The nature of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Our understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying behaviour has been vastly improved by the growing number of functional genetic techniques, candidate genes for behaviour, and descriptions of the neurogenetic aspects of behaviour in D. melanogaster. By integrating these data with studies on ecological patterns of natural behaviour variation (and its relationship to environmental heterogeneity) we can begin to make important links between ecology and behaviour that may be applied across varied taxa [22xCandidate genes for behavioural ecology. Fitzpatrick, M.J., Ben-Shahar, Y., Smid, H.M., Vet, L.E.M., Robinson, G.E., and Sokolowski, M.B. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2005; 20: 96–104Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (144)See all References][22]. We expect such integration to not only lead to the identification of new behaviours, such as those involving social interactions, but also to an understanding of how these behaviours are affected by temporal and spatial heterogeneity in the natural environment (Figure 1Figure 1). Rewards abound for such pursuits with promises of gaining new insights into the evolution of complex behaviours and their underlying genetic architecture. Studying behaviour in wild populations may help us to identify genes and traits that are important for local adaptation and speciation. Key to such pursuits is assaying naturally derived populations with precisely described ecologies under highly controlled yet realistic lab conditions.Figure 1Examples of Drosophila melanogaster in a natural setting.In nature, individuals might interact on fruit, leaves, branches, or grass. For example, at top right, a male courts female on a blade of grass. Or, at bottom right, two males posture prior to an aggressive interaction. (Photographs by Christopher J. Reaume.)View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint SlideThe prospects for attaining a complete understanding of the biology of an organism have never been as exciting as they are today. The little fruit fly, a nuisance in many of our kitchens, has facilitated the acquisition of knowledge on genetics, development, neurobiology, and behaviour — all of which were thought unimaginable before the turn of the 19th century. Where some might see an opportunistic human commensal, others will see a symbiont where food and habitat is traded for biological insights of remarkable breadth.