The “nature vs. nurture” debate has dominated behavioral research since its inception, sometimes with catastrophic results for human society.
Fortunately, genomic research with honey bees and other animal models has allowed scientists to better understand the relationship between genes and social behavior, which I have explained with the conceptual framework of sociogenomics. This lecture will present evidence from my laboratory’s studies of honey bees to support three key principles of sociogenomics:
1) Brain gene expression is closely associated with behavior, in a reciprocal manner;
2) Environmentally induced changes in gene expression influence future behavior by changing neural states; and 3) The relationship between genes and behavior is highly conserved, from animals to humans.
The lecture will take place at the IIAS, Feldman Building, Lecture hall 130, The Hebrew University, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem