Ecological adaptation during incipient speciation revealed by precise gene replacement

摘要: To understand the role of adaptation in speciation, one must characterize ecologically relevant phenotypic effects naturally occurring alleles at loci potentially causing reproductive isolation. The desaturase2 gene Drosophila melanogaster is such a locus. Two geographically differentiated ds2 underlie pheromonal difference between Zimbabwe and Cosmopolitan races. We used site-directed replacement technique to introduce an allele from population into flies. show that confers resistance cold as well susceptibility starvation when entire genetic background otherwise identical. conclude ecological likely accompanies sexual isolation two behavioral races D. melanogaster.