In this lecture, we continue our discussion of the combined role of genetics and the environment in the expression of a phenotype. We start by focusing on concepts from molecular genetics related to testing for the role of a single "candidate gene" using techniques like RNA knockdown. We then consider the role of epigenetics in the expression of a phenotype and discuss DNA methylation, cell differentiation, behavioral epigenetics, and genomic imprinting. Ultimately, this leads us back to seeking methodological ways to identify when a behavior has a strong genetic or environmental basis (before we look into which genes are playing the largest role). So, we introduce cross fostering, twin studies, and common gardening, which are three different ways to test whether a behavior is being determined more by the environment or by the genes.
Topic highlights:
- exploration of molecular genetics applied to the analysis of behavior
- "candidate genes" approach and RNA knockouts and CRISPR gene editing
- introduction of "epigenetics" ("GxExE to P")
- brief introduction to histone modifications
- introduction to DNA methylation
- discussion of role in cell differentation
- introduction to "behavioral epigenetics" and social-insect examples analogous to cell differentiation
- introduction to "genomic imprinting"
- exploration of common experimental methods to disentangle contribution of gene and the environment in behavior
- definition and examples of "cross fostering"
- definition and examples of "twin studies"
- introduction to "common gardening"
Important terms: molecular genetics, candidate gene" RNA knockout, epigenetics, DNA methylation, behavioral epigenetics, genomic imprinting, cross fostering, twin studies, common gardening/transplant experiments
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