A Drosophila Model for Aggression

Abstract

Aggressive behavior is important for survival and reproduction and is evolutionarily conserved across taxa. Aggression is a complex trait influenced by genes, environment, and interaction between genes and environment. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster model system offers the advantage of having powerful genetic tools that can be used to unravel the roles of genes and other factors in behavior. In this chapter, studies of aggressive behavior in Drosophila will be reviewed from ecological, evolutionary, neurological, and genetic points of view. Here, I discuss (1) ecological or behavioral interactions between individuals that influence aggressive behavior in Drosophila; (2) relationships between social experience and the Drosophila central nervous system; and (3) the genetic architecture of aggressive behavior using both single gene analysis of induced mutations and quantitative genetic analysis. Future research directions on aggressive behavior in Drosophila are addressed.