Design and construction of a new Drosophila species, D.synthetica, by synthetic regulatory evolution

Moreno, Eduardo (2011). Design and construction of a new Drosophila species, D.synthetica, by synthetic regulatory evolution. Nature precedings - pre-publication research and preliminary findings London: Nature Publishing Group

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Here, I merge the principles of synthetic biology1,2 and regulatory evolution3-11 to create a new species12-15 with a minimal set of known elements. Using preexisting transgenes and recessive mutations of Drosophila melanogaster, a transgenic population arises with small eyes and a different venation pattern that fulfills the criteria of a new species according to Mayr's "Biological Species Concept"7,10. The genetic circuit entails the loss of a non-essential transcription factor and the introduction of cryptic enhancers. Subsequent activation of those enhancers causes hybrid lethality. The transition from "transgenic organisms" towards "synthetic species", such as Drosophila synthetica, constitutes a safety mechanism to avoid hybridization with wild type populations and preserve natural biodiversity16-18. Drosophila synthetica is the first transgenic organism that cannot hybridize with the original wild type population but remains fertile when crossed with other transgenic animals.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Department of Biology > Institute of Cell Biology

UniBE Contributor:

Moreno, Eduardo

Subjects:

500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology

ISSN:

1756-0357

Publisher:

Nature Publishing Group

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:27

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:08

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.10081

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/10081 (FactScience: 215916)

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