Agenda

Our social partners influence our behaviour, our health and wellbeing, and we influence theirs – this much we know already. What has been missing is recognition that there is a genetic basis for this: our behaviour can be influenced by our social partners' genetic makeup. We demonstrated this first in outbred laboratory mice, looking at the behaviour of focal mice and finding associations with the genetic makeup of their cage mates. Subsequent studies in humans have reported similar “indirect genetic effects" from mother to child (above and beyond the effect of inherited alleles), between husband and wife, and even between children in a class. Our lab is now trying to dissect the underlying mechanisms in mice, that is to say identify specific genes whose expression in cage mates influences the behaviour of focal mice. We also ask whether it is always behavioural interactions that mediate indirect genetic effects or whether transfers of pathogens or commensal bacteria, through allo-coprophagy in mice, might play a role for example.