D3232: Mayfly wing wonders: Uncovering genetic threads

Mayflies, also known as ephemeroptera, are members of the first group of insects that evolved the ability to fly (La Greca, M., 1980). Distinct developmental characteristics of the life stages of the mayfly are the reason that Ephemeroptera are of particular interest.  One of the major hypotheses for the evolution of insect flight is the gills to wings hypothesis (Niwa, 2010; Bybee, S.M., 2008). The aquatic nymph stages do not have wings, but they do possess abdominal leaf-shaped gills, and in some cases gills associated with the legs. The abdominal gills can sometimes be used to help propel the insect through its environment (Gillies, M. T.,1997) in addition to performing gas exchange. RNA transcriptomics may shed light on this hypothesis by comparing gene expression data from the genetic elements involved in wing building. Centroptilum triangulifer (family Baetidae), will be used for RNA extractions to study the developmental genetic profiles for characteristics such as wings and gills.