TY - JOUR
T1 - Using Drosophila to study the evolution of herbivory and diet specialization
AU - Groen, Simon C.
AU - Whiteman, Noah K.
N1 - Funding Information:
We are grateful to Benjamin Goldman-Huertas for stimulating discussions, and Anna Nelson-Dittrich and Sophie Zaaijer for creating the images in Figure 1 . SCG thanks the instructors and participants at the 2014 Wellcome Trust Drosophila Genetics and Genomics course for making him acquainted with D. melanogaster as a model organism. We acknowledge the National Geographic Society (Grant 9097-12 to NKW), the University of Arizona (Faculty Seed Grant, Center for Insect Science Seed Grant, and laboratory set-up Grant to NKW), the National Science Foundation (Grant DEB-1256758 to NKW), and the John Templeton Foundation (Grant ID #41855 to NKW) for financial support.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/4
Y1 - 2016/4
N2 - Herbivory evolved many times independently across the insect phylogeny, and its evolution is linked with increased rates of diversification. Plants present many barriers to potential herbivores, among them are the so-called secondary chemicals and other molecular defenses such as protease inhibitors that deter herbivores. To understand the mechanisms behind the emergence of herbivory and subsequent species radiations of insects driven largely by diet specialization, it is important to identify the molecular basis associated with these evolutionary transitions. However, most herbivore species lack the genomic information and genetic tools required to identify functionally important genes. The notable exception is the genus Drosophila in which herbivory evolved at least three times independently, and for which abundant genomic data are available. Furthermore, contained within the family Drosophilidae is Drosophila melanogaster, the first genetic model animal. Here, we provide a synthesis of the salient tools that the D. melanogaster system provides to identify functionally important genes required for herbivory and subsequent diet specialization across insects.
AB - Herbivory evolved many times independently across the insect phylogeny, and its evolution is linked with increased rates of diversification. Plants present many barriers to potential herbivores, among them are the so-called secondary chemicals and other molecular defenses such as protease inhibitors that deter herbivores. To understand the mechanisms behind the emergence of herbivory and subsequent species radiations of insects driven largely by diet specialization, it is important to identify the molecular basis associated with these evolutionary transitions. However, most herbivore species lack the genomic information and genetic tools required to identify functionally important genes. The notable exception is the genus Drosophila in which herbivory evolved at least three times independently, and for which abundant genomic data are available. Furthermore, contained within the family Drosophilidae is Drosophila melanogaster, the first genetic model animal. Here, we provide a synthesis of the salient tools that the D. melanogaster system provides to identify functionally important genes required for herbivory and subsequent diet specialization across insects.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.cois.2016.01.004
DO - 10.1016/j.cois.2016.01.004
M3 - Review article
C2 - 27436649
AN - SCOPUS:84957935162
SN - 2214-5745
VL - 14
SP - 66
EP - 72
JO - Current Opinion in Insect Science
JF - Current Opinion in Insect Science
ER -