Title: | Localization of pheromonal sexual dimorphism in Drosophila melanogaster and its effect on sexual isolation |
Address: | "Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0027-8424 (Print) 1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Drosophila melanogaster is sexually dimorphic for cuticular hydrocarbons, with males and females having strikingly different profiles of the long-chain compounds that act as contact pheromones. Gas-chromatographic analysis of sexual mosaics reveals that the sex specificity of hydrocarbons is located in the abdomen. This explains previous observations that D. melanogaster males display the strongest courtship toward mosaics with female abdomens. We also show that males of the sibling species Drosophila simulans preferentially court D. melanogaster mosaics with male abdomens. Because the primary male hydrocarbon in D. melanogaster is also the primary female hydrocarbon in D. simulans, this supports the idea that interspecific differences in cuticular hydrocarbons contribute to sexual isolation" |
Keywords: | "Abdomen/physiology Alkadienes/analysis/metabolism Alkenes/analysis/metabolism Animals Courtship Crosses, Genetic Drosophila melanogaster/chemistry/*physiology Female Male Mosaicism Regression Analysis Sex Attractants/*physiology *Sex Characteristics Sexua;" |
Notes: | "MedlineCoyne, J A Oyama, R eng GM 50355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1995/10/10 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995 Oct 10; 92(21):9505-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.92.21.9505" |