PSYCHOBIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

生殖行为的心理生物学研究

• 批准号: 2430876
• 负责人: David P Crews
• 金额: $ 8.5万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1988
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1988-09-30 至 1998-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2430876
• 关键词: Chelonia; Reptilia; alternatives to animals in research; behavioral /social science research tag; behavioral genetics; biological signal transduction; ethology; evolution; gene expression; gene induction /repression; hormone regulation /control mechanism; lizards; neuroendocrine system; psychobiology; sex behavior; sex determination; sex differentiation; temperature

This is a request for an ADAMHA Research Scientist Award (RSA). My research objectives concern two important issues concerning the biological bases of behavior: (i) the evolution of behavior and the changes the underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms undergo in the process, and (ii) how genes and environment interact in the development of behavior. The behaviors measured are species-typical "innate" behaviors. Perhaps the greatest barrier to fruitful investigation of the first issue is that representatives of ancestral species usually no longer exist. The whiptail lizards are a rare case in which representatives of both the ancestral and the descendant species still exist. By comparing the neuroendocrine mechanisms that control sexual behaviors in the descendant species with those of the ancestral species, the evolutionary process can be examined directly. The fundamental problem of the second issue is that behavior is the combined result of both nature and nurture. Is it possible to relate gene expression during embryogenesis to the display of specific behaviors during adulthood? In other words, how are quantitative events like gene expression orchestrated into qualitative events like behavior? In many reptiles sex is determined by the temperature of the incubating egg. I am tracing how the temperature signal is transduced into a biological signal that acts ultimately at the genetic level to channel sexual development. This also has enabled me to begin examining the role of temperature-induced gene expression in the development of the adult phenotype. The perspective taken is multidisciplinary, combining the integrating molecular, cellular, physiological, and organismal phenomena within an evolutionary view of biological organization. Further, this research is conducted both in the field and in the laboratory, because the field is a valuable testing ground for the adaptive functions of behavior whereas the laboratory is the only possible arena for determining the physiological and developmental bases of behavioral phenomena observed in the field. This approach permits both the causal mechanisms and the functional outcomes of species-typical behaviors to become evident within each level of biological organization in a way that illustrates the relations among the level. A renewal of the RSA will enable me to continue collaborations with colleagues both at the University of Texas and other institutions. It will enable me to continue my field work, which usually occurs during the academic year. By freeing me from the usual course load and administrative duties, I can devote the majority of my time to research. It allows me to serve as mentor to postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students working on independent research projects. The RSA has allowed me to participate in programs of continuing education for high school science teachers and to provide laboratory experience for high school students.

这是获得Adamha研究科学家奖（RSA）的要求。 我的 研究目标涉及两个重要问题 行为的生物基础：（i）行为的演变和 改变潜在的神经内分泌机制在此过程中经历了 （ii）基因和环境如何在开发中相互作用 行为。 所测得的行为是物种典型的“先天”行为。 也许是对第一期富有成果调查的最大障碍 是祖先物种的代表通常不再存在。 Whiptail蜥蜴是一个罕见的情况 祖先和后代仍然存在。 通过比较 控制后代性行为的神经内分泌机制 具有祖先物种的物种，进化过程可以 直接检查。 第二期的基本问题是 这种行为是自然和养育的综合结果。 是 可以将胚胎发生过程中的基因表达与显示 成年期间的特定行为？ 换句话说，如何 定量事件，例如精心策划的基因表达 诸如行为之类的事件？ 在许多爬行动物中，性别由 孵化鸡蛋的温度。 我正在追踪温度 信号被转导为生物学信号，该信号最终作用于 遗传水平引导性发展。 这也使我 开始研究温度诱导的基因表达在 成人表型的发展。 采取的观点是多学科的，结合了整合 分子，细胞，生理和有机现象 生物组织的进化观点。 此外，这项研究是 在野外和实验室进行，因为该领域是 行为自适应功能的宝贵测试场 实验室是确定的唯一可能的领域 观察到行为现象的生理和发育基础 在现场。 这种方法允许因果机制和 物种典型行为的功能结果变得明显 每个级别的生物组织都以说明的方式 水平之间的关系。 续签RSA将使我能够继续与 得克萨斯大学和其他机构的同事。 它 将使我能够继续进行现场工作，这通常发生在 学年。 通过使我摆脱通常的课程负载和 行政职责，我可以将大部分时间用于研究。 它使我可以担任博士后，研究生和 从事独立研究项目的本科生。 RSA 使我能够参加继续教育的计划 高中科学教师并为实验室提供实验室经验 高中生。