Behavioral Genetics Research Articles

Legal contracts and legal customs in the history of law of the Kazakh society

Relevance. The relevance of the study lies in considering the branch function of natural law and analysing the provisions that can form its basis in society. Purpose. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of legal customs and contracts in the historical development of the legal system in Kazakh society, focusing on their foundational role before and during the early stages of state formation. Methodology. The study utilizes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating insights from the "new biology" fields such as animal ethology, behavioral genetics, primatology, evolutionary psychology, anthropology to analyze the origins of moral provisions and legal norms. Results. The research identifies legal customs as a primary source of legal provisions before the formation of the state and highlights the role of legal contracts at the earliest stages of state development. The study demonstrates the continuity of legal systems throughout the existence of the Kazakh ethnic group. Additionally, it emphasizes the limitations of cultural influence in explaining the root causes of social norms, pointing to the need for a deeper understanding of the natural law origins. The study provides insights into the historical aspects of the legal system development in Kazakhstan, influenced by various biological and social sciences. Conclusions. The study concludes that legal customs and contracts are fundamental to the development of legal systems, especially in the context of Kazakh society. It underscores the necessity of considering the natural law origins of legal norms to better understand the mechanisms of their development. The research highlights the importance of philosophical inquiry into the roots of legal customs, which is crucial for understanding universal and regional legal norms. Furthermore, the study suggests that recognizing the continuity in the legal development of Kazakhstan can provide valuable perspectives on the formation and evolution of legal systems in other societies. Keywords: legal science; philosophy; origin of moral norms; human nature; society

Key Grazing Behaviours of Beef Cattle Identify Specific Genotypes of the Glutamate Metabotropic Receptor 5 Gene (GRM5)

Genotype-phenotype associations between the bovine genome and grazing behaviours measured over time and across contexts have been reported in the past decade, with these suggesting the potential for genetic control over grazing personalities in beef cattle. From the large array of metrics used to describe grazing personality behaviours (GP-behaviours), it is still unclear which ones are linked to specific genes. Our prior observational study has reported associations and trends towards associations between genotypes of the glutamate metabotropic receptor 5 gene (GRM5) and four GP-behaviours, yet the unbalanced representation of GRM5 genotypes occurring in observational studies may have limited the ability to detect associations. Here, we applied a subsampling technique to create a genotypically-balanced dataset in a quasi-manipulative experiment with free ranging cows grazing in steep and rugged terrain of New Zealand’s South Island. Using quadratic discriminant analysis, two combinations of eleven GP-behaviours (and a total of fifteen behaviours) were selected to build an exploration model and an elevation model, respectively. Both models achieved ∼ 86% accuracy in correctly discriminating cows’ GRM5 genotypes with the training dataset, and the exploration model achieved 85% correct genotype prediction of cows from a testing dataset. Our study suggests a potential pleiotropic effect, with GRM5 controlling multiple grazing behaviours, and with implications for the grazing of steep and rugged grasslands. The study highlights the importance of grazing behavioural genetics in cattle and the potential use of GRM5 markers to select individuals with desired grazing personalities and built herds that collectively utilize steep and rugged rangelands sustainably.

Advancing Diversity in Behavior Genetics: Strategies for Incorporating Undergraduates into Student-Driven Research.

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.

We need more-diverse biobanks to improve behavioural genetics.

We need more-diverse biobanks to improve behavioural genetics.

Family Transmission of Executive Functions: Mix of Traditional and Citizen Science Research Approach

The aim of this study was to examine the family transmission of executive functions deficits (working memory and inhibitory control) from parents to children, using a combination of traditional and citizen science research approaches. The final sample consisted of 110 families with two children (440 participants; 110 pairs of children, 110 fathers and 110 mothers). Children were preadolescent (6 to 10 years old; 24 pairs) or adolescent (11 to 15 years old; 86 pairs) siblings. The research results indicated that the inhibitory control of the mother is related to the inhibitory control of the younger child, and that the inhibitory control of the father is related to the inhibitory control of the older child in the family, regardless of developmental period. In the father-child relationship, it was revealed that there is a strong connection between parental and child working memory. On the other hand, there are significant interaction of mothers' working memory and age of children in the second-born child. Potential mechanisms of transmission were discussed, bearing in mind the specifics of mother's and father's involvement in raising children, as well as the potential direction of this research question towards the sphere of behavioral genetics and parenting styles.

Noise reactivity and firework fear in dogs

Noise reactivity and firework fear are well-known and often discussed topics among dog owners. The prevalence of noise reactivity varies a lot between different dog breeds; in certain breeds, as many as 50% of all dogs are affected at some level. Even though the prevalence of noise reactivity is high, little is known about the genetic background of noise reactivity in dogs. This article provides a brief introduction to behavioural genetics and the genetics behind noise reactivity and firework fear, some of the animal welfare issues related to extreme fear of noise, and sheds light on the possibilities of reducing the prevalence through systematic breeding.

Big Data, Behavioral Genetics and Risk of Future Offending

A convergence of trends in assessing the future risk of reoffending could result in morally questionable inputs into the criminal process. Advances in the analysis of DNA and increases in the availability of information about people gleaned from social media might allow for new inferences to be drawn against offenders during the sentencing process. We explore how developments in forensic DNA analysis methods and law enforcement DNA databases in conjunction with information about an offender’s developmental environment could lead the prosecution to postulate a high risk of recidivism and thus argue for a longer sentence. We then consider some reasons why such a prosecution strategy might be troubling. In doing so, we focus on issues related to the inferential process, discrimination, privacy and constitutive luck.

Behavioural Genetics in the Context of Proof Within Civil Procedure

Since being established as a separate branch of scientific knowledge, behavioural genetics has raised many ethical, legal and social questions. The identification of the genetic origins of behaviour is expanding beyond the scientific field into socially relevant areas such as justice, education and health care. The development of new techniques and analytical approaches, including genome sequencing, non-invasive prenatal testing and optogenetics, has clearly changed the direction of further development of behavioural genetics. This has also transformed the legal and social contexts of biomedical research analysed in this article. The author discusses the expanded scope of behavioural genetics which has become prominent in many countries. The author further focuses on the ethical, legal, social and political issues raised by the potential application of behavioural genetics used for evidentiary purposes in legal proceedings. The author draws the conclusion that behavioural genetics and behavioural genetic evidence are of significant value in determining circumstances relevant to a given case, thus assisting the court in coming to a legitimate and well-reasoned decision. By examining specific categories of cases (civil torts and guardianship cases), the author shows how the application of behavioural genetics can ensure that the rights of certain vulnerable groups (juveniles and persons with mental health problems) are adequately protected.

Analysis of Antennal Responses to Motion Stimuli in the Honey Bee by Automated Tracking Using DeepLabCut

Considering recent developments in gene manipulation methods for honey bees, establishing simple and robust assay systems which can analyze behavioral components in detail inside a laboratory is important for the rise of behavioral genetics in the honey bee. We focused on the antennal movements of the honey bee and developed an experimental system for analyzing the antennal responses (ARs) of the honey bee using DeepLabCut, a markerless posture-tracking tool using deep learning. The tracking of antennal movements using DeepLabCut during the presentation of vertical (downward and upward) motion stimuli successfully detected the direction-specific ARs in the transverse plane, which has been reported in the previous studies where bees tilted their antennae in the direction opposite to the motion stimuli. In addition, we found that honey bees also exhibited direction-specific ARs in the coronal plane in response to horizontal (forward and backward) motion stimuli. Furthermore, an investigation of the developmental maturation of honey bee ARs showed that ARs to motion stimuli were not detected in bees immediately after emergence but became detectable through post-emergence development in an experience-independent manner. Finally, unsupervised clustering analysis using multidimensional data created by processing tracking data using DeepLabCut classified antennal movements into different clusters, suggesting that data-driven behavioral classification can apply to AR paradigms. In summary, our results revealed direction-specific ARs even in the coronal plane to horizontal motion stimuli and developmental maturation of ARs for the first time, and suggest the efficacy of data-driven analysis for behavioral classification in behavioral studies of the honey bee.

Developmental dyslexia: Convergence of all theories towards a multifactional model, and the role of ICTs

Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterised by slow and inaccurate word recognition. This article intends to summarize the current understanding of developmental dyslexia's etiology, brain bases, neuropsychology, and social context. In this article are discussed the progress has been made the last years in domains involving definition and classification, neuropsychological correlates, neurobiological factors, and intervention of dyslexia. It is also referred to the neuropsychological approaches to dyslexia have evolved and the importance of an interdisciplinary perspective for understanding dyslexia. Dyslexia is caused by multiple genetic and environmental risk factors as well as their interplay. Several candidate genes have been identified in the past decade. At the brain level, dyslexia is associated with aberrant structure and function, particularly in left hemisphere reading/language networks. The neurocognitive influences on dyslexia are also multifactorial and involve phonological processing deficits as well as weaknesses in other oral language skills and processing speed. Contextual issues such as the correlation of dyslexia with an individual’s IQ or age, the manifestation of dyslexia across languages and social classes as well as what treatments are best supported are being examined. This article is aimed at highlighting the exciting new research that cuts across levels of analysis. Such work promises eventually to provide a comprehensive explanation of the disorder as well as its prevention and remediation. In this recent contribution to the field of Dyslexia, we will be mentioned to some historical information, as well as we will be faced with significant issues in the Phonological Theory of Dyslexia. The single versus will multiple deficit accounts. In the field of the etiology of Dyslexia, we will be mentioned to the Behavioural Genetics, to the Molecular Genetics and to Environmental Influences. Individuals with dyslexia show functional abnormalities in both posterior and anterior language networks. This approach is intended to promote scientific knowledge and draws attention to the complexity of the developmental dyslexia (DD).

On the Usefulness of Behavior Genetics: Using Family Studies in Evolutionary Psychological Science to Improve Causal Inference and Sharpen Theory

On the Usefulness of Behavior Genetics: Using Family Studies in Evolutionary Psychological Science to Improve Causal Inference and Sharpen Theory

Advancing the frontiers of genomic public administration: From genetics to administrative attitudes, behaviors, and practices

AbstractBiology's increasing applicability to the social sciences can inspire new approaches to public administration research and practice. Drawing on advances in behavioral genetics, genomic public administration may push its frontiers by examining the genetic foundations of administrative behaviors. While public administration scholars have pioneered the use of the twin design to assess the heritability of public sector employment and public service motivation, they may also use molecular genetics to explore how specific genes interact with environmental factors to shape administrative attitudes, traits, and behaviors. We highlight how relevant studies in management and political science may serve as models for similar explorations in public administration. We also outline four research agendas for genomic public administration. In addition to complementing traditional public administration theory by examining the genetic roots of administrative behaviors and practices, genomic public administration may enrich genetic inquiries by adding public sector applications.

Neuroanatomy of Entrepreneurship and Bibliometric Analysis of Studies with Vosviewer

Entrepreneurship has been at the focus of many scientists doing research in the field of social sciences. Studies have focused on entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurial disposition and entrepreneurial behavior. Generally, empirical methods have been used in studies, but the neurophysiological, neuropsychological and psychoneuroendocrinological reasons behind the individual's entrepreneurship have been neglected. In short, genetic factors, hormones, behavioral genetic factors related to the individual's being an entrepreneur were not taken into account in the studies. However, with the use and development of neuroscience methods, tools and approaches in different fields, the opportunities offered by neuroscience in research on entrepreneurship in the field of Social Sciences have recently begun to be utilized. This has facilitated the neuroanatomical examination of entrepreneurial individuals. Entrepreneurship research focuses on the individual's family, environmental, social and educational interactions. In order for entrepreneurship to be understood in a multidimensional way, it is necessary to consider human behavior in terms of genetic transfers, hormones, behavioral genetics and the interactions of these factors with each other. For this reason, studies on the concepts of "entrepreneurship and neuroscience", "entrepreneurship and genetics", "entrepreneurship and biology" and "neuroentrepreneurship" gain importance. The aim of this study is to provide information about the neuroscience methods, tools and approaches used in entrepreneurship research, to make a detailed bibliometric analysis of the researches, to identify the trends and gaps related to the mentioned concepts and to bring them to the attention of researchers and to make suggestions about what should be done in future studies. Since a better understanding of entrepreneurial thought, intention and behavior will contribute to the development of entrepreneurship, mapping the studies in the literature in terms of the neuroanatomy of entrepreneurship and analyzing them within the scope of quantitative data makes the study unique. The study consists of five parts. In the first part of the study, studies carried out for a better understanding of entrepreneurship in terms of neurophysiology, hormones and genetics are given by making use of neuroscience methods, tools and approaches in the literature. In the second part, neuroscience tools, methods and approaches used in entrepreneurship research are explained. In the third part, the method of the research and in the fourth part, the bibliometric analysis findings are given. In the last part, the discussion and conclusion, the deficiencies identified in the field and recommendations for future studies are made. As the analysis unit, bibliometric data of different types of papers scanned in the Web of Science (WoS) database and published between 2006 and 2023 was taken as a basis. As a result of the research, 379 publications related to the words "entrepreneurship" and "neuroscience" were identified and the most studied 260 of them were neuroscience, neurology, 53 business economics and 47 mathematical computational biology. 346 publications on "entrepreneurship" and "genetics" have been identified and the most studied 146 of them are genetic inheritance, 44 are biochemistry, molecular biology and 35 are business economics. 183 publications on “entrepreneurship” and “biology” were found, 58 of which were studied the most, multidisciplinary sciences, 55 related to genetic inheritance and 44 of them related to business. Within the scope of the study, only 9 publications related to "neuroentrepreneurship", which are directly related to entrepreneurship and neuroscience, were identified in the Web of Science (WoS) database. In the last part, discussion and conclusion, what needs to be done in entrepreneurship research and suggestions are presented.

Behavior Genetics Association 53rd Annual Meeting Abstracts.

Behavior Genetics Association 53rd Annual Meeting Abstracts.

The paradise fish, an advanced animal model for behavioral genetics and evolutionary developmental biology.

Paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis) is an air-breathing freshwater fish species with a signature labyrinth organ capable of extracting oxygen from the air that helps these fish to survive in hypoxic environments. The appearance of this evolutionary innovation in anabantoids resulted in a rewired circulatory system, but also in the emergence of species-specific behaviors, such as territorial display, courtship and parental care in the case of the paradise fish. Early zoologists were intrigued by the structure and function of the labyrinth apparatus and a series of detailed descriptive histological studies at the beginning of the 20th century revealed the ontogenesis and function of this specialized system. A few decades later, these fish became the subject of numerous ethological studies, and detailed ethograms of their behavior were constructed. These latter studies also demonstrated a strong genetic component underlying their behavior, but due to lack of adequate molecular tools, the fine genetic dissection of the behavior was not possible at the time. The technological breakthroughs that transformed developmental biology and behavioral genetics in the past decades, however, give us now a unique opportunity to revisit these old questions. Building on the classic descriptive studies, the new methodologies will allow us to follow the development of the labyrinth apparatus at a cellular resolution, reveal the genes involved in this process and also the genetic architecture behind the complex behaviors that we can observe in this species.

The gender gap in political interest: Heritability, gendered political socialization, and the enriched environment hypothesis.

This article uses a behavioral genetics approach to study gender differences in expressed political interest, applying the enriched environment hypothesis to gendered political socialization. As girls are less stimulated to develop an interest in politics than boys, we theorize that these differences in the socialization environment reduce the expression of girls' genetic predispositions compared to boys', leading to a gender gap in the heritability of this trait. Analyses using data on German twins (11-25 years) demonstrate relevant differences by gender and age in heritability estimates. While differences in political interest between boys are largely explained by genes, this is less the case for girls, as they have considerably higher shared environment estimates. Our results imply that gender differences in expressed political interest are sustained by both genetic variation and environmental influences (such as socialization), as well as the interaction between the two.

Genetics of sterility behaviour in Thermo Sensitive Genic Male Sterility system in rice (Oryza sativa L. )

Genetics of sterility behaviour in Thermo Sensitive Genic Male Sterility system in rice (Oryza sativa L. )

Announcement of the Fulker Award for a Paper Published in Behavior Genetics, Volume 52, 2022.

Announcement of the Fulker Award for a Paper Published in Behavior Genetics, Volume 52, 2022.

Minutes of the Annual Business Meeting of the Members of the Behavior Genetics Association : June 24, 2023, 12:15-13:30, Venue 'Auditorium and Conference Centre' Murcia (Spain).

Minutes of the Annual Business Meeting of the Members of the Behavior Genetics Association : June 24, 2023, 12:15-13:30, Venue 'Auditorium and Conference Centre' Murcia (Spain).

Awards Presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Behavior Genetics Association, June 24 2023, Murcia, Spain.

Awards Presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Behavior Genetics Association, June 24 2023, Murcia, Spain.