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From Genes to Animal Behavior pp 227–237Cite as

Genetic Variants of the Dopaminergic System in Humans and Model Organisms

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Part of the book series: Primatology Monographs ((PrimMono))

Abstract

Human personality is shaped by both genetic and environmental factors. Molecular genetics has begun to identify specific genes for quantitative traits. The first candidate genes investigated were components of the monoamine neurotransmitter pathways, such as serotonin and dopamine. The serotonergic system is involved in mood, anxiety, and aggression. Temperamental predisposition and behavior are likely to be influenced by genetic variations of serotonergic genes – i.e., serotonin-metabolizing enzymes, tryptophan hydroxylase and monoamine oxidase (MAO), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), 14 kinds of serotonin receptor (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5HT) and serotonin transporter (SERT).

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the grants from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Japan, and the Human Frontier Science Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan

    Kouta Kanno & Shoichi Ishiura

  2. Department of Biological Sciences Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

    Kouta Kanno

  3. Japan Society for Promotion of Science Research Fellow, Bunkyo-ku, Japan

    Kouta Kanno

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  1. Kouta Kanno
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  2. Shoichi Ishiura
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Correspondence to Shoichi Ishiura .

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  1. Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, 2-24 Tanakasekiden-cho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8203, Japan

    Miho Inoue-Murayama Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Department of Integrated Biosciences Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Seimeitou 502, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan

    Shoji Kawamura Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  3. Psychology School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK

    Alexander Weiss Ph.D. (Senior Lecturer) (Senior Lecturer)

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Kanno, K., Ishiura, S. (2011). Genetic Variants of the Dopaminergic System in Humans and Model Organisms. In: Inoue-Murayama, M., Kawamura, S., Weiss, A. (eds) From Genes to Animal Behavior. Primatology Monographs. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-53892-9_10

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