The Genetics and Genomics of Animal Behaviour and Behavioural Plasticity

Dear Colleagues,

The genes that underlie animal behaviour and behavioural variation are slowly being elucidated, with these genes potentially having extensive ramifications for a wide range of topics, from medical research to evolutionary and ecological theory. The search and identification of such genes is challenging, as is indeed the search for all such complex traits, however in the case of behaviour, the variability both within and between environments makes this even more so.

As well as animal behavioural variation in standard conditions, behaviour can also change depending on the environment, be it social or physical. This means individuals can vary both within a given context and also between contexts. The interplay between genes, behaviour and the environment is an area that is fascinating, but also less well researched. Similarly, methylation, whereby methyl groups bind to DNA to potentially alter gene expression, is a further modification, often environmentally driven, that has been shown to modify behaviour in a heritable fashion in certain circumstances.

This research topic focuses on studies relating to the genes and genomics of behavioural traits in animals, and also about the interactions between genes and the environment as pertaining to behaviour (plasticity) and the role that methylation plays in potentially modifying behaviour.

We cordially invite researchers working in these fields to submit their original research or review manuscripts to this research topic on the genetics and genomics of animal behaviour and behavioural plasticity.

Prof. Kees van Oers
Dr. Dominic Wright
Dr. Rie Henriksen
Guest Editors

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• animal models
• behavioural genomics
• genetics
• plasticity
• ecotypes
• GxE
• methylation
• QTL
• eQTL
• norms of reaction