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

RUI：攻击的分子模块；

• 批准号: 0818957
• 负责人: Susan Renn
• 金额: $ 34.99万
• 依托单位: Reed College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2015-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0818957&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Molecular; Modules; Aggression; Maternal

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.

在所有动物中，攻击是一种复杂的社会行为，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。这个项目研究了非洲慈鲷鱼Astatotilapia burtoni不同形式的攻击。该物种雄性的攻击性与领土有关，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。实验室股票女性不关心他们的年轻人，也没有表现出刻板的侵略形式。然而，在实验室中，通过操纵社会环境可以诱导攻击性。这种形式的女性攻击，在男性中，与睾丸激素水平升高有关。最近观察到的一个新收购的野生股票揭示了一个“好母亲”的表型，包括防御性的侵略，以保护自由游泳鱼苗。这种新的股票将允许与不同水平的母亲侵略相关的不同激素水平的比较。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性攻击相关的基因表达。基因表达的模式，然后可以比较之间的自然母性的侵略，诱导女性的侵略和领土的男性侵略。这项工作将回答有关的基因集，调节这些形式的侵略之间的重叠程度的问题，并将确定特定的子集的基因表达模式是唯一相关的男性，女性和/或母亲的侵略形式。通过生物系Renn实验室和数学系Jones团队之间的合作，里德学院的本科生将从事尖端的基因组研究和对数据集进行严格的统计分析，这些数据集包括行为，生理和基因表达的测量。