"The authors were given free choice of subject and format. The result is a variety of topics that have been researched mainly over the past decade. Chapter 1, by Fuller and Simmel, is an exception. We have simply looked at the work of others in behavior genetics over a quarter-century and tried to detect trends in the types of research done in the field. In many ways the objectives of today's researchers have been shaped by persons such as Dobzhansky and Thompson, whose ideas have influenced the directions of research since behavior genetics has been recognized as a discipline. Perhaps the most important advance over the past 25 years is the recognition of the need for methods of analyzing complex data banks.
In Chapter 2, DeFries, Vogler, and LaBuda describes a long-term project dealing with the heritability of differences in reading ability. The problem of dyslexia is serious, and it is difficult to separate the importance of biological and environmental factors. Their work is ongoing, but already important data has been collected.
Chapter 3 is concerned with the genetics of audiogenic seizures in inbred mice. It is well known that genes have an important influence on susceptibility to high-pitched sounds. Henry has investigated the genetic factors responsible for pathological features in the nervous system.
Kovach, in chapter 4, summarizes a long program of studying color preferences in newly hatched Japanese quail. Most tantalizing is his discovery that such preferences appear to be mainly innate although some learning also occurs. His research is a fine example of methodology for dealing with the heredity-environment question.
In chapter 5, Ricker, Hirsch, Holiday, and Vargo consider the learning ability of the blow-fly (_Phormia_) and the fruit-fly (_Drosophila_). The problems deal with distinguishing between learning in its usual sense and transient changes in responsivity.
Stabenau, in chapter 6, deals with the genetic aspects of human alcoholism. He discusses both biological and environmental factors involved in the pathology of this costly plague. It becomes clear that progress against this disease will require more multidisciplinary research than has been carried out up to this time."
Author(s): John L. Fuller et al (eds.)
Publisher: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Year: 1986
Language: English
Pages: 284
Tags: behavior genetics, human genetics, psychology, Colorado Reading Study, cochlear pathology, audiogenic seizures, inbred mice, perceptual imprinting, preferences, heritability, classical conditioning, Diptera, fruit flies, alcohol abuse, alcoholism, gene-environment interaction, measurement validity, factor analysis, clinical instrument
- List of Contributors
- Preface
1. "Trends in Behavior Genetics: 1960-1985", John L. Fuller and Edward C. Simmel
-- Introduction: A view from 1957
-- Notes on Behavior Genetics in 1960
-- Behavior Genetics in Academia
-- Reviews of Behavior Genetics: 1960-1985
-- Invited Chapters, Symposia, Workshops, Readings
-- Behavior Genetics: The Society's Journal
-- Some Final Thoughts
2. "Colorado Family Reading Study: An Overview", John C. DeFries, George P. Vogler, and Michele C. Labuda
-- Overview of the FRS
-- Conclusions
3. "Audiogenic Seizures in Relation to Genetically and Experimentally Produced Cochlear Pathology", Kenneth R. Henry
-- Strain Correlates of Neurochemistry and Audiogenic Seizures
-- Acoustic Priming for Audiogenic Seizures
-- Auditory Anatomical Similarities of Primed and Genetically Susceptible Mice
-- Cochlear Functional Changes in Primed Mice
-- Brainstem and Behavioral Similarities of Acoustically Primed and Genetically Susceptible Mice
- Cochlear Functions in Susceptible Strains of Mice: An Evaluation of Existing Data and a Prediction of future Findings
-- Conclusions
4. "Toward the Genetics of an Engram: The Role of Heredity in Visual Preferences and Perceptual Imprinting", Joseph K. Kovach
-- Conceptual and Methodological Considerations
- The Genetic Context of Unconditional Preferences
-- The Genetic Context of Perceptual Imprinting
-- Conclusion
5. "An Examination of Claims for Classical Conditioning as a Phenotype in the Genetic Analysis of Diptera", Jeffry P. Ricker, Jerry Hirsch, Mark J. Holliday, and Mark A. Vargo
-- Operational and Theoretical Definitions of Learning
-- Analysis of Control Procedures
-- Genetic Analysis
-- Instinct and Learning
-- Excitatory and Inhibitory States
-- Classical Condition in _Phormia Regina_
-- Selection for Conditionability in _Phormia Regina_
-- Classical Condition in _Drosophila Melanogaster_
-- Conclusion
6. "Genetic Factors and Human Reactions to Alcohol", James R. Stabenau
-- Epidemiology of Use and Misuse of Alcohol
-- The Problem of What to Diagnose
-- Genetic Studies in Human Alcohol Use
-- Genetic Studies of the Transmission of the Vulnerability to Alcoholism
-- The Natural History of Alcoholism
-- Heterogeneity of Clinical Alcoholism
-- Prospective and Marker Studies of Genetic Vulnerability to Alcoholism
-- Gene-Environment Interaction and Models of Genetic Transmission
-- Summary
- Author Index
- Subject Index
