A Comparative Study of the Short Term Cold Resistance Response in Distantly Related Drosophila Species: The Role of regucalcin and Frost
2011

Cold Resistance in Drosophila americana

Sample size: 975 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Reis Micael, Vieira Cristina P., Morales-Hojas Ramiro, Aguiar Bruno, Rocha Hélder, Schlötterer Christian, Vieira Jorge

Primary Institution: IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

Hypothesis

Is the variation in candidate genes responsible for short term cold resistance in distantly related Drosophila species?

Conclusion

The study shows significant differences in the molecular basis of cold resistance among distantly related Drosophila species.

Supporting Evidence

  • In D. americana, the T variant at position -58 is present at highest frequency in populations experiencing the lowest average temperatures.
  • Chill-coma recovery times are negatively correlated with abdominal size.
  • Significant associations were found between PEST size genotype and chill-coma recovery times.

Takeaway

This study looks at how different types of fruit flies handle cold temperatures and finds that they do it in different ways.

Methodology

The study involved F2 association experiments, phenotyping for chill-coma recovery time, and genotyping for candidate genes.

Limitations

The study may not capture all complexities of cold response and relies on specific strains of Drosophila.

Participant Demographics

Drosophila americana strains collected from various locations in the USA.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0025520

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