from gene to behaviour

Question 1

What are four functions of proteins?

Answer 1

1. Receptor
2. Ligand
3. Cellular structure
4. Expression of other genes

Question 2

Why are knock out proteins (KOs) relevant?

Answer 2

to have the most extreme look into genetic changes

Question 3

What are possible consequences of minor modifications in gene expression?

Answer 3

may affect protein confirmation

Question 4

what are things to consider in phenotyping

Answer 4

phenotyping= The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences. b. The expression of a specific trait, such as stature or blood type, based on genetic and environmental influences.

Question 5

Describe an “elevated plus maze” experiment

emotion/motivation

Answer 5

• creates an approach-avoidance conflict between the natural tendency to explore and aversion for open spaces
• consists of two enclosed arms and two open arms (arms without walls)
• anxiety is typically measured by the amount of time the animal explores the open arm
• > the more anxious the less the animal will explore the open arms

Question 6

Describe an “open field test” experiment

motor function

Answer 6

• measures exploratory behaviour in a novel, enclosed environment
• initially designd to assess locomotion, the test assesses anxiety (measured by time spent close to the walls)
• the degree of stress can be manipulated (e.g. changing colour of the enclosure, increasing size of field, or changing light intensity)

Question 7

Describe a “light/dark box” test

emotion/motivation

Answer 7

• when animals are placed in a novel arena consisting of a bright and a dark compartment, they choose a dark area
• the more anxious the animal, the more time is spent exploring the dark compartment

Question 8

Describe a “fear-potentiated startle” experiment

emotion/motivation

Answer 8

• animals are first trained to associate a conditioned stimulus (CS, e.g. light) with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US, e.g. shock). Fear becomes a conditioned response (CR)
• following fear conditioning, the light is presented in conjunction with an unexpected (unpredictable) acoustic stimulus that elicits a startle respnse
• the magnitude of the CS/startle response is contrasted with that induced by presentation of the acoustic startle stimulus alone.
• The more anxious the animal, the greater the CS/startle response is in contrast to the startle response observed in the absence of CS

-layers of stressor can be added (to study PTSD/phobia)

Question 9

Explain a ‘forced swim’ experiment

emotion/motivation

Answer 9

• Two trials of forced swimming in a cylinder filled with water (animal can’t escape)
• the first trial lasts for 15 min
• after 24h a second trial is performed that lasts 5 min
• the time that the test animal spends without moving in the second trial is measured

Question 10

how is an ‘aggression’ experiment carried out?

Answer 10

• After acclimatisation, a mouse is allowed to interact with a conspecific for a given interval and measurements of aggressive behaviour are made
• If a memory component is assessed, after a retention delay, mouse is introduced to either a novel or the same conspecific
• the level of aggressive behaviours exhibits with novel and previously encountered conspecifics is compared
• this task tests level of aggression and memory for social information and cues that identify individual subjects

Question 11

How is a ‘social interaction’ experiment carried out?

Answer 11

• a novel animal is placed in one of the two enclosures, and the % of time it spend in the section with the novel animal is compared to the time spent in the section with the empty enclosure
• the time spent with the same animal might be compared to time spent with a newer, more novel animal