Individual variation in preference behavior in sailfin fish refines the neurotranscriptomic pathway for mate preference.

ABSTRACT: Social interactions can drive distinct gene expression profiles which may vary by social context. Here we use female sailfin molly fish (Poecilia latipinna) to identify genomic profiles associated with preference behavior in distinct social contexts: male interactions (mate choice) versus female interactions (shoaling partner preference). We measured the behavior of 15 females interacting in a non-contact environment with either two males or two females for 30 min followed by whole-brain transcriptomic profiling by RNA sequencing. We profiled females that exhibited high levels of social affiliation and great variation in preference behavior to identify an order of magnitude more differentially expressed genes associated with behavioral variation than by differences in social context

SUBMITTER: Young RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10363800 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature