Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic analysis of extended life span in Drosophila melanogaster I. RAPD screen for genetic divergence between selected and control lines

  • Published:
Genetica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using lines selected for long life by Luckinbill and his co-workers, we screened two selected and two control lines for allelic frequency differences at 1200 randomly chosen RAPD marker loci. Twenty-three marker loci showed frequency differences in excess of 80%, and five were greater than 90%. Age-specific effects of the five most differentiated loci were estimated by collecting complete survival data in segregating backcross populations. Alleles at four of the five marker loci were associated with significant extension of life span in males, while two marker loci had significant effects in females. Eighty percent of the total selection response in males can be explained by the identified QTL's, under the assumption of additivity. The N14+ marker allele accounted for a 12-day life span extension in males, but had little effect in females. Both sex-limited and sex-shared effects were observed. Analysis of age-specific mortality rates suggests that life span extension occurs by a combination of genetic factors that moderate both the level of mortality and the rate at which mortality increases with age.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arking, R., 1998. Biology of Aging, Second Edition. Sinauer Assoc., Sunderland, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arking, R., A.G. Force, S.P. Dudas, S. Buck & G.T. Baker III, 1996. Factors contributing to the plasticity of the extended longevity phenotypes of Drosophila. Exp. Gerontol. 31: 623-43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buck, S, R.A. Wells, S.P. Dudas, G.T. Baker III & R. Arking, 1993. Chromsomal localization and regulation of the longevity determinant genes in a selected strain of Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity 71: 11-22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burt, A., D.A. Carter, T.J. White & J.W. Taylor, 1994. DNA sequencing with arbitrary primer pairs. Molec. Ecol. 3: 523-25.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Curtsinger, J.W., H.H. Fukui, D.R. Townsend & J.W. Vaupel, 1992. Demography of genotypes: Failure of the limited-lifespan paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster. Science 258: 461-463.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Curtsinger, J.W., H.H. Fukui, A. Khazaeli, A. Kirscher, S. Pletcher, D.E.L. Promislow & M. Tatar, 1995. Genetic variation and aging. Ann. Rev. Genet. 29: 553-75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deckert-Cruz, D.J., R.H. Tyler, J.E. Landmesser & M.R. Ruse, 1997. Allozymic differentiation in response to laboratory demographic selection of Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 51: 865-872.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebert, R.H. II, V.A. Cherkasova, R.A. Dennis, J.H. Wu, S. Ruggles, T.E. Perrin & R.J.S. Reis, 1993. Longevity-determining genes in Caenorhabditis elegans: Chromosomal mapping of multiple noninteractive loci. Genetics 135: 1003-10.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Engels, W.R., D.M. Johnson-Schlitz, W.B. Eggleston & J. Sved, 1990. Preparation of single-fly DNA from Drosophila. Cell 62: 515-525.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Engstrom, G., L.-E. Liljedahl & T. Bjorklund, 1992. Expression of genetic and environmental variation during aging. II. Selection for increased life span in Drosophila melanogaster. Theor. Appl. Genet. 85: 26-32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, D.S., & T.F.C. Mackay, 1996. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. ed. IV. Longman, Essex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleming, J.E., G.S. Spicer, R.C. Garrison & M.R. Rose, 1993. Two-dimensional protein electrophoretic analysis of postponed aging in Drosophila. Genetica 91: 183-198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fukui, H.H., L. Xiu & J.W. Curtsinger, 1993. Slowing of age-specific mortality rates in Drosophila melanogaster. Exp. Gerontol. 28: 585-599.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fukui, H.H., S. Pletcher & J.W. Curtsinger, 1995. Selection for increased longevity in Drosophila melanogaster: A response to Baret and Lints. Gerontology 41: 65-68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hollocher, H. & A.R. Templeton, 1994. The molecular through ecological genetics of abnormal abdomen in Drosophila mercatorum Vi. The non-neutrality of the Y-chromosome rDNA polymorphism. Genetics 136: 1373-84.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houle, D., K.A. Hughes, D.K. Hoffmaster, J. Ihara, S. Assimacopoulos, D. Canada & B. Charlesworth, 1994. The effects of spontaneous mutation on quantitative traits. I. Variances and covariances of life history traits. Genetics 138: 773-785.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, K.A. & B. Charlesworth, 1994. A genetic analysis of senescence in Drosophila. Nature 367: 64-66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jazwinski, S.M, 1996. Longevity, genes, and aging. Science 273: 54-59.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lander, E.S. & D. Botstein, 1989. Mapping mendelian factors underlying quantitative traits using RFLP linkage maps. Genetics 121: 185-99.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luckinbill, L.S., 1998. Selection for longevity confers resistance to low-temperature stress in Drosophila melanogaster. J. Gerontol. 53A: B147-153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luckinbill, L., R. Arking & M.J. Clark, 1984. Selection for delayed senescence in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 38: 996-1003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luckinbill, L. & M.J. Clare, 1985. Selection for life span in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity 55: 9-18.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luckinbill, L., M.J. Clare, W.L. Krell, W.C. Cirocco, & P.A. Richards, 1987. Estimating the number of genetic elements that defer senescence in Drosophila. Evol. Ecol. 1: 37-46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luckinbill, L., J.L. Graves, A.H. Reed & S. Koetsawang, 1988. Localizing genes that defer senescence in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity 60: 367-74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, G.M., S.N. Austad & T.E. Johnson, 1996. Genetic analysis of aging: Role of oxidative damage and environmental stresses. Nature Genet. 13: 25-34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith, J. 1958 The effects of temperature and of egg-laying on the longevity of Drosophila subobscura. J. Exp. Biol. 35: 832-42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuzhdin, S.V., E.G. Pasyukova, C.L. Dilda, Z.-B. Zeng & T.F.C. Mackay, 1997. Sex-specific quantitative trait loci affecting longevity in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94: 9734-39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orr, W.C. & R. Sohal, 1994. Extension of life-span by overex-pression of superoxide-dismutase and catalase in Drosophila melanogaster. Science 263: 1128-1130.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Partridge, L. & K. Fowler, 1992. Direct and correlated response to selection on age at reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 46: 76-91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pletcher, S.D., D. Houle & J.W. Curtsinger, 1998. Age-specific properties of spontaneous mutations affecting mortality in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 148: 287-303.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Promislow, D.E.L., M. Tatar, A. Khazaeli & J.W. Curtsinger, 1996. Age-specific patterns of genetic variance in Drosophila melanogaster. I. Mortality. Genetics 143: 839-848.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, M.L., 1984. Laboratory evolution of postponed senescence in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 38: 1004-10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Service, P.M., 1987. Physiological mechanisms of increased stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster selected for postponed senescence. Physiol. Zool. 60: 321-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shook, D.R., A. Brooks & T.E. Johnson, 1996. Mapping quantitative trait loci affecting life history traits in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 142: 801-817.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stuber, C.W., R.H. Moll, M.M. Goodman, H.E. Schaffer & B.S. Weir, 1980. Allozyme frequency changes associated with selection for increased grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.). Genetics 95: 225-36.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stuber, C.W., S.E. Lincoln, D.W. Wolff, T. Helentjaris & E.S. Lander, 1992. Identification of genetic factors contributing to heterosis in a hybrid from two elite maize inbred lines using molecular markers. Genetics 132: 823-39.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanksley, S.D., 1993. Mapping polygenes. Ann. Rev. Genet. 27: 205-233.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tatar, M., A.A. Khazaeli & J.W. Curtsinger (dy1997). Chaperoning extended life. Nature 390: 30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tatar, M., D.E.L. Promislow, A.A. Khazaeli & J.W. Curtsinger, 1996. Age-specific patterns of genetic variance in Drosophila melanogaster. II. Fecundity and its genetic covariance with age-specific mortality. Genetics 143: 849-858.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thoday, J.M., 1961. Location of polygenes. Nature 191: 368-70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tower, J., 1996. Aging mechanisms in fruit flies. Bio Essays 18: 799-807.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, R.H., H. Brar, M. Singh, A. Latorre, J.L. Grave, L.D. Mueller, M. Rose & F.J. Ayala, 1993. The effect of superoxide dismutase alleles on aging in Drosophila. Genetica 91: 141-149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J.G.K., A.R. Kubelik, K.J. Livak, J.A. Rafalski & S. Tingey, 1990. DNA polymorphisms amplified by arbitrary primers are useful as genetic markers. Nucleic Acids Res. 18: 6531-35.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zwaan, B., R. Bijlsma & R.F. Hoekstra, 1995. Direct selection on life span in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 49: 649-659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Amy S. Resler

    Present address: University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

  2. Kristi Kelly

    Present address: Graduate School of Education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA (Phone

    James W. Curtsinger, Hank H. Fukui, Amy S. Resler, Kristi Kelly & Aziz A. Khazaeli

Authors
  1. James W. Curtsinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hank H. Fukui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amy S. Resler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kristi Kelly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Aziz A. Khazaeli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Curtsinger, J.W., Fukui, H.H., Resler, A.S. et al. Genetic analysis of extended life span in Drosophila melanogaster I. RAPD screen for genetic divergence between selected and control lines. Genetica 104, 21–32 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003442619700

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003442619700

Search

Navigation