Article
Mutations in the neverland gene turned Drosophila pachea into an obligate specialist species.
Science (New York, N.Y.) - 28 Sept 2012
Lang Michael, Murat Sophie, Clark Andrew G, Gouppil Géraldine, Blais Catherine, Matzkin Luciano M, Guittard Emilie, Yoshiyama-Yanagawa Takuji, Kataoka Hiroshi, Niwa Ryusuke, Lafont René, Dauphin-Villemant Chantal, Orgogozo Virginie
Abstract excerpt
Most living species exploit a limited range of resources. However, little is known about how tight associations build up during evolution between such specialist species and the hosts they use. We examined the dependence of Drosophila pachea on its single host, the senita cactus. Several amino acid changes in the Neverland oxygenase rendered D. pachea unable to transform cholesterol into 7-dehydrocholesterol (the...
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