Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
Anim Sci J. 2009 Apr;80(2):113-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2008.00623.x.
Various studies have shown the associations between differences in human behavioral traits and genetic polymorphism of neurotransmitter-related proteins such as receptors, transporters and monoamine oxidase. To clarify the genetic background of animal behavior, corresponding regions in animals have been analyzed. The study has been especially focused on primates, as the evolutionally closest animal to humans, and on dogs, as the socially closest animal to humans. In primates, polymorphisms were discovered between or within species, and the functional effects on neural transmission were found to be different by alleles. Even in apes, the closest species to humans, function was different from that in humans. In dogs, allele distributions of several genes were different among breeds showing different behavioral traits, and genes associated with individual differences in aggressiveness and aptitude of working dogs were surveyed. The survey of behavior-related genes has also been carried out in other mammals such as horses and cetaceans. Genes controlling various behaviors in birds have also been reported. The marker genes for behavior will provide useful information for human evolution, welfare of zoo animals and effective selection of working dogs and industry animals.
多项研究表明，人类行为特征的差异与神经递质相关蛋白（如受体、转运体和单胺氧化酶）的遗传多态性有关。为了阐明动物行为的遗传背景，对动物的相应区域进行了分析。这项研究特别关注与人类进化关系最密切的灵长类动物和与人类关系最密切的犬类动物。在灵长类动物中，发现了物种间或物种内的多态性，并且通过等位基因发现了对神经传递的不同功能影响。即使是与人类最接近的猿类，其功能也与人类不同。在犬类中，表现出不同行为特征的不同品种之间存在几种基因的等位基因分布差异，并调查了与攻击性和工作犬能力个体差异相关的基因。在马和鲸目动物等其他哺乳动物中也进行了与行为相关的基因调查。控制鸟类各种行为的基因也有报道。行为的标记基因将为人类进化、动物园动物福利以及工作犬和工业动物的有效选择提供有用信息。
