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Sullivan LF, Barker MS, Felix PC, Vuong RQ, White BH. Neuromodulation and the toolkit for behavioural evolution: can ecdysis shed light on an old problem? FEBS J 2024; 291:1049-1079. [PMID: 36223183 PMCID: PMC10166064 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The geneticist Thomas Dobzhansky famously declared: 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution'. A key evolutionary adaptation of Metazoa is directed movement, which has been elaborated into a spectacularly varied number of behaviours in animal clades. The mechanisms by which animal behaviours have evolved, however, remain unresolved. This is due, in part, to the indirect control of behaviour by the genome, which provides the components for both building and operating the brain circuits that generate behaviour. These brain circuits are adapted to respond flexibly to environmental contingencies and physiological needs and can change as a function of experience. The resulting plasticity of behavioural expression makes it difficult to characterize homologous elements of behaviour and to track their evolution. Here, we evaluate progress in identifying the genetic substrates of behavioural evolution and suggest that examining adaptive changes in neuromodulatory signalling may be a particularly productive focus for future studies. We propose that the behavioural sequences used by ecdysozoans to moult are an attractive model for studying the role of neuromodulation in behavioural evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis F Sullivan
- Section on Neural Function, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew S Barker
- Section on Neural Function, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Princess C Felix
- Section on Neural Function, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Richard Q Vuong
- Section on Neural Function, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin H White
- Section on Neural Function, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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2
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Paulich KN, Horwitz TB, Freis SM, Romero Villela PN, Aki S, Stallings MC, Ehringer MA. Reinvigoration of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at the Institute for Behavioral Genetics: Student-driven Progress. Behav Genet 2024; 54:24-33. [PMID: 37603171 PMCID: PMC11105153 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-023-10149-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Extremist far-right ideologies, including scientifically inaccurate beliefs about race, are on the rise (Mieriņa and Koroļeva 2015; Youngblood 2020); individuals perpetuating such ideologies occasionally cite genetics research, including behavioral genetics research. This highlights the need for behavioral geneticists to actively confront extremist ideology and promote anti-racism. We emphasize the need for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committees within behavioral genetics institutions. DEI committees can lead to: greater awareness of ways in which behavioral genetics has been misused (historically and currently) to harm minoritized communities, increased discussions on conducting ethical behavioral genetics research, and increased collaboration for conducting more diverse behavioral genetics research. We discuss the activities and goals of the student-driven DEI committee at the Institute for Behavior Genetics (IBG). At the same time, we acknowledge we have a long way to go, both as a committee and as a field. Our committee is still in its early stages; we discuss challenges to increasing DEI in the field and present future goals for both IBG and the behavioral genetics community as we explore the process of implementing DEI work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie N Paulich
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Tanya B Horwitz
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Samantha M Freis
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Pamela N Romero Villela
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Sidney Aki
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Integrated Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Michael C Stallings
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Marissa A Ehringer
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Integrated Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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3
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Garrison SM, Webster EE, Good R. Advancing Diversity in Behavior Genetics: Strategies for Incorporating Undergraduates into Student-Driven Research. Behav Genet 2024; 54:4-23. [PMID: 38252380 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-023-10172-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Undergraduate research experiences are crucial for fostering the next generation of behavior genetics researchers. However, incorporating undergraduates into research can be challenging for faculty mentors. In this article, we provide strategies for successfully integrating undergraduates into behavior genetics research based on our experiences mentoring undergraduates in our lab. These strategies include: (1) Practicing reflexivity, specifically an ongoing self-examination and critical self-awareness of personal biases, beliefs, and practices; (2) Implementing an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) centered approach; (3) empowering students through clear expectations; (4) Providing focused training and mentorship; (5) Aligning research projects with student interests; (6) Assigning meaningful tasks; and (7) Facilitating professional development opportunities. By following these strategies, faculty mentors can cultivate a supportive and inclusive research environment that empowers undergraduates for successful careers in behavior genetics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mason Garrison
- Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, USA.
| | - Emma E Webster
- Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, USA
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Rachel Good
- Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, USA
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Melentev PA, Ryabova EV, Sarantseva SV. A Private History of Neurogenetics: The swiss cheese Gene and Its Orthologs. RUSS J GENET+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795421090076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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5
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Massey JH, Chung D, Siwanowicz I, Stern DL, Wittkopp PJ. The yellow gene influences Drosophila male mating success through sex comb melanization. eLife 2019; 8:e49388. [PMID: 31612860 PMCID: PMC6794089 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster males perform a series of courtship behaviors that, when successful, result in copulation with a female. For over a century, mutations in the yellow gene, named for its effects on pigmentation, have been known to reduce male mating success. Prior work has suggested that yellow influences mating behavior through effects on wing extension, song, and/or courtship vigor. Here, we rule out these explanations, as well as effects on the nervous system more generally, and find instead that the effects of yellow on male mating success are mediated by its effects on pigmentation of male-specific leg structures called sex combs. Loss of yellow expression in these modified bristles reduces their melanization, which changes their structure and causes difficulty grasping females prior to copulation. These data illustrate why the mechanical properties of anatomy, not just neural circuitry, must be considered to fully understand the development and evolution of behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan H Massey
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Daayun Chung
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Igor Siwanowicz
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - David L Stern
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteAshburnUnited States
| | - Patricia J Wittkopp
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
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6
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Mollon JD, Bosten JM, Peterzell DH, Webster MA. Individual differences in visual science: What can be learned and what is good experimental practice? Vision Res 2017; 141:4-15. [PMID: 29129731 PMCID: PMC5730466 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
We all pass out our lives in private perceptual worlds. The differences in our sensory and perceptual experiences often go unnoticed until there emerges a variation (such as 'The Dress') that is large enough to generate different descriptions in the coarse coinage of our shared language. In this essay, we illustrate how individual differences contribute to a richer understanding of visual perception, but we also indicate some potential pitfalls that face the investigator who ventures into the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Mollon
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny M Bosten
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
| | | | - Michael A Webster
- Department of Psychology and Graduate Program in Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, United States.
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Tatarelli R, Del Casale A, Tatarelli C, Serata D, Rapinesi C, Sani G, Kotzalidis GD, Girardi P. Behavioral genetics and criminal responsibility at the courtroom. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 237:40-5. [PMID: 24561558 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 12/21/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Several questions arise from the recent use of behavioral genetic research data in the courtroom. Ethical issues concerning the influence of biological factors on human free will, must be considered when specific gene patterns are advocated to constrain court's judgment, especially regarding violent crimes. Aggression genetics studies are both difficult to interpret and inconsistent, hence, in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis, genetic data are currently difficult to prioritize in the courtroom. The judge's probabilistic considerations in formulating a sentence must take into account causality, and the latter cannot be currently ensured by genetic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Tatarelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonio Del Casale
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Fondazione "P. Alberto Mileno Onlus", Vasto, CH, Italy
| | - Caterina Tatarelli
- Unit of Hematology, School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Serata
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Villa Rosa, Suore Ospedaliere of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Chiara Rapinesi
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Villa Rosa, Suore Ospedaliere of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Georgios D Kotzalidis
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Girardi
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Villa Rosa, Suore Ospedaliere of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Viterbo, Italy
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8
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The Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) Genetic Predisposition to Impulsive Violence: Is It Relevant to Criminal Trials? NEUROETHICS-NETH 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s12152-011-9108-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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9
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Pandey UB, Nichols CD. Human disease models in Drosophila melanogaster and the role of the fly in therapeutic drug discovery. Pharmacol Rev 2011; 63:411-36. [PMID: 21415126 DOI: 10.1124/pr.110.003293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 662] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a well studied and highly tractable genetic model organism for understanding molecular mechanisms of human diseases. Many basic biological, physiological, and neurological properties are conserved between mammals and D. melanogaster, and nearly 75% of human disease-causing genes are believed to have a functional homolog in the fly. In the discovery process for therapeutics, traditional approaches employ high-throughput screening for small molecules that is based primarily on in vitro cell culture, enzymatic assays, or receptor binding assays. The majority of positive hits identified through these types of in vitro screens, unfortunately, are found to be ineffective and/or toxic in subsequent validation experiments in whole-animal models. New tools and platforms are needed in the discovery arena to overcome these limitations. The incorporation of D. melanogaster into the therapeutic discovery process holds tremendous promise for an enhanced rate of discovery of higher quality leads. D. melanogaster models of human diseases provide several unique features such as powerful genetics, highly conserved disease pathways, and very low comparative costs. The fly can effectively be used for low- to high-throughput drug screens as well as in target discovery. Here, we review the basic biology of the fly and discuss models of human diseases and opportunities for therapeutic discovery for central nervous system disorders, inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. We also provide information and resources for those interested in pursuing fly models of human disease, as well as those interested in using D. melanogaster in the drug discovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1901 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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