Adapting to darkness: How behavioural and genetic changes helped cavefish survive extreme environment
University of Maryland biologists have identified how changes in both behaviour and genetics led to the evolution of the Mexican blind cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) from its sighted, surface-dwelling ancestor. In research published in the August 12, 2010 online edition of the journal Current Biology, Professor William Jeffery, together with postdoctoral associates Masato Yoshizawa, and Spela Gori?ki, and Assistant Professor Daphne Soares in the Department of Biology, provide new information that shows how behavioural and genetic traits coevolved to compensate for the loss of vision in cavefish and to help them find food in darkness. This is the first time that a clear link has been identified between behaviour, genetics, and evolution in Mexican blind cavefish, which are considered an excellent model for studying evolution...