David Clayton Discovers Genetic Basis of Songbird Memory

Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology David Clayton and colleagues have discovered that the gene expression of a zebra finch is altered when the bird hears a new song by a bird of the same species. The researchers have shown that the auditory forebrain of the finch responds to a new song by switching on and off thousands of genes. Twenty-four hours later, a third pattern of gene expression is present, showing the bird's efforts to process its new memory.