Aggressiveness and kinship in brown trout (Salmo trutta) parr

In a series of experiments, kin-biased behavior of young browntrout (Salmo trutta) was observed. The aggressiveness shownby groups of familiar siblings (siblings reared together sincefertilization) and groups of unfamiliar siblings (siblings rearedapart since fertilization) was significantly lower comparedto that of mixed groups of two unrelated sibling groups (offspringof two different pairs of parents). The evolution of kin-biasedbehavior, as shown by a reduction in aggressiveness, is assumedto have evolved through a kin-selective mechanism.[Behav Ecol7: 445-450 (1996)]     

Social and developmental influences on urinary androgen levels in young male white-faced marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi)

Callitrichine primates (marmosets and tamarins) often remain in their natal groups beyond the time of sexual maturity. Although studies have characterized the development of female reproductive function in callitrichine offspring, less is known about the male reproductive development. To document reproductive development in male marmosets, we monitored urinary androgen (uA) excretion in males housed in a captive colony of white-faced marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi). Young male marmosets showed relatively low and stable rates of uA excretion early in life, with elevated production at the end of the juvenile period (9-10 months) and again at the onset of adulthood (16 months). uA levels of adult breeding males were also measured to compare to adult-aged sons. Although breeding males did have higher uA levels than their adult-aged sons, these differences did not reach conventional levels of significance. Evidence from some other reports has suggested that androgen levels of males in other species are influenced by social factors, such as the presence of a sexually receptive female or of dependent offspring. In this study, however, uA levels did not vary, based on their mothers' pregnancy status or the presence of younger siblings in the natal group. Patterns of androgen excretion in the white-faced marmoset roughly reflect those of other callitrichine species. Furthermore, unlike callitrichine daughters, gonadal activity in sons does not seem to be sensitive to within-group social cues.     

Focus: Rare Disease: Psychosocial Functioning in Siblings of Children With Rare Disorders Compared to Controls

Siblings of children with chronic disorders are at increased risk of psychosocial problems. The risk may be exacerbated when the chronic disorder is rare and limited medical knowledge is available, due to more uncertainty and feelings of isolation. We examined mental health, parent-child communication, child-parent relationship quality, and social support among 100 children aged 8 to 16 years (M age 11.5 years, SD = 2.2; 50.0% boys, 50.0% girls). Fifty-six were siblings of children with rare disorders, and 44 were controls. The siblings of children with rare disorders (herein, siblings) were recruited from a resource centre for rare disorders and comprised siblings of children with a range of rare disorders including neuromuscular disorders and rare chromosomal disorders with intellectual disability. Controls were recruited from schools. Self-reported child mental health was significantly poorer for siblings compared to controls (effect size difference d = 0.75). Parent-reported child mental health was not significantly different between the groups (d = -0.06 to 0.16). Most child-parent relationships (anxiety/avoidance; mothers/fathers) were significantly poorer for siblings compared to controls (d = 0.47 to 0.91). There was no difference between groups in anxious relation with mother. Parent-child communication was significantly poorer for siblings compared to controls (d = -0.87 to -0.75). Social support was significantly poorer for siblings compared to controls (d = 0.61). We conclude that siblings of children with rare disorders display more psychosocial problems than controls. Interventions are indicated to prevent further maladjustment for siblings.     

Effects of kinship on aggression and RNA content in juvenile Arctic charr

The behaviour of juvenile Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus was studied in groups of four siblings composed of familiar and unfamiliar individuals or in mixed groups of four where both siblings and unrelated individuals were present. The frequency of aggressive acts was significantly higher in the mixed groups compared to the pure sibling groups and the difference was present at all levels of the hierarchy rank order, based on a dominance index, except the lowest ranked individuals. The difference was significant after but not before feeding, implying that competition with non-kin for a food resource increased the aggression. No significant difference in weight gain was observed between sibling and mixed groups during the 6 days of the experiment, but the RNA contents of lateral musculature in dominant individuals from sibling groups were significantly higher than the corresponding fish in the mixed group, suggesting a difference in growth rate when the experiments ended. No significant difference in RNA content was observed between subordinate fish of the two treatments, i.e. siblings v . mixed.     

青春期雌性根田鼠初次择偶行为与雄性优势等级

在实验室条件下，研究了性刚成熟的雌性根田鼠对一对互为同胎同胞的以体重划分为优势和从势的雄性个体的择偶行为，目的在于检验雄性社会等级是否影响其配偶选择。结果发现：(1)根田鼠存在显著的偏雄性二型，而雄性动物优势度与体重大小成正比；(2)在Y字型迷宫中，初次发情雌鼠对优势雄鼠的访问时间、社会探究频次和友好频次等显著大于从属雄鼠；(3)在随后24h的一雌二雄共居中，优势雄优先交配；从属雄的干扰不能中断优势雄鼠的交配。这些结果说明，体重差异可以作为划分雄性优势的指标，社会等级可以作为择偶行为的一个依据。优势雄鼠与处于从属地位的同胞相比，能获得优先交配机会。同胎同胞虽具有遗传相似性，但雄性竞争的结果表现在体重和社会等级上具有显著差异，表明配偶选择在发挥着作用。根田鼠是一雄多雌制，而且具有较大的偏雄性二型，提示社会等级、雌性选择和婚配制度有密切关联[动物学报49(3)：303—309，2003]。     

An assessment of gene‐by‐environment interactions in developmental dyslexia‐related phenotypes

While the genetic and environmental contributions to developmental dyslexia (DD) have been studied extensively, the effects of identified genetic risk susceptibility and of specified environmental hazardous factors have usually been investigated separately. We assessed potential gene‐by‐environment (GxE) interactions on DD‐related reading, spelling and memory phenotypes. The presence of GxE effects were investigated for the DYX1C1, DCDC2, KIAA0319 and ROBO1 genes, and for seven specified environmental moderators in 165 nuclear families in which at least one member had DD, by implementing a general test for GxE interaction in sib‐pair‐based association analysis of quantitative traits. Our results support a diathesis‐stress model for both reading and memory composites: GxE effects were found between some specified environmental moderators (i.e. maternal smoke during pregnancy, birth weight and socio‐economic status) and the DYX1C1‐1259C/G marker. We have provided initial evidence that the joint analysis of identified genetic risk susceptibility and measured putative risk factors can be exploited in the study of the etiology of DD and reading‐related neuropsychological phenotypes, and may assist in identifying/preventing the occurrence of DD.     

Sex Differences in Obese Children and Siblings in Family‐based Obesity Treatment

Objective: The primary goal was to evaluate sex differences in child weight control programs that targeted increasing physical activity (increase) or the combination of reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity (combined). A second goal was to evaluate the benefits of family‐based interventions on nontargeted siblings. Research Methods and Procedures: Sixty‐seven families with obese children and 89 siblings were randomized to interventions that targeted increasing physical activity (increase) or the combination of reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity (combined). Targeted participants and nontargeted siblings were followed for 1 year. Results: At 12 months, boys showed significantly better percentages of overweight changes (?15.8%) for the combined treatment than girls (?1.0%), with no significant differences for the increase intervention for boys (?9.3%) or girls (?7.6%). Boys adhered to treatment better than girls (p < 0.01). Adherence and predilection for physical activity were significant predictors of targeted child weight loss at 1 year in multiple regression analysis. Predictors of sibling weight loss included age, number of siblings, targeted child percentage of overweight change, and the interaction of group assignment by same sex of treated sibling. Discussion: Gender may influence response to programs that attempt to decrease sedentary behavior, and generalization of treatment effects to siblings may depend on the intervention and characteristics of the siblings.     

Establishing an efficient Ac/Ds tagging system in rice: large-scale analysis of Ds flanking sequences

A two-element Activator/Dissociation (Ac/Ds) gene trap system was successfully established in rice (Oryza sativa ssp. japonica cv. Nipponbare) to generate a collection of stable, unlinked and single-copy Ds transposants. The germinal transposition frequency of Ds was estimated as an average of 51% by analyzing 4413 families. Study of Ds transposition pattern in siblings revealed that 79% had at least two different insertions, suggesting late transposition during rice development. Analysis of 2057 Ds flanking sequences showed that 88% of them were unique, whereas the rest within T-DNA. The insertions were distributed randomly throughout the genome; however, there was a bias toward chromosomes 4 and 7, which had two times as many insertions as that expected. A hot spot for Ds insertions was identified on chromosome 7 within a 40-kbp region. One-third of Ds flanking sequences was homologous to either proteins or rice expressed sequence tags (ESTs), confirming a preference for Ds transposition into coding regions. Analysis of 200 Ds lines on chromosome 1 revealed that 72% insertions were found in genic region. Anchoring of more than 800 insertions to yeast artificial chromosome (YAC)-based EST map showed that Ds transposes preferentially into regions rich in expressed sequences. High germinal transposition frequency and independent transpositions among siblings show that the efficiency of this system is suitable for large-scale transposon mutagenesis in rice.     

Siblicide in the spotted hyena: analysis with ultrasonic examination of wild and captive individuals

Integrated field and laboratory studies of long-lived, large-bodiedmammals are rare but offer unique opportunities to elucidatethe behavioral ecology of these animals. Here, we used thisapproach to examine whether siblicide in spotted hyenas (Crocutacrocuta) is obligate or facultative. First, we tested predictionsof obligate and facultative hypotheses by using ultrasonographyto compare litter size before and after parturition and identifypotential causes of litter reduction. Second, we compared littersize and composition between wild and captive hyenas to assessvariation in offspring sex ratios. Third, we used demographicdata to compare survivorship among litters of various sizesand compositions. Fourth, we compared sex ratios within twinlitters born in the wild under conditions of high populationdensity and intense feeding competition with those born whenpopulation density and intensity of feeding competition werereduced. Our data were inconsistent with the obligate siblicidehypothesis. Litter reduction occurred during roughly one-thirdof pregnancies in both wild and captive hyenas, and all suchreductions among captives were due to fetal resorptions or stillbirths.Litter sizes and compositions differed little between wild andcaptive hyenas. However, sex ratios in twin litters varied inthe wild with intensity of feeding competition. In conjunctionwith captive data, long-term study of a wild hyena populationunder varying environmental conditions suggests facultativesiblicide is most likely to occur when feeding competition ismost intense, thus offering an ecological explanation for earlierconflicting reports on siblicide in this species.