Lecture 7 part I

Question 1

epigenetic programming

Answer 1

this idea that epigenetic changes during the early life period can sort of program neural systems for long periods of time and then impact the way an adult organism will interact with its environment

Question 2

developmental plasticity

Answer 2

• developmental processes depend on the presence of particular genes, the timing of gene activation, selective silencing of genes
• Development proceeds due to the actions of transcription factors

Question 3

the transcription factors that set things off are present in the egg, but following that gene expression occurs in waves.

this represents what idea?

Answer 3

• developmental plasticity
• Genes can code for transcription factors
• Gene expression can begin more gene expression
• Certain genes can turn on the expression of certain genes and those genes themselves are transcription factors which can turn on the expression of other genes

Question 4

1. epigenetic mechanisms might mediate the dynamic interplay between _____ and _______
2. this represents what idea?

Answer 4

1. genes; environment

2. developmental plasticity

Question 5

T or F: epigenetic mechanisms may allow for developmental plasticity in response to changing environments

Answer 5

True

• The timing of gene expression programs is so important for the development of particular structures
• The timing of particular environmental events and how those might specifically interplay

Question 6

Epigenetic mechanisms allow ….

Answer 6

-variation at the level of gene expression allowing the phenotype of an organism too vary in response to environmental experience

gene expression —->phenotype

Question 7

two types of epigenetic changes

Answer 7

• context dependent

- germ line dependent

Question 8

context dependent

Answer 8

• across lifespan, can be reversible
• experience during development affects adult phenotypes
• experiences during adulthood affect subsequent adult phenotypes
• experience-dependent behaviors can persist in multiple generations as long as each generation is exposed to the experience (social transmission)

Question 9

social transmission is part of what type of epigenetic change ?

Answer 9

context dependent

Question 10

example of context dependent

Answer 10

• Rat mothers who groom and lick their pups create resilient adult rats. This resilience in the adult offspring is then pass on to the next generation. NOT because of some biology but because the adult rats were licked and groomed as pups so they do the same to their offspring (social transmission) and hence making their pups resilient as well
• The context was passed on NOT the genotype

Question 11

T or F: in context dependent if the context is not the same then the gene won’t be pass on

Answer 11

true

Question 12

germ-line dependent

Answer 12

• imprinted onto the genome
• transmitted to future generations
• endocrine disruptors may increase risk for reproductive diseases and cancer in future generations
• Talking about some epigenetic modifications which impacts gene expression and alters phenotype which actually becomes independent of the context that generated it
• This modification could be passed down to the next generation and the next and so on through the germ-line

Question 13

There is a lot of epigenetic programming that is happening that is necessary just for developmental processes so if the developing fetus is exposed to any endocrine disruptors that exposure ends up impacting the processes that were already ongoing

this statement represents which idea?

Answer 13

germ-line dependent

Question 14

germ-line dependent example

Answer 14

exposing rat pregnant rat moms to vinclozolin increases cancer in the male offspring and fertility problems and that effect persists

-All future male generations from this moment on will have cancer and fertility problems as adult rats

Question 15

in which type of epigenetic change do we See the effect on the phenotype out several generations pass the event that initiated

Answer 15

germ line dependent

Question 16

why should we care about early life?

Answer 16

• understanding how the external world (not just physical but also social) shapes the brain and behavior has critical implications for neuroscience
• long term health problems that can result from lower socioeconomic environments
• vicious cycle can exist in which abused children grow up to become abusive parents

-Understanding how particularly certain types environments/ experiences impact development is important for understanding adult outcomes
• Can provide information on where we need to intervene and what interventions would be useful
Experiencing adverse events is linked with adverse health outcomes

• Can help understand long term drug taking behavior, followed by no longer taking the drug but the propensity for relapse has a clear epigenetics link
• Genes can make some people more predisposed more likely to relapse in the future
• We can understand what is being programmed in terms of sociability and future caregiving behavior by that early life environment. This ways children who experience abuse have a chance to break this vicious cycle of abuse

Question 17

why study maternal care

Answer 17

• over 95% of mammalian species are uni-parental with the mother solely providing care
• mothers are the sole caregivers in most species

Question 18

T or F: Maternal behavior is highly conserved across species and moms are incredibly motivated to care for their infants

Answer 18

True

Question 19

mother-infant bond example

Answer 19

-sheep are born mobile and can run away, so in order for mothers to prevent their young running away and being nursed by another sheep mom they develop SELECTIVE ATTACHMENT towards their offspring

○ Within minutes of delivering the mom can recognize her offspring’s odor and she develops an attachment to that odor and so if another offspring comes up and tries to nurse she will actively reject that offspring, this way she’s only exhibiting nursing behavior towards her offspring

Question 20

the nature of maternal behavior is influenced by the development of ?

Answer 20

the young at birth

Question 21

rodents

1. development of young at birth
2. social structure
3. maternal behaviors

Answer 21

1. altricial/immobile
2. solitary, nest bound
3. nurse, licking, grooming, nest build, retrieve displaced infant, protect, no selective attachment
   - Altricial: really really immature , can’t open their eyes at all, can hear, can barely move, have a difficult time thermal regulating
   - Extremely dependent on mom for survival
   - So if they get separated from mom they have no way of finding their way back to mom
   - Caring behavior is really important for rodents

Don’t develop selective attachment: they will care for any baby whether is theirs or not

Question 22

T or F: rodents don’t develop selective attachment: they will care for any baby whether is theirs or not

Answer 22

True

Question 23

sheep and goats

1. development of young at birth
2. social structure
3. maternal behaviors

Answer 23

1. precocial/ mobile
2. herds of unrelated individuals
3. nurse, lick, groom, protect, selective attachment

Question 24

primates

1. development of young at birth
2. social structure
3. maternal behaviors

Answer 24

1. semiprecocial/ semimobile
2. social groups
3. nurse, lick, groom, protect, carry infants, selective attachment

Question 25

one behavior that is common among mammalian mothers

Answer 25

nursing

Question 26

the ______ to care is what is going to determine ____

Answer 26

motivation ; survival

Question 27

infant transport

Answer 27

important for babies

Question 28

licking/grooming reasons (20

Answer 28

1. In rodents this behavior is critical for offspring survival b/c pups cannot urinate and defecate so for the first several days of their lives they depend on anal-genital licking in order to urinate and defecate 2. Licking and grooming is an important tactile sensory input Animals engage in LG as a contact form but it also serves as functional consequence for development and survival

Question 29

maternal aggression

Answer 29

- Moms engage in aggressive behavior | - mothers are super motivated to protect their offspring at all costs

Question 30

maternal aggression in rat and mouse mothers . Why?

Answer 30

- Rat and mouse moms: female rats and mice don’t show aggressive behavior at all any other time except only when lactating ○ During lactation mom has been in physical contact with their pups so if she's separated from her pups she will stop lactating and stop showing the behavior - So they are very aggressive towards predators but to rat males as well - Rat males will kill the offspring in order to be able to mate with the female rat and produce its own offspring - This causes females to be very aggressive and fight males in order to protect their offspring

Question 31

True or false: We can get maternal behaviors not only in animals that have just given birth but also in animals that have never given birth

Answer 31

True -The circuits of mother behavior can be turn on even in the absence of pregnancy hormones

Question 32

T or F: experience along cannot induced maternal/caring behaviors

Answer 32

false. it can induced these behaviors

Question 33

T or F: female rats who have never given birth and have no experience will show the same nesting behaviors as female rats who have given birth and have experience

Answer 33

True