Dopamine pathway is highly diverged in primate species that differ markedly in social behavior
Christina M. Bergey, Jane E. Phillips-Conroy, Todd R. Disotell, Clifford J. Jolly.
Bergey et al. (2016) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 113 (22):6178-6181. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1525530113
PDF of paper available from publisher’s website.
Abstract: In the endeavor to associate genetic variation with complex traits, closely related taxa are particularly fruitful for understanding the neurophysiological and genetic underpinnings of species-specific attributes. Similarity to humans has motivated research into nonhuman primate models, yet few studies of wild primates have investigated immediate causal factors of evolutionarily diverged social behaviors. Neurotransmitter differences have been invoked to explain the distinct behavioral suites of two baboon species in Awash, Ethiopia, which differ markedly in social behavior despite evolutionary propinquity. With this natural experiment, we test the hypothesis that genomic regions associated with monoamine neurotransmitters would be highly differentiated, and we identify a dopamine pathway as an outlier, highlighting the system as a potential cause of species-specific social behaviors. Dopamine levels and resultant variation in impulsivity were likely under differential selection in the species due to social system structure differences, with either brash or circumspect social behavior advantageous to secure mating opportunities depending on the social backdrop. Such comparative studies into the causes of the behavioral agendas that create and interact with social systems are of particular interest, and differences in temperament related to boldness and associated with dopamine variation likely played important roles in the evolution of all social, behaviorally complex animals, including baboons and humans.
Select Tweets:
Commentary on our recent PNAS pub on dopamine variation in wild baboons. https://t.co/ghaATbO9zP
— Christina Bergey (@bergeycm) May 31, 2016
New pub! Dopamine pathway diverged in 2 baboon spp., may underlie funky social differences. https://t.co/6KhMnBK2rh pic.twitter.com/3G7ApABhaY
— Christina Bergey (@bergeycm) May 2, 2016
From the fantastic @bergeycm, dopamine pathway divergence in socially distinct baboon spp.! https://t.co/dc4p1jPN3r pic.twitter.com/HkGm3q6GN4
— Maryjka Blaszczyk (@maryjkablas) May 2, 2016
V cool paper from @bergeycm showing genetic var in dopamine pathways coincide with var in baboon social structure: https://t.co/emRMtsrDZg
— Dr. Christopher Schmitt (@fuzzyatelin) May 31, 2016
Commentary: