Genes underlying reproductive behavior and physiology

神经生物学中的一个基本问题是了解复杂行为的可能性是如何 已经成立了。果蝇是探索这个问题的一个很好的模型系统，因为一个 强健的行为，交配行为，是由基因决定的。果蝇雄性求偶由一系列 一系列指向女性的台阶。没有交配的雌性会接受雄性的求爱 行为，而那些最近交配的人会拒绝这些进步。有分子的- 遗传证据表明，性别等级在建立求爱和 雄性和雌性的交配行为都是通过编码的转录因子的作用 双性(Dsx)和无性(Fru)。Dsx和fru都会产生性别特异的异构体。分子遗传学 分析表明，dsx和fRU在建立性关系中起着基础作用。 特定的细胞命运对生殖行为很重要。尽管这些转录因子很重要 几乎对他们的目标一无所知。我们将使用基因组方法来识别受调控的基因 通过这些转录因子。我们将研究这些靶基因在神经系统中的功能 洞察行为的遗传规范。这将为理解 对包括人类在内的其他生物的复杂行为的规范，我们对这些行为的了解非常有限 理解。

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 sex hierarchy plays a central role in establishing courtship and mating behaviors in both males and females, through the action of transcription factors encoded by doublesex (dsx) and fruitless (fru). Both dsx and fru produce sex-specific isoforms. Molecular-genetic analyses have demonstrated that both dsx and fru play fundamental roles in the establishment of sex- specific cell fates important for reproductive behaviors. Despite the importance of these transcription factors practically nothing is known about their targets. We will use genomic approaches to identify genes regulated by these transcription factors. We will study the functions of these target genes in the nervous system to gain insight into the genetic specification of behavior. This will provide a foundation for understanding the specification of complex behaviors in other organisms, including humans, for which we have very limited understanding.