ASI SponsorTauber, EranEranTauberZordan, MauroMauroZordanSandrelli, FedericaFedericaSandrelli2020-09-172020-09-172007-06-01https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13025/2273Circadian 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 flys adaptation to seasonal conditions.AllelesAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsBase SequenceCircadian RhythmCircadian Rhythm: geneticsDrosophila ProteinsDrosophila Proteins: geneticsDrosophila Proteins: physiologyDrosophila melanogasterDrosophila melanogaster: geneticsDrosophila melanogaster: physiologyEuropeEvolutionFemaleGeneticGeographyHaplotypesMolecularMolecular Sequence DataMutationPhotoperiodPhylogenyPolymorphismProtein IsoformsProtein Isoforms: geneticsProtein Isoforms: physiologyReproductionSeasonsSelectionTemperatureTransformationArticle Journalhttp://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/316/5833/189554dcce0a8580fe1368eeb233