The genetic basis of adaptive pigmentation variation in Drosophila melanogaster.
In a broad survey of Drosophila melanogaster population samples, levels of abdominal pigmentation were found to be highly variable and geographically differentiated. A strong positive correlation was found between dark pigmentation and high altitude, suggesting adaptation to specific environments. DNA sequence polymorphism at the candidate gene ebony revealed a clear association with the pigmentation of homozygous third chromosome lines. The darkest lines sequenced had nearly identical haplotypes spanning 14.5 kb upstream of the protein-coding exons of ebony. Thus, natural selection may have elevated the frequency of an allele that confers dark abdominal pigmentation by influencing the regulation of ebony.
Pool
John E
JE
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. jpool@bi.ku.dk
Aquadro
Charles F
CF
D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000528:radiation effects; D005843:Geography; D006720:Homozygote; D008027:Light; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012641:Selection, Genetic
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C116191:e protein, Drosophila