Dissecting the genetic architecture of climate adaptation with an innovative mapping panel

Abstract

The postdoc will coordinate the studies planned for aim 3 of the main research project. The main goal is to develop a mapping panel with high statistical power and fine resolution to map phenotypic variation, dissect the genetic architecture of climate adaptation, and test the importance of epistatic interactions. The postdoc will coordinate a team of associated researchers, technicians, and students. First, we will develop two mapping panels with South American D. melanogaster collected at the two extreme populations from our clinal study, using a similar design as the Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource (DSPR). The panel will have fine resolution and high statistical power and by producing recombinant inbred lines (RILs), genotyping need only be carried out once, and phenotypes that cannot easily be scored on single individuals can be assayed. Second, we will use this panel to measure phenotypes associated with climate adaptation, such as wing and thorax size, adult longevity, desiccation tolerance, chill coma recovery time and resistance to starvation stress. Third, we will investigate the importance of epistasis on the phenotypes.