The Genetic Basis of Vocal Learning

声乐学习的遗传基础

基本信息

批准号：
10682560
负责人：
TODD F ROBERTS
金额：
$ 81.58万
依托单位：
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2021
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2021-09-27 至 2026-08-31
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10682560
关键词：
Adult Animals Area Artificial Insemination Behavior Behavioral Birds Brain Breeding Cell Line Child Chromosome Mapping Communication impairment Complex Dedications Development Developmental apraxia Diagnostic Dominant Genetic Conditions Environment Ethylnitrosourea FOXP1 gene FOXP2 gene Foundations Gene Targeting Gene Transfer Techniques Genes Genetic Genetic Diseases Genetic Drift Genetic Screening Genomics Goals Human Individual Laboratories Language Language Development Learning Maps Methods Modeling Molecular Motor Mutagenesis Mutagens Neurobiology Neurodevelopmental Disorder Parents Persons Phenotype Play Polygenic Traits Primates Production Research Rett Syndrome Role Sensory Shapes Social Behavior Social Development Songbirds Speech Speech Development Speech Disorders Spermatogonia Technology Testing Transgenic Model Transgenic Organisms Transplantation Vertebrates autism spectrum disorder developmental disease experience forward genetics gene discovery gene function gene replacement genetic approach genetic linkage analysis genetic manipulation genetic pedigree genetic signature innovation insight learned behavior neurogenetics novel reverse genetics social social communication social skills stem cells tool trait transmission process vocal learning vocalization zebra finch

项目摘要

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.

项目概要人和其他动物通过模仿更多的东西来学习他们的许多复杂和社会导向的行为在他们的环境中经验丰富的人。声音模仿是最引人注目、最容易的模仿之一这种类型的学习有可量化的例子，但这种复杂特征的遗传基础仍然很差明白了。这项研究的目标是通过以下方式确定声音模仿能力的遗传基础：在发声学习物种中建立第一个诱变筛选以及独立的遗传工具通过使用种系基因开发新型转基因模型来测试已识别基因的功能靶向技术。人类是唯一的灵长类动物，也是少数哺乳动物之一进化出了声音模仿的能力。除了人类、鸣禽，特别是斑胸草雀之外，是研究最深入的声乐学习物种，它们为系统地进行声乐学习提供了唯一的实用平台识别参与这种重要社会行为的基因。就像言语一样，斑胸草雀的歌曲也是一种文化通过模仿习得的传播行为。此外，功能、遗传和分子方面的相似之处强调了使用斑胸草雀来识别声音模仿所必需的基因。我们假设前锋遗传显性筛选，然后是通过开发的详细遗传图谱和操作该提案将确定这种多基因性状的趋同和趋异的遗传特征。建立正向遗传筛选和用于验证斑胸草雀基因功能的遗传工具将提供新颖、全面且具有广泛影响力的方法，试图了解声乐的遗传基础和社交沟通。