Expression change in Angiopoietin-1 underlies change in relative brain size in fish.

ABSTRACT: Brain size varies substantially across the animal kingdom and is often associated with cognitive ability; however, the genetic architecture underpinning natural variation in these key traits is virtually unknown. In order to identify the genetic architecture and loci underlying variation in brain size, we analysed both coding sequence and expression for all the loci expressed in the telencephalon in replicate populations of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) artificially selected for large and small relative brain size. A single gene, Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), a regulator of angiogenesis and suspected driver of neural development, was differentially expressed between large- and small-brain populations. Zebra fish (Danio rerio) morphants showed that mild knock down of Ang-1 produces a small-braine

SUBMITTER: Chen YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4590489 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature