Biology 338: Lecture 3Spring 1997

Genetics of Behavior/Development of Behavior

  1. "There is a gene for behavior X"
    1. Myth
    2. Meaning
    3. Implications
      1. Genes are not fully responsible for behavior X
      2. Behavior X is not inevitable

  2. Heritability (h2)
    1. Definition
      h2 = VG/(VG + VE)
    2. Examples

  3. Evidence of genetic variation in behavior
    1. Funnel web spiders - comparisons of parents and offspring
    2. Blackcap warblers - hybridization experiments
      1. Distance of migration
      2. Direction of migration
    3. Humans - twin studies
    4. House mice - artificial selection experiments
    5. Drosophila - genetic transformation experiments
    6. Garter snakes

  4. Development of behavior = gene-environment interaction
    1. Hormones and their role in sexual differentiation
      1. Hormone difference hypothesis
      2. Soma difference hypothesis
    2. Organizational theory of hormone action
      1. Elements
      2. Evidence
      3. Problem: too mammal-centered
      4. Problem: ignores role of social behavior in development
    3. Transactional theory of hormone action

  5. Development resilience
    1. Definition
    2. Development is reliable
    3. Developmental homeostasis