Neurobiology
Patrick Bateson 
Emeritus Professor of Ethology
Email: ppgb@cam.ac.uk
Tel.: +44 (0)1223 741818
My main interest is in the development of behaviour, working on the processes that translate genetic and environmental influences into behavioural outcomes. Much of my research has been devoted to imprinting in birds, analysing its effects on young animals and its effect on mate choice in adults. I have collaborated with Gabriel Horn in particular on the neural mechanisms involved in imprinting and also developed a neural net model to draw the behavioural and the physiological work together. My central research interests have also led me to analyse the development of play in cats and examine the effect of parent-offspring relations on the pattern of development in mammals. I have been deeply interested in the ethics of using animals in research and in the assessment of pain and suffering in animals. This led me to conduct a study of the welfare aspects of hunting red deer with hounds in the west of England, conduct an inquiry into dog-breeding and review the use of non-human primates in research. I am currently completing a book on play and creativity.
My CV is available here
Selected publications
- Bateson, P. & Gluckman, P. (2012) Something old, something new, something false but much that's true. International Journal of Epidemiology, 41, 247-249.
- Bateson, P. & Gluckman, P. (2012) Plasticity and robustness in development and evolution. International Journal of Epidemiology, 41, 219-233.
- Bateson, P. (2012) Behavioural Biology: The past and a future. Ethology, 118: 216-221.
- Bateson, P. (2012) The impact of the organism on its descendants. Genetics Research International, 2012, Article ID 640612.
- Bateson, P. (2011) Ethical debates about animal suffering and the use of animals in research. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 18, 186-208.
- Bateson, P. (2011) Review of Research using Non-Human Primates. London: Wellcome Trust.
- Bateson, P. & Gluckman, P. (2011) Plasticity, Robustness, Development and Evolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Bateson, P. (2010) The evolution of evolutionary theory. European Review, 18, 287-296.
- Bateson, P. (2010). Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding. London: Dogs Trust.
My full publication list is available here
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