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Abstract

The Drosophila melanogaster subgroup has been the focus of numerous studies about evolution. We address the question of how the olfactory code has evolved among the nine sister species. By using in vivo electrophysiological measurements, so called single-cell recordings, we have established the ligand affinity of a defined subset of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) across all nine species. We show that the olfactory code as relayed by the investigated subset of ORNs is conserved to a striking degree. Distinct shifts in the code have occurred only within the simulans clade. However, these shifts are restricted to an altered tuning profile of the same single ORN type in all three of the simulans siblings and a more drastic change unique to D. sechellia, involving a complete loss of one sensillum type in favour of another. The alterations observed in D. sechellia may represent a novel host-specific adaptation to its sole host, morinda fruit (Morinda citrifolia). The overall high degree of similarity of the code within the subgroup is intriguing when considering the great variety in distributions as well as in habitat and host choice of the siblings, factors that could greatly affect the olfactory system

Published in

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
2003, volume: 270, number: 1531, pages: 2333-2340
Publisher: ROYAL SOC LONDON

SLU Authors

  • Stensmyr, Marcus

    • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Hansson, Bill

    • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Dekker, Teun

    • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Horticulture
Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2003.2512

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/1271