Little is known about the genetic basis of behavior. One reason is that behaviors are complex traits that clearly involve many different biological interactions. Research proposed here will take advantage of the special features of the parasitic insect Nasonia to investigate the genetic basis of behavioral differences between species. Special attention will be placed on interactions between genes affecting male courtship behavior. These insect species differ in patterns and timing of behavior. In addition, abnormal behaviors occur within hybrids, due to interactions between genes of the two species. Dissecting the genetic basis of these abnormal behaviors will help to reveal how gene interactions affect behavior.
Nasonia has haplodiploid sex determination; males are haploid (one set of chromosomes) whereas females are diploid (two sets of chromosomes). This feature greatly facilitates the genetic dissection of gene interactions affecting behavior. Using molecular markers, the interacting genetic regions causing abnormal male behaviors and cycle time differences will be mapped and characterized. The research will provide the tools needed for future cloning and sequencing of these' behavioral genes. It could then be determined whether similar (homologous) "behavioral" genes occur in other organisms, including vertebrates.
