Phylogeny of empathetic systems

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Empathic system
• Project/Area Number: 25118005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Complex systems
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: MURAYAMA Miho 京都大学, 野生動物研究センター, 教授 (60293552)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 今野 晃嗣 帝京科学大学, 生命環境学部, 講師 (00723561) ; 井上 英治 東邦大学, 理学部, 講師 (70527895)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝子 / 動物 / 行動学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As a genome-wide analysis of genes relating empathetic behavior, we prepared a behavioral model of affection transmission in chickens, and created a list of genes that expressions in the brain were correlated with behavioral scores.We analyzed individual differences in candidate genes that have been reported in humans, such as receptors for oxytocin and vasopressin, and found that genotypes affect empathy across species. With regard to the evolution of empathetic behavior, we have found genes involved in species differences and regional differences in carnivorous and primates. Furthermore, we found the influence of kin relationship on empathetic behavior.

Free Research Field

動物遺伝学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

このような多様な動物種にわたる共感性の系統比較研究は、現代の人間社会の直面する数々の問題に解決の糸口を与えるとともに、ヒト社会の進化過程の解明についても、多くの有意義な知見が期待できる。また共感性の種間差や個体差の情報は、動物園などにおける動物福祉や、伴侶動物とヒトとの良好な関係構築において、活用が期待される。