Cave fish as a model to elucidate the genetic basis of the evolution of behavior

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Nicolas Rohner
• Subject Area: Sensory and Behavioural Biology
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 183056705

A wealth of studies elucidating the genetic basis of morphological variation has been performed in the last decades. In comparison, there have been relatively few studies addressing the genetics underlying behavior, especially regarding differences in behavioral traits arising through evolution. The cave fish Astyanax mexicanus provides a beautiful system to study the genetic basis of the evolution of behavioral traits. These cave animals display a series of behavioral adaptations relative to their river cousins that are of importance for survival in caves. As the surface form still exists and is fully interfertile with those living in the caves, QTL analysis and sequence comparisons are possible. I propose to identify the genetic basis of behavioral traits that have been previously shown to have a genetic contribution, including schooling and feeding. By adapting different genetic tools available for other fish models to the Astyanax system I propose to analyze the function of the identified genes to understand their function in a neurobehavioral context. Finding the genes underlying behavior in the cave fish will be important in understanding evolutionary transitions and speciation and may also contribute indirectly to the understanding of the complex networks controlling human behavior.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Clifford Tabin