Integrative and genomics approach to the study of the molecular bases of dominance in an African cichlid fish

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Understanding how many and which types of genes and hormones are involved in shaping different behaviours in social organisms is a fundamental goal of behavioural biology. The long-term objective of my research program is to identify the molecular and endocrine mechanisms that underlie social behaviour in vertebrates to further our understanding of the proximate and ultimate causes of behaviour. I study males of Astatotilapia burtoni, a group-living African cichlid fish with strong dominance hierarchies. Goal 1. To study variation among individuals in stress coping styles, also called temperament, to characterize variation in temperament in this species and to invesitigate if bold (low stress response) and shy (high stress response) males also vary in aggressive behaviour and if temperament is stable over time. Moreover, I will explore how hormone levels vary between bold and shy males and which type of genes vary in expression in the brain of males of different temperaments. Goal 2. To uncover the function of genes that vary in expression with dominance in A. burtoni by the use of an integrative biology approach that combines genomics, endocrinology and behaviour biology techniques. I will chemically manipulate the products of these candidate genes and assess their individual and joint effects on behaviour, physiology, hormones, and gene expression. To achieve both goals, microarrays will be used to compare gene expression between samples (bold/shy, control/manipulated male), for thousands of genes at a time. These findings will significantly contribute to fundamental knowledge in the fields of molecular biology, endocrinology and behavioural biology and to applied knowledge in animal husbandry (aquaculture) and species conservation strategies. This research program will make a lasting contribution to Canada as in the long term my findings have the potential to be applied by researchers to the study of behaviour in other vertebrates, including humans in a medical context. It will contribute to training of Canadian highly qualified personnel in the latest molecular biology techniques and to the initiative to put innovative genomics-oriented research at the forefront of life sciences in Canada.