telonisscott-quantitativegenetic-2011.pdf (458.96 kB)
Quantitative genetic analysis suggests causal association between cuticular hydrocarbon composition and desiccation survival in Drosophila melanogaster
journal contribution
posted on 2011-01-01, 00:00 authored by B R Foley, Marina Telonis-ScottMarina Telonis-ScottSurvival to low relative humidity is a complex adaptation, and many repeated instances of evolution to desiccation have been observed among Drosophila populations and species. One general mechanism for desiccation resistance is Cuticular Hydrocarbon (CHC) melting point. We performed the first Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) map of population level genetic variation in desiccation resistance in D. melanogaster. Using a panel of Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) derived from a single natural population, we mapped QTL in both sexes throughout the genome. We found that in both sexes, CHCs correlated strongly with desiccation resistance. At most desiccation resistance loci there was a significant association between CHCs and desiccation resistance of the sort predicted from clinal patterns of CHC variation and biochemical properties of lipids. This association was much stronger in females than males, perhaps because of greater overall abundance of CHCs in females, or due to correlations between CHCs used for waterproofing and sexual signalling in males. CHC evolution may be a common mechanism for desiccation resistance in D. melanogaster. It will be interesting to compare patterns of CHC variation and desiccation resistance in species which adapt to desiccation, and rainforest restricted species which cannot.
History
Journal
HeredityVolume
106Pagination
68 - 77Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
Link to full text
eISSN
1365-2540Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2011, Macmillan PublishersUsage metrics
Keywords
Adaptation, PhysiologicalAnimalsDesiccationDrosophila melanogasterGenetic PleiotropyHydrocarbonsStress, PhysiologicalDrosophilaGenetic variationQuantitative trait lociScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEcologyEvolutionary BiologyGenetics & HeredityEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyD. melanogasterQTLpleiotropyCHCsOPPOSITE LATITUDINAL CLINESSTRESS RESISTANCECORRELATED RESPONSESSTARVATION RESISTANCEENVIRONMENTAL-STRESSTRAIT LOCISEXUAL SELECTIONWATER-LOSSPOPULATIONSTOLERANCEEvolutionary BiologyGenetics
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC