The study of modularity in biological systems is mostly concerned with molecular and cellular networks and pathways in single cells. Although we can describe and analyze modules at all levels of biological organization, the ultimate challenge facing systems biology is the integration of complex processes across many levels, from molecules to whole organisms in an ever-changing environment. We propose here to begin building such a comprehensive framework for understanding complex and phenotypically plastic traits as they result from interactions between genotype and environment. Over the past several years, we have developed a model system, the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni, in which we can measure both behavior and physiological processes in semi-natural conditions. In a social community of A. burtoni, there is a constant exchange of social information as males establish territories, court females and make aggressive displays towards other males. We have shown previously at the molecular, neuroanatomical, and endocrine level that social status regulates reproductive state, growth rate, and stress reactivity. In this proposal we will (1) construct an annotated cDNA microarray representing >10,000 A. burtoni genes and ESTs; (2) determine how tissue-specific gene expression profiles differ between dominant and subordinate A. burtoni males; and (3) uncover how these profiles change during changes in social status. Furthermore, we will begin a rigorous and systematic functional analysis of genes we find to be involved in plasticity. Our analysis will determine whether dedicated modules underlie plasticity organismal robustness, or whether they are consequences of the actions of other pathways and networks.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Specialized Center (P50)
Project #
5P50GM068763-04
Application #
7557320
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZGM1)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2007-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$196,651
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Type
DUNS #
082359691
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02138
Westerman, Erica L; VanKuren, Nicholas W; Massardo, Darli et al. (2018) Aristaless Controls Butterfly Wing Color Variation Used in Mimicry and Mate Choice. Curr Biol 28:3469-3474.e4
Bonham, Kevin S; Wolfe, Benjamin E; Dutton, Rachel J (2017) Extensive horizontal gene transfer in cheese-associated bacteria. Elife 6:
Hormoz, Sahand; Singer, Zakary S; Linton, James M et al. (2016) Inferring Cell-State Transition Dynamics from Lineage Trees and Endpoint Single-Cell Measurements. Cell Syst 3:419-433.e8
Renn, Suzy C P; O'Rourke, Cynthia F; Aubin-Horth, Nadia et al. (2016) Dissecting the Transcriptional Patterns of Social Dominance across Teleosts. Integr Comp Biol 56:1250-1265
Kastman, Erik K; Kamelamela, Noelani; Norville, Josh W et al. (2016) Biotic Interactions Shape the Ecological Distributions of Staphylococcus Species. MBio 7:
Lavrentovich, Maxim O; Wahl, Mary E; Nelson, David R et al. (2016) Spatially Constrained Growth Enhances Conversional Meltdown. Biophys J 110:2800-2808
Battle, Christopher; Broedersz, Chase P; Fakhri, Nikta et al. (2016) Broken detailed balance at mesoscopic scales in active biological systems. Science 352:604-7
Tamari, Zvi; Yona, Avihu H; Pilpel, Yitzhak et al. (2016) Rapid evolutionary adaptation to growth on an 'unfamiliar' carbon source. BMC Genomics 17:674
Kim, Wook; Levy, Stuart B; Foster, Kevin R (2016) Rapid radiation in bacteria leads to a division of labour. Nat Commun 7:10508
Muller, Nicolas; Piel, Matthieu; Calvez, Vincent et al. (2016) A Predictive Model for Yeast Cell Polarization in Pheromone Gradients. PLoS Comput Biol 12:e1004795

Showing the most recent 10 out of 205 publications