It's Gotta be the Genes

For male voles, being a good father is actually all in the genes.

Researchers studying vole DNA discovered slight variations in a "junk" region in the code. These variations predict and alter social behavior and parental care giving in male voles.

The variations, which are mutations, take a couple of generations to turn up. Once they do, they change the way the brain interprets the hormone vasopressin - a hormone linked to forming monogamous pairings in mating voles.

The variations were hidden in what scientists generally refer to as junk DNA called microsatellites. These are thousands of copies of identical, short sequences spread out through the genome. They were thought to be non-functional.

"These findings suggest that these unstable genetic elements significantly contribute to the individual differences in social personality that we see in animals and humans," said co-author Larry Young of Emory University.

Scientists also looked at microsatellites in primates using publicly available genome data. They discovered similar regions in humans and pygmy chimpanzees called bonobos which are well known for their empathy and strong social bonds. Common chimpanzees, which are more aggressive than humans or bonobos, lacked this variation.

This research was published in the June 10 issue of the journal Science.

--Bjorn Carey

Credit: Nicolle Rager Fuller, National Science Foundation