Genomic and neurobiological bases of variation in fighting strategies in gamecocks.

ABSTRACT: Aggression is an essential animal behavior for survival, particularly in situations where fighting cannot be avoided. In such situations, the choice of fighting strategy (eg biting, charging, or defending) is critical. Although the molecular bases of fighting and aggressiveness have been previously studied, how genetic, transcriptional, and neurobiological mechanisms contribute to the choice of fighting strategy remains largely unknown. Here, we use two subpopulations of chickens bred for cockfighting that show markedly different fighting strategies: offensive and defensive attack. A genome-wide screen comparing individuals from the two subpopulations indicated a polygenic background and we identified 15 candidate genes, five of which are implicated in neuronal development. Among these, th

SUBMITTER: Shimmura T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12835820 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature