Data from: Fine-scale genetic analysis of species-specific female preference in Drosophila simulans

Behavioral differences are thought to be the first components to contribute to species isolation, yet the precise genetic basis of behavioral isolation remains poorly understood. Here, we used a combination of behavior assays and genetic mapping to provide the first refined map locating candidate genes for interspecific female preference isolating Drosophila simulans from D. melanogaster. First, we tested whether two genes identified as affecting D. melanogaster female intraspecific mate choice also affect interspecific mate choice; neither of these genes was found to contribute to species-specific female preference. Next, we used deficiency mapping to locate genes on the right arm of the third chromosome for species-specific female preference and identified five small significant regions that contain candidate genes contributing to behavioral isolation. All five regions were located in areas that would have low interspecific recombination, which mirrors the results of other behavioral isolation studies that used quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, but without the potential concern of bias towards regions of low recombination that QTL mapping may have. Since this model system may be refined to the individual gene level using the same methodology, this initial map we provide may potentially serve as a ready template for the identification and characterization of the first behavioral isolation genes.

行为差异被认为是促成物种隔离的首个组分，但行为隔离的确切遗传基础仍未被充分阐明。本研究结合行为实验与遗传作图（genetic mapping）技术，首次构建了精细定位图谱，以定位介导拟暗果蝇（Drosophila simulans）与黑腹果蝇（D. melanogaster）种间雌性偏好隔离的候选基因。首先，我们验证了两个已被证实影响黑腹果蝇种内雌性配偶选择的基因，是否同样参与种间配偶选择调控；结果显示这两个基因均未对物种特异性雌性偏好产生贡献。随后，我们通过缺失作图（deficiency mapping）在第三条染色体右臂上定位了与物种特异性雌性偏好相关的基因，并鉴定出五个小型显著区域，这些区域包含参与行为隔离的候选基因。五个区域均位于种间重组率较低的区域，这与其他通过数量性状位点（quantitative trait locus, QTL）作图开展的行为隔离研究结果相符，但规避了QTL作图可能存在的偏向低重组区域的潜在偏差。由于该模型系统可通过相同方法细化至单个基因层面，我们构建的这一初始定位图谱或可作为首个行为隔离基因鉴定与功能解析的实用模板。