:1-6. Gleason, J.M. and M.G. Ritchie. 2004. Do quantitative trait loci for a courtship song difference between Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia coincide with candidate genes and intraspecific QTLs? Genetics 166:1303-1311. |
