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Related Experiment Video

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Quantifying Abdominal Pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster

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Published on: June 1, 2017

Demystifying phenotypes: The comparative genomics of evo-devo.

Carlo G Artieri¹, Rama S Singh

¹Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

|December 4, 2009

Summary

Genetic divergence in Drosophila species mirrors morphological evolution, accumulating as development progresses. Both purifying and positive selection influence gene evolution across developmental stages.

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Developmental biology
Genetics

Background:

The synthesis of evolutionary and developmental biology (evo-devo) has advanced understanding of morphological diversity.
A gap exists in integrating population genetics and molecular evolution principles into evo-devo research.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate gene divergence patterns in Drosophila species relative to their developmental expression timing.
To determine if selection pressures on early- or late-expressed genes best explain divergence gradients during development.

Main Methods:

Comparative genomics analysis of gene divergence across closely related Drosophila species.
Assessment of gene expression timing during development.
Testing models of purifying and positive selection acting on gene divergence.

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Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Quantifying Abdominal Pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster

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Published on: June 1, 2017

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

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Main Results:

Interspecific genetic divergence parallels morphological divergence, increasing as development progresses.
Evidence suggests both purifying selection (constraining early genes) and positive selection (driving later genes) operate concurrently.
Gene and phenotype divergence are linked, particularly in closely related species.

Conclusions:

Comparative genomics offers valuable insights into the evo-devo synthesis by linking gene and phenotype divergence.
Large-scale screening analyses can uncover mechanisms of developmental change, complementing traditional genetics.
Understanding selection pressures across developmental timelines is crucial for explaining evolutionary patterns.