Genomics and Climate Change
The project
The project involves obtaining the complete sequence of one strain of the Australian endemic vinegar fly Drosophila serrata. This species is being widely used in genetic and evolutionary studies in a number of high impact investigations. For details of examples of research on Drosophila serrata see www.cesar.org.au/ and www.uq.edu.au/sib/. Highly inbred lines of D. serrata already exist for sequencing. Comparison of this sequence with those being assembled for other Drosophila species will offer important insights into gene function and evolution and lead to the identification of new genes for traits involved in mate recognition and climate adaptation.
Goals / deliverables
1. Obtain 4X whole genome coverage of Drosophila serrata as a representative of the montium Drosophila species group.
2. Generation of a whole genome assembly.
3. Annotation of the genome, primarily by comparison to the finished Drosophila pseudoobscura and Drosophila melanogaster genomes but also those of six other species now becoming available.
Why study the genome?
The natural and experimental attributes of the D. serrata complex that indicate this species would be perfect for inclusion in a genomic sequence program. D. serrata and closely related species such as Drosphila birchii produce viable and fertile hybrids which have been maintained in laboratory culture for >50 generations. The species have markedly different, but overlapping, ecological preferences and geographic distributions with one species being restricted to rainforests, providing an excellent natural system for studying the genetic basis of adaptation and speciation at the both the levels of within and between species. They are sufficiently close to the well known genome of Drosophila melanogaster to allow annotation and direct comparison with this cosmopolitan species.
What is the benefit to Australia?
At present there is an international effort to sequence the genome of several Drosophila species. No Australian species is currently included in this effort despite the fact that Australia has a large collection of endemic Drosophila that are providing unique insights into the genetics and evolution. The reference Drosophila sequences are playing a unique role in both the comparative and population genomics of Drosophila and our understanding of molecular evolution. For instance, a Drosophila serrata sequence would allow Australian researchers to rapidly map and identify genes involved in adapting to climate change and in mate recognition and speciation.
Ary Hoffmann
Federation Fellow/ Professor
Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research
Departments of Genetics and Zoology
The University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
PHONE : 3 8344 4621
FAX: 3 8344 7089
MOBILE: 0408 342 834
EMAIL: ary@unimelb.edu.au
WEB: www.cesar.org.au/
Mark Blows
QEII Fellow
Department of Integrative Biology
Etc
