lecture 5 - molecular genetics and development

Question 1

what did tinbergen emphasize?

Answer 1

how development factors shape behavior

Question 2

what does behavior develop as a consequence of

Answer 2

genetic and environmental factors

Question 3

what are the types of environmental factors

Answer 3

• abiotic
• biotic

Question 4

what are innate behaviors

Answer 4

instinctive behaviors based only on ggenes

Question 5

what are learned behaviors

Answer 5

behaviors learned from interacting with the world/by being taught

Question 6

what are examples of innate behaviors in humans?

Answer 6

reflexes in babies

Question 7

explain how genetic factors work in termites in terms of reproduction

Answer 7

Queen does all reproduction and suppresses reproduction in other females using chemical signals that result in less aggression.
Neofem2 is the gene that suppresses aggression and when this is silenced using molecular genetics then the females become more aggressive and compete to become new queen

Question 8

explain the role of different genetic factors in song acquisition in zebra finches

Answer 8

• FoxP2 gene associated with song learning makes zebra finches worse at copying when deactivates.
• when zebra finches are exposed to zebra finch song for 45 mins they have increased mRNA levels associated with zenk gene in the neostriatum (area involved in song pattern recognition/discrimination) which increases neuron levels. this only happens with zebra finch song
• if they are exposed to same song ever 30 minutes then senk mRNA levels decrease as they habituate

Question 9

how many genes are involved in zebra finch song learning and how does expression of them change

Answer 9

at least 807 and some gene expression increase as they sing while others decreasses

Question 10

what does the avpr1a gene control in voles

Answer 10

vasopressin expression

Question 11

how many alleles of the avpr1a gene exist and what are they

Answer 11

2: long and short

Question 12

what genotype for male prairie voles is more caring for offspring

Answer 12

homozygous for the long version

Question 13

what are the two mating strategies for ruff males and what is it controlled by

Answer 13

satellite (males cluster in mating arena)
independent (male guards small territory)

controlled by single gene. S codes for satellite male so only independent when ss

Question 14

what allows for zebra finches UV vision and what is it used for

Answer 14

a single amino acid is responsible for UV vision which they use to choose mates

Question 15

how can pigeons and chickens see in UV

Answer 15

give them the amino acid that zebra finches have in the retinal pigment

Question 16

what is testosterone necessary for

Answer 16

crucial for normal male development since male secondary sexual traits develop due to increased testosterone levels

Question 17

what does a decrease in male testosterone cause

Answer 17

loss in muscle mass, aggression, sperm quality

Question 17

what does a decrease in female estrogen levels cause

Answer 17

reproductive senescence, menopause

Question 17

how does temp affect american alligator egg

Answer 17

if incubation temp is low or high –> female
incubation temp is intermediate –> male

Question 18

how do normal parasitoid wasps reproduce and how does temperature affect this?

Answer 18

normal wasps lay less eggs inside their host and learn to avoid hosts that were already parasitized.
when they are exposed to cold temps as larvae then they are worse at avoiding parasitized hosts

Question 18

how does temp affect spider dispersal strategies

Answer 18

switch from rappelling to ballooning in cooler months of year using temp as cue (ballooning helps them travel further distances when scarce territory)

Question 19

what is rappelling

Answer 19

when spiders build small bridge out of silk to cross small distances

Question 20

what is ballooning

Answer 20

when spiders use a silk thread to sail long distances in the wind

Question 21

when are female prairie voles better parents

Answer 21

when they are raised by both parents instead of one

Question 22

how does being separated from mothers at birth affect young rhesus monkeys

Answer 22

they fail to develop normal social and sexual behavior

Question 23

how do coral reef fish change based on sex ratios

Answer 23

they can rapidly switch sexes

Question 24

what is imprinting

Answer 24

any kind of phase sensitive learning that is rapid and independent of the consequences of behavior

Question 25

what is phase sensitive learning

Answer 25

learning occurring at a particular age or particular life stage

Question 26

who is konrad lorenz

Answer 26

creator of idea of imprinting

Question 27

what do birds imprint on

Answer 27

the first thing they see after birth

Question 28

how do mammals imprint on each other

Answer 28

mother-offspring imprint on each others smells

Question 29

what do dogs need to do to accept humans as social partners

Answer 29

have human contact in first 3-10 weeks of life

Question 30

what is sexual imprinting

Answer 30

when you learn who to mate with

Question 31

what behaviors are involved in bird singing

Answer 31

learning and/or innate

Question 32

how do sedge warbler’s song develop

Answer 32

all are genetically hardwired and build from inborn repertoire

Question 33

how do march warbler’s songs develop

Answer 33

completely by learning it

Question 34

how do bird songs vary by region and how do birds learn this

Answer 34

many have regional dialects that are learned by listening to others

Question 35

what are the stages in song learnin g

Answer 35

Stage 1: memorize tutor song from auditory memory or “template” in brain (innate song through genetics) → sensory phase
Stage 2: translate inner template into motor activity through practice. They compare their own to others and see how they be doing