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Science 4 June 1999:
Vol. 284. no. 5420, p. 1585
DOI: 10.1126/science.284.5420.1585i
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Studies of the genetic contributions to behavior often have relied on the use of inbred strains of mice that show certain behaviors consistently. However, Crabbe et al. (p. 1670; see the news story by Enserink) demonstrate that subtle environmental differences may provide unsuspected and confounding variables. Inbred strains of mice were tested in three geographically separate laboratories for behavioral differences in exploratory and locomotor activity, spatial learning, anxiety, and responses to cocaine and alcohol. Despite stringent efforts to standardize environmental conditions, protocols, and apparatus, significant lab-based differences were observed. Differences were observed even in characterizing the phenotype resulting from deletion of the gene encoding the serotonin 1B receptor. These data emphasize the need to identify genes whose effects are not as susceptible to environmental effects, to identify and control for environmental variables, and to repeat experiments in multiple laboratories.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)