Genome-wide associations with song variation in a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Biology
Abstract
192 inbred lines derived from a single natural population of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel, DGRP) will have their courtship song recorded and analysed. The design will allow us to measure a range of song parameters, plus collect data on singing rates and mating success. The DGRP lines are part of a coordinated effort by the Drosophila community and are having their genomes sequenced to a high level of coverage. This will allow genome-wide association analyses to be completed for variation in song, and covariation analyses between song and other phenotypes, including mating success. This will provide an unparalleled data set for the analysis of genome-wide associations for variation in important behavioural phenotypes within a single population. Results will be relevant to behaviour genetics, sexual selection and our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary genetics of natural populations.
Publications
Abbott R
(2013)
Hybridization and speciation.
in Journal of evolutionary biology
Ala-Honkola O
(2016)
Postmating-prezygotic isolation between two allopatric populations of Drosophila montana: fertilisation success differs under sperm competition.
in Ecology and evolution
Keays MC
(2011)
Signatures of selection and sex-specific expression variation of a novel duplicate during the evolution of the Drosophila desaturase gene family.
in Molecular ecology