A5026227940- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant and animal studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Combustion and Detonation Processes
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Energetic Materials and Combustion
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
University of Oklahoma
2011-2025
University of Southern California
2011
University of Rochester
2000-2007
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2006
Duke University
2006
University of Alberta
2006
Cornell University
2004
Pennsylvania State University
2000
Postzygotic reproductive isolation is characterized by two striking empirical patterns. The first Haldane's rule--the preferential inviability or sterility of species hybrids the heterogametic (XY) sex. second so-called large X effect--substitution one species's chromosome for another's has a disproportionately effect on hybrid fitness compared to similar substitution an autosome. Although rule been well-established, remains controversial. Here, we dissect genetic causes these rules using...
Many evolutionary studies use comparisons across species to detect evidence of natural selection and examine the rate character evolution. Statistical analyses in these are usually performed by means a phylogeny accommodate effects shared history. The is treated as known without error; this assumption problematic because inferred phylogenies subject both stochastic systematic errors. We describe methods for accommodating phylogenetic uncertainty Bayesian inference. computationally intensive...
We describe reproductive isolation caused by a gene transposition. In certain Drosophila melanogaster-D. simulans hybrids, hybrid male sterility is the lack of single-copy essential for fertility, JYAlpha. This located on fourth chromosome D. melanogaster but third simulans. Genomic and molecular analyses show that JYAlpha transposed to during evolutionary history lineage. Because this transposition, fraction hybrids completely are sterile, representing without sequence evolution.
Sex ratio distortion (sex-ratio for short) has been reported in numerous species such as Drosophila, where can readily be detected experimental crosses, but the molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here we characterize an autosomal sex-ratio suppressor from D. simulans that designate not much yang (nmy, polytene chromosome position 87F3). Nmy suppresses X-linked distorter, contains a pair of near-perfect inverted repeats 345 bp, and evidently originated through retrotransposition distorter...
The divergent genital morphology observed among closely related animal species has long been posited as a mechanism of reproductive isolation. Despite the intuitive appeal that rapidly evolving genitalia might cause speciation, evidence for its importance—or even potential—in isolation is mixed. Most tests structural between often fail to find convincing differences in prevent copulation or insemination species. However, recent work suggests contribute less obvious ways through interactions...
Abstract The genitalia of internally fertilizing taxa represent a striking example rapid morphological evolution. Although sexual selection can shape variation in genital morphology, it has been difficult to test whether multiple pressures combine drive the evolution individual structures. Here, we hypothesis that both pre‐ and postcopulatory act concert complex structural secondary morphology. We genetically modified size posterior lobes Drosophila melanogaster males tested consequences on...
Animal terminalia represent some of the most diverse and rapidly evolving structures in animal kingdom, for this reason have been a mainstay taxonomic description species. The Drosophila melanogaster, with its wide range experimental tools, recently become focus increased interest fields development, evolution, behavior. However, studies from different disciplines often used discrepant terminologies same anatomical structures. Consequently, terminology genital parts has barrier to...
The external genitalia are some of the most rapidly evolving morphological structures in insects. posterior lobe male genital arch shows striking differences both size and shape among closely related species Drosophila melanogaster subgroup. Here, we dissect genetic basis morphology between D. mauritiana sechellia, two island endemic that last shared a common ancestor ∼300,000 years ago. We test large collection genome-wide homozygous introgressions, which collectively cover ∼50% genome, for...
External male reproductive structures have received considerable attention as a cause of isolation (RI), because the morphology these often evolves rapidly between populations. This rapid evolution presents potential for mechanical incompatibilities with heterospecific female during mating and could thus prevent interbreeding nascent species. Although such little empirical support common RI, mismatch to RI due incompatible species-specific tactile cues has not been tested. We tested...
Cancers caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) remain a significant health threat resulting in more than 300,000 deaths, annually. Persistent expression of two HPV oncogenes, E6 and E7, are necessary for cancer development progression. has several functions contributing to tumorigenesis one which is blocking programmed cell death, apoptosis. The detailed mechanism anti-apoptosis function not fully understood. Here, using Drosophila model HPV18E6 the UBE3A-induced pathogenesis, we...
Abstract Interspecific hybrids and backcrossed organisms generally suffer from reduced viability and/or fertility. To identify genetically map these defects, we introgressed regions of the Drosophila sechellia genome into D. simulans genome. A female-biased sex ratio was observed in 24 221 recombinant inbred lines, subsequent tests attributed skew to failure Y-bearing sperm fertilize eggs. Apparently lines fail suppress a normally silent meiotic drive system. Using molecular markers mapped...
Abstract Male sexual characters are often among the first traits to diverge between closely related species and identifying genetic basis of such changes can contribute our understanding their evolutionary history. However, little is known about architecture or specific genes underlying evolution male genitalia. The morphology claspers, posterior lobes, anal plates exhibit striking differences Drosophila mauritiana D. simulans. Using QTL introgression-based high-resolution mapping, we...
Although several evolutionary forces have been proposed to contribute genital morphological diversification, it is unclear which might act early during the evolution of novel structural traits. We test hypothesis that mismatch between interacting male and female secondary sexual structures gives rise increased harm females, consistent with outcome predicted from a history conflict. mate Drosophila sechellia females males collection D. mauritiana–D. interspecific genetic introgression lines...
Rapid divergence in genital structures among nascent species has been posited to be an early-evolving cause of reproductive isolation, although evidence supporting this idea as a widespread phenomenon remains mixed. Using collection interspecific introgression lines between two Drosophila that diverged approximately 240,000 years ago, we tested the hypothesis even modest morphology can result substantial fitness losses. We studied consequences variation male epandrial posterior lobes...
Abstract Males and females transmit receive signals prior to mating that convey information such as sex, species identity, or individual condition. In some animals, tactile relayed during physical contact between males before appear be important for mate choice reproductive isolation. This is common among odonates, when a male grasps female's thorax with his terminal appendages copulation, the female subsequently controls whether copulation occurs by bending her abdomen complete...
Abstract Drosophila imaginal discs provide an ideal model to study processes important for cell signaling and specification, tissue differentiation, competition during development. One challenge understanding genetic control of cellular interactions is the difficulty in effectively targeting a defined subset cells developing tissues gene manipulation experiments. A recently developed Flippase-induced intersectional GAL80/GAL4 repression method incorporates several technologies enable such...
The model organism Drosophila melanogaster has become a focal system for investigations of rapidly evolving genital morphology as well the development and functions insect reproductive structures. To follow up on previous paper outlining unifying terminology structures male terminalia in this species, we offer here detailed description female D. melanogaster. Informative diagrams micrographs are presented to provide comprehensive overview external internal females. We propose collection...
Animal terminalia represent some of the most diverse and rapidly evolving structures in animal kingdom, for this reason have been a mainstay taxonomic description species. The Drosophila melanogaster, with its wide range experimental tools, recently become focus increased interest fields development, evolution, behavior. However, studies from different disciplines often used discrepant terminologies same anatomical structures. Consequently, terminology genital parts has barrier to...
Animal terminalia represent some of the most diverse and rapidly evolving structures in animal kingdom, for this reason have been a mainstay taxonomic description species. The Drosophila melanogaster, with its wide range experimental tools, recently become focus increased interest fields development, evolution, behavior. However, studies from different disciplines often used discrepant terminologies same anatomical structures. Consequently, terminology genital parts has barrier to...
Abstract External male reproductive structures have received considerable attention as an early-acting cause of isolation (RI), because the morphology these often evolves rapidly between populations. This presents potential for mechanical incompatibilities with heterospecific female during mating and could thus prevent interbreeding nascent species. Although such little empirical support a common RI, mismatch to RI due incompatible species-specific tactile cues has not been tested. We tested...
The model organism Drosophila melanogaster has become a focal system for investigations of rapidly evolving genital morphology as well the development and functions insect reproductive structures. To follow up on previous paper outlining unifying terminology structures male terminalia in this species, we offer here detailed description female D. melanogaster. Informative diagrams micrographs are presented to provide comprehensive overview external internal females. We propose collection...
Abstract Males and females exchange signals prior to mating that convey information such as sex, species identity, or individual condition. Tactile relayed during physical contact between males before appear be important for mate choice reproductive isolation in some animals. However, compared our understanding of visual, auditory, chemical signals, we know little about the importance tactile decisions. Among North American damselflies genus Enallagma (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)...