Lecture 19 - Using animal models to investigate genetic effects on behaviour Flashcards
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What is an animal model?
What are the 3 criteria for a good animal model?
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‘A living, non-human being used to understand the biological basis of healthy and pathological human phenotypes, and how to alleviate the latter, without the risk of harming an actual human being during the process’
See slide 2
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What are the different types of animal models?
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See slide 3
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What are some advantages of using animal models to understand gene (dys)function?
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See slide 4
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What are some disadvantages of using animal models to understand gene (dys)function?
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See slide 5
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List some commonly used genetic animals models.
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See slide 6
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Describe C. elegans in regards to why we use them as animal models.
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See slide 7
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Describe D. melanogaster in regards to why we use them as animal models.
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See slide 8
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Describe Zebrafish in regards to why we use them as animal models.
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See slide 9-10
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Describe Rodents (mice and rats) in regards to why we use them as animal models.
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See slide 11
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List a few ways that we can modify the rodent genome to assess effects on brain and behaviour.
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See slide 12
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Describe selective breeding in rodents used to modify the genome to assess effects on brain behaviour.
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See slide 13-14
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Describe gene knockout in rodents used to modify the genome to assess effects on brain behaviour.
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See slide 15
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Describe transgenesis in rodents used to modify the genome to assess effects on brain behaviour.
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See slide 16
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Describe Mutagenesis using chemicals (‘phenotype-driven approach’) in rodents used to modify the genome to assess effects on brain behaviour.
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See slide 17
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Describe Chromosomal mutations in rodents used to modify the genome to assess effects on brain behaviour.
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See slide 20-21
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Read slide 18-19
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Describe mouse model for down syndrome in rodents used to modify the genome to assess effects on brain behaviour.
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See slide 22
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Describe Administration of molecules affecting gene/protein expression in rodents used to modify the genome to assess effects on brain behaviour.
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See slide 23
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Read slide 24 onwards
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Summary
Animal models offer greater experimental control and amenability than human studies for examining genetic effects on behaviour
There are a number of commonly used genetic animal models, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages
Alterations to the genomic DNA sequence can lead to absence of gene expression (‘knockout’), altered gene function (‘knockin’) or increased gene expression (‘transgenesis’); these changes can be made to occur at selected timepoints/in selected tissues (‘conditional’ approaches)
Brain gene expression can also be altered in a specific manner by introducing small genetic sequences that impair transcription and/or translation
New genetic techniques (e.g. CRISPR, optogenetics and DREADDs) are revolutionising our knowledge about the genetic substrates and neural circuitry underlying particular behaviours
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(reading):
Yizhar (2012) Optogenetic insights into social behaviour function Biol Psychiatry 71(12):1075-80
Walters et al. (2016) Advanced in vivo use of CRISPR/Cas9 and antisense DNA inhibition for gene manipulation in the brain Front Genet 6:362
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