Gene expression patterns accompanying a dietary shift in Drosophila melanogaster

The ability of many organisms to switch to new hosts can be critical to their survival in the wild. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying such shifts are poorly understood. In this study, we used complementary DNA (cDNA) microarrays to ask if changes in gene expression are observed in response to a dietary shift in Drosophila melanogaster, a dietary generalist. We found significant and repeatable differential expression in a number of genes related to metabolic function and stress, suggesting that a functional genomics approach will be useful in seeking loci involved in the ability of flies to utilize different resources.