The Oxytocin Receptor (OXTR) Contributes to Prosocial Fund Allocations in the Dictator Game and the Social Value Orientations Task

Background: Economic games observe social decision making in the laboratory that involves real money payoffs. Previously we have shown that allocation of funds in the Dictator Game (DG), a paradigm that illustrates costly altruistic behavior, is partially determined by promoter-region repeat region variants in the arginine vasopressin 1a receptor gene (AVPR1a). In the current investigation, the gene encoding the related oxytocin receptor (OXTR) was tested for association with the DG and a related paradigm, the Social Values Orientation (SVO) task. Methodology/Principal Findings: Association (101 male and 102 female students) using a robust-family based test between 15 single tagging SNPs (htSNPs) across the OXTR was demonstrated with both the DG and SVO. Three htSNPs across the gene region showed significant association with both of the two games. The most significant association was observed with rs1042778 (p = 0.001). Haplotype analysis also showed significant associations for both DG and SVO. Following permutation test adjustment, significance was observed for 2–5 locus haplotypes (p,0.05). A second sample of 98 female subjects was subsequently and independently recruited to play the dictator game and was genotyped for the three significant SNPs found in the first sample. The rs1042778 SNP was shown to be significant for the second sample as well (p = 0.004, Fisher’s exact test). Conclusions: The demonstration that genetic polymorphisms for the OXTR are associated with human prosocial decisio

Genome scan for non-additive heterotic trait loci reveals mainly underdominant effects in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The overdominant model of heterosis explains the superior phenotype of hybrids by synergistic allelic interaction within heterozygous loci. To map such genetic variation in yeast, we used a population doubling time dataset of Saccharomyces cerevisiae 16x16 diallel and searched for major contributing heterotic trait loci (HTL). Heterosis was observed for the majority of hybrids, as they surpassed their best parent growth rate. However, most of the local heterozygous loci identified by genome scan were surprisingly underdominant, i.e., reduced growth. We speculated that in these loci adverse effects on growth resulted from incompatible allelic interactions. To test this assumption, we eliminated these allelic interactions by creating hybrids with local hemizygosity for the underdominat HTLs, as well as for control random loci. Growth of hybrids was indeed elevated for most hemizygous to HTL genes but not for control genes, hence validating the results of our genome scan. Assessing the consequences of local heterozygosity by reciprocal hemizygosity and allele replacement assays revealed the influence of genetic background on the underdominant effects of HTLs. Overall, this genome-wide study on a multi-parental hybrid population provides a strong argument against single gene overdominance as a major contributor to heterosis, and favors the dominance complementation model.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Data from: Genome scan identifies flowering-independent effects of barley HsDry2.2 locus on yield traits under water deficit

Increasing crop productivity under climate change requires the identification, selection and utilization of novel alleles for breeding. We analyzed the genotype and field phenotype of the barley HEB-25 multi-parent mapping population under well-watered and water-limited (WW and WL) environments for two years. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) for genotype by-environment interactions was performed for ten traits including flowering time (HEA) and plant grain yield (PGY). Comparison of the GWAS for traits per-se to that for QTL-by-environment interactions (QxE), indicates the prevalence of QxE mostly for reproductive traits. One QxE locus on chromosome 2, Hordeum spontaneum Dry2.2 (HsDry2.2), showed a positive and conditional effect on PGY and grain number (GN). The wild allele significantly reduced HEA, however this earliness was not conditioned by water deficit. Furthermore, BC2F1 lines segregating for the HsDry2.2 showed the wild allele confers an advantage over the cultivated in PGY, GN and harvest index as well as modified shoot morphology , longer grain filling period and reduced senescence (only under drought), therefore suggesting adaptation mechanism against water deficit other than escape. This study highlights the value of evaluating wild relatives in search of novel alleles and clues to resilience mechanism underlying crop adaptation to abiotic stress

LOM et al JXB_PHENO_GENO-2

Genotypic and phenotypic data for the HEB-25 barley mapping population grown under well-watered (WW) and water-limited (WL) environments for two years (2015 and 2016). The genotypic data: 11, homozygous for the cultivated Hordeum vulgare allele; 12, heterozygous; 22, homozygous for the wild donor (H. spontaneum). Phenotype: Heading time (HEA), defined as the time between sowing to time at which the first spike of 50% of the plants in a plot reaches BBCH49 (first awns visible), was recorded based on daily inspection. Days from sowing to stage BBCH87 (hard dough: grain content solid: fingernail impression held) was recorded as maturity (MAT). At maturity, plant height (HEI) was measured from the soil surface to the base of the three first spikes per plot. At full grain maturity and after plants were fully dried, all aboveground biomass was harvested and weighed to determine total dry matter (TDM). Notably, all the free-thrashing material (app. ¼ of the material) was caged between BBCH49 and BBCH87 to avoid loss of spikes. Spikes were then threshed and weighed to determine plant grain yield (PGY). Finally, grains were counted to estimate grain number per mini-plot (GN) and average grain weight (GW). Harvest index (HI) was calculated as the ratio between PGY and TDM. Vegetative dry matter (VDW) was calculated by subtracting PGY from TDM. The grain-filling period (GFP) was calculated by subtracting HEA from MAT. Trait values were adjusted based on the ratio between population mean values in the two years. The adjusted HEB means across years were used in the GWAS

Association between OXTR SNPs and allocation of funds in the Dictator Game (high versus low allocators) and SVO

<p>DG = Dictator Game, categorized as high (> = 25) and low (<25) allocators.</p><p>SVO = Social Value Orientation, categorized as prosocial vs proself orientations.</p

Cross tabulation of Dictator and SVO allocation of funds.

<p>Cross tabulation of Dictator giving with Social Value Orientation (SVO). High givers in the DG were significantly more likely to maintain prosocial value orientations as compared to low givers.</p

Association between <i>OXTR</i> haplotypes and allocation of funds in the Dictator Game (high versus low allocators) and Social Value Orientations. Haplotypes are indicated in outlined blocks.

<p>¹ UNPHASED global p-value, additive model ² UNPHASED permutation test for the haplotype block ³ PBAT multi-variate statistic, dominant model.</p

Primers used for genotyping of OXTR tagged SNPs

<p>Primers used for genotyping of OXTR tagged SNPs</p

Visual schematic of the oxytocin receptor.

<p>Schematic representation of chromosome 3 and the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene with the location of the 16 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).</p

Social Value Orientation Example Task

<p>Based on this example, if you were to select:</p><p>‘A’ you would receive 500 points = 5 and the “other” would receive 100 points = to 1</p><p>‘B’ you would receive 500 points = 5 and the “other” would receive 500 points = to 5</p><p>‘C’ you would receive 550 points = 5.5 and the “other” would receive 300 points = to 3</p