Genetic analyses of nest building behavior in laboratory mice (Mus musculus) (1973)

Lee, C. T.

Abstract

A Mendelian genetic analysis and a diallel cross study were conducted to investigate nest-building behavior of inbred mice. The amount of cotton used to build nests was observed for 4 days when the mice were 8 weeks of age. Results indicate (1) a sex difference in the Mendelian and diallel cross populations, (2) a significant genotypic difference, and (3) heterosis in the F1hybrid populations. The broad-sence heritability, obtained from the Mendelian analysis, was 0.418 for males, whereas that of females was not estimated because of a negative estimate of genetic variance. The narrow-sense heritabilities were 0.14 and 0.21 for males and females, respectively. The broad-sense heritabilities obtained by the diallel cross method were 0.931 and 0.623 for males and females, respectively, and the narrow-sense heritabilities were 0.068 and 0.166 for males and females. The low narrow-sense heritability and the prevalent heterotic mode of inheritance suggest that nesting behavior has been under selection pressure and possesses adaptive significance.