Gene expression patterns underlying wing polyphenism and polymorphism in the pea aphid

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Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. 2007 Jul;46:E186-E186

Gene expression patterns underlying wing polyphenism and polymorphism in the pea aphid Stern Lab

Davis GK, Brisson JA, Stern DL

Note: Research in this publication was not performed at Janelia.

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Abstract

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, exhibits several environmentally cued, discrete, alternate phenotypes (polyphenisms) during its life cycle. In the wing polyphenism, female progeny develop as either winged or unwinged depending on the extent of crowding or host plant quality experienced by the mother. Males also have the ability to develop as either winged or unwinged, but this is genetically determined by a single locus on the X chromosome and is thus referred to as a wing polymorphism. In order to gain insight into the patterns of gene expression that underlie the wing polyphenism and polymorphism we have used a pea aphid cDNA microarray to examine gene expression in winged and unwinged females and males. Results suggest that winged and unwinged morphs exhibit systemic differences in gene expression and that many of these differences are shared between the wing polyphenism and polymorphism (i.e., between females and males). In addition, adult winged and unwinged males exhibit pronounced differences when compared to adult females and fourth instar males, as well as to each other.

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Gene expression patterns underlying wing polyphenism and polymorphism in the pea aphid

Note: Research in this publication was not performed at Janelia.

Abstract

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