School of Molecular Biosciences

Prof Kevin O'Dell

Genetic analysis of sexual behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila males and females show a complex repertoire of interactive sexual behaviours, and our interest is in identifying genes and brain structures that mediate these behaviours. To this end, we have been exploiting the full repertoire of classical, behavioural and molecular tools available to Drosophila researchers. In particular, we have used to UAS-GAL4 system to provisionally identify those brain regions that mediate sex-specific behaviours (O’Dell et al., 1995; An et al. 2000). We also have an interest in how genes that perturb learning and memory affect courtship behaviour (O’Dell et al., 1999).

Drosophila as a model for human disease
(i) Mitochondrial Deafness: This is a joint project with Prof Howy Jacobs of Tampere University in Finland to investigate the feasibility of using Drosophila as a model organism for mitochondrial disease. Initially, we are focussing our effort on the X-linked technical knockout (tko) gene which encodes the mitoribosmal protein S12 (Shah et al. 1997; Toivonen et al. 2001).

(ii) Myotonic Dystrophy: This is a joint project with Professor Darren Monckton, who also works within the Molecular Genetics Research Theme, to investigate the feasibility of using Drosophila as a model for the human condition Myotonic Dystrophy.