Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Behavioural genetics”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Phylogeography and population history of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.): a genealogical approach reveals genetic structuring among the eastern Atlantic stocks.

Despite the resolving power of DNA markers, pelagic and migratory marine fish species generally show very little geographical population structuring. In mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.) population differentiation has been detected only at a transatlantic scale. By applying two regions in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (D-loop and cytochrome b (cytb)) in combination with genealogical and frequency-based statistical approaches, our data suggest population differentiation among eastern Atlantic spawning stocks. In contrast, and indicative of homing behaviour, no genetic structuring was observed among shoals of individuals outside the spawning season. Among spawning stocks, mtDNA D-loop sequences detected differentiation within the eastern Atlantic, while the cytb gene detected transatlantic differentiation. The impact of recurrent events (e.g. gene flow restricted by isolation by distance) and historic events (e.g. population range expansions) among spawning stocks was investigated applying a nested cladistic analysis of geographical distribution of cytb haplotype lineages. In the eastern Atlantic, historical population range expansion, presumably in connection with recolonization of northern areas after the last glaciation, is suggested to be the main factor determining mtDNA lineage distribution. This was supported by estimates of mtDNA nucleotide diversity, where the highest diversity was observed for the stock spawning in the Bay of Biscay, for which the size estimate is only 15% of the largest stock (Celtic Sea). In addition to revealing population differentiation, our data demonstrate the importance of sampling strategy and the power of applying statistical methods addressing both ongoing and historical population processes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Behavioural phenotyping of mouse mutants.

Behavioural phenotyping of mouse mutants is not a goal in itself but serves to characterise the behavioural effects of naturally occurring or experimentally induced mutations. Genetically engineered mouse mutants are valuable tools to elucidate the genetic control of behaviour and the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. However, a prerequisite for their use is the ability to assess different elements of behaviour. To this end, a battery of tests, which should be flexible enough to meet the needs of a particular study, should be used to characterise the behavioural phenotype. Detailed and extensive information about the effects of gene mutations is crucial for model building and model evaluation. Model building is an iterative process, switching between experimental data and theory formation. In order to facilitate this process and to allow comparison of results within and between laboratories, the standardisation of breeding, housing, and testing conditions is essential. The development and standardisation of sensitive, valid behavioural tests which are suited to phenotype mouse mutants is both a responsibility and a challenge to investigators of mouse behaviour.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Translational control of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory by the eIF2alpha kinase GCN2.

Studies on various forms of synaptic plasticity have shown a link between messenger RNA translation, learning and memory. Like memory, synaptic plasticity includes an early phase that depends on modification of pre-existing proteins, and a late phase that requires transcription and synthesis of new proteins. Activation of postsynaptic targets seems to trigger the transcription of plasticity-related genes. The new mRNAs are either translated in the soma or transported to synapses before translation. GCN2, a key protein kinase, regulates the initiation of translation. Here we report a unique feature of hippocampal slices from GCN2(-/-) mice: in CA1, a single 100-Hz train induces a strong and sustained long-term potentiation (late LTP or L-LTP), which is dependent on transcription and translation. In contrast, stimulation that elicits L-LTP in wild-type slices, such as four 100-Hz trains or forskolin, fails to evoke L-LTP in GCN2(-/-) slices. This aberrant synaptic plasticity is mirrored in the behaviour of GCN2(-/-) mice in the Morris water maze: after weak training, their spatial memory is enhanced, but it is impaired after more intense training. Activated GCN2 stimulates mRNA translation of ATF4, an antagonist of cyclic-AMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB). Thus, in the hippocampus of GCN2(-/-) mice, the expression of ATF4 is reduced and CREB activity is increased. Our study provides genetic, physiological, behavioural and molecular evidence that GCN2 regulates synaptic plasticity, as well as learning and memory, through modulation of the ATF4/CREB pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

The quest for cardiovascular health in the genomic era: nutrigenetics and plasma lipoproteins.

Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics are promising multidisciplinary fields that focus on studying the interactions between nutritional factors, genetic factors and health outcomes. Their goal is to achieve more efficient individual dietary intervention strategies aimed at preventing disease, improving quality of life and achieving healthy aging. Our studies, and those of many other investigators, using population-based and intervention studies have found evidence for interactions between dietary factors, genetic variants and biochemical markers of CVD. Now, the characterization of individuals who may respond better to one type of dietary recommendation than another can be begun. Thus, a low-fat low-cholesterol strategy may be particularly efficacious in lowering the plasma cholesterol levels of those subjects carrying the apoE4 allele at the APOE gene. HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are also modulated by dietary, behavioural and genetic factors. It has been reported that the effect of PUFA intake on HDL-C concentrations is modulated by an APOA1 genetic polymorphism. Thus, subjects carrying the A allele at the -75 G/A polymorphism show an increase in HDL-C with increased intakes of PUFA, whereas those homozygotes for the more common G allele have the expected lowering of HDL-C levels with increased intake of PUFA. Variability at the hepatic lipase gene is also associated with interactions between intake of fat and HDL-C concentrations that could shed some light on the different abilities of certain ethnic groups to adapt to new nutritional environments. This knowledge should lead to successful dietary recommendations partly based on genetic factors that may help to reduce cardiovascular risk more efficiently than the current universal recommendations.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed2000

Cereal aversion in behaviourally resistant house mice in Birmingham, UK.

In 1986, house mice in a small defined area of inner Birmingham were reported as not taking a variety of rodenticides from bait containers, a phenomenon labelled 'behavioural resistance'. This study investigated behavioural resistance by comparing the food preferences of West Midlands behaviourally resistant (WMBR) mice with those of normal (BC) mice. Nine bait boxes each containing one of nine different foods (cheese, chicken, tuna fish, peanut butter, canary seed, Cat stars, wheat, PCD (MOD) pellets and Non-tox) were introduced to 12 WMBR and seven BC sites (Experiment 1). The experiment was repeated in the laboratory with six pens of WMBR and six of BC mice (Experiment 2), and to investigate whether the preferences had a genetic basis the offspring were similarly assayed (Experiment 3). In each experiment the consumption of each food was measured over 7 days and the droppings around the bait boxes were counted to assess mouse activity. Food neophobia was noted in some populations of BC mice. Tested in the wild and in the laboratory WMBR mice showed an aversion to foods containing cereals, as did their offspring. These results, with other lines of evidence, strongly suggest that cereal aversion in WMBR mice has a physiological/genetic basis. Since cereal aversion allows WMBR mice to survive cereal-based rodenticidal baits, we conclude that WMBR mice have genetically based behaviours that allow them to survive poisoning regimes that kill other strains.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Capturing wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis Raffles, 1821) were captured at various locations in the north of Sumatra as part of a study on social behaviour and genetic relationships. We used individual cage traps, a group trap, a blowpipe and an air-pressure rifle. Provided that the monkeys were willing to take bait, individual cage traps proved most successful; they gave a high capture rate with minimal disturbance of the group. Success with young juveniles and peripheral animals could be improved by placing elevated traps in the centre and in clusters at the periphery of the trapping site. Trapping had no clear lasting effect on the natural behaviour of the animals.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

Effect of experience on predatory behaviour of dogwhelks.

We used an acoustic transducer to monitor the radular activity of dogwhelks, Nucella lapillus, drilling mussels, Mytilus edulis, in the laboratory and we examined the effect of dietary experience on prey-handling behaviour. For the first time, phases of inspection, penetration and ingestion could be distinguished directly, and consequently the prey-handling process analysed in detail. Dogwhelks with different field-based experience of mussels showed different handling behaviour. Those collected from a mussel-dominated shore more readily adopted the faster method of penetrating between the slightly gaping valves, instead of the slower method of drilling through the shell. Those collected from a barnacle-dominated shore took significantly longer to attack the mussel and then were unable to switch from drilling to penetrating through the gape between valves. Experience of specific prey in the field, by reducing handling time, could promote fitness by reducing exposure to environmental hazards. Laboratory attempts to train dogwhelks from the barnacle-dominated shore to use the gape penetration method failed, suggesting that functional constraints, such as injection of a relaxant when penetrating through the gape and/or genetically controlled behavioural traits, could limit the ability to learn handling skills. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Issues in the search for candidate genes in mice as potential animal models of human aggression.

Conceptual and methodological issues in the search for candidate genes for mouse aggression and for the development of animal models of human aggression are considered. First, the focus is on genetic and then behavioural aspects of the search for candidate genes in mice. For the genetic aspect, two approaches are presented. In mice, these are chromosome mapping of polymorphic genes and evaluation of gene (polymorphic or monomorphic) function using knockout mutants. For the behavioural aspect, several parameters, including the type of aggression, measure of aggression, test situation and opponent type can have effects on the obtained genetics. This is illustrated for the offence type of attack behaviour in mice. The current combination of sophisticated genetic and behavioural analyses will result in time in the identification of many of the genes with effects on variation and development of one or more types of murine aggression. Since mouse and humans have many homologous genes mapped to homologous chromosome regions, it is conceivable that individual genes identified for one or more types of mouse aggression may be developed as animal models for human aggression. Genetic, physiological and behavioural limitations and uses of such models are discussed.

Aggression↗
PubMed2001

Mild learning difficulties and offending behaviour--is there a link with monoamine oxidase A deficiency?

We have attempted to replicate the findings of Brunner et al., who described a large Dutch kindred where several males were of borderline intelligence and showed characteristically aggressive and sometimes dangerous or extremely antisocial behaviour. The genetic defect for this syndrome was assigned to the p11-p21 region of the X chromosome following linkage analysis in a single kindred. Subsequent sequencing of a candidate gene, monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), at the position of maximum linkage revealed a causative mutation in the coding region of the MAO-A gene in position 936. In addition to identifying both the phenotype and the associated mutation found by Brunner et al., we also wished to test the hypothesis that mutations elsewhere in the MAO-A gene could cause the low intelligence quotient/personality disorder phenotype associated with low urinary catecholamine degradation products. Fifty-four male subjects similar in clinical characteristics to the affected males in the Dutch kindred were identified within secure mental health facilities in England and Wales. All were assessed using the antisocial personality disorder section of the SCID-II interview instrument, and information about their offending behaviour and family history was obtained from the medical notes. A blood and early-morning urine sample was obtained from each patient. Analysis of urinary excretion patterns of biogenic amines and their metabolites, represented as ratios of normetanefrine to vanillylmandelic acid, revealed two possible cases of MAO-A deficiency, which were found to be negative after resampling.

Antisocial Personality Disorder↗
PubMed2003

Strong genetic effects on cross-situational antisocial behaviour among 5-year-old children according to mothers, teachers, examiner-observers, and twins' self-reports.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood antisocial behaviour is a strong prognostic indicator for poor adult mental health. Thus, information about its etiology is needed. Genetic etiology is unknown because most research with young children focuses on environmental risk factors, and the few existing studies of young twins used only mothers' reports of behaviour, which may be biased. METHOD: We investigated genetic influences on antisocial behaviour in a representative-plus-high-risk sample of 1116 pairs of 5-year-old twins using data from four independent sources: mothers, teachers, examiner-observers previously unacquainted with the children, and the children themselves. RESULTS: Children's antisocial behaviour was reliably measured by all four informants; no bias was detected in mothers', teachers', examiners', or children's reports. Variation in antisocial behaviour that was agreed upon by all informants, and thus was pervasive across settings, was influenced by genetic factors (82%) and experiences specific to each child (18%). Variation in antisocial behaviour that was specific to each informant was meaningful variation, as it was also influenced by genetic factors (from 33% for the children's report to 71% for the teachers' report). CONCLUSIONS: This study and four others of very young twins show that genetic risks contribute strongly to population variation in antisocial behaviour that emerges in early childhood. In contrast, genetic risk is known to be relatively modest for adolescent antisocial behaviour, suggesting that the early-childhood form has a distinct etiology, particularly if it is pervasive across situations.

Antisocial Personality Disorder↗
PubMed2005

There's no place like WormBase: an indispensable resource for Caenorhabditis elegans researchers.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is used extensively by scientists to study a wide variety of biological processes and is one of the most thoroughly characterized animals. Over the years, the community of C. elegans researchers has generated a wealth of information on the genetics, development, behaviour, and cellular and molecular biology of the worm. This body of data has grown even larger with the recent application of high throughput screening methodology to study gene function, expression and interactions. WormBase (http://www.wormbase.org) is the primary online source of biological data on C. elegans and related nematodes. Equipped with an assortment of powerful search tools, WormBase allows users to quickly extract a variety of information, including data on individual genes, DNA sequence, cell lineage and literature citations. As the database is well maintained and the functionalities constantly modified in response to evolving researcher needs, WormBase has become a vital component of the laboratories studying the worm and a model for other biological databases.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

RAPD identification of microsatellites in Daphnia.

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs, or microsatellites) have been constantly gaining importance as single-locus DNA markers in population genetics and behavioural ecology. We tested a PCR-based strategy for finding microsatellite loci in anonymous genomes, which avoids genomic library construction and screening, and the need for larger amounts of DNA. In the first step, parts of a genome are randomly amplified with arbitrary 10mer primers using RAPD fingerprinting. Labelled SSR-oligonucleotides serve as probes to detect complementary sequences in RAPD products by means of Southern analyses. Subsequently, positive RAPD fragments of suitable size are cloned and sequenced. Using GA and GT probes, we applied this approach to waterfleas (Daphnia) and revealed 37 hybridization signals in 20 RAPD profiles. Thirteen positive RAPD fragments from three Daphnia species and two hybrid 'species' were cloned and sequenced. In all cases simple sequence repeats were detected. We characterized seven perfect repeat loci, which were found to be polymorphic within and between species.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Genomic meta-analyses of binge-eating behavior and anorexia nervosa yield insights into the unique and shared biology of eating disorder phenotypes.

Eating disorders-including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder-are clinically distinct but exhibit symptom overlap and diagnostic crossover. Genomic analyses have mostly examined AN. Here we conducted a genomic meta-analysis of case-control studies of binge-eating behavior (BE; 39,279 cases, 1,227,436 controls), alongside analyses of AN (24,223 cases, 1,243,971 controls) and its subtypes (all European ancestries). We identified six BE-associated loci, including loci associated with a higher body mass index and impulse-control behaviors. AN genome-wide association studies yielded eight loci, validating six loci. Subsequent polygenic risk score analysis demonstrated an association with AN in two East Asian ancestry studies. BE and AN exhibited similar positive genetic correlations with psychiatric disorders but opposing genetic correlations with anthropometric traits. Most of the genetic signal in BE and AN was not shared with body mass index. We have extended eating disorder genomics beyond AN; future work will incorporate multiple diagnoses and global ancestries.

Behavioural genetics↗
PubMed1998

Multi-level modelling of geographically aggregated health data: a case study on malignant melanoma mortality and UV exposure in the European Community.

A multi-level modelling approach is used to examine the variance in mortality rates from malignant melanoma at different geographical scales within nine European nations with reference to exposure to ultraviolet light (UVB). For males and females, the greatest variations in the relationship between UVB exposure and mortality are seen between nations, rather than regions and sub-regions within nations. This suggests that factors and characteristics acting at a national scale, such as genetic and behavioural differences, are of importance. Multi-level modelling is used to show how a previous suggestion of a quadratic association between UVB exposure and malignant melanoma across Europe is unlikely to be true. The general usefulness of multi-level modelling in the analysis of disease data which is structured in a hierarchy is discussed, with particular reference to geographical analyses of small area data.

Climate↗
PubMed2001

Cryptic mammalian species: a new species of whiskered bat (Myotis alcathoe n. sp.) in Europe.

The analysis of morphological, behavioural and genetic characters of whiskered bats revealed a new European bat species within the family Vespertilionidae. We describe the morphology, karyology, genetic similarity, ecology and distribution of Myotis alcathoe n. sp. It closely resembles Myotis mystacinus, Myotis brandtii and Myotis ikonnikovi in morphology, but all four species show clear genetic differences in two mitochondrial genes (ND1 and 12S rRNA). Myotis alcathoe n. sp. is the smallest species among the European whiskered bats and uses the highest-frequency echolocation calls of all the European Myotis species. It prefers to hunt in small valleys with deciduous trees and flowing water, which is an endangered habitat. Records from Greece and Hungary indicate a distribution range in south-eastern Europe.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

patufet, the gene encoding the Drosophila melanogaster homologue of selenophosphate synthetase, is involved in imaginal disc morphogenesis.

Proliferation in imaginal discs requires cell growth and is linked to patterning processes controlled by secreted cell-signalling molecules. To identify new genes involved in the control of cell proliferation we have screened a collection of P-lacW insertion mutants that result in lethality in the larval/pupal stages, and characterized a novel gene, patufet (ptuf). Inactivation of ptuf by a P element insertion in the 5' untranslated region leads to aberrant imaginal disc morphology characterized by a reduction in mass of discs and disorganization of disc cells where no folding or patterning can be detected. Moreover, apoptotic cells can be observed in these small and abnormal mutant discs. To examine the role of ptuf we have studied its clonal behaviour in genetic mosaics generated by mitotic recombination. The mutation causes reduced cell viability, smaller cell size and stops vein differentiation. Non-autonomous effects, such as abnormal differentiation of wild-type cells surrounding the clones, are also observed. We have cloned the ptuf gene of Drosophila melanogaster and found that it encodes a selenophosphate synthetase, which is the first identified in insects. Mutant flies transformed with the full-length cDNA show complete reversion of lethality and disc phenotype. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization indicate that the ptuf gene is expressed in imaginal discs as well as at different stages of development. The synthesis of selenoproteins by the selenophosphate synthetase, the role of selenoproteins in the maintenance of the oxidant/antioxidant balance of the cell and its possible implications in imaginal disc morphogenesis are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Cellular specificity and replication rate of Maedi Visna virus in vitro can be controlled by LTR sequences.

The long terminal repeats (LTR) sequence divergence among Maedi Visna virus (MVV) isolates leads to LTRs with distinct transcriptional activities, which may result in distinct biological behaviours. The genetic heterogeneity, as well as basal and Tat-induced transcriptional activity of the LTRs from P1OLV and WLC-1 MVV viruses, slow/low and rapid/high isolates, respectively, have been examined and compared with LTRs from other strains of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV). Transfection assays using a reporter construct containing the LTR fused to a luciferase gene demonstrated that the LTR from P1OLV virus had the weakest promoter activity, suggesting a correlation between the level of promoter activity and the viral replication rate. To confirm this hypothesis, the promoter of P1OLV was cloned into infectious molecular clone KV1772kv72/67 and the resulting chimeric virus was tested for growth in various cell types. Compared to the parental KV1772, the LTR-chimeric virus KV1772/P1OLV exhibited a drastic reduction in replication rate in sheep choroid plexus (SCP) and lung cells, while in ovine macrophages and goat synovial membrane cells (GSM), chimeric virus showed a growth rate similar to that of parental virus. These observations suggest that the LTR is responsible for the slow/low in vitro phenotype presented by P1OLV in SCP and lung cells.

Animals↗