Organisms are remarkably adapted to diverse environments by specialized metabolisms, morphology, or behaviors. To address the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental adaptation, we have utilized a Drosophila melanogaster line, termed “Dark-fly”, which has been maintained in constant dark conditions for 57 years (1400 generations). We found that Dark-fly exhibited higher fecundity in dark than in light conditions, indicating that Dark-fly possesses some traits advantageous in darkness. Using next-generation sequencing technology, we determined the whole genome sequence of Dark-fly and identified approximately 220,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 4,700 insertions or deletions (InDels) in the Dark-fly genome compared to the genome of the Oregon-R-S strain, a control strain. 1.8% of SNPs were classified as non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs: i.e., they alter the amino acid sequence of gene products). Among them, we detected 28 nonsense mutations (i.e., they produce a stop codon in the protein sequence) in the Dark-fly genome. These included genes encoding an olfactory receptor and a light receptor. We also searched runs of homozygosity (ROH) regions as putative regions selected during the population history, and found 21 ROH regions in the Dark-fly genome. We identified 241 genes carrying nsSNPs or InDels in the ROH regions. These include a cluster of alpha-esterase genes that are involved in detoxification processes. Furthermore, analysis of structural variants in the Dark-fly genome showed the deletion of a gene related to fatty acid metabolism. Our results revealed unique features of the Dark-fly genome and provided a list of potential candidate genes involved in environmental adaptation.
Since so much of flies’ teeny brain power is devoted to the eyes and seeing, did the dark-flies develop less sensitive visual apparatus because seeing was less important in the dark? Or more sensitive, because of the need to see better in the dark?
I was at a conference a couple of weeks ago where a guy reported an experiment raising flies in warm, cold, or alternating warm and cold temperatures for many generations. They found that the flies in the alternating temperatures were able to alter the makeup of their cell membranes to adapt to the different temperatures much more than either of the other strains.
Here is one in Russia (54 years or so), attempting to domesticate foxes. Like most things in Russia these days, they’re way low on money to keep it going (or reach the next level).
This has always been tricky. The Nazis are rumored to have fitted bumblebees with ocular CO2 lasers but the effect of the compound eye lenses proved disastrous and insurmountable. Mercifully, the war in Europe ended before they could effect a workaround. But if anyone could pull it off ferreals it would be the Japanese.
