title: Genetic control and evolution of sexually dimorphic characters in Drosophila.
abstract: Sexually dimorphic abdominal pigmentation and segment morphology evolved recently in the melanogaster species group of the fruitfly Drosophila. Here we show that these traits are controlled by the bric à brac [corrected] (bab) gene, which integrates regulatory inputs from the homeotic and sex-determination pathways. bab expression is modulated segment- and sex-specifically in sexually dimorphic species, but is uniform in sexually monomorphic species. We suggest that bab has an ancestral homeotic function, and that regulatory changes at the bab locus played a key role in the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Pigmentation patterns specified by bab affect mating preferences, suggesting that sexual selection has contributed to the evolution of bab regulation.
authors: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706-1596, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kopp
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Duncan
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Godt
authors: S B
authors: SB
authors: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D012098:Reproduction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C093752:Bric-a-brac protein 1, Drosophila; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C070369:DSX protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors