New study shows that gene expression impacts on cichlid's social status

A new study is conducted to investigate the roles of gene play in fish dominance. The results overturn the common thinking that the genetic codes are fixed throughout life. In the research on African cichlid fish, colorful male fish does better in life, and they tend to get more breeding opportunities and more chances of obtaining food. Without doubt, the color and behavior can decide much of the perceived dominance of the fish by its community. New research shows the mechanisms behind the superficial metrics.

Stanford University biologists conducted the research, the results of which are regulated at a genetic level proved by tweaking genes in male cichlids. They found that regulating genes can happen on the way during the processes of epigenetics, which provides the potential to change fish behavior in the whole life.

Through different mechanisms, gene expression can be turned on and turned off easily. One of those mechanisms is called DNA methylation, through which methyl molecules can be added to genes, which prevent them from being expressed. The Stanford scientists applied this approach to their research on the dominance behaviors of male African cichlids. The results show how social dominance can be regulated through methylation, though status differences exist in all social organisms. They think that the process may also be affected through experiences that occur over an organism’s lifetime, which cause certain genes to express themselves somehow.

In this study, scientists concentrated on Astatotilapia burtoni (a kind of cichlid). The males in this cichlid rely on their dominance which is obtained by commonly fighting each other, thus getting more food and females. The researchers did research by subdividing the cichlid into several pairs of males. In every pair, one male was injected with a methylating agent while the other received a methylation suppressor, and the two fish fought for dominance. The cichlid which was injected with the methylating agent found most likely to be the winners.

In conclusion, the epigenetic processes can cause changes in social status for this species of African cichlid but not reflect. The researchers will confirm which genes respond to methylation and causes change in dominance behavior the next time.

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