Abstract
In a broad survey of Drosophila melanogaster population samples, levels of abdominal pigmentation were found to be highly variable and geographically differentiated. A strong positive correlation was found between dark pigmentation and high altitude, suggesting adaptation to specific environments. DNA sequence polymorphism at the candidate gene ebony revealed a clear association with the pigmentation of homozygous third chromosome lines. The darkest lines sequenced had nearly identical haplotypes spanning 14.5 kb upstream of the protein-coding exons of ebony. Thus, natural selection may have elevated the frequency of an allele that confers dark abdominal pigmentation by influencing the regulation of ebony.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Abdomen / physiology
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Abdomen / radiation effects
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Adaptation, Physiological / genetics*
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Adaptation, Physiological / radiation effects
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Animals
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Chromosomes / genetics
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Chromosomes / radiation effects
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
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Drosophila melanogaster / radiation effects
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Female
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Genetic Variation* / radiation effects
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Geography
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Homozygote
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Light
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutation / genetics
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Phenotype
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Pigmentation / genetics*
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Pigmentation / radiation effects
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Selection, Genetic
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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e protein, Drosophila
Associated data
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GENBANK/EF114370
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GENBANK/EF114371
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GENBANK/EF114372
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GENBANK/EF114373
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GENBANK/EF114374
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GENBANK/EF114375
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GENBANK/EF114376
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GENBANK/EF114377
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GENBANK/EF114378
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GENBANK/EF114379
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GENBANK/EF114380
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GENBANK/EF114381
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GENBANK/EF114382
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GENBANK/EF114383
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GENBANK/EF114384
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GENBANK/EF114385
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GENBANK/EF114386
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GENBANK/EF114387
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GENBANK/EF114388
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GENBANK/EF114389
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GENBANK/EF114390