This is a continuation of a pilot project to identify genetic loci that regulate behavior and morphology in the Silver Fox, V. Vulves. The project exploits two unique populations of fox developed at this institute by selecting for behavioral responses to humans: One population is tame (domesticated), the other aggressive. Recent behavioral research by Brian Hare and his colleagues has demonstrated that domestication of the wolf (dogs) and of these foxes involves the acquisition of the ability to interpret human intent from the facial expression and body language of humans. This characteristic promises to shed light on behavioral problems in humans such as autism. We have preliminary evidence identifying four genetic loci that regulate this behavior. This evidence is derived from a genetic analysis of segregant progeny derived from backcrossing aggressive into tame foxes. In this continuation we propose to: 1) Validate these loci by means of specific marker directed crosses;2) Identify a number of morphological loci that are also segregating in this backcross;and 3) determine if morphology appropriate to aggressive or tame behaviors co-segregate with (are linked to) behavioral loci. We propose to establish specific haplotypes for each of the several behavioral and morphological loci and subsequently determine the relevant genes that regulate these phenotypes.

Public Health Relevance

Inability to recognize human intent is one of the major components of autism, a disease that is becoming increasingly important. This research investigates an animal (fox) model for deciphering the genetic basis for recognition of human intent. At the same time this model will give insights into morphological change (changes in appearance) that may accompany such behavioral disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03TW008098-03
Application #
7846203
Study Section
International and Cooperative Projects - 1 Study Section (ICP1)
Program Officer
Katz, Flora N
Project Start
2008-08-15
Project End
2011-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$32,486
Indirect Cost
Name
Institute of Cytology and Genetics
Department
Type
DUNS #
565652179
City
Novosibirsk
State
Country
Russia
Zip Code
63009-0
Nelson, Ronald M; Temnykh, Svetlana V; Johnson, Jennifer L et al. (2017) Genetics of Interactive Behavior in Silver Foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Behav Genet 47:88-101
Kukekova, Anna V; Johnson, Jennifer L; Kharlamova, Anastasiya V et al. (2016) Georgian white coat color of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) maps to fox chromosome 2 in the region containing KIT gene. Anim Genet 47:514-5
Johnson, Jennifer L; Wittgenstein, Helena; Mitchell, Sharon E et al. (2015) Genotyping-By-Sequencing (GBS) Detects Genetic Structure and Confirms Behavioral QTL in Tame and Aggressive Foxes (Vulpes vulpes). PLoS One 10:e0127013
Johnson, J L; Kozysa, A; Kharlamova, A V et al. (2015) Platinum coat color in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is caused by a mutation in an autosomal copy of KIT. Anim Genet 46:190-9
Kukekova, Anna V; Trut, Lyudmila N; Chase, Kevin et al. (2011) Mapping Loci for fox domestication: deconstruction/reconstruction of a behavioral phenotype. Behav Genet 41:593-606
Kukekova, Anna V; Johnson, Jennifer L; Teiling, Clotilde et al. (2011) Sequence comparison of prefrontal cortical brain transcriptome from a tame and an aggressive silver fox (Vulpes vulpes). BMC Genomics 12:482
Statham, Mark J; Trut, Lyudmila N; Sacks, Ben N et al. (2011) On the origin of a domesticated species: Identifying the parent population of Russian silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 103:168-175
Gogoleva, Svetlana S; Volodin, Ilya A; Volodina, Elena V et al. (2011) Explosive vocal activity for attracting human attention is related to domestication in silver fox. Behav Processes 86:216-21
Gogoleva, S S; Volodin, I A; Volodina, E V et al. (2010) Vocalization toward conspecifics in silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes) selected for tame or aggressive behavior toward humans. Behav Processes 84:547-54
Gogoleva, Svetlana S; Volodina, Elena V; Volodin, Ilya A et al. (2010) The gradual vocal responses to human-provoked discomfort in farmed silver foxes. Acta Ethol 13:75-85

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