1. Genetics. 2009 Jun;182(2):541-54. doi: 10.1534/genetics.109.102186. Epub 2009 Apr
10.
Genetic architecture of tameness in a rat model of animal domestication.
Albert FW(1), Carlborg O, Plyusnina I, Besnier F, Hedwig D, Lautenschläger S,
Lorenz D, McIntosh J, Neumann C, Richter H, Zeising C, Kozhemyakina R, Shchepina
O, Kratzsch J, Trut L, Teupser D, Thiery J, Schöneberg T, Andersson L, Pääbo S.
Author information:
(1)Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, 75123 Uppsala,
Sweden. falbert@eva.mpg.de
A common feature of domestic animals is tameness-i.e., they tolerate and are
unafraid of human presence and handling. To gain insight into the genetic basis
of tameness and aggression, we studied an intercross between two lines of rats
(Rattus norvegicus) selected over >60 generations for increased tameness and
increased aggression against humans, respectively. We measured 45 traits,
including tameness and aggression, anxiety-related traits, organ weights, and
levels of serum components in >700 rats from an intercross population. Using 201
genetic markers, we identified two significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) for
tameness. These loci overlap with QTL for adrenal gland weight and for
anxiety-related traits and are part of a five-locus epistatic network influencing
tameness. An additional QTL influences the occurrence of white coat spots, but
shows no significant effect on tameness. The loci described here are important
starting points for finding the genes that cause tameness in these rats and
potentially in domestic animals in general.
PMCID: PMC2691762
PMID: 19363126 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PUBMED: 19363126
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