Sperm usage patterns and sexual selection in Drosophila Melanogaster

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Sperm usage patterns and sexual selection in
Drosophila Melanogaster

• By Diana Hagan

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What I will be talking about

• What is Drosophila Melanogaster?
• How do they live and mate?
• What was my experiment?
• Results and conclusions.

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What is Drosophila Melanogaster ?
Also known as the fruit fly, pomace flies or
vinegar flies. Life cycle fertilization laying
of the egg Hatching of larvae Larva growth
(instars) Pupation Adult
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What is Drosophila Continued...
One of the most valuable organisms in biological
research. -Genetics and developmental
biology Why work on Drosophila? Practical as
well as historical.
Keeping Drosophila in the lab. -media
preparation -examining the flies
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My experiment Sexual selection within the
drosophila female
Is there an order to fertilization of the egg
within the female? -Path of sperm after
fertilization -Multiple mates -Which male is
more likely to fertilize the egg? -Shuttle
system proposal refer to handout
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What is my experiment continued...
Procedure Mate female with male 1 then with
male 2 Remove males and study the offspring But
how do you tell the difference? Red eyed (wild
type) and White eyed phenotypes see board
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Results
Taking a look at the graphs sums of all of the
progeny from both crosses Cross A White
females X White males then X Red Males
Cross B White females X Red Males then X
White males
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References

• Arnold SJ. (1994). Multivariate inheritance and
  evolution A review of concepts. InBoake,
  C.R.B(ed.) Quantative Genetic Studies of
  Behavioral Evolution, pp. 17-49. The University
  of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
• Pitnick S, Markow TA, Spicer GS. (1999).
  Evolution of multiple kinds of female sperm
  storage organs in Drosophila. Evolution, 53
  1804-1882.