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Related Concept Videos

Position-effect Variegation02:32

Position-effect Variegation

In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
What is Population Genetics?01:25

What is Population Genetics?

A population is composed of members of the same species that simultaneously live and interact in the same area. When individuals in a population breed, they pass down their genes to their offspring. Many of these genes are polymorphic, meaning that they occur in multiple variants. Such variations of a gene are referred to as alleles. The collective set of all the alleles within a population is known as the gene pool.While some alleles of a given gene might be observed commonly, other variants...
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
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Dosage Compensation02:50

Dosage Compensation

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The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes02:45

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

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Related Experiment Video

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Single Nucleotide Polymorphism-sensitive FISH Detection of Locus-specific Ribosomal RNA Transcription in Drosophila melanogaster
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Published on: March 28, 2025

Gene expression polymorphism in Drosophila populations.

Pawel Michalak1, John H Malone, Ivan Timothy Lee

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019-0498, USA. michalak@uta.edu

Molecular Ecology
|March 30, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Natural gene expression variations are key to evolution. This study reveals gene expression differences between Drosophila melanogaster morphs, offering insights into early speciation and mating behaviors.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Animal behavior

Background:

  • Gene expression changes are crucial for evolution.
  • Natural polymorphism in gene expression is understudied.
  • Drosophila melanogaster morphs (Cosmopolitan and Zimbabwe) exhibit distinct mating behaviors relevant to speciation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate natural gene expression polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster morphs.
  • To identify genes associated with behavioral morphs and mating status.
  • To explore the role of gene expression in incipient speciation.

Main Methods:

  • Microarray analysis of gene expression profiles from female Drosophila melanogaster heads.
  • Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for validating candidate genes.
  • Comparison of expression levels between mated and non-mated females of different morphs.

Main Results:

  • Identified 45 candidate genes with expression levels linked to behavioral morphs and mating.
  • Found altered transcription levels randomly distributed across the genome and diverse biological categories.
  • Observed differential expression of desaturase2 and Odorant receptor 63a between morphs, with desaturase2 showing altered but present expression in Cosmopolitan morphs.

Conclusions:

  • Natural gene expression variation is substantial and linked to behavioral differences in Drosophila melanogaster.
  • Specific genes, like desaturase2, may play a role in sexual isolation and speciation.
  • Mating status significantly influences gene expression profiles in these morphs.