Genotype at the PMEL17 locus affects social and explorative behaviour in chickens. Academic Article

abstract

• 1. We studied behaviour and brain gene expression in homozygous PMEL17 genotypes, using chickens originating from an advanced White Leghorn x red junglefowl intercross. The behavioural studies consisted of three social and one explorative behaviour test. There were significant differences between the genotypes in both social and explorative behaviour. 2. Gene expression studies showed no PMEL17 expression in brain, so the genotype differences must depend on extra-neural gene expression or expression during embryonic development. However, linkage or spurious family effects (genetic drift) can not be excluded. 3. The study strongly suggests a correlated effect between plumage colour and behaviour, and we conclude that PMEL17 may have a pleiotropic effect on social and explorative behaviour in chickens.

authors

• Andersson, Leif

published proceedings

• Br Poult Sci

author list (cited authors)

• Karlsson, A., Kerje, S., Andersson, L., & Jensen, P.

citation count

• 23

complete list of authors

• Karlsson, A-C||Kerje, S||Andersson, L||Jensen, P

publication date

• April 2010

publisher

• Taylor & Francis  Publisher

published in

• British Poultry Science  Journal

keywords

• Animals
• Behavior, Animal
• Chickens
• Exploratory Behavior
• Feathers
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Genotype
• Pigments, Biological
• Social Behavior

PubMed Central ID

• 20461577

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1080/00071661003745802

start page

• 170

end page

• 177

volume

• 51

issue

• 2

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00071661003745802