Neural circuits mediating feeding enhancement by odors in Drosophila melanogaster
Carolina Reisenman, Associate Researcher
Molecular and Cell Biology
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2023 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2024.
Insects use multiple sensory modalities when searching for and accepting a food source, in particular odor and taste cues. Food-derived odorants are generally involved in mediating long-and short-range attraction. Taste cues, on the other hand, act directly by contact with the food source, promoting the ingestion of nutritious food and the avoidance of toxic substances. We have previously shown that the presence of both single food-derived odorants and complex odor mixtures enhanced consumption of an appetitive food in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. D. melanogaster constitutes an excellent model system to study chemosensory integration, as much is known about the organization of its taste and olfactory systems, and of the behavioral programs and neuronal mechanisms controlling feeding decisions. This fly species is also an excellent model system to investigate the neural mechanism controlling behavior, as many powerful genetic tools are readily available for the manipulation of specific neurons.
In this project, the student/s will conduct behavioral experimental to investigate 1) which olfactory receptor protein/s are involved in the enhancement of feeding by food-derived volatiles and 2) whether higher brain centers mediating learning and memory are necessary for mediating this enhancement effect.
This project uses behavioral methods to study food consumption. The student/s will learn how to rear and sort flies, basic fly genetics, fly husbandry, laboratory methods, learn to work with odors, conduct behavioral experiments, collect and analyze data, use lines in which specific neuronal types can be activated or suppressed, etc.
The experiments will be conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Kristin Scott, under the supervision and direction of Dr. Carolina Reisenman.
The student/s should be available to work 2-3 hours during weekends (or more if there are schedule conflicts during the week). Please refrain from applying if you can't commit to at least 2-3 hours of work during weekends.
Role: This project uses behavioral methods to study fly olfactory and taste behavioral responses. The student/s will learn how to rear and sort flies, learn fly genetics, fly husbandry, laboratory methods, conduct behavioral experiments, collect and analyze data, and chemical ecology methods as necessary. They will also use tools readily available to investigate the role of specific chemosensory proteins in this process, such as D. melanogaster mutants, lines in which specific neuronal types can be activated or suppressed, etc. The experiments will be conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Kristin Scott, under the supervision and direction of Dr. Carolina Reisenman.
Qualifications: General biology is required, general chemistry highly desirable.
We are looking for one or more students who are curious, detail-oriented, punctual, and can collect/record data in an organized fashion, and is interested in reading relevant literature. The student will gain hands on experience being a scientist in a lab. Commitment and a positive attitude are a must!
The student should be available 8-10 hours during weekdays, and 2-3 hours (or more if case of scheduling conflicts during weekdays) during weekends.
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Related website: http://mcb.berkeley.edu/labs/scott/reisenman/
Related website: http://mcb.berkeley.edu/labs/scott/reisenman/