Selection for tameness has changed brain gene expression in silver foxes

Lindberg, Julia; Björnerfeldt, Susanne; Saetre, Peter; Svartberg, Kenth; Seehuus, Birgitte; Bakken, Morten; Vilà, Carles; Jazin, Elena

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.11.009

Cited by 68 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The overlap of genes pre FDR were threefold higher than by chance, which might be explained partly by the two studies examining brain tissues, and that the post FDR genes regulate tissue-specific differences. This reflects findings in farm fox populations, where despite the large behavioral and phenotypic changes, only a small set of transcripts differ between wild and tame foxes [44]. Gene ontology terms were as broad as in Paper III and did overlap, but none of the more specific terms did, similarly to what would be expected [40].…”

Section: The Cerebral Hemispheresupporting

confidence: 67%

“…Additionally, similar conclusions were reached when comparing hypothalamic expression in tame and non-selected foxes [44], with unclear behavioral or stress relevance [137]. Amongst the most significant changes in dog domestication were neuropeptides affecting the HPA-axis, while corticotropin-releasing factor expression, CRF, did not differ between tame or aggressive foxes [88].…”

Section: Hypothalamic Gene Expressionmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Two of the most differentially expressed genes in the rats, DLL3 and DHDH, overlapped with a previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for tameness and aggression in the same rat population, providing candidate genes affecting tameness in domesticated rats [43]. Similarly, silver foxes has shown differences in brain gene expression of varying degree as a result of selection for tameness [44,45]. Effects caused by the domestication process that persist in a population across generations must have a mode of transmission, and the domestic phenotype encompasses so many changes in such a short time that mutation rates alone cannot explain the appearance of all of the variation.…”

Section: Domestication Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…This part of the brain is involved in social cognition, learning, and associated behaviors [142,143], and has been well studied in other domestication events [38,39,44,45]. The right part of the cerebral hemisphere was chosen based on ease of identification among samples as well as previous studies on lateralization of behaviour in this tissue in the chicken [144,145].…”

Section: The Cerebral Hemispherementioning

confidence: 99%

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Chicken domestication : Effects of tameness on brain gene expression and DNA methylation

Bélteky¹

2016

Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Dissertations

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Domestication greatly increases phenotypic variation in a short time span, with selection for a single phenotype and a plethora of associated phenotypic changes as an outcome of the process. The domestication process influences the underlying genomic architecture of a species, and the success and speed of the process is likely influenced by it. The main aims of my thesis was to study how domestication affects the brain of chickens: specifically changes in morphology, gene expression, and DNA methylation. Differences in gene expression and DNA methylation between White Leghorn and Red Junglefowl chickens were mapped, and inheritance of these patterns were quantified, indicating a faithful transmission of breed-specific epigenetic markers. Selection on the behavioral trait fearfulness, generated high and low fearful lines of Red Junglefowl. Both the parental population and the fifth selected generation were used for the analyses in this thesis. One experiment studied morphological changes in the brain and other vital organs, and found that relative total brain size increased in high fearful birds, as a consequence of an increase in cerebral hemisphere size in high fearful birds and not in low fearful birds. Also, the relative heart, liver, spleen and testis size increased in high fearful birds, indicating correlated morphological changes with selection for fearfulness. Two additional experiments examined differential gene expression in the hypothalamus and the anterior cerebral hemisphere. The hypothalamus differed in expression of genes with reproductive and immunological functions, whilst the cerebral hemisphere differed in expression of genes related to social behaviors and neurological functions especially those upregulated in low fearful birds. These results indicate the occurrence of tissue-and species-specific changes in gene expression as overlap with other domestication events were nearly nonexistent. A fourth experiment sought to associate the change in fear levels and gene expression differences with DNA methylation. Chromosomal regions with differential DNA methylation between high and low fearful birds were identified, and genes in these regions had annotated functions relevant to phenotypic differences between the selection lines. This thesis is the first to study the genetic alterations of domestication using the wild ancestor of an already domesticated species to repeat the domestication process selecting against fear of humans. The findings corroborate results from previous comparisons of wild and domestic animals, and further support the theory that rigorous selection for a behavioral trait can cause a cascade of genetic and epigenetic changes facilitating the domestication of a population. Populärvetenskaplig sammanfattningDomesticering, när en population djur anpassas till ett liv i fångenskap och nära kontakt med människor, är en process som under kort tid ger upphov till stora förändringar hos djuret under selektion, såsom skillnader i beteende, fysiologi, storlek, reproduktion och fä...

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Section: The Cerebral Hemispheresupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Hypothalamic Gene Expressionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Domestication Geneticsmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: The Cerebral Hemispherementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Chicken domestication : Effects of tameness on brain gene expression and DNA methylation

Bélteky¹

2016

Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Dissertations

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“…Using global human 30,000 cDNA clone microarrays, Lindberg et al (2005) detected mRNA expression differences between brain regions of farm (tame and nonselected) and wild foxes for 8% of clones. Many fewer differences (0.1%) were observed between tame and nonselected farm foxes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Canid genomics: Mapping genes for behavior in the silver fox

Spady¹,

Ostrander²

2007

Genome Res.

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Evolution and Prenatal Development

Coall

Callan

Dickins³

et al. 2015

Handbook of Child Psychology and Developmental Science

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The crucial impact prenatal influences have on development has been recognized for millennia. It is now known that the environment experienced during pregnancy influences development in a way that has consequences for physical and mental health throughout life. This burgeoning field of enquiry encapsulates a broad range of disciplines, but until recently these fields of research were not synthesized or unified. Over the past 30 years, evolutionary theory has been utilized to improve scientists' understanding of the impact prenatal influences have on development. This chapter begins by outlining evolutionary theory and its interaction with development leading to the emerging significance of modern epigenetics. Life history theory, a branch of evolutionary theory that is applied to the interaction between developmental and evolutionary processes, is then used as a framework for the subsequent discussion of prenatal development. The impacts that maternal stress, maternal nutrition, and the exposure to toxins and pollutants during pregnancy have on prenatal development are then explored. This chapter ends by highlighting empirical and theoretical pathways developed out of this unique multilevel synthesis that are likely to be dynamic areas of research into the future.

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Selection for tameness has changed brain gene expression in silver foxes

Cited by 68 publications

References 9 publications

Chicken domestication : Effects of tameness on brain gene expression and DNA methylation

Chicken domestication : Effects of tameness on brain gene expression and DNA methylation

Canid genomics: Mapping genes for behavior in the silver fox

Evolution and Prenatal Development

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