ABSTRACT
In this review, we analyse the impact of a population and evolutionary genetics approach on the study of insect behaviour. Our attention is focused on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and several other insect species. In particular, we explore the relationship between rhythmic behaviours and the molecular evolution of clock and ion channel genes.
Subject(s)
Animals , Behavior, Animal/physiology , Circadian Clocks/genetics , Drosophila melanogaster/genetics , Evolution, Molecular , Genetics, Population , CLOCK Proteins/genetics , Drosophila/genetics , Genetic Speciation , Ion Channels/genetics , Period Circadian Proteins/genetics , Psychodidae/genetics , Sexual Behavior, Animal , Temperature , Transgenes/geneticsABSTRACT
Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. is the primary vector of Leishmania (L.) infantum in the New World. In this study, male Lutzomyia longipalpis specimens from Posadas, Argentina were characterized for two polymorphic markers: the male sex pheromone and the period (per) gene. The male sex pheromone was identified as (S)-9-methylgermacrene-B, the same compound produced by Lu. longipalpis from Paraguay and many populations from Brazil. The analysis of per gene sequences revealed that the population from Argentina is significantly differentiated from previously studied Brazilian populations. Marker studies could contribute to the understanding of the distribution and spread of urban American visceral leishmaniasis, thus aiding in the design of regional surveillance and control strategies.