Biological Sciences Colloquium: Dr. Mingzi Xu

Dr. Mingzi Xu from the University of Minnesota will present a talk about her work entitled, “The evolution and genomics of sexual signals and mating preferences.”

The abstract is as follows:

“Sexual signals and mating preferences are key to sexual selection and speciation. The evolution of sexual signals and preferences involves trait divergence within each sex and coevolution between males and females. In addition, signals and preferences are susceptible to environmental perturbations, presenting a challenge to the stability of signaling systems. What genetic and genomic mechanisms govern the evolution of sexual signaling systems and maintain their stability against environmental perturbation is a crucial outstanding question in evolutionary biology.

In this talk, I will present a study on the genetic basis of signal-preference coevolution in Laupala crickets, where male song pulse rate and female preference for pulse rate have coevolved repeatedly. Using QTL fine mapping, I have identified 3 pairs of co-localizing song and preference loci in the Laupala genome, providing strong evidence for genetic coupling, a long-dismissed hypothesis. I have also identified promising candidate genes that may pleiotrophically regulate male singing and female preference. I will then present new research in my lab on how environmental perturbations such as chemical pollutants and temperature fluctuations affect coordination between signals and preferences, as well as neurogenomic mechanisms maintaining the stability of the communication system.”

The presentation will begin at 4:00 PM in Lapham Hall N101, preceded by an informal reception from 3:45 – 4:00 PM.