Behaviour Genetics

Question 1

Variation in behaviour amongst individuals within a species due to…

Answer 1

Genetic differences
Environment

Question 2

Heritability is an indication of…

Answer 2

How much a character or trait in an individual is likely to be passed on to its offspring

Question 3

Most behaviour traits are only __-__% heritable

Answer 3

10-28%

Question 4

Most of the determinants of an animals behaviour are…

Answer 4

Environmental, due to aspect of animal’s experience

Question 5

What is behaviour genetics

Answer 5

Field of study examining the role of genetics in animal behaviour

Question 6

What do behaviour geneticists study, more specifically? Using what techniques?

Answer 6

Inheritance of behavioural traits, often using twin studies, breeding, transgenesis, or gene knockout techniques

Question 7

Trait affected by many genes

Answer 7

Polygenic

Question 8

Are most behavioural traits monogenic?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Can single gene mutations affect behaviour?

Answer 9

Yes, drastically, especially if a single gene plays a big role in the beh appearance

Question 10

Genes associated with particular behaviour traits can be ___________ with some other traits such as ________________

Answer 10

Inherited
Anatomical features

Question 11

What can inheritance of a behaviour trait with anatomical trait lead to

Answer 11

Linkage of these traits, change one change the other

Question 12

Example of single gene influences on behaviour (linkages)

Answer 12

Agouti gene = aggression in mice
Tendency to bark (2 genes) = basenji’s have high bark threshold

Question 13

How do we localize the position on the chromosome related to the phenotypic expression of a behaviour

Answer 13

May be inherited in close correlation with some other trait for which the gene location is known

Question 14

What is QTL analysis? GWAS?

Answer 14

QTL = quantitative trait loci analysis
GWAS = genome-wide association studies

Question 15

Slide 9

Answer 15

Localizing genes

Question 16

How does evolution play a role in behaviour

Answer 16

Mechanisms that control behaviour have evolved by natural selection, like any other characteristics

Question 17

What is natural selection

Answer 17

Acts on animals to increase the proportion of some genes in the population at the expense of others

Question 18

E.g. of natural selection

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What is inclusive fitness

Answer 19

Refers to gene frequency in terms of the effects of that gene on individuals (usually related)

Question 20

What is individual fitness

Answer 20

Refers to the number of offspring of that individual that they survive to breed

Question 21

Coefficient of relatedness for parent-offspring and siblings _____. Distance relatives __________

Answer 21

0.5
0.125

Question 22

What is artificial selection

Answer 22

When we select for characters or traits we find desirable to increase the gene frequency of those traits in a given population

Question 23

E.g. of artificial selection

Answer 23

Increasing growth rate in cattle or pigs, increased milk production in dairy cows

Question 24

How can behaviour act as a secondary trait

Answer 24

Artifically selecting for one trait (e.g. growth rate), a second trait is inadvertently selected for as well (e.g. aggression)