tartan underlies the evolution of Drosophila male genital morphology.

ABSTRACT: Male genital structures are among the most rapidly evolving morphological traits and are often the only features that can distinguish closely related species. This process is thought to be driven by sexual selection and may reinforce species separation. However, while the genetic bases of many phenotypic differences have been identified, we still lack knowledge about the genes underlying evolutionary differences in male genital organs and organ size more generally. The claspers (surstyli) are periphallic structures that play an important role in copulation in insects. Here, we show that divergence in clasper size and bristle number between Drosophila mauritiana and Drosophila simulans is caused by evolutionary changes in tartan (trn), which encodes a transmembra

SUBMITTER: Hagen JFD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6754542 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature