Genes and Behaviour

Provides a broad snapshot of recent findings showing how the environment and genes influence behavior

The great debate of nature versus nurture rages on -- but our understanding of the genetic basis of many behaviors has expanded over the last decade, and there is now very good evidence showing that seemingly complex behaviours can have relatively simple genetic underpinnings, but also that most behaviours have very complicated genetic and environmental architecture. Studies have also clearly shown that behaviors, and other traits, are influenced not just by genes and the environment, but also by the statistical interaction between the two. This book aims to end the nature versus nurture argument by showing that behaviors are nature and nurture and the interaction between the two, and by illustrating how single genes can explain some of the variation in behaviors even when they are seemingly complex.

Genes and Behaviour: Beyond Nature-Nurture puts to rest the nature versus nurture dichotomy, providing an up-to-date synopsis of where we are, how far we've come and where we are headed. It considers the effects of a dual-inheritance of genes and culture, and genes and social environment, and highlights how indirect genetic effects can affect the evolution of behavior. It also examines the effect of non-self genes on the behavior of hosts, shines a light on the nature and nurturing of animal minds and invites us to embrace all the complexity nature and nurture generates, and more.

• Explores exciting new findings about behavior and where we go from here

• Features contributions by top scholars of the subject

• Seeks to end the nature versus nurture debate forever

Genes and Behaviour: Beyond Nature-Nurture is a unique, and eye-opening read that will appeal to Ph.D. Students, post-doctoral fellows, and researchers in evolution and behavior. Additionally, the book will also be of interest to geneticists, sociologists and philosophers.

Autorentext

David J. Hosken, PhD, is Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, Penryn, UK. John Hunt, PhD, is Professor of Ecology at the Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, Penryn, UK and at the School of Science & Health, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia. Nina Wedell, PhD, is a Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall, Penryn, UK.

Klappentext
"A welcome modern take on the nature-nurture debate."
Professor Susan Healy, University of St Andrews "An impressive collection of accessible contributions from leading researchers."
Professor Paula Stockley, University of Liverpool The great debate of nature versus nurture rages on but our understanding of the genetic basis of many behaviours has expanded over the last decade, and there is now very good evidence showing that seemingly complex behaviours can have relatively simple genetic underpinnings, but also that most behaviours have very complicated genetic and environmental architecture. Studies have also clearly shown that behaviours, and other traits, are influenced not just by genes and the environment, but also by the statistical interaction between the two. This book aims to end the nature versus nurture argument by showing that behaviours are nature and nurture and the interaction between the two, and by illustrating how single genes can explain some of the variation in behaviours even when they are seemingly complex. Genes and Behaviour: Beyond Nature-Nurture puts to rest the nature versus nurture dichotomy, providing an up-to-date synopsis of where we are, how far we've come and where we are headed. It considers the effects of a dual-inheritance of genes and culture, and genes and social environment, and highlights how indirect genetic effects can affect the evolution of behaviour. It also examines the effect of non-self genes on the behaviour of hosts, shines a light on the nature and nurturing of animal minds and invites us to embrace all the complexity nature and nurture generates, and more.

• Explores exciting new findings about behaviour and where we go from here
• Features contributions by top scholars of the subject
• Seeks to end the nature versus nurture debate forever Genes and Behaviour: Beyond Nature-Nurture is a unique, and eye-opening read that will appeal to PhD students, post-doctoral fellows, and researchers in evolution and behaviour. Additionally, the book will also be of interest to geneticists, sociologists and philosophers.

Inhalt
List of Contributors xiii

Preface xv

**1 Nature, Nurture, and Nature-by-Nurture Killing the Dichotomy 1
**David J. Hosken, John Hunt and Nina Wedell

Acknowledgements 7

References 7

**2 Ultimate (Re)Thinking for Behavioural Biology 11
**Sasha R. X. Dall, John M. McNamara and Alastair J. Wilson

2.1 Evolutionary Reasoning in Modern Behavioural Biology 13

2.2 A Quantitative Genetic View of Behavioural Evolution 15

2.3 Short-Term Ultimate Reasoning: Behavioural Genetics in a Functional Context 20

2.4 Concluding Remarks 21

References 22

3 How the Dual Inheritance of Genes and Culture Shapes Behaviour: A Critical Review with a Focus on **Human Culture and Behavioural Diversity 27
**Thomas E. Currie

3.1 Culture and Behaviour 27

3.2 Cultural Evolution 30

3.2.1 Processes of Cultural Evolution 31

3.2.1.1 Variation 31

3.2.1.2 Inheritance 32

3.2.1.3 Selection and Fitness 34

3.3 Insights from Cultural Evolutionary Approaches 37

3.3.1 Adaptive and Maladaptive Behaviour 37

3.4 Cultural History 39

3.5 Culture and the Evolution of Co-operation 42

3.6 GeneCulture Coevolution 45

3.7 Conclusion 48

Acknowledgements 50

References 50

**4 Beyond Genes and Environments: Indirect Genetic Effects and the Evolution of Behaviour 61
**John Hunt, James Rapkin, Clarissa M. House and Alastair J. Wilson

4.1 A Quantitative Genetic View of Behavioural Evolution without IGEs 63

4.2 Adding IGEs to the Traditional Theory 66

4.2.1 'Trait-Based' and 'Variance Partitioning' Models of IGEs 67

4.3 From Theory Towards Empiricism 68

4.3.1 Using Trait-Based Models 69

4.3.2 Using Variance Partitioning Models 71

4.3.3 Is Knowledge of the Interactor Trait Critical to Your Study? 72

4.4 Empirical Evidence for IGEs on Behavioural Traits 73

4.4.1 Social Plasticity of Behaviour is Widespread 73

4.4.2 Does Social Plasticity Generate IGEs on Focal Behaviour? 78

4.5 What are the Evolutionary Consequences of IGEs? 81

4.5.1 What about the Role of Social Selection? 82

4.5.2 What Happens When is Also Able to Evolve? 83

4.5.3 Can IGEs Influence Other Important Evolutionary Processes? 83

4.5.4 What are the Longer Term Consequences of IGEs? 85

4.6 Conclusions and Future Directions 85

References 87

**5 Genes and Behaviour 93
**Chelsea A. Weitekamp and Laurent Keller

5.1 Genetic Architecture of Phenotypic Traits 94

5.2 Effects of Single Genes on Behaviour 95

5.2.1 The Foraging Gene and Food-Search Behaviour 97

5.2.2 Arginine Vasopressin Receptor and Pair-Bonding Behaviour 98

5.2.3 Neuropeptide Y Homolog, Sensory Neurons, and Social Feeding Behaviour 98

5.3 Effects of Supergenes on Behaviour 99

5.3.1 Social Organization in Ants 100

5.3.2 Alternative Mating Tactics in Birds 100

5.4 Evolvability of Behaviour-Associated Genes 101

5.5 Are Behavioural Traits Unique? 101

5.6 Conclusion 103

Acknowledgements 103

References 103

**6 Genes and Environments in Drosophila Sex 111
**David J. Hosken, Amanda Bretman, Stephen F. Goodwin and C. Ruth Archer

6.1 Some Challenges 111

6.2 Introducing Drosophila 112

6.3 The Behaviours 112

6.4 The Genes 113

6.4.…