RUI: Molecular Modules of Aggression; Maternal Behavior in the African Cichlid Astatotilapia Burtoni

在所有动物中，攻击是一种复杂的社会行为，具有多种原因和表现形式。越来越多的证据表明，不同的机制构成了不同形式的攻击。本项目研究了非洲波托尼星罗非鱼（Astatotilapia burtoni）不同形式的攻击性。该物种雄性的侵略行为与领土有关，并受社会因素和睾丸激素的调节。先前的研究已经确定了大脑区域、生理机制和基因表达模式，这些都是男性各种攻击水平的基础。实验室里的雌猩猩不会照顾自己的幼崽，也不会表现出典型的攻击性。然而，在实验室中，通过操纵社会环境可以诱导攻击性。女性的这种攻击性和男性一样，与睾丸激素水平升高有关。最近对一种新获得的野生种群的观察揭示了一种“好母亲”表型，包括保护自由游动的鱼苗的防御性攻击。这个新的种群将允许比较不同的激素水平与不同水平的母性攻击相关。此外，该物种的基因组工具（cDNA微阵列）的可用性将允许鉴定与母体攻击相关的基因表达。基因表达模式可以在自然母性攻击、诱导雌性攻击和领地性雄性攻击之间进行比较。这项工作将回答有关调节这些攻击形式的基因集之间重叠程度的问题，并将确定与男性，女性和/或母亲形式的攻击独特相关的基因表达模式的特定子集。通过生物系的Renn实验室和数学系的Jones团队的合作，里德学院的本科生将参与最前沿的基因组研究和严格的数据集统计分析，包括行为、生理和基因表达的测量。

In all animals, aggression is a complex social behavior with multiple causes and manifestations. Growing evidence suggests that different mechanisms underlie different forms of aggression. This project examines different forms of aggression in the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. Aggression in males of this species is associated with territoriality and is regulated by social factors and testosterone. Previous research has identified brain regions, physiological mechanisms and patterns of gene expression that underlie the variety of aggression levels in males. Laboratory stock females do not care for their young nor do they show stereotypical forms of aggression. However, aggression can be induced in the laboratory through manipulation of the social environment. This form of female aggression, as in males, is associated with elevated testosterone levels. Recent observations of a newly acquired wild stock reveal a "good mother" phenotype that includes defensive aggression to protect free-swimming fry. This new stock will allow a comparison of different hormone levels correlated with different levels of maternal aggression. Furthermore, the availability of genomic tools for this species (a cDNA microarray) will allow the identification of gene expression associated with maternal aggression. The pattern of gene expression can be then compared between natural maternal aggression, induced female aggression and territorial male aggression. This work will answer questions regarding the extent of overlap between the gene sets that regulate each of these forms of aggression and will identify specific subsets of the gene expression pattern that are uniquely associated with male, female, and/or maternal forms of aggression. Through collaboration between the Renn Lab in the biology department and the Jones team in the math department, undergraduates at Reed College will engage in cutting edge genomic research and rigorous statistical analysis of datasets incorporating measures of behavior, physiology and gene expression.