The Molecular genetics of Male Courtship of Drosophila

交配行为(求偶)的遗传控制对物种的生存非常重要。然而，人们对控制这种行为的基因知之甚少。对果蝇交配行为的研究为识别和研究控制这一过程的基因提供了一种简单的方法，因为果蝇的求偶仪式包括明确的步骤，很容易在实验室中观察到。同样的调控途径决定了整个动物的性别分化，控制着特定性别的行为。与荷尔蒙在这一过程中发挥重要作用的哺乳动物不同，雄性果蝇的大脑以雄性特有的方式发育，不需要激素。当男性大脑的一部分通过基因操作变成女性时，交配行为就会受到严重干扰。虽然大脑的性别分化对正常的男性行为至关重要，但另一种组织对求爱也很重要，它不是大脑的一部分，而是围绕着大脑。目前还不清楚这种组织如何影响交配行为。这个项目的目的是研究这种组织在调节雄性求爱过程中的作用。它是如何影响大脑的？众所周知，这种组织会将大量蛋白质分泌到苍蝇的循环系统中，它们可能会从那里接触到大脑。这些蛋白质中的一种已经被证明在求爱行为中发挥作用。它怎麽工作?还有其他影响求爱的秘密因素吗？扩散因素如何影响大脑和行为？对这些问题的研究将有助于我们理解基因和分子如何调节复杂的行为。此外，这项激动人心的工作将为本科生提供丰富的遗传和分子技术学习经验。

The genetic control of mating behavior (courtship) is very important for the survival of a species. However, little is known about the genes that regulate this behavior. The study of mating behavior of fruit flies provides a simple way to identify and study genes that control this process since the fly's courtship ritual consists of well-defined steps that are easy to observe in the laboratory. The same regulatory pathways, which determine sexual differentiation in the animal as a whole, control sex-specific behavior. In contrast to mammals, where hormones play an important role in this process, the brain of male fruit flies develops in a male specific manner without requiring hormones. When parts of the male brain are made female by genetic manipulation, mating behavior is severely disturbed. Although sexual differentiation of the brain is critical for proper male behavior, another tissue, which is not part of the brain, but surrounds it, is also important for courtship. It is unknown how this tissue contributes to mating behavior. The aim of this project is to study the role of this tissue in the regulation of male courtship. How does it influence the brain? It is known that this tissue secretes a number of proteins into the fly's circulatory system from where they could possibly contact the brain. One of these proteins has already been shown to play a role in courtship behavior. How does it work? Are there other secreted factors that affect courtship? How can diffusible factors influence the brain and behavior? The study of these questions will contribute to our understanding of how genes and molecules regulate complex behaviors. In addition, this exciting work will provide a rich learning experience for undergraduate students in genetic and molecular techniques