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02:32Position-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.
02:27Background 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...
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...
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In Vivo Optical Calcium Imaging of Learning-Induced Synaptic Plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: October 8, 2019
Natural polymorphism affecting learning and memory in Drosophila.
Frederic Mery1, Amsale T Belay, Anthony K-C So
1Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
Summary
A natural gene difference in fruit flies affects learning and memory. One form improves short-term memory, while another enhances long-term memory, suggesting an evolutionary trade-off.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Understanding genetic factors influencing learning and memory is crucial for studying cognitive evolution.
- Natural genetic variations can lead to differences in cognitive abilities across populations and species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of a natural polymorphism in the foraging (for) gene, which encodes cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), in Drosophila melanogaster learning and memory.
- To explore the potential evolutionary trade-offs between short-term and long-term memory mediated by this genetic variation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an associative olfactory learning assay in Drosophila melanogaster, involving odor association with mechanical shock.
- Compared learning and memory performance in flies homozygous for two natural alleles of the for gene (forR and fors).
- Manipulated PKG levels in specific brain regions (mushroom bodies) to assess their impact on memory.
Main Results:
- A natural polymorphism at the foraging (for) locus significantly impacts associative olfactory learning.
- Flies with the forR allele exhibited superior short-term memory but inferior long-term memory compared to flies with the fors allele.
- Reduced PKG activity in fors flies was linked to poorer short-term memory, while increased PKG in mushroom bodies rescued both short-term and long-term memory deficits.
Conclusions:
- The natural polymorphism at the for gene may represent an evolutionary trade-off between short-term and long-term memory.
- The observed differences in memory performance are potentially coadapted with foraging behaviors, favoring faster learning in mobile flies (forR) and better long-term memory in sedentary flies (fors).