title: Mitochondrial DNA variants in Drosophila melanogaster are expressed at the level of the organismal phenotype.
abstract: A plethora of experimental studies use mtDNA as a marker of demographic processes without questioning the possibility that selection may bias their interpretations. We studied four lines of Drosophila melanogaster that have a standardized nuclear DNA but variable mtDNA. We completed the sequencing of the mitochondrial genomes (excluding the A+T rich region) and compiled the differences. We then assayed male influence on oviposition, starvation resistance, lipid proportion and physical activity. We discuss these results in terms of the known differences between the lines and conclude that naturally occurring mtDNA variants in D. melanogaster are expressed at the level of the organismal phenotype.
authors.affiliation: School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Aw
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Clancy
authors.forename: J W O
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ballard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D056084:Genetic Fitness; D014644:Genetic Variation; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013217:Starvation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial