Data from: Selective breeding and selection mapping using a novel wild-derived heterogeneous stock mice revealed two closely-linked loci for tameness

Tameness is a major behavioral factor for domestication, and can be divided into two potential components: motivation to approach humans (active tameness) and reluctance to avoid humans (passive tameness). We identified genetic loci for active tameness through selective breeding, selection mapping, and association analysis. In previous work using laboratory and wild mouse strains, we found that laboratory strains were predominantly selected for passive tameness but not active tameness during their domestication. To identify genetic regions associated with active tameness, we applied selective breeding over 9 generations for contacting, a behavioural parameter strongly associated with active tameness. The prerequisite for successful selective breeding is high genetic variation in the target population, so we established and used a novel resource, wild-derived heterogeneous stock (WHS) mice from eight wild strains. The mice had genetic variations not present in other outbred mouse populations. Selective breeding of the WHS mice increased the contacting level through the generations. Selection mapping was applied to the selected population using a simulation based on a non-selection model and inferred haplotype data derived from single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We found a genomic signature for selection on chromosome 11 containing two closely linked loci.

驯服性是动物驯化过程中的核心行为学特征，可分为两个潜在组分：主动接近人类的动机（主动温顺性，active tameness）与不愿躲避人类的倾向（被动温顺性，passive tameness）。我们通过选择性繁育、选择定位（selection mapping）与关联分析，鉴定出与主动温顺性相关的遗传基因座（genetic loci）。在既往针对实验小鼠与野生小鼠品系的研究中，我们发现实验小鼠品系在驯化过程中主要被选择偏向于被动温顺性，而非主动温顺性。为鉴定与主动温顺性相关的遗传区域，我们针对与主动温顺性高度相关的行为参数——接触人类行为（contacting），开展了连续9代的选择性繁育实验。成功开展选择性繁育的前提是目标种群具备较高的遗传多样性，因此我们构建并使用了一种新型实验动物资源：源自8个野生小鼠品系的野生来源远交群（wild-derived heterogeneous stock, WHS）小鼠。该种群小鼠携带有其他远交群小鼠种群所不具备的遗传变异。对WHS小鼠开展选择性繁育后，其接触人类的行为水平随繁育世代递增显著提升。我们基于非选择模型的模拟分析以及由单核苷酸多态性（single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNP）推导得到的单倍型数据，对经选择的种群开展了选择定位分析。我们在11号染色体上鉴定到一处携带两个紧密连锁位点的选择相关基因组特征。