Life Science Seminar: Organismal plasticity in the colors and behaviors of an African cichlid fish
Life Science Seminar
Organismal plasticity in the colors and behaviors of an African cichlid fish
Dr. Sebastian Alvarado
Assistant Professor
CUNY Queens
Abstract:
An individual’s ability to adapt to a changing environment is fundamentally important for survival. Within this scope, animal pigmentation has been long studied for its importance in facilitating defensive camouflage and social communication. While developmental genetics has revealed mutants that shape pigmentation at a population level, they do not represent an individual’s potential for morphological plasticity. As such, the phenotypic plasticity and dynamic regulation of underlying genes remain understudied in animals capable of changing colors to adapt to their environment. Epigenetic regulation through DNA methylation has been classically considered to shape gene function independent of sequence variation and function as a molecular “off” switch to a gene’s transcription. The African cichlid, Astatotilapia burtoni, demonstrates robust phenotypic plasticity across body colors, with males presenting as either yellow or blue. Here, I will describe how plastic changes in pigmentation can be facilitated by DNA methylation. Furthermore, we present evidence for how territorial and non-territorial color morphs develop behavioral signatures that modulate fighting tactics during male competition.
Intended Audience:
All are Welcome!
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This is an RIT Only Event
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