Featured
-
-
Article
| Open Access
The gene “degrees of kevin bacon” (dokb) regulates a social network behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster
The structure of a social network is thought to be heritable in many animals, including humans. Here, Rooke and colleagues identify a gene, which they name “degrees of kevin bacon (dokb)”, that is expressed in the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster and regulates the structure of social networks.
- Rebecca Rooke
- , Joshua J. Krupp
- & Joel D. Levine
-
Article
| Open Access
Exome-wide analysis implicates rare protein-altering variants in human handedness
Left-handedness is a common and partly heritable trait. Here, the authors perform a genome-wide screen for rare, protein-altering genetic variants associated with handedness in over 350,000 people, and implicate the tubulin gene TUBB4B.
- Dick Schijven
- , Sourena Soheili-Nezhad
- & Clyde Francks
-
Article
| Open Access
Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating
Non-random mating can complicate genetic studies, but implications hinge on its history in prior generations. Here, the authors use genetic similarity between relatives to investigate which traits show evidence of recent changes in mating behavior.
- Hans Fredrik Sunde
- , Nikolai Haahjem Eftedal
- & Fartein Ask Torvik
-
Article
| Open Access
An analysis of the accuracy of retrospective birth location recall using sibling data
Many surveys ask participants to retrospectively record their location of birth. Here, the authors find misreporting in retrospective birth location data in UK Biobank using data from siblings, which can lead to bias in estimates of the impact of location-based exposures.
- Stephanie von Hinke
- & Nicolai Vitt
-
Article
| Open Access
Structural models of genome-wide covariance identify multiple common dimensions in autism
Studying individuals with autism only, this study investigated the genomic architecture of autism-related phenotypes using a multivariate modelling framework. This work identified distinct genomic factors linked to language performance, behaviour and developmental motor delay.
- Lucía de Hoyos
- , Maria T. Barendse
- & Beate St Pourcain
-
Article
| Open Access
Gene regulation and speciation in a migratory divide between songbirds
Little is known about the genetic basis of many natural behaviours and how they contribute to speciation. Here the authors address this by identifying genes linked to migration of a songbird, investigating how these gene are regulated, and connecting them to potential barriers between species.
- Matthew I. M. Louder
- , Hannah Justen
- & Kira E. Delmore
-
Article
| Open Access
Overcoming attenuation bias in regressions using polygenic indices
Measurement error in polygenic indices attenuates their power to predict complex traits. Here, the authors compare two approaches addressing this attenuation bias and provide guidance on which approach to apply in various scenarios.
- Hans van Kippersluis
- , Pietro Biroli
- & Cornelius A. Rietveld
-
Article
| Open Access
The head mesodermal cell couples FMRFamide neuropeptide signaling with rhythmic muscle contraction in C. elegans
FMRFamides are neuropeptides involved in behavior, energy balance, and reproduction. Here, the authors show that two opposing FMRFamide-like neuropeptide signaling pathways originating from the nervous system control the activation of the head mesodermal cell, which controls muscle contraction through gap junctions during a rhythmic behavior in C. elegans.
- Ukjin Choi
- , Mingxi Hu
- & Derek Sieburth
-
Article
| Open Access
Aggregation pheromones have a non-linear effect on oviposition behavior in Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila larvae may benefit each other at lower densities but compete at higher densities. Here, Verschut et al. identify a mechanism enabling Drosophila females to favor egg-laying sites containing medium concentrations of aggregation pheromones, which may facilitate choice of favorable sites.
- Thomas A. Verschut
- , Renny Ng
- & Jean-Christophe Billeter
-
Article
| Open Access
Multivariate genomic architecture of cortical thickness and surface area at multiple levels of analysis
The current study identifies five genomic subclusters of brain regions for cortical thickness and surface area characterized by high levels of shared genetic signal. These subclusters map onto biological and functional parcellations of the cortex.
- Andrew D. Grotzinger
- , Travis T. Mallard
- & Jordan W. Smoller
-
Article
| Open Access
Migration direction in a songbird explained by two loci
The genetic determinants of long-distance migration in birds are largely unknown. Sokolovskis et al. tracked genotyped hybrid willow warblers from a migratory divide in Sweden and find that autumn migration direction is consistent with a dominant inheritance pattern of two large effect loci that interact through epistasis.
- Kristaps Sokolovskis
- , Max Lundberg
- & Staffan Bensch
-
Article
| Open Access
Estimating effects of parents’ cognitive and non-cognitive skills on offspring education using polygenic scores
Understanding how parents’ cognitive and non-cognitive skills influence their children’s educational trajectories is important for educational, family and economic policy. Here, the authors investigate parental influence on children’s education using genetic approaches.
- Perline A. Demange
- , Jouke Jan Hottenga
- & Rosa Cheesman
-
Article
| Open Access
Large-scale GWAS of food liking reveals genetic determinants and genetic correlations with distinct neurophysiological traits
Genetic determinants of food consumption and food liking are likely to be distinct, although it has not been well studied. Here, the authors identify genetic variants associated with food-liking, finding that different food-liking traits correlate with different brain areas and other food consumption traits.
- Sebastian May-Wilson
- , Nana Matoba
- & Nicola Pirastu
-
Article
| Open Access
A natural timeless polymorphism allowing circadian clock synchronization in “white nights”
The genus Drosophila originate in subSaharan Africa and spread North up to the polar circle where they experience long days in the summer or even constant light. Here, the authors show that a form of the TIMELESS protein enables flies to synchronise their behavioural activity to long summer days
- Angelique Lamaze
- , Chenghao Chen
- & Ralf Stanewsky
-
Article
| Open Access
Modeling assortative mating and genetic similarities between partners, siblings, and in-laws
Assortative mating could violate the assumption of random mating used in many genetic studies. Here, the authors study more than 25,000 Norwegian families to find genetic similarity between partners, siblings, and in-laws in genetic factors related to educational attainment, height, and depression.
- Fartein Ask Torvik
- , Espen Moen Eilertsen
- & Eivind Ystrom
-
Article
| Open Access
Histone H3K4me3 modification is a transgenerational epigenetic signal for lipid metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans
Transgenerational inheritance (TEI) mechanisms are to some extent conserved across species, but how TEI mediates lipid accumulation is unknown. Here the authors reveal that a network of lipid metabolic genes and chromatin modifications mediated by transcription factors and H3K4 trimethylation work together to achieve multigenerational obesogenic effects in C. elegans fed with a high-fat diet.
- Qin-Li Wan
- , Xiao Meng
- & Qinghua Zhou
-
Article
| Open Access
Assortative mating biases marker-based heritability estimators
Methods for estimating heritability, the fraction of variance attributable to genetic factors, assume random mating. Here, the authors show that under assortative mating, when mate choice reflects phenotypic similarity, these methods produce overestimates.
- Richard Border
- , Sean O’Rourke
- & Matthew C. Keller
-
Article
| Open Access
Polygenic contribution to the relationship of loneliness and social isolation with schizophrenia
Loneliness and social isolation (LNL-ISO) are associated with schizophrenia. Here the authors demonstrate the role of shared heritability, bidirectional causal relationships and significant differences by sex, illustrating the genomic footprint of social isolation on schizophrenia.
- Álvaro Andreu-Bernabeu
- , Covadonga M. Díaz-Caneja
- & Javier González-Peñas
-
Article
| Open Access
Discordant associations of educational attainment with ASD and ADHD implicate a polygenic form of pleiotropy
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions displaying strong, discordant polygenic associations with educational attainment. Here, the authors study genetic mechanisms underlying genome-wide correlation patterns across these traits.
- Ellen Verhoef
- , Jakob Grove
- & Beate St Pourcain
-
Article
| Open Access
Opponent vesicular transporters regulate the strength of glutamatergic neurotransmission in a C. elegans sensory circuit
The authors describe a vesicular transporter, VST-1, that is required in glutamatergic chemosensory neurons for chemotactic avoidance behavior in C. elegans. VST-1 antagonizes VGLUT-dependent packaging of glutamate into synaptic vesicles and determines the strength of synaptic glutamate signaling.
- Jung-Hwan Choi
- , Lauren Bayer Horowitz
- & Niels Ringstad
-
Article
| Open Access
Multi-omics integration analysis identifies novel genes for alcoholism with potential overlap with neurodegenerative diseases
Alcohol use disorder and drinks per week both have been studied genetically and have different correlations with psychiatric diseases. Here the authors integrate multi-omics data to identify unique and shared variants, genes and pathways for alcohol use disorder and drinks per week.
- Manav Kapoor
- , Michael J. Chao
- & Alison Goate
-
Article
| Open Access
Selection on heritable social network positions is context-dependent in Drosophila melanogaster
The evolvability of sociality requires that some variation in social groups is heritable. Experiments on fly social groups find that genotypic differences in network position are largely robust to changes in the environment flies experience, while selection on network position varies across environments.
- Eric Wesley Wice
- & Julia Barbara Saltz
-
Article
| Open Access
The steroid-hormone ecdysone coordinates parallel pupariation neuromotor and morphogenetic subprograms via epidermis-to-neuron Dilp8-Lgr3 signal induction
Pupariation in Drosophila is triggered by the steroid-hormone ecdysone and requires coordination between associated behavioral and body-reshaping motor subprograms. The authors show that coordination requires ecdysone-dependent Dilp8-Lgr3 signaling between the cuticle epidermis and interneurons.
- Fabiana Heredia
- , Yanel Volonté
- & Alisson M. Gontijo
-
Article
| Open Access
bric à brac controls sex pheromone choice by male European corn borer moths
Many organisms, including moths, use pheromones to attract mates. A study using multiple genomic tools and gene editing identifies a new, neuronal gene underlying mate preference and shows that signal and response loci are in linkage disequilibrium despite being physically unlinked.
- Melanie Unbehend
- , Genevieve M. Kozak
- & Erik B. Dopman
-
Article
| Open Access
Cryptochrome 1 mediates light-dependent inclination magnetosensing in monarch butterflies
Exactly how some animals use magnetic fields to navigate is a longstanding puzzle. A study using a new behavioural assay and transgenic butterflies finds the cryptochrome gene necessary for inclination-based magnetic sensing, and shows that both antennae and eyes, which express this gene, are magnetosensory organs.
- Guijun Wan
- , Ashley N. Hayden
- & Christine Merlin
-
Article
| Open Access
PCM1 is necessary for focal ciliary integrity and is a candidate for severe schizophrenia
The role of ciliary/centriolar components in the postnatal brain is unclear. Here, the authors show via ablation of Pcm1 in mice that degenerative ciliary/centriolar phenotypes induce neuroanatomical and behavioral changes. Sequencing of PCM1 in human cohorts and zebrafish in vivo complementation suggests PCM1 mutations can contribute to schizophrenia.
- Tanner O. Monroe
- , Melanie E. Garrett
- & Nicholas Katsanis
-
Article
| Open Access
Genome-wide meta-analysis of brain volume identifies genomic loci and genes shared with intelligence
Brain volume and intelligence have been previously found to have shared genetic etiology, but the specific common genetic signals have not been identified. Here, the authors perform a genome-wide association study on brain volume, finding common genetic loci driving brain volume and intelligence.
- Philip R. Jansen
- , Mats Nagel
- & Danielle Posthuma
-
Article
| Open Access
Expanding the genetic architecture of nicotine dependence and its shared genetics with multiple traits
There is strong genetic evidence for cigarette smoking behaviors, yet little is known on nicotine dependence (ND). Here, the authors perform a genome-wide association study on ND in 58,000 smokers, identifying five genome-wide significant loci.
- Bryan C. Quach
- , Michael J. Bray
- & Dana B. Hancock
-
Article
| Open Access
Visual mate preference evolution during butterfly speciation is linked to neural processing genes
The genetic mechanisms underlying mate choice decisions can inform our understanding of speciation. A study on Heliconius butterflies identifies 5 candidate genes that would allow sympatric species to evolve distinct preferences without altering their visual perception of the wider environment.
- Matteo Rossi
- , Alexander E. Hausmann
- & Richard M. Merrill
-
Article
| Open Access
Genome-wide association studies and Mendelian randomization analyses for leisure sedentary behaviours
Epidemiological studies have shown an association between sedentary behaviours and cardiovascular disease risk. Here, van de Vegte et al. perform GWAS for self-reported sedentary behaviours (TV watching, computer use, driving) and Mendelian randomization analyses to explore potential causal relationships with coronary artery disease.
- Yordi J. van de Vegte
- , M. Abdullah Said
- & Niek Verweij
-
Article
| Open Access
Comprehensive genomic analysis of dietary habits in UK Biobank identifies hundreds of genetic associations
The choice of food intake is at least partially influenced by genetics, even though the effect sizes appear rather modest. Here, Cole et al. perform GWAS for food intake (85 individual food items and 85 derived dietary patterns) and test potential causal relationships with cardiometabolic traits using Mendelian randomization.
- Joanne B. Cole
- , Jose C. Florez
- & Joel N. Hirschhorn
-
Article
| Open Access
Female copulation song is modulated by seminal fluid
Male fruitflies sing a patterned wing song during courtship. Here, the authors show that females sing a distinct song during copulation, which is controlled by sex-specific neurons, depends on seminal fluid from the male accessory gland and modulates latency of female remating with subsequent males.
- Peter Kerwin
- , Jiasheng Yuan
- & Anne C. von Philipsborn
-
Article
| Open Access
A specific prelimbic-nucleus accumbens pathway controls resilience versus vulnerability to food addiction
Food addiction is linked to obesity and eating disorders. In a mouse model of food addiction, the authors show that a medial prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens pathway is involved in vulnerability and resilience against the development of food addiction-like behavior.
- Laura Domingo-Rodriguez
- , Inigo Ruiz de Azua
- & Rafael Maldonado
-
Article
| Open Access
Genetic influence is linked to cortical morphology in category-selective areas of visual cortex
It remains unclear whether the functional organization of the visual cortex is shaped by genetic or environmental factors. Using fMRI in twins (n = 424), these authors show that activation patterns in category-selective areas are heritable, and that the genetic effects in these areas are linked to structural properties of cortical tissue.
- Nooshin Abbasi
- , John Duncan
- & Reza Rajimehr
-
Article
| Open Access
Genetic evidence for assortative mating on alcohol consumption in the UK Biobank
From observational studies, alcohol consumption behaviours are known to be correlated in spouses. Here, Howe et al. use partners’ genotypic information in a Mendelian randomization framework and show that a SNP in the ADH1B gene associates with partner’s alcohol consumption, suggesting that alcohol consumption affects mate choice.
- Laurence J. Howe
- , Daniel J. Lawson
- & Gibran Hemani
-
Article
| Open Access
Disruptive mutations in TANC2 define a neurodevelopmental syndrome associated with psychiatric disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases for which the genetic basis is still unknown in more than half of the cases. Here, the authors report a NDD associated with disruptive variants in the TANC2 gene and show that rols, the TANC2 homolog in flies, is required for synapse growth and function.
- Hui Guo
- , Elisa Bettella
- & Evan E. Eichler
-
Article
| Open Access
International meta-analysis of PTSD genome-wide association studies identifies sex- and ancestry-specific genetic risk loci
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health problem. Here, the authors report a GWAS from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium in which they identify two risk loci in European ancestry and one locus in African ancestry individuals and find that PTSD is genetically correlated with several other psychiatric traits.
- Caroline M. Nievergelt
- , Adam X. Maihofer
- & Karestan C. Koenen
-
Article
| Open Access
Transcriptome-wide association study of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder identifies associated genes and phenotypes
A recent GWAS reported 12 genetic loci for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here, Liao et al. perform transcriptomic imputation using these data and 12 brain-relevant tissues from GTEx and CMC to identify 9 genes associated with ADHD by TWAS, 3 of which had not yet been reported for ADHD.
- Calwing Liao
- , Alexandre D. Laporte
- & Guy A. Rouleau
-
Article
| Open Access
Extreme inbreeding in a European ancestry sample from the contemporary UK population
Mating between first or second-degree relatives is prohibited in most countries, yet it occurs and is under-studied. Here, Yengo et al. use large runs of homozygosity from the UK Biobank resource to provide DNA-based quantification of extreme inbreeding and its consequence for health and other complex traits.
- Loic Yengo
- , Naomi R. Wray
- & Peter M. Visscher
-
Article
| Open Access
Cyfip1 haploinsufficient rats show white matter changes, myelin thinning, abnormal oligodendrocytes and behavioural inflexibility
People with a genetic deletion of the 15q11.2 locus are at increased risk for psychiatric disorders and white matter disturbances, but the gene(s) responsible are unclear. Here, the authors show that low dosage of CYFIP1, present in the human 15q11.2 region, alters white matter structure and cognition in rats.
- Ana I. Silva
- , Josephine E. Haddon
- & Lawrence S. Wilkinson
-
Article
| Open Access
Genetic studies of accelerometer-based sleep measures yield new insights into human sleep behaviour
Quality, quantity and timing of sleep are important factors for overall human health. Here, the authors perform GWAS for sleep traits estimated using wearable accelerometers and identify 47 genetic associations, including 26 novel associations for measures of sleep quality and 10 for nocturnal sleep duration.
- Samuel E. Jones
- , Vincent T. van Hees
- & Andrew R. Wood
-
Article
| Open Access
Genome-wide association analyses of chronotype in 697,828 individuals provides insights into circadian rhythms
GWAS have previously found 24 genomic loci associated with chronotype, an individual’s preference for early or late sleep timing. Here, the authors identify 327 additional loci in a sample of 697,828 individuals and further explore the relationships of chronotype with metabolic and psychiatric diseases.
- Samuel E. Jones
- , Jacqueline M. Lane
- & Michael N. Weedon
-
Article
| Open Access
Genome wide association analysis in a mouse advanced intercross line
Multigenerational outbred populations from an advanced intercross line (AIL) of mice represent useful resources for genome wide association analysis. Here, the authors analyze 1,063 LG x SM AIL mice to identify significant associations for 50 traits relevant to human health and disease.
- Natalia M. Gonzales
- , Jungkyun Seo
- & Abraham A. Palmer
-
Article
| Open Access
The genetic basis of a social polymorphism in halictid bees
The halictid bee Lasioglossum albipes has both solitary and eusocial individuals, making it a model for social evolution. Here, Kocher et al. identify a genetic variation associated with this social polymorphism, including a variant that can regulate the expression of an autism-associated gene, syntaxin 1a.
- Sarah D. Kocher
- , Ricardo Mallarino
- & Naomi E. Pierce
-
Article
| Open Access
Speed dependent descending control of freezing behavior in Drosophila melanogaster
Looming discs are perceived as an innate threat by flies and elicit a survival response. Here, the authors report that flies exhibit either an escape or freezing response depending on their walking speed and identify the involvement of a pair of neurons in mediating the behavior.
- Ricardo Zacarias
- , Shigehiro Namiki
- & Marta A. Moita
-
Article
| Open Access
The effect of maternal care on gene expression and DNA methylation in a subsocial bee
Development may be plastic and influenced by parental care. Here, the authors show that experimental reduction of maternal care in the small carpenter bee leads to extensive changes in gene expression and splicing, minor changes in methylation, and greater offspring aggression and social avoidance.
- Samuel V. Arsenault
- , Brendan G. Hunt
- & Sandra M. Rehan
-
Article
| Open Access
Item-level analyses reveal genetic heterogeneity in neuroticism
Neuroticism can be assessed as a composite score of individual items. Here, Nagel et al. perform genetic association studies for 12 neuroticism items and the sum-score and demonstrate genetic heterogeneity at the item-level.
- Mats Nagel
- , Kyoko Watanabe
- & Sophie van der Sluis
-
Article
| Open Access
Heterogeneity in the Drosophila gustatory receptor complexes that detect aversive compounds
Taste sensilla are Drosophila sensory organs containing taste neurons, which have differential tuning for bitter compounds. Here, the authors systematically examine what combinations of gustatory receptor genes confer a specific taste response profile in different bitter taste neurons.
- Ha Yeon Sung
- , Yong Taek Jeong
- & Seok Jun Moon
-
Article
| Open Access
Integrating evolutionary and regulatory information with a multispecies approach implicates genes and pathways in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with symptoms including intrusive thoughts and time-consuming repetitive behaviors. Here Noh and colleagues identify genes enriched for functional variants associated with increased risk of OCD.
- Hyun Ji Noh
- , Ruqi Tang
- & Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
Large-language models facilitate discovery of the molecular signatures regulating sleep and activity