Chapter 4 Flashcards
Genotype
Alleles of induvial
Phenotype
overserved traits of individual
Behvaiour is a result of
Genotype
Environment
Gene-Envornoment Interactions
Instinct / Innate behaviours
- present even in indiv. raised in isolation
- reflexes - invol, movement in repsone to stimulus
- not training requires - no/little variation
- geentic basis - hetiable
Fixed Action Pattern
behaviour that displays almost no variation and, once started, cannot be stopped until completed
- Once they are intimated – very little variation
Wild type vs Mutant type fruit flies - research question
Why aren’t yellow forms of fruit flies more common in nature?
**whether the yellow colouration also produced some change in behaviour?
And perhaps this change in behaviour was linked to reproductive success?
Flies: Methods
Interbred wild-type and mutant “yellow” flies
Conducted mating trials
** focused on males –> did more of the work, males orietn tot he females, wing virbation, spend alot of energy
Flies + Results
Wild-type males had higher mating success + mated sooner + showed more courtship behaviour than mutant yellow males
females mated less w/ males w/ weak courtship displays
Flies + Conclusion
Differences in courtship behaviour result in reduced mating success of yellow individuals.
Flies + Importance of experiment
showing that variation in genotype associated with variation in behavioural phenotype.
Where do we find biomedical + genomic information
The National Center for Biotechnology Information
Innate behaviours - adult grey lag geese
extend neck _ bills –. roll displaced eggs back into nest
Epistasis
Interactiosn w/ genes @ diff. loci
Pleiotropy
a single gene affecting 1+ phenotypic traits
Major gene
respon. for majority of phenotypic variation
Minor gene
small amont of phenotipyc variation
genetic markers
- susptected gene - place markers + obersve expression of those genes in future genrations
attached to DNA fragment for each invidv using recombinant DNA techniques
QTL
Q – number, trait – fur colour etc, loci here is it in the genome, location, expression etc
a statistical technique that combines genetic information with trait information
QTL analysis
Take 2 ditstinct traits breed diff in behaviour 2 main diff groups of indiv.
- The goal is to figure out which regions of the genome contain the genes that influence a particular trait
- This procedure can provide information about the number of genes and also their location on chromosomes
Begin QTL analysis
Two or more strains of organisms that differ genetically with regard to the trait of interest.
For example, they might select lines fixed for different alleles influencing egg size (one large and one small)
2. require genetic markers that distinguish between these parental lines.
Genetic Markers
- Restriction fragment length polymorphisms
- Simple sequence repeats
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms
- Spefifc gene sequrnce known very well restricted short poly – vary a little bit (bases)
- Simple sequence that repearts
- SNP’s only differ in single base nuelotide
neulocbase + nueclotide
Nucleobase = T, A, C, G
Nucleotide = T, A, C, G + sugar + phosphate group
Fire Ants Injuries
-0 invasive ants
- stings = blisters,painful rare - babies/elderly - died from reations
- most likley arrival point - shipments coming into New Zealnd ports
Fire Ants Research Question
Do genes affect variation in social behaviour in fire ants?
Monogyne
Monogyne – single reproductive queen
Polygyne
multiple reproductive queen
- higher population density = more severe ecoloigcal impact
Fire Ants Methods
Collected monogyne and polygyne colonies
Conducted gel electrophoresis to compare allele frequencies at several loci
Fire Ants results
Genotype and allelic frequency at one locus, Gp-9, differed between two types of colonies
Monogyne colonies all displayed Gp-9BB
Polygyne colonies displayed Gp-9Bb
Gp-9
- pheromone binding protein
role: chemcial recogintion - allows ants to identify which ants are strangers / colony - part of super gene
Fire Ants conclusion
Alleles at one locus appear to be involved in regulating social organization in fire ants
Knockout
Disabling a gene
AVp (arginine vasopressin) peptide hormone
Involved in fluid & blood pressure balance
Involved in social recognition, pair bonding, parenting, stress
- only affect those with function avp receptor
Mice Research Question
What is the function of the AVPR1A receptor in mice?
Mice - methods
- Created a knockout of V1aR gene
- wildtype - normal
- Conducted stress tests on wild-type and knockout mice
- elevated plus maze
- open field test
- light / dark box
Mice + resutls
Knockout mice spent more time in the open, light areas than did wild-type mice
Mice + Conclusion
V1aR gene plays an important role in affecting behaviour when animals are placed in stressful situations
-gene can strongly affect habitiat choice + movement behaviour
Closed-ended learners
Individuals must hear a tutor sing its conspecific song shortly after hatching in order to learn the song correctly
Open-ended learners.
Individuals can acquire new song elements throughout life
Zebra Finches are closed-ended learners
Birdsong Development - Tape recording vs. Live tutors
tape recordings of tutors vs. live tutors
- Critical period lasts longer when the animal is paired with a live tutor
- Tape-tutored birds produce simpler songs
Anterior Circuit
Song learning (cognitive)
Posterior Circuit
Song production ( motor movemnt)
Birds _ research Question
What is the role of the FoxP2 gene in song development?
FoxP2 gene
Expression increase when young bird learn + open ended adult + song
Avian song circuit.
. There are two neural circuits in the songbird brain. The red arrows indicate neural connections within the posterior circuit, which is involved in song production. The blue arrows indicate connections in the anterior circuit, which is involved in song learning.
Birds + Methods
Knockdown technique
Controls had short sections of RNA placed in noncoding region of DNA - limtis difference b/w groups
Adult male tutors and young juvenile males housed together – Males pend moret time learning diff tupe s of songs matinig
Recorded songs
Spectrogram
pitcure of sound
Different song elements (buzzes and trills) are identified in the tutor song through note variation in frequency and duration.
Birds + results
Knockdown birds had much lower FoxP2 expression than controls
Knockdown birds omitted certain syablles – song is not compelete + decrease quality in song
Birds + Conclusion
FoxP2 is required for normal song development
Zebrafish Question
How does environmental variation affect aggression in zebrafish
Zebrafish + hypthesis
both developmental + bhavioural environment affect agression
Zebrafish + methods
- collected eggs from 12 siblinfs
divide eggs into 2 developmetal froups - raised to adulthoood - tested fish in normoxi/hypoxic test chamber afte 16 hour period
- measured agression as time spent biting / nipping mirror image
Zebrafish + results
Hypoxia rasied fish = higher levels of agression in hypoxic test chamber
- norm. raisef fish = higher levels of agression in norm. text chamber
Zebrafish + Conclusion
display more aggressive behaviour in environment they were raised in –> interaction b/w developmental + behavioural environments
Personality
consistent relative diff in behaviour amound individuals over time / across diff environmental context
- variations in boldness of acitvy., agressiveness
Bold / Shy personalites - salamanders
2 challenges
1. max. feeding time - shorten development time before streams dry up
2. avoid predators
Predators present - less time spent feeding - negative correlation
Salamnder Expirement
- examined larvea behaviour - 2 treatments
1. fish cue - adding water from an aquarium + 4 sunfish
2. Control - tap water
larave spent 75% out eating in control, only 40% in fish cue treatment
Bold invidv. spent mroe time out compared to shy indiv. in both treatments
Aggressive personalities in Fishing spiders
- female insects consume courting male before copopulation
- females in poor condition - benefit - obtain nutrients from meal = benefit > cost if they can find other mate later on - results in experiments - females in poor condition were not more likely to attack
Personalities + Fitness Trade off’s
- on avg. - bold (males) - higher reproductive rate + shorter life span - giver shyer indiv. more opp. to prodice = pattern - equal fitness for bold+shy indiv.
