Behaviour Genetics Flashcards
Variation in behaviour amongst individuals within a species due to…
Genetic differences
Environment
Heritability is an indication of…
How much a character or trait in an individual is likely to be passed on to its offspring
Most behaviour traits are only __-__% heritable
10-28%
Most of the determinants of an animals behaviour are…
Environmental, due to aspect of animal’s experience
What is behaviour genetics
Field of study examining the role of genetics in animal behaviour
What do behaviour geneticists study, more specifically? Using what techniques?
Inheritance of behavioural traits, often using twin studies, breeding, transgenesis, or gene knockout techniques
Trait affected by many genes
Polygenic
Are most behavioural traits monogenic?
No, most are affected by many genes (polygenic)
BUT a single gene can have a crucial role for the normal appearance of a beh pattern
Can single gene mutations affect behaviour?
Yes, drastically, especially if a single gene plays a big role in the beh appearance
Genes associated with particular behaviour traits can be ___________ with some other traits such as ________________
Inherited
Anatomical features
What can inheritance of a behaviour trait with anatomical trait lead to
Linkage of these traits, change one change the other
Example of single gene influences on behaviour (linkages)
Agouti gene = aggression in mice
Tendency to bark (2 genes) = basenji’s have high bark threshold
How do we localize the position on the chromosome related to the phenotypic expression of a behaviour
May be inherited in close correlation with some other trait for which the gene location is known
What is QTL analysis? GWAS?
QTL = quantitative trait loci analysis
GWAS = genome-wide association studies
Slide 9
Localizing genes
How does evolution play a role in behaviour
Mechanisms that control behaviour have evolved by natural selection, like any other characteristics
What is natural selection
Acts on animals to increase the proportion of some genes in the population at the expense of others
E.g. of natural selection
If a male’s courtship display is more successful, it will have more offspring and the genes that contributed to his success will be passed on
What is inclusive fitness
Refers to gene frequency in terms of the effects of that gene on individuals (usually related)
What is individual fitness
Refers to the number of offspring of that individual that they survive to breed
Coefficient of relatedness for parent-offspring and siblings _____. Distance relatives __________
0.5
0.125
What is artificial selection
When we select for characters or traits we find desirable to increase the gene frequency of those traits in a given population
E.g. of artificial selection
Increasing growth rate in cattle or pigs, increased milk production in dairy cows
How can behaviour act as a secondary trait
Artifically selecting for one trait (e.g. growth rate), a second trait is inadvertently selected for as well (e.g. aggression)
