Bateson was a biologist who specialised in researching the behaviour of animals and how it is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Patrick was a world authority on imprinting in birds — the process of learning to recognise their parents and members of their own species — and his work led to new principles in behavioural development.[15]
Bateson devised original experiments that showed how characteristics of imprinting depend on the bird's early life experiences. Bateson's investigation of learning in birds has led to greater understanding of the neural basis of memory. He had an interest in how developmental and behavioural processes influence evolution.[15]
Bateson was concerned with the ethics of using animals in research and the analysis of animal pain and suffering. This led to a study exploring the effects hunting with hounds had on red deer, an inquiry into dog breeding, and a review of the use of animals in research.[15]
Previous academic positions include a Harkness Fellowship at Stanford University[2][16] and ten years as head of the Cambridge sub-department of Animal Behaviour. Bateson served five years as biological secretary to the Royal Society and fifteen years as provost of King's College, Cambridge, retiring from both in 2003.[6] He retired from his Cambridge Chair in 2005.
Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding (2010)[ISBN missing]
Review of Research using Non-Human Primates (2011)[ISBN missing]
"An evaluation of the concept of innateness", with Matteo Mameli (2011), Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0174
Patrick Bateson's grandfather's cousin was the geneticistWilliam Bateson. Patrick's daughter is Melissa Bateson, also a professor of ethology, at Newcastle University.[20] Patrick Bateson was an atheist.[21] He died on 1 August 2017 at the age of 79.[2][5][22]
^"A confirmed agnostic, he [Bateson] was converted to atheism after attending a dinner where he tried to converse with a woman who was a creationist. "For many years what had been good enough for Darwin was good enough for me. Not long after that dreadful dinner, Richard Dawkins wrote to me to ask whether I would publicly affirm my atheism. I could see no reason why not." " Lewis Smith, 'Science has second thoughts about life', The Times (London), 1 January 2008, Pg. 24.