BIO407H5: Behaviour Genetics

From the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winningThe Beak of the Finch,the riveting story of a biologist's search for the foundations of behavior. Looking over the shoulder of some of the premier scientists in the filed, Jonathan Weiner takes us into their laboratories to show us how pieces of DNA actually shape behavior. He focuses on the work of Seymour Benzer, who, decades ago, with James Watson and Francis Crick, helped to crack the genetic code. Then, in a simple experiment using a few test tubes, a light bulb, and 100 fruit flies, Benzer invented the genetic dissection of behavior. Now we see how he and his students find and study genes that build our inner clocks, genes that shape the way we love, and genes that decide what we can (or cannot) remember. These breakthroughs help explain secrets of human behavior and may lead to advance treatments for behavioral disorders ranging from rage to autism to schizophrenia. In a narrative that sweeps from the first years of the century to the present, Weiner makes the process of scientific discovery and understanding almost tangible on the page.Time, Love, Memoryis a brilliant work of scientific reportage.

How important are genetic influences on behavior?How many genes influence an individual behavior, and how much influence does a single gene have? How do genes interact with the environment to influence the development of behavioral traits?What are the differences between humans and 'simpler' organisms when it comes to the genetic control of behavior? How Genes Influence Behavior is a unique introduction to behavioral genetics, which combines conceptual rigor with accessibility to answer questions such as these - answers that carry important implications for the nature of who we are. Offering unparalleled insights into how behavioural genetics is probed through real-world research, it considers evidence from humans and the major model organisms of mouse, fruit-fly and nematode worm to demonstrate how much of our current understanding of the genetic basis of human behavior stemsfrom our exploration of other animals. Further, it uses these studies to connect the key themes of the book - the nature of gene action, and the inter-relationship of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour - across organisms, highlighting key commonalities and differences.The book also shows the major impact that neurobiology is having on our understanding of the field, to give a true depiction of behavioral genetics in the 21st century. However, care is taken throughout not to overwhelm the reader with scientific detail. Instead, the authors make the book fun toread without sacrificing accuracy or devaluing the complexity of the subject matter: they 'personalize' the science, mixing more standard narrative with biographical details to make the subject come alive. With the media filled with talk of the discovery of genes 'for' an array of human behaviors, there has never been a more pressing need for today's students - tomorrow's researchers - to be equipped with a clear, balanced view of the field. How Genes Influence Behavior is the perfect guide for allstudents, delivered in the words of three researchers who have witnessed first-hand the emergence of this fascinating field, and whose own investigations have been central to our current understanding of it.Online Resource CentreThe Online Resource Centre to accompany How Genes Influence Behavior features the following resources for lecturers and students:For registered adopters:* Figures from the book, available to downloadFor students:* Hyperlinks to primary literature cited in the text