Establishing faecalFACS as a method to investigate the genomic relatedness networks that underlie social interaction networks in natural animal populations

Many hypotheses in behavioural ecology are based on inclusive fitness theory. An understanding of relatedness among individuals is therefore crucial for investigating many questions in this field. It is, however, quite an endeavour in natural populations of difficult-to-sample taxa. A team led by behavioural ecologist Gisela Kopp is therefore assessing the broad-scale feasibility of the novel faecalFACS methodology in the project Establishing faecalFACS as a method to investigate the genomic relatedness networks that underlie social interaction networks in natural animal populations. The aim is to derive genetic relatedness networks based on faecal samples from non-model organisms. Kopp is certain: “This will open up completely new horizons for studying the genetic factors underlying (social) interactions in natural animal populations.” Kopp and the team are currently adjusting fixing and staining procedures to optimize the yield of sorted cells, which will improve the quality of genomic data that can be obtained.