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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.02.029 Byline: Heidi S. Fisher (a)(b), Samantha J. Mascuch (a), Gil G. Rosenthal (b)(c) Abstract: Mate choice represents the outcome of a complex decision that is most often based on the integration of information on multiple traits expressed by potential mates. Multiple traits, however, can show phenotypic correlations, which may coincide with, or oppose, female preference for individual traits. Thus, if multivariate preferences are misaligned with trait covariation, variation in single traits can persist because of weakened net sexual selection. Male swordtails, Xiphophorus birchmanni, show positive covariation among three sexually dimorphic visual traits: body size, vertical bars and dorsal fin size. Using synthetic video animations, we isolated each trait and found that females preferred males with large bodies and vertical bars, but small dorsal fins, thus conflicting with male trait covariation. We then tested females using live wild-caught males and found that females preferred smaller dorsal fins on larger males. We suggest that multivariate discordance between traits and preferences results in weak sexual selection on male visual traits, and may help explain the maintenance of variation in sexually dimorphic phenotypes. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, U.S.A. (b) Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, U.S.A. (c) Centro de Investigaciones Cientificas de las Huastecas 'Aguazarca', Calnali, Mexico Article History: Received 11 December 2008; Revised 23 January 2009; Accepted 18 February 2009 Article Note: (miscellaneous) MS. number: A08-00805

Widespread testing for the presence of the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals remains vital for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the advent of an effective treatment. Challenges in testing can be traced to an initial shortage of supplies, expertise, and/or instrumentation necessary to detect the virus by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR), the most robust, sensitive, and specific assay currently available. Here we show that academic biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories equipped with appropriate expertise and infrastructure can replicate commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test kits and backfill pipeline shortages. The Georgia Tech COVID-19 Test Kit Support Group, composed of faculty, staff, and trainees across the biotechnology quad at Georgia Institute of Technology, synthesized multiplexed primers and probes and formulated a master mix composed of enzymes and proteins produced in-house. Our in-house kit compares favorably with a commercial product used for diagnostic testing. We also developed an environmental testing protocol to readily monitor surfaces for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Our blueprint should be readily reproducible by research teams at other institutions, and our protocols may be modified and adapted to enable SARS-CoV-2 detection in more resourcelimited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]