Behavior Genetics

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-021-10064-w

REVIEW

How Genes Influence Behaviour, 2nd Edition (2020) Oxford University

© The Author(s) 2021

Given the extremely rapid developments of our field in the how this revealed the sources of individual differences for
past decades, usually a textbook of behavior genetics is out- a variety of traits.
dated by the time it is released. Yet, the timing of the 2nd Subsequently, the book provides a clear section on
edition of ‘How Genes Influence Behavior’ feels neat since (molecular) genetic terminology, fortunately taking into
fairly recently the behavior genetics field has made some account the confusing habit in behavior genetics of using
major steps. These steps include novel developments in multiple terms for the same subject. What follows is an
molecular genetic analyses and statistical applications, and, introduction into the molecular biology of genetic varia-
most of all, lots of exciting new results (or breakthroughs tion, the methods that are currently used for genotyping and
as you wish). The breadth of knowledge that is required sequencing, an outline of epigenetics and ‘omics’ technolo-
to prepare a new generation of behavior geneticists is cer- gies and the specific queries about inheritance that these
tainly present in the 2nd edition of ‘How Genes Influence techniques address. The authors then touch upon linkage
Behavior’. and (candidate) genetic association analyses before fully
Reading ‘How Genes Influence Behavior’ often feels like covering genome wide association study (GWAS) develop-
sitting at the kitchen table of one of the authors who tells you ments and all ins and outs of this contemporary gene finding
various entertaining anecdotes about his long and interesting approach.
academic life in genetics. When one of the authors (KSK) Having provided the readers at this point with all infor-
describes how he collected family data in Irish families with mation needed to understand the concept of heritability,
schizophrenia in the previous century, and as such ‘came to and the methodologies and results of studies in behavior
know well (at times, perhaps too well) the bed and breakfast genetics, the next chapters are devoted to a variety of psy-
houses (..) of the western part of the Republic’, for exam- chological and psychiatric human traits. The authors use the
ple. Or, when an elderly grandmother of one of those fami- different genetic architectures of these traits to address in
lies, wondering why KSK collects those data, clarifies that detail the full spectrum of behavioral and molecular genetic
‘everybody knows that being daft runs in families’, adding, findings, varying from family-based heritability and genetic
with indignation, ‘What will these crazy Americans think correlations, to common and rare genetic variation, SNP her-
of next?’. The other parts of the book are also written in a itability, and polygenic risk scores, to copy number variants,
style that is informal and engaging. The historical sketch chromosomal abnormalities, mosaicism and de novo muta-
of behavior genetics, outlining the contradicting views of tions. We learn that new methods, like LD regression score
Mendelians versus Biometricians, is written as ‘four acts of analysis, confirm what family studies already taught us in
a drama’, and indeed, it reads as a thrilling course of events. the early days. For example, the heritability between traits
The edition further starts off typically with telling how fam- differs, and many traits are genetically correlated, sometimes
ily, twin and adoption data were used at the start of behavior in a surprising direction, like a positive genetic correlation
genetics to study the ‘nature versus nurture’ questions and between autism and intelligence. Another surprising find-
ing in that context is the replicated genetic correlation of
* Tinca J. C. Polderman 1 between major depression and general anxiety disorder,
[email protected] illustrating that ‘genes often disrespect diagnostic bounda-
1
ries between psychiatric disorders’.
Amsterdam UMC and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,
Amsterdam, Netherlands

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 Behavior Genetics

The authors then switch gears by turning to model organ- we know a finding is true’ and an excellent Appendix com-
isms. Studies in rodents, worms, and flies teach us a lot pletes the education on genetics methodology.
about reverse genetics (i.e. take the gene as starting point In sum, the 2nd edition of ‘How Genes Influence Behav-
to investigate behavior), genetic engineering (e.g. CRISPR- ior’ is an easy to read, comprehensive, up to date textbook
Cas), and courtship (in flies). Much attention is paid to the on the exciting field of behavior and psychiatric genetics. I
phenotype of circadian rhythms. We get to know the ‘period am sure the entertaining writing style will enthuse many new
gene’, and so-called clock mutants with names as ‘timeless’, students, as will the low price of only €43. The authors Flint,
‘Clock’ and ‘shaggy’. The unusual thing about circadian Greenspan and Kendler are to be applauded for sharing with
rhythms is that for this phenotype large genetic effects have us their fascinating journey through the world of genetic
been detected (in contrast to most, if not all, other complex research (and Irish hostels, and tattoos), and as such deliver-
phenotypes), and the book comprehensively explains how ing a great contribution to the behavior genetics literature.
model organism studies have contributed to this knowledge.
Since readers at this point in the book might become
slightly fatigue, the authors here cleverly introduce some
appealing subjects such as genes for aggression, monogamy Open Access  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attri-
bution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adapta-
and real estate. Again, animal studies (e.g. in voles, mice, tion, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long
zebra finches) are important in understanding how genes as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source,
play a role in these complex behaviors. The part on animal provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes
studies ends with a section on supergenes illustrated with were made. The images or other third party material in this article are
included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated
an anecdote of author JF, who tries to dissuade a phalanx otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in
of black ants on his kitchen floor. No need to say who owns the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not
the supergenes. permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will
The importance of statistical and methodological rigor need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a
copy of this licence, visit http://​creat​iveco​mmons.​org/​licen​ses/​by/4.​0/.
in contemporary genetic studies is a returning theme in
almost each chapter. Apart from golden standards in meas-
uring behavior, and applying the correct statistical tests, the
problem of multiple testing is obviously addressed. Reassur- Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to
ing, the authors state that ‘The p-value of 5 × ­10–8 is a value jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
that all complex trait geneticists now have tattooed on their
hearts’. Apart from statistical and methodological guidance
throughout the book, Chapter 21 discusses extensively ‘how

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