Heliconius cydno neural tissue RNA-seq

Many studies have linked genetic variation to behavior, but the links between that variation and the neural circuits that drive behavior remain elusive. We investigated the architecture of mate choice behavior in Heliconius butterflies, which use vision to identify preferred mates based on wing color patterns. We used RNA-sequencing of retina, optic lobe, and central brain to identify candidate genes associated with mate choice behavior variation in these species.