Genetic mapping of craniofacial traits in the Mexican tetra reveals loci associated with bite differences between cave and surface fish.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, includes interfertile surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling morphs, enabling powerful studies aimed at uncovering genes involved in the evolution of cave-associated traits. Compared to surface fish, cavefish harbor several extreme traits within their skull, such as a protruding lower jaw, a wider gape, and an increase in tooth number. These features are highly variable between individual cavefish and even across different cavefish populations.

Results

To investigate these traits, we created a novel feeding behavior assay wherein bite impressions could be obtained. We determined that fish with an underbite leave larger bite impressions with an increase in the number of tooth marks. Capitalizing on the ability to produce hybrids f

SUBMITTER: Powers AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10463419 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature