Artificial and Natural Selection for Two Behavioral Traits in Drosophila Pseudoobscura

In an attempt to elucidate the genetic architecture of two behavioral traits, populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura were selected for positive and for negative phototaxis and geotaxis. The selected populations diverged rapidly in their behavior (Figs. 1 and 2). The selection was relaxed after 20 g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1969, Vol.62 (1), p.75-80
Main Authors: Dobzhansky, Theodosius, Spassky, Boris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Artificial selection
Biological Sciences: Genetics
Chromosomes
Drosophila
Evolutionary genetics
Genetics, Behavioral
Geotaxis
Gravitation
Homeostasis
Light
Mazes
Natural selection
Phenotypic traits
Phototaxis
Population genetics
Selection, Genetic
Space life sciences
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Summary:In an attempt to elucidate the genetic architecture of two behavioral traits, populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura were selected for positive and for negative phototaxis and geotaxis. The selected populations diverged rapidly in their behavior (Figs. 1 and 2). The selection was relaxed after 20 generations in the phototactic, and after 30 generations in the geotactic populations. The relaxation resulted in convergence almost as rapid as was the divergence under selection. The average phototactic and geotactic neutrality of natural populations is an adaptive trait protected by genetic homeostasis. This does not preclude rapid responses to artificial, and presumably to natural, selection.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.62.1.75