生殖行為是延續族群或物種的重要過程，因此許多動物衍生出形形色色的交配策略。果蠅的生殖行為已被廣泛研究了很多年。雖然大多數研究都集中在雄果蠅求偶行為上，但對雌果蠅交配的決定仍然所知甚少。來自辛巴威的雌性果蠅具有獨特的交配偏好，通常願意與相同品系的雄性交配，但是不願意接受其他品系的雄性求偶。該模型可為探索雌性交配決定中的因素提供研究機會。在這項研究中，我們驗證了部分辛巴威雌性(Z330、Z53)的偏好，並比較了暴露於不同雄性的雌性大腦中的轉錄組。從RNA-seq進行基因表達分析，並挑選出可能與雌性交配決定相關的候選基因。出乎意料的是，無論是定量PCR還是基因敲落實驗都無法確定候選基因的功能。儘管我們的策略無法揭示對交配有重大影響的任何候選基因，但我們認為本計畫為將來關於雌性交配偏好的研究提供了重要信息。

Reproduction is an essential life process for continuity of race or species. Mating strategies are therefore evolved diversely in different species. Reproductive behaviors in fruit fly, Drosophila, has been studied extensively for many years. While most studies have focused on male courtship behavior, female mating decisions remain poorly understood. Female fruit flies in Zimbabwe have unique mating preferences that they generally mate with males of the same strain and are unwilling to accept courtships from males of other strains. This model could potentially provide an opportunity for exploring factors involved in female's mating decisions. In this study, we verified the Z female preference and compared the transcriptome in the brains of females exposed to different males. Gene expression analyses from RNA-seq identified and clustered several candidate genes potentially related to female mating decisions. Unexpectedly, neither quantitative PCR nor knockdown experiment is able to confirm the function of candidates. Although our strategies failed to reveal any candidate gene with a significant impact on mating, we believe that the project provides valuable information for future research on female mating preferences.

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