Genetic and plastic variation in opsin gene expression, light sensitivity, and female response to visual signals in the guppy.

ABSTRACT: According to the sensory drive model, variation in visual properties can lead to diverse female preferences, which in turn results in a range of male nuptial colors by way of sexual selection. However, the cause of variation in visual properties and the mechanism by which variation drives female response to visual signals remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that both differences in the long-wavelength-sensitive 1 (LWS-1) opsin genotype and the light environment during rearing lead to variation in opsin gene expression. Opsin expression variation affects the visual sensitivity threshold to long wavelengths of light. Moreover, a behavioral assay using digitally modified video images showed that the expression of multiple opsin genes is positively correlated with the female responsive

SUBMITTER: Sakai Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6275514 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature