Candidate genes for behavioural ecology

Fitzpatrick, Mark; Ben‐Shahar, Yehuda; Smid, Hans M.; Vet, Louise E. M.; Robinson, Gene E.; Sokolowski, Marla B.

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2004.11.017

Cited by 220 publications

(181 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…In marked contrast, little has been achieved in the study of the molecular and genetic contributions to this phenomenon (see recent reviews in Simpson et al, 2005;Simpson and Sword, 2008;Pener and Simpson, 2009). As a result, one is compelled to initiate an investigation into possible candidate genes from other organisms that could be involved in the locust phase-dependent behavioral polymorphism (Fitzpatrick et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The locust foraging gene

Lucas

Kornfein

Chakaborty-Chatterjee

et al. 2010

Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

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Our knowledge of how genes act on the nervous system in response to the environment to generate behavioral plasticity is limited. A number of recent advancements in this area concern food-related behaviors and a specific gene family called foraging (for), which encodes a cGMPdependent protein kinase (PKG). The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is notorious for its destructive feeding and long-term migratory behavior. Locust phase polyphenism is an extreme example of environmentally induced behavioral plasticity. In response to changes in population density, locusts dramatically alter their behavior, from solitary and relatively sedentary behavior to active aggregation and swarming. Very little is known about the molecular and genetic basis of this striking behavioral phenomenon. Here we initiated studies into the locust for gene by identifying, cloning, and studying expression of the gene in the locust brain. We determined the phylogenetic relationships between the locust PKG and other known PKG proteins in insects. FOR expression was found to be confined to neurons of the anterior midline of the brain, the pars intercerebralis. Our results suggest that differences in PKG enzyme activity are correlated to well-established phase-related behavioral differences. These results lay the groundwork for functional studies of the locust for gene and its possible relations to locust phase polyphenism.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The locust foraging gene

Lucas

Kornfein

Chakaborty-Chatterjee

et al. 2010

Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

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“…In recent years, the growth of genome databases for an increasing number of parasite species has vastly increased the number and genome coverage of SNPs and polymorphic microsatellite loci, making genome-wide association studies much more feasible. At the same time, the development of new genomic/proteomic tools, such as cDNA microarrays, have greatly expanded the potential for identifying suitable candidate loci, even for species where genome databases are not available (195,200). While these new techniques hold much promise for the detection of QTLs for epidemiologically important traits, there are still a number of challenges that need to be faced.…”

Section: Finding Genetic Markers For Quantitative Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The molecular epidemiology of parasite infections: Tools and applications

Lymbery

Thompson

2012

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology

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Molecular epidemiology, broadly defined, is the application of molecular genetic techniques to the dynamics of disease in a population. In this review, we briefly describe molecular and analytical tools available for molecular epidemiological studies and then provide an overview of how they can be applied to better understand parasitic disease. A range of new molecular tools have been developed in recent years, allowing for the direct examination of parasites from clinical or environmental samples, and providing access to relatively cheap, rapid, high throughput molecular assays. At the same time, new analytical approaches, in particular those derived from coalescent theory, have been developed to provide more robust estimates of evolutionary processes and demographic parameters from multilocus, genotypic data. To date, the primary application of molecular epidemiology has been to provide specific and sensitive identification of parasites and to resolve taxonomic issues, particularly at the species level and below. Population genetic studies have also been used to determine the extent of genetic diversity among populations of parasites and the degree to which this diversity is associated with different host cycles or epidemiologically important phenotypes. Many of these studies have also shed new light on transmission cycles of parasites, particularly the extent to which zoonotic transmission occurs, and on the prevalence and importance of mixed infections with different parasite species or intraspecific variants (polyparasitism). A major challenge, and one which is now being addressed by an increasing number of studies, is to find and utilise genetic markers for complex traits of epidemiological significance, such as drug resistance, zoonotic potential and virulence.

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“…An intriguing question in behavioural research is whether related behaviours across phylogenetic taxa might also depend on similar molecules and cellular mechanisms. One way to address this issue is using a candidate-gene approach ( [37] and references therein) to characterize the roles of genes such as for in the behaviours of other species. This has been done for the honeybee Apis melifera, a social insect in which young adults perform 'nursing' functions in the hive while older animals (2-3 weeks) forage for nectar and pollen outside the nest [38].…”

Section: Conservation Of Pkg Function Across Multiple Foraging Behavimentioning

confidence: 99%

The neurogenetics and evolution of food-related behaviour

Douglas

Dawson‐Scully

Sokolowski

2005

Trends in Neurosciences

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All organisms must acquire nutrients from the ambient environment to survive. In animals, the need to eat has driven the evolution of a rich array of complex foodrelated behaviours that ensure appropriate nutrient intake in diverse niches. Here, we review some of the neural and genetic components that contribute to the regulation of food-related behaviour in invertebrates, with emphasis on mechanisms that are conserved throughout various taxa and activities. We focus on synthesizing neurobiological and genetic approaches into a neurogenetic framework that explains foodrelated behaviour as the product of interactions between neural substrates, genes and internal and external environments.Introduction to food-related behaviours All life must acquire organic and inorganic substrates as fuel and raw material for energetic, metabolic and physiological processes. Whereas many plants synthesize their constituent organic compounds from carbon dioxide, water and sunlight, animals enact a heterotrophic strategy to gain necessary nutrients. In turn, they have evolved an impressive array of behaviours to detect, capture and ingest food. Broadly, food-related behaviour can be defined as actions elicited in response to hunger or the perception of food, therefore including food-searching activities, intake and post-ingestive behaviours. Multiple internal and external cues influence whether an animal is searching for food or eating at any given time. A major internal parameter is the level of hunger, which is governed by a milieu of regulatory factors interacting within an elaborate homeostatic system [1,2]. External factors include abundance and distribution of food, competitors, risk of predation, season and time of day. In humans, the decision to eat is complicated further by psychological and cultural factors. Owing to the breadth of contributing factors, food-related behaviour represents a rich interface that has been characterized from several different perspectives, including the ecological [3,4] A comprehensive description of any behaviour requires insight into the pattern and functioning of the neural circuits that underlie expression of the behaviour. Circuit output, which is often modifiable through experience, depends on parameters such as neuronal membrane

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Candidate genes for behavioural ecology

Cited by 220 publications

References 81 publications

The locust foraging gene

The locust foraging gene

The molecular epidemiology of parasite infections: Tools and applications

The neurogenetics and evolution of food-related behaviour

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