Courtship song differs between African and European populations of Drosophila melanogaster and involves a strong effect locus.

ABSTRACT: The courtship song of Drosophila melanogaster has long served as an excellent model system for studies of animal communication and differences in courtship song have been demonstrated among populations and between species. Here, we report that flies of African and European origin, which diverged ∼13,000 years ago, show significant genetic differentiation in the use of slow vs fast pulse song. Using a combination of quantitative trait mapping and population genetic analysis, we detected a single strong quantitative trait locus underlying this trait and we identified candidate genes that may contribute to the evolution of this trait. Song trait variation between parental strains of our recombinant inbred panel enabled detection of genomic intervals associated with 6 additional song traits, s

SUBMITTER: Lollar MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12060230 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature