Guiry et al. BMC Genomics 2010, 11:211 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/11/211 Acknowledgements We would like to thank Jennifer Larkin and Thomas Reynolds for technical assistance in qRT-PCR analysis and SSH library construction, and Dr Emma Holian for her help with the LIMMA analysis. Also thanks to Prof Andrew Cossins (University of Liverpool) for the use of their microarray printing facilities and Dr Margaret Hughes for printing. This project was funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) of Ireland under PRTLI Cycle 3. Additional work and support for MTC and BH was funded through Enterprise Ireland. Author details 1National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland. 2Marine Institute, Furnace, Newport, Co Mayo, Ireland. Authors’ contributions AG and DF carried out the microarray studies. AG, DF, SH, AMOK, SLW and PFF were involved in the weighing, measurements and gonadal index determination of the precocious fish. AG, DF, SH, AMOK, SLW and PFF prepared and characterised the SSH libraries. AG, BH and PD carried out the qRT-PCR. DC provided the fish, the facilities to dissect these and background expertise on these fish populations. SH and AMOK organised the logistics of the array construction. OLP provided software and bioinformatics help throughout. TJS was academic supervisor to AG and guided her role in the work. MTC and NPW conceived of the study, and participated in its design and coordination and drafted the manuscript. MTC carried out all LIMMA analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Received: 23 October 2009 Accepted: 30 March 2010 Published: 30 March 2010 References 1. Taborsky M: The Evolution of Bourgeois, Parasitic, and Cooperative Reproductive Behaviors in Fishes. J Hered 2001, 92(2):100-110. 2. Gross MR: Sneakers, satellites and parentals - polymorphic mating strategies in North-American sunfishes. 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