0000001051 00000 n Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. 0000001511 00000 n Audience Relations, CBC P.O. 0000002412 00000 n Researchers have found that red-blooded Lotharios and lovers of pipes and slippers could be distinguished by a single gene. 0000003635 00000 n Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. H�c``�c``�f`e`��c`@ f6�(N.M.%��KNx:��p�ҙ�K��*�o�|k��K� ��-9��q?�mGW��ʈ�|�q�KtA�ӹ�i�S"�=��2�X2��$2p4�3�x�4��b3����0H:�:�0'0�p&102�208�] 7���c CC#����� L��x���0\a�a0j�f�Y�v�Y�q�)�T����� Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. 0000002006 00000 n 0000008217 00000 n Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 0000002259 00000 n 0000006938 00000 n Larry Young, who led the team, said: "Our study provides evidence, in a comparatively simple animal model, that changes in the activity of a single gene can change a fundamental social behaviour of animals within species. The researchers believe the same gene exists in humans as part of the genetic chain that regulates lifelong bonds. Voles are bigger than mice, smaller than rats. Scientists believe the promiscuous meadow voles lack these vasopressin receptors. The main difference between the monogamous prairie voles and the love 'em-and-leave 'em Montane voles isn't in how much vasopressin they have, but in the exact location of the cells that respond to vasopressin in the brain. 0000000951 00000 n In the prairie voles, they're concentrated in areas that produce feelings of pleasure and reward. 0000011585 00000 n 0000005893 00000 n Are you sure you want to delete this comment? 0000001115 00000 n And if … Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? 0000004801 00000 n monogamous prairie and pine (Microtus pinetorum) voles, to more polygynous species, such as meadow (Microtus pennsyi- vanicus) and montane (Microtus montanus) voles (33). 303 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 306 /H [ 1115 418 ] /L 1584226 /E 99093 /N 12 /T 1578047 >> endobj xref 303 30 0000000016 00000 n The result was that the meadow voles switched their amorous instincts from nest hopping to steadfast monogamy. "If the [vasopressin receptors] are indeed the adjustable nozzle atop a social-glue dispenser in the mammalian brain, these results could have wider significance for understanding social behaviour," wrote psychologist Evan Balaban of Montreal's McGill University. This quick reproduction cycle is while a lot of male voles are not monogamous. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. 0000009300 00000 n Voles are bigger than mice, smaller than rats. 0000003658 00000 n But previous studies linked to vasopressin have shown that similar pathways in the brain are also involved in drug addiction, raising the prospect that love may indeed be a drug. �@X �b. Scientists knew the ventral forebrains of prairie voles had higher levels of vasopressin receptors compared to meadow voles. 0000011609 00000 n Meadow voles are the most common vole species in the United States. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Dr Young's colleague, Miranda Lim, said: "The process of bonding with one's partner may be similar to becoming addicted to drugs. The role of the "love gene" is linked to a hormone in the brain, called vasopressin, which controls the sense of pleasure. 0000008066 00000 n In some vole species such as the prairie vole or the woodland vole, monogamous behavior has been observed. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. Gene therapy changes promiscuous male voles into monogamous bedfellows, scientists find. 0000004778 00000 n 0000002389 00000 n The study showed how changing the activity of a single gene can change the social behaviour in a simple animal model, said study co-author Larry Young of the department of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Emory University. Promiscuous male meadow voles turned monogamous after a gene was transferred into their brains, scientists say. 0000006915 00000 n Previous research suggested vasopressin receptors may play a role in disorders of the ability to form social bonds, such as autism. For centuries, the difference between a bed-hopping Casanova and a dull but devoted spouse has been considered a matter of moral choice. 0000001883 00000 n Oxytocin and vasopressin are not used exclusively to make voles more or less monogamous. They breed quickly and readily in the laboratory and Voles have not undergone domestication, and can be stud- ied in nature, yet have many of the attributes of laboratory animals. They breed rapidly and experience population booms every few years, which leads population densities to measure in the hundreds of voles per single acre of land. They found the formerly promiscuous rodents spent more time cuddling with their current partners rather than with new females, compared to control animals. 0000002134 00000 n 0000008194 00000 n %PDF-1.2 %���� 0000010453 00000 n It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. This makes such vole species even faster to reproduce and overpopulate an area. If you block it, you block the strong bonds between prairie couples. 0000001533 00000 n Most scientists believe th… Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. Both activate reward circuits in the brain.". The vasopressin protein is released in the brain after sex and is involved in pair bonding. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. 0000009323 00000 n You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Yes. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The Monogamy Gene In the study, researchers used a harmless virus to transfer the gene from monogamous male prairie voles, who are known to form lifelong bonds with a … The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. They have short tails, hidden ears and small round eyes. The scientists, whose research is published today in Nature, believe that the gene's role may extend far beyond romantic behaviour to areas such as drug addiction and even autism, where people have difficulties forming social bonds. In addition, it appears that pups raised by both parents is advantageous to the pups. Researchers in Atlanta used a virus to transfer the vasopressin receptor gene from prairie voles into their meadow cousins. The gene stimulates production of a receptor protein which, in turn, regulates the effect of the hormone. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. This is due to signs of quicker development in the pups, with the father’s aid in rearing. The secret of love: promiscuous voles point to a gene for monogamy, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification.

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