8.

a. Knockout of the mouse Fasb gene leads to disrupted maternal behavior.

fos B mutant female is unable to lactate. The mammary gland is unable to go from a
presecretory state to a secretory state at parturition.
Fos B mutant mothers have a defect in nurturing behavior. Instead of caring for their young,
they ignore them.
Fos B mutants may have an olfactory neuronal deficit which can inhibit normal nursing behavior.

B.

i. Cross-fostered great tits have fewer notes and shorter songs than control birds of the same
species.

Ii. The effects of cross-fostering on blue vs great tits are that the elements of the song of the
biological parent remains, but it isn’t known if these elements are genetically derived or if they are
learned from birds in neighboring nexts. After leaving the next, cross-fostered birds appeared to
prefer being with the foster species than their own species, and this suggest that song learning is
part of a larger species specific imprinting.

iii. Tissues containing melanin suggests that there are differential expressed genes.