Genetics and Genomics of Social Behavior in a Chicken Model

Johnsson et al. identify multiple genes affecting sociality-related behavior in chickens. They examine the genetic architecture of domestication in the chicken by studying pleiotropy and linkage in hypothalamus tissue. Statistical analyses of their eQTL data... The identification of genes affecting sociality can give insights into the maintenance and development of sociality and personality. In this study, we used the combination of an advanced intercross between wild and domestic chickens with a combined QTL and eQTL genetical genomics approach to identify genes for social reinstatement, a social and anxiety-related behavior. A total of 24 social reinstatement QTL were identified and overlaid with over 600 eQTL obtained from the same birds using hypothalamic tissue. Correlations between overlapping QTL and eQTL indicated five strong candidate genes, with the gene TTRAP being strongly significantly correlated with multiple aspects of social reinstatement behavior, as well as possessing a highly significant eQTL.