The Genetic Basis of Vocal Learning

项目总结 人类和其他动物通过更多的模仿来学习他们的许多复杂的和面向社会的行为 在他们的环境中有经验的人。声乐模仿是最引人注目和最容易做到的一种 这种类型的学习可以量化的例子，但这种复杂特征的遗传基础仍然很差 明白了。本研究的目的是通过以下方法来确定发声模仿能力的遗传基础 建立第一个发声学习物种的诱变筛选和自主学习的遗传工具 利用生殖系基因建立新型转基因模型检测已鉴定基因的功能 瞄准技术。人类是唯一的灵长类动物，也是少数几种哺乳动物中的一种 已经进化出了模仿声音的能力。除了人类，鸣禽，特别是斑马雀， 是研究得最好的声乐学习物种，他们为系统地 确定与这一重要社会行为有关的基因。就像说话一样，斑马雀的叫声也是一种文化 通过模仿学习到的传播行为。此外，功能、遗传和分子上的相似之处强调 斑马雀用于识别声音模仿所必需的基因。我们假设一位前锋 遗传显性筛选，随后是详细的遗传图谱和通过 这项建议将确定这种多基因特征的聚合和差异遗传特征。建立 正向遗传筛查和用于验证斑马雀基因功能的遗传工具将提供 尝试理解发声的遗传基础的新的、全面的和广泛影响的方法 和社会交流。

PROJECT SUMMARY People and other animals learn many of their complex and socially oriented behaviors by imitating more experienced individuals in their environment. Vocal imitation is one of the more striking and readily quantifiable examples of this type of learning, but the genetic basis of this complex trait is still poorly understood. The goal of this research is to determine the genetic basis of vocal imitation abilities by establishing the first mutagenesis screen in a vocal learning species and the genetic tools for independently testing the function of the identified genes by developing novel transgenic models using germline gene targeting technologies. Humans are the only primate and one of only a handful of mammalian species to have evolved the facility for vocal imitation. Aside from humans, songbirds, and in particular zebra finches, are the best studied vocal learning species and they provide the only practical platform for systematically identifying the genes involved in this important social behavior. Like speech, zebra finch song is a culturally transmitted behavior learned via imitation. Moreover, functional, genetic and molecular parallels underscore the use of zebra finch for identifying genes essential for vocal imitation. We hypothesize that a forward genetic dominant screen, followed by the detailed genetic mapping and manipulations developed through this proposal, will identify convergent and divergent genetic signatures for this polygenic trait. Establishing a forward genetic screen and the genetic tools for verifying gene function in zebra finches will provide a novel, comprehensive, and broadly impactful approach for trying to understand the genetic basis of vocal and social communication.