Glowing Prairie Rodents Teach Us the Genetics Of Monogamy

By Stuart Fox Posted 12.04.2009 at 9:15 am 9 Comments

Transgenic Prairie Voles: Zoe Donaldson, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, via Science Daily

Man, those scientists just love their glowing lab subjects. First came mice, and then recently the first primates got some jellyfish genes implanted into their DNA. Now, scientists at Emory University have implanted the gene for jellyfish fluorescent protein in prairie voles.

But why prairie voles? They're not a model system like a mouse or zebrafish, and they don't cure any diseases like naked mole rats. So why them? Because voles rarely step out on their mates. In fact, voles show a lot of human-like social behaviors such as mating for life, shared child raising for couples, and even cuddling. But, like humans, some voles do have a wandering eye.

The scientists are studying the genetic of monogamy, and voles serve as a model of human behaviors like cheating or mate competition. In this experiment, they've linked the glowing gene to a gene suspected to control their impulse to cheat on their mate. If you glow, you're not going to stray. But if you can't be seen in the dark, then the Ms. Vole might have reason to worry.

Implanting the glowing gene only forms the first step in the genetic study of cheating, and even if they locate the appropriate gene, figuring out how and why it regulates complex social behavior is a different matter entirely.

Or, alternatively, they could just hire a private investigator to follow the vole around. Nah, what am I saying. I'm sure he's just working late.

[Science Daily]

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9 Comments

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clanck46

12/04/09 at 1:17 pm

of course he is, he wouldnt cheat like that

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Blodo

12/04/09 at 3:16 pm

Well of course, if you're glowing you're going to behave yourself. It would be too easy to be spotted. Duh!

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." Aldous Huxley

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Oakspar77777

12/07/09 at 8:58 am

Humans monogomous? Not naturally. The male drive is clearly towards polygamy (in the sense of many other male dominated harem-style natural systems - like the Ibex).

That the female drive is against polygamy is a selfishness based in favoritism - competing for the man, making monogamy the greatest victory of the female genomic drive.

Not that I am justifying or excusing poor behavior (I've been proudly monogamous throughout my life); I'm saying that it is not natural and, rather, takes a great deal a rational self control for a man to stay virtuous.

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brainsnbrawn

12/07/09 at 8:11 pm

just when are they gonna put glowing jellyfish genes in people? :D

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Brian H

12/09/09 at 8:18 am

Oak;
Actually, once "nested" with a good provider, the biological impulse of the female is to go shopping for hot Alpha Male genes. An Austrian survey found that married young women wore sexier clothing to bars during their fertile periods, e.g. "Momma's baby, Papa's--maybe."

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kitchenexporter

02/12/10 at 3:58 am

Surly,he would not cheat like that.
Mike
www.freeallrecipes.com

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eric11

03/25/10 at 4:02 pm

That the female drive is against polygamy is a selfishness based in favoritism - competing for the man, making monogamy the greatest victory of the female genomic drive.
www.eprostateproblems.com/

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alanwhat

06/06/10 at 9:01 pm

that's so cool, glowing creatures
www.alanwattsbooks.blogspot.com

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alexa

06/14/10 at 2:56 am

You've left out the emotional aspects of sex in 'monogamy verses mulitple partners' . I would think that constant self fullfillment (as in several partners) to meet what one percieves as "needs " , can be emotionally draining in the long run and eventually achieve the oposite of what one usually thinks.
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