Behavioral Genetics of the Fly (Drosophila Melanogaster)

Description

The common fruit fly - Drosophila melanogaster - has been the subject of genetics research since the early twentieth century. The complete genomic sequence of Drosophila was published in 2000 and it is still the model organism par excellence for the experimental study of biological phenomena and processes. It is also by far the best model for studying gene function in mammals, including humans. Presenting state-of-the-art studies on the behaviour of Drosophila, this volume discusses normal and pathological models of neurobehavioral disorders and encompasses the specialised methods that have been used, from anatomical, histological, immunohistological and neurophysiological to genomic, genetic and behavioural assays. A comprehensive and thorough reference, this volume is a valuable resource for students and researchers alike across several disciplines of life sciences, including behavioral genetics, neurogenetics, behavioral neuroscience, molecular biology, evolutionary biology and population biology.

Josh Dubnau is an Associate Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. His research focuses on genetics and circuitry of memory and mechanisms of neurodegeneration. He received the Beckman Young Investigator award and Human Frontiers Young Investigator award. He is also the recipient of a Transformative R01 from the NIH. Former President of the International Behavioral and Neural Genetics Society, he has been twice selected by graduate students for the Winship Herr Teaching Award.

'[This book] constitutes the first attempt at a comprehensive review of behavioral genetics research with Drosophila ... [It] gives an exciting overview of a very diverse range of topics in short, readable chapters, written by some of the key figures ... in the field.' Eirik Sovik and Alexis S. Hill, ISBE Newsletter, International Society for Behavioral Ecology