Introduction Social interaction among the animals, occurring through co-operative behaviour is governed by genetic variants and its interaction with environmental factors. Furthermore, evolutionary constraints provide conservation of behaviour across the Order. However, it is speculated that diversity in these genes might contribute to behavioural modulation in many species from different Orders. Aim The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the genetic diversity followed by molecular evolution linked to five selected behavioural genes that may play a role in social behaviour in both social as well as non-social animals. Methods In this study, molecular diversity and population genetics along with evolutionary studies were investigated to report the role of genetic diversity on evolutionary process of five different brain-related genes astA (allatostatin A), egr1 (early growth response 1), hr38 (hormone receptor 38), nrxn (neurexin) and ace (acetylcholinesterase) from social and non-social animals using in silico approach. Results Despite absence of variation in nucleotide and haplotype diversity between social non-social insects, analysis of an improved data structure at broader spectrum involving both social and non-social animals reveals that only ace gene exhibits a higher tendency for genetic differentiation. This observation has led to the conclusion that this gene might have contributed to the diversity observed in the populations of social animals. Further, in ace gene, mutation rate (ϴ) appears to be positively correlated with the nucleotide diversity (π) for all the three categories namely social, non-social animals and combination of both. Non-synonymous to synonymous (dN/dS) substitution of all the five genes is less than 1, which indicates that genes undergoing negative selection is conserved across the Order. Further, analysis of five genes revealed that members from the same Order are closely placed on phylogenetic tree, wherein, non-social insects occupied intermediate positions between social insects and social mammals. Conclusion The findings of this study suggested that despite most of the behavioural genes are conserved, ace gene may have evolved rapidly to contribute diversity. Moreover, genetic diversity and evolutionary process of all five behavioural genes provide important information about the genetic foundation of sociality and its evolution.

In silico study of genetic diversity of selected behavioural genes from social and non-social animals

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发表日期：

2025年10月16日

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Amisha Singh,
K. V. Ramesh

摘要

Introduction

Social interaction among the animals, occurring through co-operative behaviour is governed by genetic variants and its interaction with environmental factors. Furthermore, evolutionary constraints provide conservation of behaviour across the Order. However, it is speculated that diversity in these genes might contribute to behavioural modulation in many species from different Orders.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the genetic diversity followed by molecular evolution linked to five selected behavioural genes that may play a role in social behaviour in both social as well as non-social animals.

Methods

In this study, molecular diversity and population genetics along with evolutionary studies were investigated to report the role of genetic diversity on evolutionary process of five different brain-related genes astA (allatostatin A), egr1 (early growth response 1), hr38 (hormone receptor 38), nrxn (neurexin) and ace (acetylcholinesterase) from social and non-social animals using in silico approach.

Results

Despite absence of variation in nucleotide and haplotype diversity between social non-social insects, analysis of an improved data structure at broader spectrum involving both social and non-social animals reveals that only ace gene exhibits a higher tendency for genetic differentiation. This observation has led to the conclusion that this gene might have contributed to the diversity observed in the populations of social animals. Further, in ace gene, mutation rate (ϴ) appears to be positively correlated with the nucleotide diversity (π) for all the three categories namely social, non-social animals and combination of both. Non-synonymous to synonymous (dN/dS) substitution of all the five genes is less than 1, which indicates that genes undergoing negative selection is conserved across the Order. Further, analysis of five genes revealed that members from the same Order are closely placed on phylogenetic tree, wherein, non-social insects occupied intermediate positions between social insects and social mammals.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggested that despite most of the behavioural genes are conserved, ace gene may have evolved rapidly to contribute diversity. Moreover, genetic diversity and evolutionary process of all five behavioural genes provide important information about the genetic foundation of sociality and its evolution.