Contribution of X chromosomal and autosomal genes to species differences in male courtship songs of the <em>Drosophila virilis</em> group species
Abstract In sympatric Drosophila species, songs produced by male wing vibration during courtship are an effective mechanism preventing interspecific matings and maintaining sexual isolation between different species. These songs can vary greatly even between closely related species. The aim of...
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| Format: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Oulu
2001
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| Online Access: | http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9514265831 http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:isbn:9514265831 |
| Summary: | Abstract
In sympatric Drosophila species, songs produced by male wing
vibration during courtship are an effective mechanism preventing interspecific
matings and maintaining sexual isolation between different species. These songs
can vary greatly even between closely related species. The aim of this study was
to localise X chromosomal and autosomal genes affecting species differences in
male courtship song and to study their interaction in the D.
virilis group species. Various genes were probed by in
situ hybridisation on the X chromosomes of six species of the group,
which enabled us to use localised RFLP markers in QTL studies, as well as to
compare gene arrangements of different species.
Genetic analyses of differences between the songs of D.
virilis and D. littoralis showed that
species-specific song traits are affected both by X chromosomal and autosomal
genes. The X chromosomal gene(s) having a major impact on pause and pulse length
in male song were found to be located at the proximal region of the chromosome.
Precise localisation of the song genes was, however, not possible due to multiple
chromosome rearrangements restricting recombination between RFLP markers located
on this area. The same problem was faced when studying hybrids between
D. flavomontana and D. montana with
less diverged X chromosomal gene arrangements.
Interaction between the X chromosomal and autosomal song genes in determining
male song traits was studied in four species belonging to the
virilis and montana phylads of
D. virilis group. The long pauses in courtship song were
found to be mainly caused by X chromosomal song genes (or maternal / cytological
factors), while pulse length was determined by X chromosomal genes interacting
with autosomal genes. This confirms the important role of X chromosomal gene(s)
in song evolution in the montana phylad species. The
direction of dominance in hybrid songs suggests that the songs of the
montana phylad species have been affected by directional
selection favouring shorter pulses and longer pauses between sound pulses during
their evolution.
The levels and patterns of DNA polymorphism in an X-linked
fused (fu) gene was studied in
different D. montana populations. These studies revealed
that D. montana populations are significantly but not
completely isolated, and that a selective sweep at fu (or at
a gene linked to fu) may be the reason for the reduced
levels and patterns of variability of this gene in Finnish D.
montana populations. The methods used in this study will be utilized
to study variation in 'song genes' in the future.
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