Intraspecific Polymorphism to Interspecific Divergence: Genetics of Pigmentation in
            <i>Drosophila</i>

Wittkopp, Patricia J.; Stewart, Emma E.; Arnold, L L; Neidert, Adam; Haerum, Belinda K.; Thompson, Elizabeth; Akhras, Saleh; Smith-Winberry, Gabriel; Shefner, Laura

doi:10.1126/science.1176980

Cited by 140 publications

(174 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

162

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In contrast, in Drosophila, alterations in the spatial expression patterns of a small set of melanin synthesis genes, such as yellow, tan and ebony, causes species-specific variations in colour patterns; the expression control of tan and yellow is involved in the divergence of abdominal pigmentation between D. santomea and D. yakuba 49,50 . In addition, these few melanin-related genes have been reported to be involved in pigmentation diversity in several Drosophila species 22,51 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some of the most convincing data for the genetic and evolutionary control of colour patterns were obtained from different species or spontaneous mutants within species of Drosophila and some butterflies [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . In those reports, various genetic changes that contributed to phenotypic differences within or between species were identified; however, the phenomena by which a single locus (gene) can produce multiple phenotypic traits are largely unknown 22 . Because genetic polymorphisms underlie the convergent and divergent evolution of colour pattern diversity 23 , identifying the essential gene that controls this phenotypic diversity is of great interest.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The transcription factor Apontic-like controls diverse colouration pattern in caterpillars

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Genetic polymorphisms underlie the convergent and divergent evolution of various phenotypes. Diverse colour patterns on caterpillars, which are ecologically important, are good models for understanding the molecular backgrounds of phenotypic diversity. Here we show that a single evolutionarily conserved gene apontic-like (apt-like) encoding for a putative transcription factor accounts for the silkworm p locus, which causes at least 15 different larval markings involved in branch-like markings and eye-spot formation. The expression of apt-like and melanin synthesis genes are upregulated in association with pigmented areas of marking mutants Striped (p S ) and normal ( þ p ) but not in the non-marking allele plain (p). Functional analyses, ectopic expression, RNAi and TALEN, demonstrate that apt-like causes melanin pigmentation in a cell-autonomous manner. These results suggest that variation in p alleles is caused by the differential expression of the gene apt-like which induces targeted elevation of gene expressions in the melanin synthesis pathway.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The transcription factor Apontic-like controls diverse colouration pattern in caterpillars

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Genetic and candidate gene studies have revealed some pleiotropic genes involved in the formation of diverse pigmentation patterns on the wings and bodies of butterflies [1][2][3] and Drosophila 4-7 -patterns that are important in processes such as mimicry 3,8,9 , geographical adaptation 10 , and mate preference 11 . Larval pigmentation in lepidoptera also exhibits considerable diversity and is an outstanding model system by which we can understand colour pattern evolution [12][13][14][15] .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Periodic Wnt1 expression in response to ecdysteroid generates twin-spot markings on caterpillars

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Among various pigmentation patterns on caterpillars, sequential spot markings are often observed and used for aposematic colouration. In contrast to adult wings, caterpillar cuticle markings are repeatedly generated at each moult, but little is known about how the patterns are formed and maintained periodically. Here we focus on a silkworm mutant, multi lunar (L), with twin-spot markings on sequential segments. Positional cloning of L and expression analyses reveal that cis-regulatory change in Wnt1 is responsible for the spot patterning. The periodical upregulation of Wnt1 in response to ecdysteroid is detected only in epidermis within spot marking area. We verify by transgenic expression that the ectopic Wnt1 induces the additional pigmentation. Furthermore, the association of Wnt1 expression with spot markings is observed in the wild Bombyx species and swallowtail butterfly Papilio machaon. Taken together, we anticipate that periodic Wnt1 expression may contribute to natural variations of spot patterning on caterpillar cuticle.

show abstract

“…One exception, for a pre-mating signal, involves a pheromone QTL in the moth species Heliothis subflexa and H. virescens (Groot et al, 2013). Few studies have compared the magnitude of effect sizes within and between populations in addition to assessing whether the same QTLs are implicated, and it may be that consistent genetic effects are associated with phenotypes where large effect loci are more likely to be found, such as pheromone polymorphisms or genes influencing melanism (Wittkopp et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genetic architecture of sexually selected traits in two natural populations of Drosophila montana

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We investigated the genetic architecture of courtship song and cuticular hydrocarbon traits in two phygenetically distinct populations of Drosophila montana. To study natural variation in these two important traits, we analysed within-population crosses among individuals sampled from the wild. Hence, the genetic variation analysed should represent that available for natural and sexual selection to act upon. In contrast to previous between-population crosses in this species, no major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected, perhaps because the between-population QTLs were due to fixed differences between the populations. Partitioning the trait variation to chromosomes suggested a broadly polygenic genetic architecture of within-population variation, although some chromosomes explained more variation in one population compared with the other. Studies of natural variation provide an important contrast to crosses between species or divergent lines, but our analysis highlights recent concerns that segregating variation within populations for important quantitative ecological traits may largely consist of small effect alleles, difficult to detect with studies of moderate power.

show abstract

Intraspecific Polymorphism to Interspecific Divergence: Genetics of Pigmentation in Drosophila

Cited by 140 publications

References 23 publications

The transcription factor Apontic-like controls diverse colouration pattern in caterpillars

The transcription factor Apontic-like controls diverse colouration pattern in caterpillars

Periodic Wnt1 expression in response to ecdysteroid generates twin-spot markings on caterpillars

The genetic architecture of sexually selected traits in two natural populations of Drosophila montana

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About