Evolutionary approaches to identify genetic architecture regulating aggression

我的研究计划的首要目标是了解自然发生的遗传 变异导致行为的进化差异。为了研究这些关系， 必须有一个模式生物，这是遗传和行为变量，以及 是遗传学上可接近的。自然种群进化出了非凡的多样性， 行为。开发和应用功能性遗传工具和基因组资源， 这些自然种群中的生物提供了一个机会， 自然选择产生了这些行为差异。此外，这些 这些方法可以为社会性疾病的分子和遗传基础提供一般性的见解。 其他物种，如人类。失明的墨西哥洞穴鱼进化出了 形态，生理和行为特征，包括社会行为的减少 比如攻击性，相对于同一物种的水面鱼类而言。我的实验室致力于 建立方法来鉴定和功能验证天然存在的遗传物质的作用， 洞穴鱼类行为进化的变种这里概述的研究计划将利用这一点 进化系统，以确定遗传结构的基础上，人口的差异 在侵略，并测试侵略的差异演变的机制。利用 通过遗传作图方法，我们将识别和功能测试候选基因， 攻击性行为此外，使用综合方法，我们确定的机制， 哪些自然发生的遗传变异会影响行为。这项研究计划将 提供了重要的见解遗传和神经机制的变化， 复杂的行为

The overarching goal of my research program is to understand how naturally occurring genetic variation results in evolved differences in behaviors. To examine these relationships, it is imperative to have a model organism that is both genetically and behaviorally variable, as well as genetically accessible. Natural populations have evolved an extraordinary diversity of behaviors. Developing and applying functional genetic tools and genomic resources to organisms from these natural populations provides an opportunity to uncover the mechanisms by which natural selection has produced these behavioral differences. Further, these approaches may provide general insights into the molecular and genetic bases of social behaviors in other species, such as humans. The blind Mexican cavefish has evolved a variety of morphological, physiological and behavioral traits, including reductions in social behaviors like aggression, relative to surface fish of the same species. My laboratory has focused on establishing methods to identify and functionally validate the role of naturally occurring genetic variants in cavefish behavioral evolution. The research program outlined here will leverage this evolutionary system to identify the genetic architecture underlying within-population differences in aggression, and to test the mechanisms by which differences in aggression evolve. Utilizing genetic mapping approaches, we will identify and functionally test candidate genes for aggressive behavior. Further, using integrative approaches, we determine the mechanisms by which naturally occurring genetic variants impact behavior. Together, this research program will provide important insights into the genetic and neural mechanisms underlying variability in complex behaviors.