Behavioral Genetics & Development – Lecture 2 Vocabulary

35 English vocabulary flashcards covering genetics, development, and behavior topics from Lecture 2.

Tinbergen’s Four Questions

A framework that asks about the causation, development, function, and evolutionary history of a behavior.

Proximate Question

A question that investigates the immediate mechanisms (physiology, genetics, development) producing a behavior.

Ultimate Question

A question that explores the evolutionary purpose or adaptive value of a behavior.

Hypothesis Development

The process of formulating testable, mutually exclusive explanations for observed behavioral phenomena.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism; the specific DNA sequence inherited from its parents.

Environment (behavioral context)

All developmental, social, biotic, and abiotic factors that influence gene expression and behavior.

Genotype × Environment Interaction

The phenomenon where the effect of genes on behavior depends on environmental conditions and vice-versa.

Central Dogma

The flow of genetic information: DNA → (transcription) mRNA → (translation) Protein.

Ontogeny

The development of an organism from early stages through adulthood, including behavioral changes.

Worker Honey Bee

A sterile diploid female that progresses from nursing to foraging tasks as she ages.

Queen Honey Bee

A reproductive diploid female produced when larvae are fed only royal jelly.

Royal Jelly

A secretion from worker bees that triggers queen development by altering larval gene expression.

Epigenetic Modification

Heritable chemical changes to DNA or histones that affect gene expression without altering nucleotide sequence.

DNA Methylation

The addition of methyl groups to DNA, often reducing gene transcription.

Dnmt3

A gene encoding a DNA-methyltransferase; silencing it in bee larvae biases development toward queen phenotype.

RNA interference (RNAi)

A technique that silences specific genes by degrading their mRNA, used to knock down Dnmt3 in bee studies.

Forward Genetics

Approach that starts with a phenotype and works to identify the underlying gene(s).

Reverse Genetics

Approach that starts with a gene and examines the resulting phenotype when that gene is altered.

Developmental Constraint Hypothesis

Idea that poor early environments limit later fitness because of irreversible developmental effects.

Predictive Adaptive Response Hypothesis

Proposal that developmental cues tailor an organism’s phenotype to match anticipated future environments.

Maternal Effect

An influence of the mother on offspring phenotype independent of the offspring’s inherited alleles (e.g., cortisol in squirrels).

Phenotypic Plasticity

The ability of one genotype to produce multiple phenotypes in response to environmental cues.

Polyphenism

A discrete form of phenotypic plasticity where distinct morphs arise from the same genotype.

Density-Dependent Polyphenism

Environmentally triggered morph changes (e.g., solitary vs. gregarious locusts) based on population density.

Behavioral Polymorphism

Loss of plasticity leading to fixed alternative behaviors within a species, often gene-based.

Supergene

A large, linked DNA region containing many genes that collectively determine a complex trait or behavior.

Ruff Reproductive Morphs

Independent, satellite, and faeder male strategies controlled by inversion-generated supergenes (~100 genes each).

White-Throated Sparrow Morphs

Tan-striped and white-striped color/behavior morphs maintained by a supergene rearrangement on chromosome ZAL2m.

egr-1 Gene

An immediate-early gene that surges in Astatotilapia burtoni brains during transition from subordinate to dominant status.

Prairie Vole

A monogamous species often contrasted with polygynous mountain voles in evo-devo studies of social behavior.

Peromyscus Burrow Building

Species-specific burrowing patterns where oldfield mice build long, complex burrows and deer mice build short or no burrows.

Migratory Restlessness

Nighttime activity indicating innate migratory timing differences, as seen between black and common redstarts.

Slug-Eating Behavior in Garter Snakes

A coastal vs. inland food preference shown to have a genetic basis via lab rearing and feeding tests.

Cortisol-Induced Offspring Growth

In red squirrels, high maternal cortisol during dense populations speeds offspring growth, aiding winter survival at lifespan cost.

Socially Induced Status Change

Rapid behavioral and gene expression shift from subordinate to dominant in A. burtoni when a rival is removed.