ABSTRACT:

The raw material for much of evolution is gene duplication and/or changes in gene regulation and or sequence. An excellent example of this occurs in electric fish in voltage-gated ion channels of electric organs. Electric organs generate electric signals that these nocturnally-active fish use to navigate and communicate with each other in the darkness. I will present two examples of channels—a potassium channel and a sodium channel-- that underwent gene duplication, altered site of expression, show the imprint of positive selection, and, as a result of selection, have altered electrophysiological properties that shape electric communication signals.