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Whitney Humphrey Dr. Barbara Taylor HHMI Summer Program
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Understanding of the interaction between the central nervous system and behavior. Neurological diseases in humans Sex Determination and Sexual Orientation in flies
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Ideal model organisms for studying genetics Short generation time Many strains exists
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Courtship Aggression
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In females, a cascade is initiated and through splicing events produce a female-specific transcript encoding a female-specific protein: -Doublesex F (Dsx F ) In males, a cascade is initiated but different splicing events produce male-specific transcripts encoding male-specific proteins: -Fruitless M (Fru M ) -Doublesex M (Dsx M )
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Expected behavior: -Males court females -Production of song -Copulation Unexpected behavior: -Female-male courtship interrupted -Male-male courtship observed -This event is referred to as chaining. -May or may not be song but copulation does not occur Deficiencies Fru 3, Fru 4 (P-element inserts) Fru 1 (Inversion)
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DL Cycle: 12-hours lights on, 12-hours lights off Males: Anticipate lights on and have very little activity during the day (siesta) Females: Do not anticipate lights on and do not take a siesta.
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How we measure activity: The DL cycle: 9:00 - 20:59 – Lights on 21:00 - 8:59 – Lights off
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Individual Raw Data Lights onLights off n = 20
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n = 10
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n = 12
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A roughly-24-hour cycle in the biochemical, physiological or behavioral processes. CS A Fru 440 x Fru sat15
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Initially, we investigated if mutations in fruitless affected the male pattern of activity in flies. We conclude that fruitless does not affect sex- specific activity cycles. However, fruitless mutants show levels of decreased activity. We also discovered that the fruitless mutants with deficiencies did not have a 24-hour period.
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Dr. Barbara Taylor Dr. Jaga Giebultowicz Will Gibson Eileen Chow Dr. Kevin Ahern HHMI Summer Undergraduate Research Program
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