Lecture 5: Genes

Question 1

who was the first behaviourist? and what were his assumptions?

Answer 1

Charles Darwin. -discovered Natural Selection

traits were inherited as genes were unknown

Question 2

who was Francis Galton

Answer 2

(1822-1911)
Darwins cousin
assumed intelligence to be inherited - ignore environmental factor which may affect

Question 3

so is behaviour inherited or not

Answer 3

behaviour is somewhat inherited but environment plays a part to

Question 4

who suggested that some behaviours map v precisely onto phylogenies

Answer 4

Comparitive study of duck curtship displays (1911)

Conrad Lorenz & Oskar Heinroth (1871-1945)

Question 5

when was ‘Behavioural ecology’ first studied and what was its focus

Answer 5

• in mid 1970’s
• Focus is on the adaptive significance of behaviour and assumes a genetic basus for most behaviour
• popularised by Richard Dawkins in ‘The Selfish Gene’

Question 6

twin studied

Answer 6

In USA, look at genetic affects. Highest correlations between MZ twins reared together, lowest between adoptive parents and offspring (i.e.unrelated)

Question 7

who is Cyril Burt

Answer 7

(1883-1971)
Faked his data for ideology, was dishonest. The nature genetic) vs nurture (environment) debate linked with political views
BELIEVED GENES TO BE ALL IMPORTANT

Question 8

animals: testing for genetic affects

Answer 8

• artificial selection studies
• molecular analysis of genes underlying complex behavioural traits
• animal model studies (complex breeding model)
• molecular techniques to create knock out

Question 9

Emlen funnel:

Answer 9

a bird cage shaped like an inverted cone, used to study bird behaviour, in particular birds’ migratory instincts
-Ink pad at bottom so markings left on sides from birds feet

Question 10

example experiment using blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla)

Answer 10

Emlen funnel, looking at migration.

-in different populations of blackcaps and hybrid birds of these populations

Question 11

what are animal model studies use to estimate

Answer 11

• the genetic component of phenotypic variation using data either collected in the lab or in the field.
• provides estimates of heritability’s and genetic correlations

Question 12

what has a genetic basis in great tits

Answer 12

personality - boldness vs shyness

Question 13

how many genes? single gene demonstrated with

Answer 13

‘knockout’ experiments

Question 14

e.g. of knockout experiment to demonstrate single gene

Answer 14

• single gene is inactivated in lab mice
• the fosB gene controls maternal behaviour. Normal mice keep their pups together.
• knockout mice with fosB gene inactivated, ignore there pups

Question 15

an example of behaviour controlled by multiple genes:

Answer 15

A ruff Philomachus pugnax lek - displaying males

Question 16

Ruff: 3 types…

Answer 16

• resident
• satellite
• Faeder (and female)

Question 17

ruff: the resident is the

Answer 17

(also known as independent) is the ancestral form: homozygous and no inversion

Question 18

ruff: The satellite was created by

Answer 18

an inversion within the inversion it it has one copy of the double inversion and one copt of the ancestral form

Question 19

ruff: the faeder was created

Answer 19

by an inversion: it has one copy of the inversion and one copy of the ancestral form

Question 20

ruff: Any combination of the two inversions results are

Answer 20

LETHAL -they’ve never been seen

satellite & faeder

Question 21

Early studies of behaviour assumed

Answer 21

a genetic effect

Question 22

summary: tests of genetic effects

Answer 22

• Twin studies
• selective breeding (blackcaps)
• Animal Model studies
• –breeding design (e.g. zebra finches)
• –pedigree of wild population (i.e. great tit)

Question 23

how many genes involved in behaviour?

Answer 23

• single gene (e.g. knock-out mice)

- multiple (super) genes (e.g. ruff)