Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Paulina Montes Mendez and I am a senior studying biological science. I have learned that I love genetics over the years and hope to continue my education after graduate school. Whether that be a masters in genetic counseling or a PhD in a biomedical or genetics related topic, I hope to make a difference in the lives of many with meaningful research.

Genetic correlations associated with body coloration, aggression, and activity levels in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

One long-standing question in evolutionary biology is whether single genes that control multiple traits (pleiotropy) result in limitations on adaptive evolution. If it does, then our ability to predict adaptation (e.g., in the face of changing environments) is compromised. We are using a much-discussed correlation between body coloration and aggressive behavior as a system to address this question. Having found the predicted genetic correlation between cuticle color and aggressive behavior in Drosophila melanogaster using artificial selection (unpublished data), we then asked if any other behaviors co-evolved under selection on cuticle color. For example, the dopamine synthesis pathway is plausibly related to color, aggression, and other behaviors, such as activity level. We therefore measured the activity level of flies (D. melanogaster) selected for darker and lighter cuticle color. Results suggest that activity level is higher in the dark-selected lines, suggesting that genetic correlations do constrain the independent evolution of cuticle color and behavior. The next step in this study is to identify candidate genes underlying the correlation and test for pleiotropic effects using transgenic approaches.

Keywords: Drosophila, behavior, activity