Abstract

Although most animal behaviors are associated with some form of heritable genetic variation, we do not yet understand how genes sculpt behavior across evolution, either directly or indirectly. To address this, I here compile a data set comprised of over 1000 genomic loci representing a spectrum of behavioral variation across animal taxa. Comparative analyses reveal that courtship and feeding behaviors are associated with genomic regions of significantly greater effect than other traits, on average threefold greater than other behaviors. Investigations of whole-genome sequencing and phenotypic data for 87 behavioral traits from the Drosophila Genetics Reference Panel indicate that courtship and feeding behaviors have significantly greater genetic contributions and that, in general, behavioral traits overlap little in individual base pairs but increasingly interact at the levels of genes and traits. These results provide evidence that different types of behavior are associated with variable genetic bases and suggest that, across animal evolution, the genetic landscape of behavior is more rugged, yet predictable, than previously thought.

Highlights

  • Most animal behaviors are associated with some form of heritable genetic variation, we do not yet understand how genes sculpt behavior across evolution, either directly or indirectly

  • NEARLY all behaviors are associated with some form of heritable genetic variation (Kendler and Greenspan 2006)

  • The structure and effect of genetic architectures may vary with behavioral traits, as suggested by the preponderance of large-effect loci found for insect courtship traits across multiple species (Arbuthnott 2009)

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Summary

Introduction

Most animal behaviors are associated with some form of heritable genetic variation, we do not yet understand how genes sculpt behavior across evolution, either directly or indirectly. Using reports associating behavioral variation with the genes for specific traits across diverse species, I assemble a comparative behavior genetics resource composed of 1007 significant genomic loci from 114 QTL studies conducted in 30 species across five taxonomic classes.

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