果蠅原產(chǎn)于熱帶或亞熱帶地區(qū),，但目前世界上許多地區(qū)都能發(fā)現(xiàn)它們的蹤影,。奧地利一項最新研究發(fā)現(xiàn),，果蠅身上攜帶的一種基因或許是它們能夠適應(yīng)不同溫度環(huán)境的原因。
奧地利維也納獸醫(yī)大學(xué)群體遺傳學(xué)研究所所長克里斯蒂安施洛特雷爾領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的研究小組27日發(fā)表公報說,，果蠅種類繁多,，它們生存的空間早已不局限于熱帶或亞熱帶地區(qū)，而是能夠適應(yīng)歐洲,、亞洲等相對涼爽的氣候環(huán)境,。研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)，果蠅攜帶一種名為crm的基因,，這種基因制造的crm蛋白質(zhì)能夠調(diào)節(jié)果蠅體內(nèi)的其他基因,，提高果蠅在不同環(huán)境中的生存能力。這一研究結(jié)果發(fā)表在新一期美國《科學(xué)公共圖書館遺傳卷》雜志上,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
PLoS Genetics, 2011; 7 (1): e1001280 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001280
Segregating Variation in the Polycomb Group Gene cramped Alters the Effect of Temperature on Multiple Traits
Jean-Michel Gibert, François Karch, Christian Schlötterer
Abstract
The phenotype produced by a given genotype can be strongly modulated by environmental conditions. Therefore, natural populations continuously adapt to environment heterogeneity to maintain optimal phenotypes. It generates a high genetic variation in environment-sensitive gene networks, which is thought to facilitate evolution. Here we analyze the chromatin regulator crm, identified as a candidate for adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster to northern latitudes. We show that crm contributes to environmental canalization. In particular, crm modulates the effect of temperature on a genomic region encoding Hedgehog and Wingless signaling effectors. crm affects this region through both constitutive heterochromatin and Polycomb silencing. Furthermore, we show that crm European and African natural variants shift the reaction norms of plastic traits. Interestingly, traits modulated by crm natural variants can differ markedly between Drosophila species, suggesting that temperature adaptation facilitates their evolution.
