To Tame a Songbird: The Genomics of the Domestication Syndrome in a Songbird Model Species

To Tame a Songbird: The Genomics of the Domestication Syndrome in a Songbird Model Species | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article To Tame a Songbird: The Genomics of the Domestication Syndrome in a Songbird Model Species Madza Farias-Virgens, David Peede, Terrence Deacon, Kazuo Okanoya, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4921127/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 03 Jun, 2025 Read the published version in Communications Biology → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Many domesticated animals share a syndromic phenotype marked by a suite of traits that include more variable patterns of coloration, reduced stress, aggression, and altered risk-taking and exploratory behaviors relative to their wild counterparts. Roughly 150 years after Darwin’s pioneering insight into this phenomenon, reasonable progress has been made in understanding the evolutionary and biological basis of the so-called domesticated phenotype in mammals. However, the extent to which these processes are paralleled in non-mammalian domesticates is scant. Here, we address this knowledge gap by investigating the genetic basis of the domesticated phenotype in the Bengalese finch, a songbird frequently found in pet shops and a popular animal model in the study of learned vocal behaviors. Using whole-genome sequencing and population genomic approaches, we identify strain-specific selection signals in the BF and its wild munia ancestor. Our findings suggest that, like in mammals, the evolution of the domestication syndrome in avian species involves a shift in the selective regime, capable of altering brain circuits favoring the dynamic modulation of motivation and reward sensitivity over overall augmented aggression and stress responses. Biological sciences/Evolution/Population genetics Biological sciences/Genetics/Genomics Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files Supp.Fig112.docx Supp.Table1.docx Supp.Text1.docx Supp.Text2.docx Supp.Data1.xlsx Supp.Data1 Supp.Data2.xlsx Supp.Data2 Supp.Data3.xlsx Supp.Data3 Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 03 Jun, 2025 Read the published version in Communications Biology → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4921127","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":348953040,"identity":"677059c8-1c2a-4db4-a228-3afbbed73d8d","order_by":0,"name":"Madza 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