title: Genetic basis in motor skill and hand preference for tool use in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).
abstract: Chimpanzees are well known for their tool using abilities. Numerous studies have documented variability in tool use among chimpanzees and the role that social learning and other factors play in their development. There are also findings on hand use in both captive and wild chimpanzees; however, less understood are the potential roles of genetic and non-genetic mechanisms in determining individual differences in tool use skill and laterality. Here, we examined heritability in tool use skill and handedness for a probing task in a sample of 243 captive chimpanzees. Quantitative genetic analysis, based on the extant pedigrees, showed that overall both tool use skill and handedness were significantly heritable. Significant heritability in motor skill was evident in two genetically distinct populations of apes, and between two cohorts that received different early social rearing experiences. We further found that motor skill decreased with age and that males were more commonly left-handed than females. Collectively, these data suggest that though non-genetic factors do influence tool use performance and handedness in chimpanzees, genetic factors also play a significant role, as has been reported in humans.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute and the Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA Division of Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA whopkins4@gsu.edu whopkin@emory.edu.
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reamer
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mareno
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Panum, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schapiro
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment
keywords: chimpanzees; handedness; heritability; motor skill; sex differences; tool use