RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Natural Selection Favors a Newly Derived <em>timeless</em> Allele in <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em>
JF Science
JO Science
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP 1895
OP 1898
DO 10.1126/science.1138412
VO 316
IS 5833
A1 Tauber, Eran
A1 Zordan, Mauro
A1 Sandrelli, Federica
A1 Pegoraro, Mirko
A1 Osterwalder, Nicolò
A1 Breda, Carlo
A1 Daga, Andrea
A1 Selmin, Alessandro
A1 Monger, Karen
A1 Benna, Clara
A1 Rosato, Ezio
A1 Kyriacou, Charalambos P.
A1 Costa, Rodolfo
YR 2007
UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/316/5833/1895.abstract
AB Circadian and other natural clock-like endogenous rhythms may have evolved to anticipate regular temporal changes in the environment. We report that a mutation in the circadian clock gene timeless in Drosophila melanogaster has arisen and spread by natural selection relatively recently in Europe. We found that, when introduced into different genetic backgrounds, natural and artificial alleles of the timeless gene affect the incidence of diapause in response to changes in light and temperature. The natural mutant allele alters an important life history trait that may enhance the fly's adaptation to seasonal conditions.