UT Austin biologist Rebecca Young discuss her work with host Jorge Salazar about how she traces the genes behind monogamous behavior using the Wrangler supercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computing Center.

Scientists at the Hofmann Lab of UT Austin are using the Wrangler data-intensive supercomputer to find orthologs — genes common to different species. They'll search for them in each of the major lineages of vertebrates — mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes.

"What we want to know is, even though they've evolved independently, whether it's possible that some of the same genes are important in regulating this behavior, in particular expression of these genes in the brain while monogamous males are reproductively active," said Rebecca Young. Young is a research associate in the Department of Integrative Biology and at the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, UT Austin.

Music Credits: Raro Bueno, Chuzausen freemusicarchive.org/music/Chuzausen/