title: Modular genetic control of innate behaviors.
abstract: Many complex behaviors are genetically hardwired. Based on previous findings on genetic control of mating and other behaviors in invertebrate and mammalian systems, I suggest that genetic control of complex behaviors is modular: first, dedicated genes specify different behavioral patterns; secondly, separable genetic networks govern distinct behavioral components. I speculate that modular genetic encoding of complex behaviors may in part reflect modularity in brain development and function. Editor's suggested further reading in BioEssays From songs to synapses: Molecular mechanisms of birdsong memory Abstract.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institute of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, P. R. China. xiaohong.xu@ion.ac.cn
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D007323:Instinct; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal