Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

6.5K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.5K
Mate Choice01:20

Mate Choice

8.0K
Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
8.0K
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

255
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
255
The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness02:19

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

6.5K
The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in several vertebrates and mammals, including humans. In addition to 22 pairs of autosomes, the human males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. In these organisms, the presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male traits.
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size....
6.5K
Testing a Claim about Mean: Known Population SD01:11

Testing a Claim about Mean: Known Population SD

2.7K
A complete procedure of testing the hypothesis about a population mean is explained here.
Estimating a population mean requires the samples to be distributed normally. The data should be collected from the randomly selected samples having no sampling bias. The sample size needed to be higher than 30, and most importantly, the population standard deviation should be already known.
In most realistic situations, the population standard deviation is often unknown, but in rare circumstances, when it...
2.7K
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences01:06

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

98
The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing,...
98

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Socially responsive yolk steroids correlate with gene expression in early extra-embryonic membranes.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026
Same author

Socially responsive yolk steroids correlate with gene expression in early extra-embryonic membranes.

The Journal of experimental biology·2025
Same author

Repeated behavioural evolution is associated with convergence of gene expression in cavity-nesting songbirds.

Nature ecology & evolution·2025
Same author

Maternal social environment shapes yolk testosterone allocation and embryonic neural gene expression in tree swallows.

Hormones and behavior·2024
Same author

Decoupling pioneering traits from latitudinal patterns in a north American bird experiencing a southward range shift.

The Journal of animal ecology·2023
Same author

Gene expression in the female tree swallow brain is associated with inter- and intra-population variation in glucocorticoid levels.

Hormones and behavior·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients
07:34

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

Published on: August 22, 2018

8.2K

Predicting yolk testosterone allocation using ecological contexts and species-specific traits.

Anna O James1, Alexandra B Bentz1

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.

The Journal of Animal Ecology
|September 20, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Maternal testosterone (T) transfer to eggs influences offspring traits. Study findings reveal species traits and study context predict significant yolk T changes, offering insights into intergenerational responses to ecological shifts.

Keywords:
avianboosted regression treeslatitudelongevitymachine learningmaternal effectssociality

More Related Videos

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern
04:10

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

Published on: March 8, 2020

6.1K
Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
11:51

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making

Published on: March 2, 2011

15.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients
07:34

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

Published on: August 22, 2018

8.2K
Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern
04:10

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

Published on: March 8, 2020

6.1K
Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
11:51

Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making

Published on: March 2, 2011

15.1K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Behavioral ecology

Background:

  • Prenatal testosterone (T) transfer from mother to offspring drives phenotypic plasticity.
  • Elevated yolk T can modify offspring growth, immunity, and behavior, but responses vary.
  • This heterogeneity in yolk T allocation limits predicting intergenerational responses to ecological change.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and analyze factors influencing inter-female variation in yolk T allocation across wild bird species.
  • To identify species-specific traits and study-level variables that explain significant changes in yolk T levels.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a systematic literature search, compiling 119 observations from 39 wild species.
  • Employed boosted regression trees (machine learning) to analyze predictors of yolk T allocation.
  • Examined 48 species-specific and study-level variables.

Main Results:

  • Species traits (e.g., geographic range, longevity, sociality) and study variables significantly predict yolk T allocation.
  • Studies on social stimuli (competition, density) or breeding date were more likely to detect significant yolk T changes.
  • Geographic range, evolutionary distinctiveness, longevity, and relative egg mass were key predictors.

Conclusions:

  • Both species characteristics and research context are crucial for understanding yolk T allocation.
  • Findings provide testable hypotheses on the adaptive value of yolk T across diverse species and environments.
  • This research aids in predicting how ecological changes may impact maternal hormonal strategies and future generations.