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Article
| Open Access
Behavioural traits propagate across generations via segregated iterative-somatic and gametic epigenetic mechanisms
Physiological effects of psychological stress and infection in mothers can increase the incidence of anxiety and psychiatric diseases in offsprings and in subsequent generation. Here, Miklos Toth and colleagues show that intergenerational inheritance of neurological traits is propagated across multiple generations independently by parallel non-genetic mechanisms involving independent segregation of epigenetic specific loci.
- Emma Mitchell
- , Shifra L. Klein
- & Miklos Toth
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Changing cell behaviours during beetle embryogenesis correlates with slowing of segmentation
Sequential segmentation in development is best described in vertebrates, where it relies on cell proliferation and shows regular periodicity. Here, the authors show that in the flour beetle segments are added with irregular rate and their elongation during periods of fast growth relies mostly on cell movements.
- A. Nakamoto
- , S. D. Hester
- & T. A. Williams
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Visually induced initiation of Drosophila innate courtship-like following pursuit is mediated by central excitatory state
Male Drosophilaexhibit a complex suite of courtship behaviours in response to a variety of sensory stimuli. Here, the authors demonstrate the involvement of specific, genetically defined clusters of central neurons in visually induced initiation and maintenance of courtship behaviours.
- Soh Kohatsu
- & Daisuke Yamamoto
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Article
| Open Access
Caste-specific RNA editomes in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior
Post-translational mRNA editing has the potential to enhance the diversity of gene products and alter the functional properties of proteins. Here, Li et al. provide evidence that RNA editing is involved in generating caste-specific contrasting phenotypes in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior.
- Qiye Li
- , Zongji Wang
- & Guojie Zhang
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Mapping ecologically relevant social behaviours by gene knockout in wild mice
Mice are important animal models for human disease research, however artificially selected laboratory mice may be unsuitable for studies of adaptive behavioural response. Here, the authors backcross wild mice with mutant laboratory mice and uncover behavioural gene functions unique to wild mice, thereby offering an improved model for studying human traits.
- Lea Chalfin
- , Molly Dayan
- & Tali Kimchi
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A mutation in the enzyme monoamine oxidase explains part of the Astyanax cavefish behavioural syndrome
Astyanax mexicanus exists as either river-dwelling or cave-adapted subtypes. Elipot et al.identify a mutation in the cavefish monoamine oxidase gene, which leads to differential serotonin degradation in the brain and which may be associated with differences in behaviour between the subtypes.
- Yannick Elipot
- , Hélène Hinaux
- & Sylvie Rétaux
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Genetic integration of local dispersal and exploratory behaviour in a wild bird
The distance that individuals disperse to between birth and first breeding determines the dynamics and genetic composition of natural populations. Here the authors show that in great tits (Parus major), the distance of local dispersal is genetically coupled with exploratory behaviour measured in the lab.
- Peter Korsten
- , Thijs van Overveld
- & Erik Matthysen
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Article
| Open Access
Advantage of rare infanticide strategies in an invasion experiment of behavioural polymorphism
The origin and maintenance of non-parental infanticide is a puzzling phenomenon in wild animal populations. This study of infanticide in a population of bank voles confirms negative frequency-dependent selection in nature and shows potential benefits of this apparently harmful behaviour.
- Tapio Mappes
- , Jouni Aspi
- & Juha Tuomi
The microRNA cluster miR-183/96/182 contributes to long-term memory in a protein phosphatase 1-dependent manner