Introgression study reveals two quantitative trait loci involved in interspecific variation in memory retention among Nasonia wasp species.

ABSTRACT: Genes involved in the process of memory formation have been studied intensively in model organisms; however, little is known about the mechanisms that are responsible for natural variation in memory dynamics. There is substantial variation in memory retention among closely related species in the parasitic wasp genus Nasonia. After a single olfactory conditioning trial, N. vitripennis consolidates long-term memory that lasts at least 6 days. Memory of the closely related species N. giraulti is present at 24 h but is lost within 2 days after a single trial. The genetic basis of this interspecific difference in memory retention was studied in a backcrossing experiment in which the phenotype of N. giraulti was selected for in the background of N. vitripennis for up to five generations. A genot

SUBMITTER: Hoedjes KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4274617 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature