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Selecting the Genetics of Behavior, Cognition, and Intelligence in Domestic...
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Selecting the Genetics of Behavior, Cognition, and Intelligence in Domestic Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 14321

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francisco Javier Navas González

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Genetics Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, Rabanales University Campus, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Interests: quantitative and molecular genetics; behavior and cognitive genetics; functional genetics and advanced biostatistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Animal domestication is a complex process whose impacts on behavior are commonly underrated. Genetic factors may play a significant role in both species-specific behaviors and behavioral and cognitive differences exhibited by individuals in the same species. Contextually, exploring the impact of increased intensities of selection on domestic animal behavior can lead to the discovery of new functional niches and selection criteria for domestic species, which may end in a perfect symbiosis, after which both humans and animals could benefit.

To this aim, this Special Issue focuses on studying the genetic background behind behavior functional traits, quantifying the degree in which such features are inherited and evaluating the development of models controlling the factors conditioning the expression of certain behavior functional features as a comprehensive way to shed light into the genetic fraction involved in these often-unknown traits. Discussions of genetics and behavior may be useful to veterinarians, livestock producers, laboratory animal researchers and technicians, animal trainers and breeders, and any researcher interested in animal behavior, given the potential benefits that may be linked to the special psychological nature of domestic species as facilitators of learning processes and for the development of key life skills and confidence building for a wide spectrum of vulnerable people, or whose knowledge may lead to the improvement of welfare and animal care.

Dr. Francisco Javier Navas González
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cognitive processes
  • behavior
  • intelligence quotient
  • animal assisted therapy
  • selection
  • ethology
  • quantitative and molecular genetics
  • biostatistics
  • animal modeling
  • association studies

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2029 KiB  
Article
Learning Ability and Hippocampal Transcriptome Responses to Early and Later Life Environmental Complexities in Dual-Purpose Chicks
by Chao Yan, Wen Liu, Jinlong Xiao, Hai Xiang, Jikun Wang, Hui Zhang, Jian Liu, Siyu Chen and Xingbo Zhao
Animals 2022, 12(5), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050668 - 7 Mar 2022
Viewed by 2567
Abstract
In this study, we hypothesized that complex early-life environments enhance the learning ability and the hippocampal plasticity when the individual is faced with future life challenges. Chicks were divided into a barren environment group (BG), a litter materials group (LG), and a perches [...] Read more.
In this study, we hypothesized that complex early-life environments enhance the learning ability and the hippocampal plasticity when the individual is faced with future life challenges. Chicks were divided into a barren environment group (BG), a litter materials group (LG), and a perches and litter materials group (PLG) until 31 days of age, and then their learning abilities were tested following further rearing in barren environments for 22 days. In response to the future life challenge, the learning ability showed no differences among the three groups. In the hippocampal KEGG pathways, the LG chicks showed the downregulation of neural-related genes neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) and neurexins (NRXN1) in the cell adhesion molecules pathway compared to the BG (p < 0.05). Immune-related genes TLR2 in Malaria and Legionellosis and IL-18 and IL18R1 in the TNF signaling pathway were upregulated in the LG compared to in the BG (p < 0.05). Compared to the BG, the PLG displayed upregulated TLR2A in Malaria (p < 0.05). The PLG showed upregulated neural-related gene, i.e., neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-7-like (CHRNA8) in the nicotine addiction pathway and secretagogin (SCGN) gene expression, as compared to the LG (p < 0.05). In conclusion, early-life environmental complexities had limited effects on the learning ability in response to a future life challenge. Early-life perches and litter materials can improve neural- and immune-related gene expression and functional pathways in the hippocampus of chicks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selecting the Genetics of Behavior, Cognition, and Intelligence in Domestic Animals)
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15 pages, 342 KiB  
Article
The Youngest, the Heaviest and/or the Darkest? Selection Potentialities and Determinants of Leadership in Canarian Dromedary Camels
by Carlos Iglesias Pastrana, Francisco Javier Navas González, Elena Ciani, Ander Arando Arbulu and Juan Vicente Delgado Bermejo
Animals 2021, 11(10), 2886; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102886 - 3 Oct 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2492
Abstract
Several idiosyncratic and genetically correlated traits are known to extensively influence leadership in both domestic and wild species. For minor livestock such as camels, however, this type of behavior remains loosely defined and approached only for sex-mixed herds. The interest in knowing those [...] Read more.
Several idiosyncratic and genetically correlated traits are known to extensively influence leadership in both domestic and wild species. For minor livestock such as camels, however, this type of behavior remains loosely defined and approached only for sex-mixed herds. The interest in knowing those animal-dependent variables that make an individual more likely to emerge as a leader in a single-sex camel herd has its basis in the sex-separated breeding of Canarian dromedary camels for utilitarian purposes. By means of an ordinal logistic regression, it was found that younger, gelded animals may perform better when eliciting the joining of mates, assuming that they were castrated just before reaching sexual maturity and once they were initiated in the pertinent domestication protocol for their lifetime functionality. The higher the body weight, the significantly (p < 0.05) higher the score in the hierarchical rank when leading group movements, although this relationship appeared to be inverse for the other considered zoometric indexes. Camels with darker and substantially depigmented coats were also significantly (p < 0.05) found to be the main initiators. Routine intraherd management and leisure tourism will be thus improved in efficiency and security through the identification and selection of the best leader camels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selecting the Genetics of Behavior, Cognition, and Intelligence in Domestic Animals)
17 pages, 835 KiB  
Article
Judgement Bias in Miniature Donkeys: Conditioning Factors and Personality Links
by Maria Pinto, Francisco Javier Navas González, Camie Heleski and Amy McLean
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2737; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092737 - 19 Sep 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2874
Abstract
Expectation-related bias may configure individuals’ perception of their surrounding environment and of the elements present in it. This study aimed to determine the repercussions of environmental (weather elements) or subject-inherent factors (sex, age, or personality features) on judgment bias. A cognitive bias test [...] Read more.
Expectation-related bias may configure individuals’ perception of their surrounding environment and of the elements present in it. This study aimed to determine the repercussions of environmental (weather elements) or subject-inherent factors (sex, age, or personality features) on judgment bias. A cognitive bias test was performed in eight Miniature jennies and four jacks. Test comprised habituation, training and testing phases during which subjects were trained on how to complete the test and scored based on their latency to approach an ambiguous stimulus. A questionnaire evaluating eleven personality features was parallelly completed by three caretakers, five operators and two care assistants to determine the links between personality features and judgment bias. Adjusted latencies did not significantly differ between sexes (Mann–Whitney test, p > 0.05). Although Miniature donkeys can discriminate positive/negative stimuli, inter-individual variability evidences were found. Such discrimination is evidenced by significant latency differences to approach positive/negative stimuli (33.7 ± 43.1 vs. 145.5 ± 53.1 s) (Mann–Whitney test, p < 0.05). Latencies significantly increased with patience, indicative of an expression of pessimism. Better understanding judgement bias mechanisms and implications may help optimize routine handling practices in the framework of animal welfare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selecting the Genetics of Behavior, Cognition, and Intelligence in Domestic Animals)
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7 pages, 859 KiB  
Communication
Cape Feather Coloration Signals Different Genotypes of the Most Polymorphic MHC Locus in Male Golden Pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus)
by Hong-Yi Liu, Ke He, Yun-Fa Ge, Qiu-Hong Wan and Sheng-Guo Fang
Animals 2021, 11(2), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020276 - 22 Jan 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2248
Abstract
Ornamental feather coloration is usually a reflection of male quality and plays an important role during courtship, whereas the essence of male quality at the genetic level is not well understood. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-based mate choice has been observed in various vertebrates. [...] Read more.
Ornamental feather coloration is usually a reflection of male quality and plays an important role during courtship, whereas the essence of male quality at the genetic level is not well understood. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-based mate choice has been observed in various vertebrates. Here, we investigated the relationship between the coloration of cape feathers and the MHC genotypes in golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus). We found that feather coloration differed sharply among different individuals (brightness: 1827.20 ± 759.43, chroma: 1241.90 ± 468.21, hue: 0.46 ± 0.06). Heterozygous individuals at the most polymorphic MHC locus (IA2) had brighter feathers than homozygous individuals (Z = −2.853, p = 0.004) and were more saturated in color (Z = −2.853, p = 0.004). However, feather coloration was not related to other MHC loci or to overall genetic heterozygosity (p > 0.050). Our study suggested that coloration of cape feathers might signal IA2 genotypes in golden pheasants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selecting the Genetics of Behavior, Cognition, and Intelligence in Domestic Animals)
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12 pages, 847 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Genetic Background of the Differences in Nest-Building Behavior in European Rabbit
by Ildikó Benedek, Vilmos Altbӓcker, Attila Zsolnai and Tamás Molnár
Animals 2020, 10(9), 1579; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091579 - 4 Sep 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2850
Abstract
Once a day, nursing and absentee mothering make the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) an ideal model animal for measuring differences in maternal behavior. Behavioral events and their hormonal regulation leading to parturition are well documented; however, the genetic background behind individual [...] Read more.
Once a day, nursing and absentee mothering make the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) an ideal model animal for measuring differences in maternal behavior. Behavioral events and their hormonal regulation leading to parturition are well documented; however, the genetic background behind individual differences in this complex process is unknown. Decreased progesterone hormone level and the reduction of progesterone receptor activity are crucial to initiating the collection of nest material. The progesterone receptor gene is a likely candidate affecting nest-building behavior. In addition to several known point mutations in the progesterone receptor gene of the European wild rabbit, we have found a new mutation in the promoter region of the gene at 2682 T > C. Although this new single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was not involved in the formation of the nest-building behavior, an SNP (2464G > A) already described in the promoter region showed an association with individual differences in the initiation of hay carrying. The distribution of this SNP delivered an opposite result compared to domestic rabbits. Genotype (GG) with high uterine capacity was most frequent; the hereditary value of the trait was h2 = 0.10. Thus, progesterone receptor gene polymorphism may manifest in individual differences affecting breeding success in this species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selecting the Genetics of Behavior, Cognition, and Intelligence in Domestic Animals)
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