An amino acid polymorphism in the couch potato gene forms the basis for climatic adaptation in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Diapause is the classic adaptation to seasonality in arthropods, and its expression can result in extreme lifespan extension as well as enhanced resistance to environmental challenges. Little is known about the underlying evolutionary genetic architecture of diapause in any organism. Drosophila melanogaster exhibits a reproductive diapause that is variable within and among populations; the incidence of diapause increases with more temperate climates and has significant pleiotropic effects on a number of life history traits. Using quantitative trait mapping, we identified the RNA-binding protein encoding gene couch potato (cpo) as a major genetic locus determining diapause phenotype in D. melanogaster and independently confirmed this ability to impact diapause expression through genetic com

SUBMITTER: Schmidt PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2570987 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature