Deaf Male Mosquitoes Cannot Mate

 

    Mating between mosquitoes usually takes place within a few seconds in midair and happens fairly frequently, but not in this one study where it was discovered that deaf male mosquitoes cannot mate. Male mosquitoes are constantly searching for potential mates and are attracted by the sound of the flapping of the females’ wings at about 500 Hz. They generally give of a sound at about 800 Hz and generate this sound when females are around. Scientists suspected that sound played a crucial role in the mosquito mating process, so they used CRISPR-Cas9 to remove the trpVa gene from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The absence of the trpVa gene alone caused these mosquitoes to completely lose interest in mating, effectively killing their libido. If they cannot hear the sound of the females’ wings, they have no interest in mating, as they are not sexually aroused. It was found that the effect of the loss of the trpVa gene in females was minimal in comparison, as they were still able to mate.

    This is an important discovery in my opinion, as many behaviors such as mating in most organisms are dependent on multiple factors instead of just one. The fact that changing only a single gene can halt mating and reproduction in this organism completely is profound. This is something that can be extremely useful in further research. The ability to cease mating completely within an organism has the potential to be used to control and manipulate the population of that organism for a variety of uses, and can have a wide range of impacts upon the population and its surrounding ecosystem.

Sexual Fidelity Found to be Linked to DNA in Voles

Genetic differences between voles of the same species can influence their mating according to researchers at the University of Texas, Austin. Some voles prefer to stay with a single mate and are therefore guaranteed to be the father of the offspring. Others, however, prefer to mate with many females and try to get as many offspring as possible. The researchers concluded that these traits are both equally efficient and there is room in the population for both type of voles with no one type being favored over the other. 

This new research is very interesting because it links DNA to social behaviors. We currently know that DNA codes for looks and other aesthetic traits, but things like personality were hazy. This study directly links genetic differences to mating habits and can prove to be very useful in further studies on this topic. 

A Vole

When it comes to mating behavior of the ruff its all in the genes

Using Genome sequences, researchers at the University of Sheffield have identified a 'super gene' that  determines the mating behaviors of certain ruff birds.  The ruff birds display three distinct types of mating behaviors: territorial males, non-territorial 'satellite' males, and 'cross dressing' males which mimic females.  A team of researchers identified a 'super gene' that contains a hundred or more genes which encodes for these distinct mating behaviors.  The researchers state the gene was created several million years ago due to chromosomal rearrangement which allowed the female mimics to coevolve with the territorial males.  They further state the alternative form of the super gene combined to give rise to the satellite males; the super gene encodes for multiple traits including hormones, feathering, color and size.

This article provides an interesting example of how genes can directly influence the behavior of animals and how the two ( genetics and behavior) are not mutually exclusive.  Furthermore this article also provides an excellent example of how evolution propagates the selection of advantageous  genes and how those genes are passed from one generation to the next.