Biomaterial Database

Genetic analyses of photoresponsiveness in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. 1989

G R Lynch, and C B Lynch, and R M Kliman

Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06457.

Endotherms living at temperate and arctic latitudes must adjust their physiology and behavior in order to survive seasonal change. The Djungarian hamster uses photoperiod to cue annual cycles of reproduction and thermoregulation, and its responses to short photoperiod include loss of body weight and change in pelage color. Some individuals do not exhibit these responses when exposed to short days. In this study individual variation in photoresponsiveness is quantified, and four lines of evidence for a genetic component to that variation are provided. First, two separate breeding stocks differed in both the percent of animals responding to a short-day lighting regimen (SD) and in the degree and timing of their response. Second, analysis of variance within and between families of full sibs for a photoresponsive index, PI (body weight loss +2 (molt index -1] following 12 weeks in SD demonstrated a significant family resemblance (intraclass correlation of 0.36 +/- 0.03). Third, heritability estimates from regression of offspring scores on parent scores for body weight loss, molt index and PI after 12 weeks in SD were 0.34 +/- 0.13, 0.36 +/- 0.10 and 0.37 +/- 0.12, respectively, indicating a strong additive genetic component for the three characters. Finally, a significant response occurred after one generation of artificial selection for and against photoresponsiveness.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008029	Lighting	The illumination of an environment and the arrangement of lights to achieve an effect or optimal visibility. Its application is in domestic or in public settings and in medical and non-medical environments.	Illumination
D008297	Male		Males
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D005260	Female		Females
D006224	Cricetinae	A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS.	Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D015431	Weight Loss	Decrease in existing BODY WEIGHT.	Weight Reduction,Loss, Weight,Losses, Weight,Reduction, Weight,Reductions, Weight,Weight Losses,Weight Reductions