The prenatal foundations of kin recognition
(2026) In Trends in Ecology and Evolution 41(3). p.211-218- Abstract
Kin recognition, the ability to identify genetic relatives, relies on familiarisation for the creation of recognition templates. During development, parent and embryo(s) are exposed to chemical, auditory, and tactile cues that can communicate reliable genetic information. We discuss how these cues can have organisational effects during a time of heightened phenotypic sensitivity, creating postnatal kin preferences. As familiarisation is often determined by the prenatal social environment, we argue that reproductive traits that alter the social context of the prenatal environment, such as reproductive mode, could facilitate the evolution of kin recognition. Furthermore, we outline how these effects of prenatal familiarisation can extend... (More)
Kin recognition, the ability to identify genetic relatives, relies on familiarisation for the creation of recognition templates. During development, parent and embryo(s) are exposed to chemical, auditory, and tactile cues that can communicate reliable genetic information. We discuss how these cues can have organisational effects during a time of heightened phenotypic sensitivity, creating postnatal kin preferences. As familiarisation is often determined by the prenatal social environment, we argue that reproductive traits that alter the social context of the prenatal environment, such as reproductive mode, could facilitate the evolution of kin recognition. Furthermore, we outline how these effects of prenatal familiarisation can extend beyond kin recognition and play a pivotal role in the emergence and evolution of complex social behaviours.
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- author
- Lambreghts, Yorick ; Whiting, Martin J. ; Uller, Tobias LU ; Whittington, Camilla M. and While, Geoffrey M.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- familiarisation, kin discrimination, pregnancy, prenatal communication, social evolution
- in
- Trends in Ecology and Evolution
- volume
- 41
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 211 - 218
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105030130950
- pmid:41423406
- ISSN
- 0169-5347
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.tree.2025.12.001
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
- id
- e624638a-c367-4ea0-8e08-e519b6145467
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-10 13:17:07
- date last changed
- 2026-09-24 16:40:36
@article{e624638a-c367-4ea0-8e08-e519b6145467,
abstract = {{<p>Kin recognition, the ability to identify genetic relatives, relies on familiarisation for the creation of recognition templates. During development, parent and embryo(s) are exposed to chemical, auditory, and tactile cues that can communicate reliable genetic information. We discuss how these cues can have organisational effects during a time of heightened phenotypic sensitivity, creating postnatal kin preferences. As familiarisation is often determined by the prenatal social environment, we argue that reproductive traits that alter the social context of the prenatal environment, such as reproductive mode, could facilitate the evolution of kin recognition. Furthermore, we outline how these effects of prenatal familiarisation can extend beyond kin recognition and play a pivotal role in the emergence and evolution of complex social behaviours.</p>}},
author = {{Lambreghts, Yorick and Whiting, Martin J. and Uller, Tobias and Whittington, Camilla M. and While, Geoffrey M.}},
issn = {{0169-5347}},
keywords = {{familiarisation; kin discrimination; pregnancy; prenatal communication; social evolution}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{211--218}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Trends in Ecology and Evolution}},
title = {{The prenatal foundations of kin recognition}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.12.001}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.tree.2025.12.001}},
volume = {{41}},
year = {{2026}},
}