Meeting Abstract
The genetics of assortative mating has long fascinated biologists, however identifying genes responsible for variation in mate selection has proven difficult due to the complexity of the mate selection process. Here we take advantage of next generation sequencing technology and variation in male preference for a single visual trait in Heliconius cydno butterflies to identify genes associated with visual attraction. We identify SNPs perfectly associated with a visual attractant, a white or yellow band on the forewing. We then identify SNPs associated with life-long male preference and initial male preference for white- or yellow- banded females. Life-long preference in H. cydno is polygenic and influenced by genes associated with neurodevelopment and neuron function. Initial courtship preference is associated with a small set of candidate genes that influence neurodevelopment and gene expression during development. None of these four genes are also highly associated with life-long preference. The loci of large effect for the preferred trait, the forewing white/yellow color band, are not loci of large effect for mate preference, though they are associated with visual preference, and have a small, simple dominant/recessive effect on the trait. Our results suggest that variation in initial attraction can be driven by a small number of genes with large effect, and that the genes influencing evolutionarily important behaviors such as mate selection may change throughout an individual’s lifetime.
