Abstract
Identifying the molecular mechanisms of animal behaviour is an enduring goal for researchers. Gaining insight into these mechanisms enables us to gain a greater understanding of behaviour and their genetic control. In this paper, we perform Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping of tonic immobility behaviour in an advanced intercross line between wild and domestic chickens. Genes located within the QTL interval were further investigated using global expression QTL (eQTL) mapping from hypothalamus tissue, as well as causality analysis. This identified five candidate genes, with the genes PRDX4 and ACOT9 emerging as the best supported candidates. In addition, we also investigated the connection between tonic immobility, meat pH and struggling behaviour, as the two candidate genes PRDX4 and ACOT9 have previously been implicated in controlling muscle pH at slaughter. We did not find any phenotypic correlations between tonic immobility, struggling behaviour and muscle pH in a smaller additional cohort, despite these behaviours being repeatable within-test.
Highlights
IntroductionIdentifying the molecular mechanisms of animal behaviour is an enduring goal for researchers
Identifying the molecular mechanisms of animal behaviour is an enduring goal for researchers.Gaining insight into these mechanisms enables us to gain a greater understanding of behaviour in domestic animals, as well as their wild counterparts
The two strongest candidate genes we find for tonic immobility (PRDX4 and ACOT9) have been implicated as regulators of breast muscle pH at slaughter, due to their role in struggling behaviour [25]
Summary
Identifying the molecular mechanisms of animal behaviour is an enduring goal for researchers. Gaining insight into these mechanisms enables us to gain a greater understanding of behaviour in domestic animals, as well as their wild counterparts. Understanding the genetic determinants of behaviour in domestic populations can improve animal health and welfare, as well as productivity in production environments. We study the genetic determinants of tonic immobility, a freezing behaviour, and the phenotypic relationship between tonic immobility, meat pH and struggling behaviour in a population of wild x domestic intercross chickens. As an anti-predation strategy, when the prey animal has been caught by the predator it will freeze and remain motionless for a considerable amount of time
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