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PubMed1998

Genetic interactions and cell behaviour in blistered mutants during proliferation and differentiation of the Drosophila wing.

In this work, we analyse the blistered function in wing vein development by studying genetic mosaics of mutant cells, genetic interactions with other genes affecting vein development and blistered expression in several mutant backgrounds. blistered encodes for a nuclear protein homologous to the mammalian Serum Response Factor and is expressed in presumptive intervein cells of third larval instar and pupal wing discs. Clones of blistered mutant cells proliferate normally but tend to grow along veins and always differentiate as vein tissue. These observations indicate that vein-determined wing cells show a particular behaviour that is responsible for their allocation to vein regions. We observe strong genetic interactions between blistered, veinlet and genes of the Ras signaling cascade. During disc proliferation, blistered expression is under the control of the Ras signal transduction pathway, but its expression is independent of veinlet. During the pupal period, blistered and veinlet expression become interdependent and mutually exclusive. These results link the activity of the Ras pathway to the process of early determination of intervein cells, by the transcriptional control of the blistered nuclear factor.

Animals↗
PubMed2007

Correlated response in yolk testosterone levels following divergent genetic selection for social behaviour in Japanese quail.

Maternal effects are a powerful tool that parents can use to modify the phenotype of their offspring. In birds, the amount of androgens that females deposit in their eggs has been shown to influence early development and adult behavioural phenotypes. Differences in such behavioural strategies have been used as the target of artificial selection programmes with a view to improve animal welfare. In this study, we tested whether artificial selection for divergent social behaviour in Japanese quail had resulted in correlated changes in yolk androgen levels. We used lines that had been selected at the chick stage for high and low motivation to regain contact with a group of conspecific chicks. This procedure has led to important behavioural differences in the high and low line in a suite of behavioural correlates of sociality. We found that eggs laid by the line selected for high motivation for social reinstatement contained more than twice the amount of yolk testosterone of eggs laid by females from the low line, while the unselected line laid eggs with intermediate levels. This finding strongly suggests a functional link between these two traits, and underlines the possible role of yolk androgen modulation in promoting the evolution of behavioural syndromes.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Genetic correlations between morphology and antipredator behaviour in natural populations of the garter snake Thamnophis ordinoides.

The genetic coupling of morphology and behaviour means that the evolution of the two types of traits will not be independent: changes in behaviour will result in changes in morphology and vice versa. This might explain nonadaptive differences in morphology through indirect selection on correlated characters of other categories. Genetic correlations between morphology and behaviour are also the basis for some models of sympatric speciation and of the stability of polymorphisms. Morphology and behaviour are often correlated in nature and a genetic basis for such couplings has been demonstrated. I present here evidence that colour pattern and antipredator behaviour are genetically coupled in natural populations of the garter snake Thamnophis ordinoides. Similar phenotypic correlations between pattern and behaviour exist among species of North American snakes, indicating that selection for particular combinations of traits may help to maintain genetic covariances and colour polymorphism in Thamnophis ordinoides.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Brain dopamine receptor plasticity: testing a diathesis-stress hypothesis in an animal model.

A wealth of clinical data supports a major role of genetic liability as well as of altered brain dopamine (DA) functioning in different types of behavioural disturbances. Genetic influence on behaviour involves multiple genes, rather than one or two major genes, as well as non-genetic sources of variance. Thus, in recent years, increasing attention has been devoted to the involvement of stressful experiences (life events) in the development and expression of psychopathology. Moreover, a diathesis-stress hypothesis has been proposed, which suggests that the environmental factors (stress) are not specific for a given pathology, whereas genetic factors (diathesis) are. Results obtained in an animal model offer support to this hypothesis. Indeed, mice of the C57BL/6 and DBA/2 inbred strains are equally susceptible to stress but develop different behavioural disturbances related to different alterations of brain DA receptors. Moreover, quantitative trait loci (QTL) associations in the C57 (B) x DBA (D) recombinant inbred (RI) strains indicate a number of provisional QTLs influencing the behavioural effect of stress. Finally, the results of this analysis suggest the involvement of regulatory factors related to stress response and neural or synaptic plasticity in the control of brain DA receptor plasticity.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Feather pecking behaviour in White Leghorns, a genetic study.

1. Genetic variables of feather pecking (FP) behaviour in a 1993 commercial pure line of White Leghorns were estimated at the age of 6, 38 and 69 weeks. 2. Heritability estimates of performing FP were 0.05 +/- 0.06, 0.14* +/- 0.07 and 0.38** +/- 0.12 for 6, 38 and 69 weeks respectively for sum of pecks (PECKS) and 0.13* +/- 0.07, 0.13* +/- 0.07 and 0.35** +/- 0.12 for sum of bouts (BOUTS). 3. Heritability estimates of receiving FP were not significantly different from 0 except at 6 weeks (0.15* +/- 0.07 and the average of the 3 age classes (AVG) (0.22** +/- 0.09) for PECKS and at 6 weeks (0.15* +/- 0.07) using BOUTS. 4. Genetic correlations of performing FP among age classes were in general high and significant. This was not the case with receiving FP. 5. Plumage cover at 51 weeks had a negative genetic correlation with performing FP at 69 weeks and AVG, but not with receiving FP. No phenotypic correlations were significant between plumage and FP. 6. Body weight at 51 weeks had a negative genetic correlation with performing FP at AVG. 7. Heritability estimates for performing and receiving FP at 6 weeks correspond to those in the literature. No estimates have previously been reported on feather pecking at 38 weeks or 69 weeks. 8. Selection of birds with no or a very low tendency to perform feather pecking should, on the basis of our results, be feasible.

Aggression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetics of Crohn's disease behaviour.

Crohn's disease is probably an heterogeneous entity. This heterogeneity may be linked to either genetics or environment. In particular the behaviour of the disease, i.e. the tendency to develop stricturing and/or penetrating lesions, may be linked to the genetic background. While epidemiological and clinical data suggest the relevance of these behavioural classifications, the progresses in the characterization of the immuno-inflammatory reaction in the bowel wall shed a new light on possible candidate genes for these genetic predispositions to various Crohn's disease behaviours. Association studies an linkage analysis focusing on growth factors, metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors as well as cytokines may bring new interesting data in this field.

Crohn Disease↗
PubMed1996

Threat-induced behavioural inhibition in Japanese quail genetically selected for contrasting adrenocortical response to mechanical restraint.

1. Behavioural and adrenocortical responses to brief mechanical restraint were examined in 28-d-old female Japanese quail of two lines which had been genetically selected over several generations for either reduced (LS, low stress) or exaggerated (HS, high stress) plasma corticosterone response to brief immobilisation in a metal box. 2. As expected, quail of the LS line showed lower adrenocortical responses to restraint than did their HS line counterparts. The LS quail also struggled much sooner and more often during the 5 min restraint period than did the HS ones. Collectively, these and previously reported line differences in behavioural, catecholamine and adrenocortical responsiveness are consistent with an interpretation based on the adoption of active and passive coping strategies respectively by LS and HS quail upon their exposure to alarming stimuli.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed2001

Genetic dissection of mouse exploratory behaviour.

A large variety of apparatus and procedures are being employed to measure mouse exploratory behaviour. Definitions of what constitutes exploration also vary widely. The present article reviews two studies whose results permit a genetic dissection of behaviour displayed in an open-field situation. The results agree that factors representing exploration and stress/fear underlie this type of behaviour. Both factors appear to be linked to neuroanatomical variation in the sizes of the hippocampal intra- and infrapyramidal mossy fibre terminal fields. Multivariate analysis of genetic correlations may render important insights into the structure of behaviour and its relations with neuroanatomical and neurophysiological systems.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Somatostatin and behaviour: the need for genetically engineered models.

Somatostatin was originally characterised as a hypothalamic neurohormone responsible for the inhibition of pituitary Growth Hormone secretion. In mammals two genes encode for somatostatin-related peptides, somatostatin 14 and 28, and cortistatins, respectively. All peptides bind with similar affinities to the five cloned somatostatin receptors (sst), which belong to the GPCR family. Despite numerous studies, no clear behavioural function has yet been attributed to somatostatin-related peptides. This is due to the lack of good pharmacological tools (selective antagonists) and animal models. This review will focus on the recent development of such tools.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Molecular genetic approaches to understanding brain development and behaviour.

An understanding of brain development and brain function at the level of the genome is developing rapidly, because of the availability of new technologies in molecular and cellular biology. This understanding can be further enhanced by an interactive exchange between the disciplines of behavioural neuroscience and molecular genetics. New genes are being cloned almost daily, but their function remains an enigma. The purpose of this review is to illustrate how reporter genes can be used to map the brain's genetic activity in developmental time and anatomical space. The production of mutants in the homozygous condition may further lead to a morphological or behavioural phenotype. A knowledge of behavioural neuroscience can provide a prescreen of the reporter distribution and thereby make predictions concerning the type of behavioural analysis required. This approach allows selective cloning and sequencing of those genes which have either a morphological or behavioural phenotype but are transcribed at low levels. It is known that genomic imprinting influences brain development, and also that human genetic mutations and deletions influence imprinting in mental retardation as well as certain behavioural disorders. Precisely how such imprinted genes influence brain development and behaviour is being pursued by the use of chimeras. The distribution of maternal or paternal disomy cells in the brain and the way they influence behaviour may reveal the phenotype and how this is brought about.

Alleles↗
PubMed2006

The genetic basis of emotional behaviour in mice.

The last decade has witnessed a steady expansion in the number of quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapped for complex phenotypes. However, despite this proliferation, the number of successfully cloned QTL has remained surprisingly low, and to a great extent limited to large effect loci. In this review, we follow the progress of one complex trait locus; a low magnitude moderator of murine emotionality identified some 10 years ago in a simple two-strain intercross, and successively resolved using a variety of crosses and fear-related phenotypes. These experiments have revealed a complex underlying genetic architecture, whereby genetic effects fractionate into several separable QTL with some evidence of phenotype specificity. Ultimately, we describe a method of assessing gene candidacy, and show that given sufficient access to genetic diversity and recombination, progression from QTL to gene can be achieved even for low magnitude genetic effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The use of 'racial' categories in contemporary South African health research. A survey of articles published in the South African Medical Journal between 1992 and 1996.

OBJECTIVE: In the light of growing concern about the clinical, social and political impact of 'racial' categorisation in health research, this survey aimed to re-evaluate the current use of 'racial' categories in articles published by the South African Medical Journal. SURVEY DESIGN: Any categories that might have been used or interpreted as measures of genetically determined 'racial' differences (including 'racial', ethnic and sociopolitical 'population group' categories) were included in this survey of 668 articles describing South African health research published during the past 5 years. By classifying the research contained in each of these articles it was possible to assess the importance of 'racial' categorisation in study design. The explanations given for any 'racial' differences in health were then used to evaluate the impact of 'racial' categorisation on the perception that innate characteristics were responsible. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventeen (47.5%) articles mentioned one or more 'racial' categories, 292 (43.7%) of which used 'racial' categories to describe the subjects they studied. The commonest generic labels used for these categories were "race" and "population group", while the commonest descriptive labels referred to traditional 'racial' characteristics such as phenotype, nationality and geographical origin. Only 15 (5.1%) articles fully defined the categories and labels they used, and many more used different generic and descriptive labels interchangeably. The use of 'racial' categories was highest among genetic (73.9%), descriptive (55.3%) and quasi-experimental studies (38.2%), although most used these categories simply to describe the subjects they examined. Of those 162 (24.3%) articles that discussed 'racial' differences in health, only 120 (18.0%) contained an explanation, and 60 of these suggested that inherent genetic or behavioural factors were responsible. Nine articles contained derogatory statements that could be interpreted as prejudiced or racist. CONCLUSION: The use of 'racial' categorisation remains widespread in South African health research. By using generic and descriptive labels from traditional 'racial' taxonomies, many of these articles reinforce the perception that distinct human 'races' exist. Although most of the articles failed to explain any of the 'racial' differences in health they observed, it is likely that these will be interpreted as evidence of innate genetic or behavioural differences, like those suggested by the few articles that offered explanations. The continued use of 'racial' categorisation in health research might be inevitable, particularly for examining the impact of social forces, such as apartheid and other forms of racism, that use 'racial' categories to create unequal access to health and health care. However, any studies that use 'racial' categories should be careful to avoid legitimising the biological concept of 'race', misidentifying the causes of 'racial' disparities in health and reinforcing 'racial' prejudice.

Bias↗
PubMed1988

Behavioural energy regulation in lean and genetically obese (ob/ob) mice.

The role of behaviour in the control of energy regulation has been investigated in relation to environmental temperature, nutrition and genetics. Techniques of operant conditioning were used, with lean and genetically obese (ob/ob) mice being tested at three environmental temperatures (10, 20 and 30 degrees C) and on two feeding regimes (after a 24 hr fast and after feeding ad lib). They were allowed access to heat and food, although the design of the apparatus ensured that both were not available simultaneously. Both the lean and ob/ob showed an initial preference for heat when tested in a cold environment. At a low ambient temperature the ob/ob were dependent on the heater rather than food to increase rectal temperature, both when fasted and when fed. By contrast, the lean had a lower demand for heat than the obese and used the time to explore the environment and to feed. Food intake increased with an increase in ambient temperature in both genotypes. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Animals↗