female mate choice decision-making

Molecular Underpinnings of Female Mate Choice

Mate choice plays a key role in the generation and maintenance of new species, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms influencing these important decisions. With Hans Hofmann and Jenny Boughman, I showed that gene expression in the brains of female stickleback fish change dynamically depending on the male traits the female is exposed to, and this response differs between closely-related species adapted to different ecological conditions. These patterns of gene expression likely reflect variation in recognizing and evaluating suitable mates. Our results provide novel insights into the neuromolecular processes that govern reproductive isolation of diverging species.