Machine vision analysis of nematode behavioral patterns.

描述（由申请人提供）：线虫秀丽隐杆线虫具有强大的遗传学，一个描述良好的神经系统，和接近完整的基因组序列；因此，它非常适合于分子和细胞水平上的行为分析。从功能上绘制特定基因对特定行为后果的影响的能力，使得利用遗传分析从功能上剖析神经系统功能（如成瘾）中鲜为人知的方面的分子机制成为可能。然而，许多在神经元功能中起关键作用的基因对行为的影响对一个偶然的观察者来说似乎非常微妙或难以精确描述。因此，为了充分发挥秀丽隐杆线虫在神经系统功能遗传分析中的潜力，有必要开发出快速、一致的行为表型定量方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The nematode C. elegans has powerful genetics, a well-described nervous system, and a near complete genome sequence; thus, it is well suited to analysis of behavior at the molecular and cellular levels. The ability to functionally map the influence of particular genes to specific behavioral consequences makes it possible to use genetic analysis to functionally dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying poorly understood aspects of nervous system function such as addiction. However, many genes with critical roles in neuronal function have effects on behavior that to a casual observer appear very subtle or difficult to describe precisely. Therefore, to fully realize the potential of C. elegans for the genetic analysis of nervous system functions, it is necessary to develop sophisticated methods for the rapid and consistent quantitation of behavioral phenotypes. The goal of this proposed work is to develop computer vision tools for quantitatively characterizing the behavioral patterns caused by mutations or pharmacological treatment in C. elegans. By making it possible to precisely characterize the behavioral phenotypes of uncoordinated, locomotion-abnormal mutants, these tools will be particularly useful for correlation specific neurotransmission defects with characteristic behavioral patterns. These analytical tools will also be used to precisely define the long-term effects of neuroactive drugs on behavioral, opening the possibility of genetic screening for mutants with defects in tolerance and dependence.