RNAseq analysis of pupal eye development in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Tribolium castaneum strain:GA-1

The molecular genetic mechanisms regulating the development of the eye has been extensively studied in Drosophila but little is known yet in other insect systems, many of which are characterized by major differences in the organization of the tissues that generate the eye. This project employs differential gene expression analysis for two objectives: 1. Defining genes that regulate the development of the eyes in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum during pupal development. 2. Elucidating the roles of the developmental transcription factors eyeless, twin of eyeless and dachshund in this process.

调控复眼发育的分子遗传机制已在果蝇（Drosophila）中得到广泛研究，但目前对其他昆虫类群的相关研究仍知之甚少；其中诸多类群的复眼发生组织的结构存在显著差异。本研究采用差异基因表达分析，设定两大研究目标：1. 明确蛹期赤拟谷盗（Tribolium castaneum）体内调控复眼发育的相关基因；2. 阐明发育相关转录因子无眼基因（eyeless）、无眼同源基因（twin of eyeless）以及短躯基因（dachshund）在该过程中的具体功能。