How do behaviors evolve?

As animals adapt to fit new ecological niches, they typically evolve changes to their behavior. The McGrath Lab seeks to understand the genomic and neural basis of the evolution of social and feeding behaviors using the nematode C. elegans and East African cichlid fishes as model systems for discovery of generalizable principles.

Our tools include machine learning and automated behavioral analysis methods, quantitative genetics and genomic editing tools to map causal genetic loci, and genomics to characterize transcriptional and cellular differences in behaving animals. We combine these approaches to explore the interplay between genetic mutations, cellular function, behavioral changes, and fitness.