Genetic editing of the androgen receptor contributes to impaired male courtship behavior in zebrafish

Abstract

Elucidating the genes that contribute to behavioral variation has become an important endeavor in behavioral studies. While advances in genomics have narrowed down candidate genes, functionally validating them has been lagging, partly because of challenges associated with rapid gene manipulations. Consequently, few studies have demonstrated causal genetic changes linked to behaviors. The ‘gene editing revolution’ has offered unprecedented opportunities to interrogate candidate genes responsible for critical behaviors. Here, we edited the androgen receptor (AR), which is associated with male reproductive behavior in zebrafish using TAL effector nucleases (TALENs), and tested whether modifications at AR impacted courtship during mating trials. We reveal that males lacking AR courted females significantly less, showing reduced levels of stereotypic behaviors. Consistent with previous studies, disrupting androgen mechanisms can lead to behavioral changes with potential fitness consequences. Our study highlights the possibility to genetically alter a reproductive behavior, further solidifying the link between genotype and behavior.