Great Tits: Birds with character.

ejmaztec · 12-02-2010 2:35pm #1

Do you ever get disappointed after you clink on a link. I did.:(

http://www.lockergnome.com/news/2010/02/11/great-tits-birds-with-character/

In 2007, researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology found a gene related to individual variation in exploratory behaviour in great tits. Birds with a certain variant of this so-called “dopamine receptor D4 gene” (DRD4 gene) showed stronger novelty seeking and exploration behaviour than individuals with other variants. This association was originally tested and found in a lab-raised group of birds.

etc etc etc etc blah blah blah blah yawn.

brianthebard · 12-02-2010 2:43pm

Why is there a Max Planck institute for Ornithology, wasn't he a physicist?

ejmaztec · 12-02-2010 2:46pm

Perhaps the birds have gone nuclear.:eek:

stovelid · 12-02-2010 2:46pm

ejmaztec wrote: »

researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology found a gene related to individual variation in exploratory behaviour in great tits. Birds with a certain variant of this so-called “dopamine receptor D4 gene” (DRD4 gene) showed stronger novelty seeking and exploration behaviour than individuals with other variants. This association was originally tested and found in a lab-raised group of birds.

Summary: D4 gene leads to attention-seeking behavior in gangs of tits. Especially birds.

Hardly new.

Hank_Jones · 12-02-2010 2:53pm

Will you look at the breasts on that!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/max_westby/85951796/in/photostream/

Photographer really captured the whole body perfectly.