Genetic influence on sexual preference behaviors in mice

One of the coolest parts of my job is that I get to read about scientific research in all areas of mouse genetics from development to behavior. While mice and men behave very differently, behavioral research in mice can point towards genes that may influence human behaviors.

This week I curated a recent Nature article that demonstrated the requirement of genes involved in the serotonin pathway for male sexual preference for female mice.

In "Molecular regulation of sexual preference revealed by genetic studies of 5-HT in the brains of male mice." (Nature 2011 Apr 7;472(7341):95-9), Lui et al. examined the sexual preference behaviors of mice lacking tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2tm1Zfc) or lacking LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 beta in the nervous system (Lmx1btm1Zfc Tg(Fev-cre)1Esd). In both models, male mice failed to exhibit a preference for mounting female mice. They also failed to exhibit a preference for female genital odor despite having normal odorant behavior towards other smells. 

Mouse studies like this one highlight the influence genes can have on behavior.