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Glutamate receptors in domestication and modern human evolution
Thomas O'Rourke1, Cedric Boeckx2
1Universitat de Barcelona, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 585, 08007 Barcelona, Spain; UBICS, Carrer Martí Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|November 20, 2019
Summary
Modern humans and domesticated animals show convergent evolution in neurotransmission, particularly in glutamate receptor genes. These changes may explain reduced stress responses and aggression in domesticated species.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- A hypothesis suggests convergent evolution between modern humans and domesticated species.
- Neurotransmission plays a key role in behavioral and physiological adaptations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate shared changes in neurotransmission genes between humans and domesticated species.
- To evaluate the role of these genetic changes in the domestication process.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomic analysis of 488 neurotransmitter receptor genes.
- Examination of brain-expression differences in 14 domesticated species and humans versus wild/archaic relatives.
Main Results:
- Prevalent genetic changes were observed in glutamate receptor genes, specifically kainate and metabotropic receptors.
- These receptors are implicated in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and stress response.
- Alterations in these receptors correlate with phenotypes associated with domestication, such as reduced aggression.
Conclusions:
- Convergent evolution in glutamate receptor genes may be a shared mechanism in human and animal domestication.
- Changes in kainate and metabotropic receptor function likely contribute to the attenuated stress response and reduced aggression observed in domesticated populations.
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