Abstract
Peromyscus maniculatus, including the laboratory stock BW, have been used as a model organism for autism spectrum disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder because of the high occurrence of stereotypy. Several studies have identified neurological and environmental components of the phenotype; however, the heritability of the phenotype has not been examined. This study characterizes the incidence and heritability of vertical jumping stereotypy (VS) and backflipping (BF) behavior in the BW stock of the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, which are indicative of autism spectrum disorders. In addition, interspecies crosses between P. maniculatus and P. polionotus were also performed to further dissect genetically stereotypic behavior. The inheritance pattern of VS suggests that multiple genes result in a quantitative trait with low VS being dominant over high VS. The inheritance pattern of BF suggests that fewer genes are involved, with one allele causing BF in a dominant fashion. An association analysis in BW could reveal the underlying genetic loci associated with stereotypy in P. maniculatus, especially for the BF behavior.
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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files]. Videos are available upon reasonable request to the authors. P. maniculatus and P. polionotus are available for purchase from the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center at the University of South Carolina, https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/pharmacy/centers/peromyscus_genetic_stock_center/
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NSF EPSCoR OIA-1736150 Genome to fitness: An Analysis of the Stress Response in Peromyscus.
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MRF and SWD collected and analyzed data and wrote and revised the manuscript. VK managed the Peromyscus colony. HK provided colony oversight, funding, and manuscript revision.
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Davis, Shannon W., Kiaris, Hippokratis, Kaza, Vimala, Felder, Michael R., that they have no conflict of interest.
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All animal experiments were approved by the University of South Carolina Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee under animal use protocol number 2356–101506-042720.
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Davis, S.W., Kiaris, H., Kaza, V. et al. Genetic Analysis of the Stereotypic Phenotype in Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mice). Behav Genet 53, 53–62 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-022-10124-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-022-10124-9