lecture 5 - molecular genetics and development Flashcards
what did tinbergen emphasize?
how development factors shape behavior
what does behavior develop as a consequence of
genetic and environmental factors
what are the types of environmental factors
- abiotic
- biotic
what are innate behaviors
instinctive behaviors based only on ggenes
what are learned behaviors
behaviors learned from interacting with the world/by being taught
what are examples of innate behaviors in humans?
reflexes in babies
explain how genetic factors work in termites in terms of reproduction
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
explain the role of different genetic factors in song acquisition in zebra finches
- 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
how many genes are involved in zebra finch song learning and how does expression of them change
at least 807 and some gene expression increase as they sing while others decreasses
what does the avpr1a gene control in voles
vasopressin expression
how many alleles of the avpr1a gene exist and what are they
2: long and short
what genotype for male prairie voles is more caring for offspring
homozygous for the long version
what are the two mating strategies for ruff males and what is it controlled by
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
what allows for zebra finches UV vision and what is it used for
a single amino acid is responsible for UV vision which they use to choose mates
how can pigeons and chickens see in UV
give them the amino acid that zebra finches have in the retinal pigment
what is testosterone necessary for
crucial for normal male development since male secondary sexual traits develop due to increased testosterone levels
what does a decrease in male testosterone cause
loss in muscle mass, aggression, sperm quality
what does a decrease in female estrogen levels cause
reproductive senescence, menopause
how does temp affect american alligator egg
if incubation temp is low or high –> female
incubation temp is intermediate –> male
how do normal parasitoid wasps reproduce and how does temperature affect this?
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
how does temp affect spider dispersal strategies
switch from rappelling to ballooning in cooler months of year using temp as cue (ballooning helps them travel further distances when scarce territory)
what is rappelling
when spiders build small bridge out of silk to cross small distances
what is ballooning
when spiders use a silk thread to sail long distances in the wind
when are female prairie voles better parents
when they are raised by both parents instead of one
how does being separated from mothers at birth affect young rhesus monkeys
they fail to develop normal social and sexual behavior
how do coral reef fish change based on sex ratios
they can rapidly switch sexes
what is imprinting
any kind of phase sensitive learning that is rapid and independent of the consequences of behavior
what is phase sensitive learning
learning occurring at a particular age or particular life stage
who is konrad lorenz
creator of idea of imprinting
what do birds imprint on
the first thing they see after birth
how do mammals imprint on each other
mother-offspring imprint on each others smells
what do dogs need to do to accept humans as social partners
have human contact in first 3-10 weeks of life
what is sexual imprinting
when you learn who to mate with
what behaviors are involved in bird singing
learning and/or innate
how do sedge warbler’s song develop
all are genetically hardwired and build from inborn repertoire
how do march warbler’s songs develop
completely by learning it
how do bird songs vary by region and how do birds learn this
many have regional dialects that are learned by listening to others
what are the stages in song learnin g
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
