Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Duboué, Erik R.

Abstract

Startle responses are evolutionarily conserved behaviors that play key roles in the daily necessities of an animal, including foraging and predator avoidance. While the neuronal mechanisms underlying startle responses are well understood, less is known about the evolutionary mechanisms that modify this behavior. This study places a focus on uncovering the evolutionary and genetic basis of sensory-motor integration through the analysis of startle response behavior. We address this question using the emerging evolutionary model, Astyanax mexicanus, which consists of 2 different populations: a river-dwelling surface fish and a cave-dwelling fish. These populations drastically evolved differential traits due to their environment. This study focused on the extracellular leucine-rich repeat and fibronectin type III domain containing 1 (elfn1) gene, and its impact on sensory-motor behaviors utilizing the CRISPR/Cas 9 gene- editing technique. It was found that there is no statistically significant involvement of startle response with this gene. Together, this study helps reveal genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of conserved sensory-motor behavior. Startle response behaviors are evolutionarily fundamental assets to life, and understanding the role genetics play in this will assist us with identifying a continuous circuit of genes with significant roles in sensory overload.

Comments

Thesis (B.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2023

Extent

19 p.

Identifier

FAUHT00281

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