Genetic origins of social networks in rhesus macaques

• DOI: 10.1038/srep01042
• Publication Date: 2013-01-09T13:35:31Z
• Authors: Lauren J. N. Brent; Sarah R. Heilbronner; Julie E. Horvath; Janis Gonzalez-Ma...; Angelina Ruiz-Lam...; Athy G. Robinson; J. H. Pate Skene; Michael L. Platt
• Keywords: Sociality; Social Evolution; Social relationship

Sociality is believed to have evolved as a strategy for animals cope with their environments. Yet the genetic basis of sociality remains unclear. Here we provide evidence that social network tendencies are heritable in gregarious primate. The tendency rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta, be tied affiliatively others via connections mediated by partners - analogous friends people demonstrated additive variance. Affiliative were predicted variation at two loci involved serotonergic signalling, although this result did not withstand correction multiple tests. Aggressive also and related reproductive output, fitness proxy. Our findings suggest that, like humans, skills temperaments shape formation multi-agent relationships nonhuman primates, and, such, begin fill gaps our understanding sociality.