In the article, researchers observed a new behavior in a particular species of fish. Usually the female fish carry the fish eggs in their mouths but for the first time, the researcher observed a male fish carrying the eggs. The purpose of carrying the eggs is to keep them safe until the fish can survive on their own. The female fish will do this for two weeks at a time and causes much stress to the mothers since they have to go two weeks without eating. There is a pheromone released by the female fish which is said to signal to the dad to avoid retrieving the eggs after they have been laid. However, a mutation in the males stopped them from sensing the pheromone thus they ended up retrieving the eggs to keep them safe. However, this could be detrimental to the species because instead of the males mating with other females they are busy taking care of the eggs which is decreasing the amount of offspring they could be having.
This information makes me question if a similar study could occur in humans. Humans also produce pheromones so I wonder if there are any similar scenarios to the fish that we are unaware of. I think its amazing how many discoveries have occurred within genetics for traits and behaviors that I did not even know could be affected.
