Variation in the PRKG1 gene is associated with differences in foraging behavior in humans, a study suggests. Searching for and securing food is a fundamental and ubiquitous goal in the animal kingdom. In fruit flies, foraging strategies are attributed primarily to variation in the foraging (for) gene. By examining variation in the human orthologue of for, known as PRKG1, James Danckert and colleagues demonstrate that the findings in fruit flies are conserved in humans, despite large phylogenetic differences. The authors analyzed genotypes of rs13499, a single nucleotide polymorphism in PRKG1, in 437 undergraduate students who performed two virtual foraging tasks. Using a touch screen, the subjects searched for and collected as many red berries as possible within 5 minutes. Compared with subjects with CA or CC genotypes, individuals with the AA genotype were more likely to hug the boundary of the search environment, pick smaller berries, and stop to pick berries in patches with fewer visible berries. The findings suggest that the AA genotype is associated with a search strategy that restricts exploration and exploits the local environment extensively. According to the authors, the results suggest that distinct patterns of goal pursuit are associated with particular genotypes of PRKG1.
Article #18-09924: "Self-regulation and the foraging gene (PRKG1) in humans," by Andriy Struk et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: James Danckert, University of Waterloo, CANADA; tel: 519-888-4567, 519-503-4699; e-mail: jdancker@uwaterloo.ca
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