Advances in Genetics, Development, and Evolution of Drosophila

Advances in Genetics, Development, and Evolution of Drosophila
Author: Seppo Lakovaara
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 466
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1461583217

In 1906 Castle, Carpenter, Clarke, Mast, and Barrows published a paper entitled "The effects of inbreeding, cross-breeding, and selection upon the fertility and variability of Drosophila." This article, 55 pages long and published in the Proceedings of the Amer ican Academy, described experiments performed with Drosophila ampe lophila Lov, "a small dipterous insect known under various popular names such as the little fruit fly, pomace fly, vinegar fly, wine fly, and pickled fruit fly." This study, which was begun in 1901 and published in 1906, was the first published experimental study using Drosophila, subsequently known as Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. Of course, Drosophila was known before the experiments of Cas tles's group. The small flies swarming around grapes and wine pots have surely been known as long as wine has been produced. The honor of what was the first known misclassification of the fruit flies goes to Fabricius who named them Musca funebris in 1787. It was the Swedish dipterist, C.F. Fallen, who in 1823 changed the name of ~ funebris to Drosophila funebris which was heralding the beginning of the genus Drosophila. Present-day Drosophila research was started just 80 years ago and first published only 75 years ago. Even though the history of Drosophila research is short, the impact and volume of study on Drosophila has been tremendous during the last decades.

Progress and Prospects in Evolutionary Biology

Progress and Prospects in Evolutionary Biology
Author: Jeffrey R. Powell
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 577
Release: 1997-09-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 019536032X

This book focuses on drosophila as an especially useful model organism for exploring questions of evolutionary biology in the full range of evolutionary studies: population genetics, ecology, ecological genetics, speciation, phylogenetics, genome evolution, molecular evolution, and development. The author presents an integrated view of evolutionary biology as elucidated in this single organism. Special effort is made to point out holes in our knowledge and areas particularly ripe for new investigation.

Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster
Author: Farzana Khan Perveen
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2018-02-28
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9535138537

This book contains 12 chapters divided into two sections. Section 1 is "Drosophila - Model for Genetics." It covers introduction, chromosomal polymorphism, polytene chromosomes, chromosomal inversion, chromosomal evolution, cell cycle regulators in meiosis and nongenetic transgenerational inheritance in Drosophila. It also includes ecological genetics, wild-type strains, morphometric analysis, cytostatics, frequencies of early and late embryonic lethals (EEL and LEL) and mosaic imaginal discs of Drosophila for genetic analysis in biomedical research. Section 2 is "Drosophila - Model for Therapeutics." It explains Drosophila as model for human diseases, neurodegeneration, heart-kidney metabolic disorders, cancer, pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease, dopamine, neuroprotective therapeutics, mitochondrial dysfunction and translational research. It also covers Drosophila role in ubiquitin-carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) protein, eye development, anti-dUCH antibody, neuropathy target esterase (NTE), organophosphorous compound-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). It also includes substrate specificities, kinetic parameters of recombinant glutathione S-transferases E6 and E7 (DmGSTE6 and DmGSTE7), detoxification and insecticidal resistance and antiviral immunity in Drosophila.

Extracellular Composite Matrices in Arthropods

Extracellular Composite Matrices in Arthropods
Author: Ephraim Cohen
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 715
Release: 2016-09-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319407406

Emphasis is placed on the elaborate cuticular matrices in insects and crustaceans, spider and insect silks, sialomes of phytophagous and blood-feeding arthropods as well as on secretions of male and female accessory glands. Focus is placed largely on insects, due to the extensive body of published research that in part is the result of available whole genome sequences of several model species (in particular Drosophila melanogaster) and accessible ESTs for other species. Such advances have facilitated fundamental insights into genomic, proteomic and molecular biology-based physiology. This new volume contains comprehensive contributions on extracellular composite matrices in arthropods. The building blocks of such matrices are formed in and secreted by single layered epithelial cells into exterior domains where their final assembly takes place.Additionally, the unique mechanical properties of natural biocomposites like chitin/chitosan, the crustacean mineralized exoskeleton, the pliant protein resilin or insect and spider silks, have inspired basic and applied research that yield sophistical biomimetics and structural biocomposite hybrids important for future industrial and biomedical use. In summary, this book provides an invaluable vast source of basic and applied information for a plethora of scientists as well as textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.

Evolutionary Developmental Biology

Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Author: Brian K. Hall
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 485
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 940113961X

Although evolutionary developmental biology is a new field, its origins lie in the last century; the search for connections between embryonic development (ontogeny) and evolutionary change (phylogeny) has been a long one. Evolutionary developmental biology is however more than just a fusion of the fields of developmental and evolutionary biology. It forges a unification of genomic, developmental, organismal, population and natural selection approaches to evolutionary change. It is concerned with how developmental processes evolve; how evolution produces novel structures, functions and behaviours; and how development, evolution and ecology are integrated to bring about and stabilize evolutionary change. The previous edition of this title, published in 1992, defined the terms and laid out the field for evolutionary developmental biology. This field is now one of the most active and fast growing within biology and this is reflected in this second edition, which is more than twice the length of the original and brought completely up to date. There are new chapters on major transitions in animal evolution, expanded coverage of comparative embryonic development and the inclusion of recent advances in genetics and molecular biology. The book is divided into eight parts which: place evolutionary developmental biology in the historical context of the search for relationships between development and evolution; detail the historical background leading to evolutionary embryology; explore embryos in development and embryos in evolution; discuss the relationship between embryos, evolution, environment and ecology; discuss the dilemma for homology of the fact that development evolves; deal with the importance of understanding how embryos measure time and place both through development and evolutionarily through heterochrony and heterotrophy; and set out the principles and processes that underlie evolutionary developmental biology. With over one hundred illustrations and photographs, extensive cross-referencing between chapters and boxes for ancillary material, this latest edition will be of immense interest to graduate and advanced undergraduate students in cell, developmental and molecular biology, and in zoology, evolution, ecology and entomology; in fact anyone with an interest in this new and increasingly important and interdisciplinary field which unifies biology.

Evolution in the Dark

Evolution in the Dark
Author: Naoyuki Fuse
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 67
Release: 2013-09-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 4431541470

How organisms come to possess adaptive traits is a fundamental question for evolutionary biology. Although it is almost impossible to demonstrate evolution in the laboratory, this issue can be approached by using an unusual organism, “Dark-fly”: Drosophila melanogaster kept in complete darkness for 57 years through 1,400 generations, which corresponds to 28,000 years in terms of human generations. Has Dark-fly adapted to an environment of total darkness? If so, what is the molecular nature of the adaptation? In Evolution in the Dark, the remarkable findings from the Dark-fly project performed at Kyoto University are presented. It was found that Dark-fly did not have poor eyesight, but rather exhibited higher phototaxis ability and displayed lengthened bristles on the head that function as tactile receptors. Circadian rhythms were weakened but still retained in Dark-fly. With recent progress in genome science enabling researchers to perform whole genome sequencing for Dark-fly, a large number of mutations were identified including genes encoding a light receptor, olfactory receptors, and enzymes involved in neural development. The Dark-fly project is a simple but very long-term experiment. Combined with advanced techniques in genetics and genomics, it is a valuable tool for understanding the molecular nature of adaptive evolution.

The Concept of the Gene in Development and Evolution

The Concept of the Gene in Development and Evolution
Author: Peter J. Beurton
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 405
Release: 2000-05-29
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 0521771870

Advances in molecular biological research in the latter half of the twentieth century have made the story of the gene vastly complicated: the more we learn about genes, the less sure we are of what a gene really is. Knowledge about the structure and functioning of genes abounds, but the gene has also become curiously intangible. This collection of essays renews the question: what are genes? Philosophers, historians and working scientists re-evaluate the question in this volume, treating the gene as a focal point of interdisciplinary and international research. It will be of interest to professionals and students in the philosophy and history of science, genetics and molecular biology.

Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics of Drosophila

Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics of Drosophila
Author: J.S.F. Barker
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 528
Release: 2013-03-14
Genre: Science
ISBN: 146848768X

Ecological and evolutionary genetics span many disciplines and virtually all levels of biological investigation, from the genetic information itself to the principles governing the complex organization of living things. The ideas and informa tion generated by ecological and evolutionary genetics provide the substance for strong inferences on the origins, changes and patterns of structural and functional organization in bio logical communi ties. It is the coordination of these ideas and thoughts that will provide the answers to many fundamental questions in biology. There is no doubt that Drosophilids provide strong model systems amenable to experimental manipulation and useful for testing pertinent hypotheses in ecological and evolutionary genetics. The chapters in this volume represent efforts to use Drosophila species for such a purpose. The volume consists of a dedication to William B. Heed, followed by four major sections: Ecological Genetics, Habitat Selection, Biochemical Genetics and Molecular Evolution. Each section is introduced by a short statement, and each chapter has an independent summary. The chapters contain the sub stance of talks given at a joint Australia-US workshop held January 5-10, 1989 at the University of New England, New South Wales, Australia. We are indebted to the Division of International Programs of the National Science Foundation (USA) and to the Science and Technology Collaboration Section of the Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce (Australia) for the provi sion of financial support under the US/Australia Science and Technology Agreement. Many people contributed to the preparation of this volume.

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 348
Release: 2000-12-21
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0309070864

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment reviews advances made during the last 10-15 years in fields such as developmental biology, molecular biology, and genetics. It describes a novel approach for how these advances might be used in combination with existing methodologies to further the understanding of mechanisms of developmental toxicity, to improve the assessment of chemicals for their ability to cause developmental toxicity, and to improve risk assessment for developmental defects. For example, based on the recent advances, even the smallest, simplest laboratory animals such as the fruit fly, roundworm, and zebrafish might be able to serve as developmental toxicological models for human biological systems. Use of such organisms might allow for rapid and inexpensive testing of large numbers of chemicals for their potential to cause developmental toxicity; presently, there are little or no developmental toxicity data available for the majority of natural and manufactured chemicals in use. This new approach to developmental toxicology and risk assessment will require simultaneous research on several fronts by experts from multiple scientific disciplines, including developmental toxicologists, developmental biologists, geneticists, epidemiologists, and biostatisticians.

Drosophila Melanogaster

Drosophila Melanogaster
Author: M. Spindler-Barth
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2012
Genre: Drosophila melanogaster
ISBN: 9781614702795

Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. This species is one of the most commonly used model organisms in biology, including studies in genetics, physiology, microbial pathogenesis and life history evolution because they are easy to take care of, breed quickly and lay many eggs. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of drosophila melanogaster including: the gametogenesis, embryonic and post-embryonic development of drosophila melanogaster; the significance of stellate genes in drosophila melanogaster; the evolution of drosophila melanogaster retroviruses and the morphogenesis of drosophila melanogaster macrochaetes.