Genetics specification of reproductive behaviors

描述（由申请人提供）：神经生物学的一个基本问题是理解复杂行为的潜力是如何建立的。黑腹果蝇是探索这个问题的一个很好的模型系统，因为一种强健的行为，交配行为，是由基因决定的。果蝇雄性的求偶过程包括向雌性求爱的一系列步骤。没有交配过的雌性会接受雄性的求爱行为，而那些刚刚交配过的雌性会拒绝这些求爱行为。有分子遗传学证据表明，双性（dsx）转录因子在雄性和雌性的求爱和交配行为中都起着重要作用。然而，在男性和女性中，dsx在中枢神经系统中的具体功能尚未确定。这种知识上的差距限制了我们在分子遗传水平上充分理解生殖行为的能力。我实验室研究的长期目标是了解性别特定行为的基因规范，以果蝇为模型系统。这将为理解包括人类在内的其他生物的复杂行为规范提供基础，我们对此的理解非常有限。这里提出的研究的总体目标是确定dsx是否在中枢神经系统的交配行为中起重要作用。我们的具体假设是，中枢神经系统的细胞子集需要dsx来指定雄性求爱行为的某些方面，以及指定雌性交配行为的全部或几乎所有方面。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A fundamental problem in neurobiology is understanding how the potential for complex behaviors are established. Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model system to explore this question, given that a robust behavior, mating behavior, is genetically programmed. Drosophila male courtship consists of a series of steps directed towards a female. Females that have not been mated are receptive to male courtship behaviors, whereas those that have been recently mated will reject these advances. There is molecular-genetic evidence demonstrating that the doublesex (dsx) transcription factor plays a role in establishing courtship and mating behaviors in both males and females. However, in both males and females the specific function of dsx in the CNS has not been ascertained. This gap in our knowledge is limiting our ability to fully understand reproductive behaviors at a molecular-genetic level. The long-term goal of the research in my lab is understanding the genetic specification of sex-specific behaviors, using Drosophila as a model system. This will provide a foundation for understanding the specification of complex behaviors in other organisms, including humans, for which we have very limited understanding. The overall objective of the research proposed here is to determine if dsx plays an essential role in the CNS for mating behaviors. Our specific hypothesis is that dsx is required in the CNS in subsets of cells to specify some aspects of male courtship behavior, and to specify all or nearly all aspects of female mating behaviors.