Skip to main content
Log in

Genetic influences on ultrasonic vocalizations in young mice

  • Published:
Behavior Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ultrasonic calls produced by young mice elicit maternal investigation and retrieval, and their characteristics have been shown to vary with age and genotype. In this study, we completed a full Mendelian cross of two inbred strains BALB/cJ and DBA/2J. The major result was the detection of directional dominance for a high rate of calling. Other characteristics were influenced by additive and maternal effects in the absence of directional dominance. We estimate the number of loci involved in the rate of calling to be about 1—facilitating studies of a gene-to-behavior pathway.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Broadhurst, P. L. (1979). The experimental approach to behavioral evolution. In Royce, R. J., and Mos, L. P. (eds.),Theoretical Advances in Behavior Genetics, Sijthoff and Noordhoff, Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadhurst, P. L., and Jinks, J. L. (1974). What genetic architecture can tell us about the natural selection of behavioral traits. In van Abeelen, J. H. F. (ed.),The Genetics of Behavior, North-Holland, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geyer, L. A. and Barfield, R. J. (1979). Introduction to the symposium: Ultrasonic communication in rodents.Am. Zool. 19:411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, J. K., Fulker, D. W., and Broadhurst, P. L. (1981). Genetics of escape-avoidance conditioning in laboratory and wild populations of rats: A biometrical approach.Behav. Genet. 11:533–544.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maggio, J. C., and Whitney, G. (1986). Heterosis of adult mouse (Mus musculus) ultrasonic vocalizing.Behav. Genet. 16:493–506.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mather, K. (1973).Genetical Structure of Populations, Chapman and Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mather, K., and Jinks, J. L. (1982).Biometrical Genetics, 3rd ed., University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noirot, E. (1968). Ultrasounds in young rodents. II. Changes with age in albino rats.Anim. Behav. 16:129–134.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nyby, J., and Whitney, G. (1978). Ultrasonic communication of adult myomorph rodents.Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 2:1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okon, E. E. (1970). The effect of environmental temperature on the production of ultrasounds by isolated non-handled albino mouse pups.J. Zool. Lond. 162:71–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sales, G. D. and Pye, D. (1974).Ultrasonic Communication by Animals, Chapman and Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. C. (1976). Responses of adult mice to models of infant calls.J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 90:1105–1115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitney, G. D. (1969). Vocalization in mice: a single genetic unit effect.J. Hered.,60:337–340.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitney, G., Nyby, J., Cable, J. R., and Dizinno, G. A. (1978). Genetic influences on 70 kHZ ultrasound production of mice (Mus musculus).Behav. Genet. 8(6):574.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hahn, M.E., Hewitt, J.K., Adams, M. et al. Genetic influences on ultrasonic vocalizations in young mice. Behav Genet 17, 155–166 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065994

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065994

Key Words

Navigation