Meeting Abstract

P3.7  Monday, Jan. 6 15:30  Molecular Modules of Maternal Care: Neural gene expression in the mouth-brooding cichlid A. burtoni. RENN, SCP*; SCHAUPP, H; SCHMIDT, C; Reed College; Reed College; Reed College renns@reed.edu

Much like rodents at the time of parturition, mother fish at the time of fry release undergo a dramatic behavioral switch from avoidance of offspring to active care, defense, and retrieval offspring when a threat is perceived. Our lab has identified gene expression changes associated with the transition from mouth-brooding to overt maternal care. Importantly, the comparison between fish stocks with high and low maternal eliminate several confounding factors experienced by both stocks and therefore identify gene regulation that is specifically associated the maternal care behaviors. By aligning our gene regulation results with homologous anatomical networks we can determine the extent to which the cichlid maternal brain corresponds to that of mammals implying deep homology across vertebrates.