Research

Genetic Control of Behavior and Nervous System Function
Sensing and responding appropriately to changing environments is of utmost importance for animal survival and reproductive success. In multi-cellular organisms, environmental information is ultimately processed by the nervous system, which then signals an appropriate behavioral response. Our laboratory uses a tractable genetic and developmental model, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, to identify and characterize genes that regulate sex-specific reproductive behaviors. We use cutting-edge molecular and genetic techniques to study the effects of mutations on fly reproductive behaviors. There are currently 3 main projects underway in our laboratory:

1. Identifying and characterizing genes that are important for reproductive behaviors
   
2. Understanding how signals from fat tissue modulate neural signaling and behavior
   
3. Determining how social interactions affect gene expression and behavior