Genetic analyses of social behavior in captive baboons (Papio hamadryas) Jeffrey Rogers1 1Department of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research Abstract Since the development and subsequent elaboration of sociobiological theory, primatologists have generated a great deal of empirical data and theoretical analysis that elucidates the history and mechanisms of primate behavioral evolution. Despite the overall progress made in this field, little is known about two fundamental aspects of primate behavior: a) What types of behavioral variation exhibit genetic heritability in extant primate populations, and b) How much of the observed variation among individuals is due to genetic rather than environmental differences among individuals? Behavior can evolve through natural selection only when there is additive genetic variance and thus heritability for specific behavioral phenotypes. In order to begin addressing these fundamental aspects of primate behavioral biology, my colleagues and I have investigated the genetics of individual variation in social behavior among captive olive and yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas). In this talk, I will describe results for three types of behavioral traits. We have found that behavioral responses to a mirror (a social stimulus, because baboons cannot recognize their own reflection but rather respond as if the reflection is a stranger baboon) show substantial genetic heritability. Second, the quality of maternal care provided by baboon mothers to infants during the first eight weeks of life shows significant heritability, with the amount of affiliative and stress-related behaviors exhibiting significant genetic variance. Finally, due to the unique circumstances of SFBR colony management procedures, we can examine the genetic heritability of social dominance rank, separate from the social inheritance of rank that is typical for olive and yellow baboons. We find clear evidence for a genetic influence on social rank among adult females, even after the effect of differential body weight is removed.  This presentation will summarize each of these studies and draw general albeit preliminary conclusions concerning the behavioral genetics of Papio baboons.