Behavioral phenotypes: conceptual and methodological issues.
Specific behavioral patterns associated with chromosomal and genetic disorders are being recognized more frequently. The hope is that the demonstration of a behavioral phenotype with a particular syndrome may lead to the isolation of the behavior's genetic determinants. Three issues are considered here: the problem of defining a behavioral phenotype, the difficulty of demonstrating the existence of a behavioral phenotype, and the likelihood of characterizing etiologically important genes. Although there are many impediments to success, the value of recognizing behavioral phenotypes within a diagnostic syndrome is emphasized, and examples are given of how this may lead to isolating behavioral genes.
Flint
J
J
Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom. jf@worf.molbiol.ox.ac.uk
D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002648:Child; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics*; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D018401:Sample Size; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000235:genetics