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Chapter 24: Problem 7

Much effort has been expended to understand genetic involvement in brain function in Drosophila. Why might this research be important in understanding the functioning of the human brain?

Short Answer

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**Answer:** Researching genetic involvement in brain function in Drosophila is important for understanding the functioning of the human brain, because of the genetic similarities between Drosophila and humans. Around 75% of known human disease genes have a match in the Drosophila genome, making them a suitable model for studying the genetic basis of various human brain functions and disorders. Additionally, research on Drosophila, due to its advantages such as short life cycles and cost-effectiveness, has provided numerous insights into fundamental mechanisms of brain function and development in humans, including the genetic basis of learning, memory, circadian rhythms, and neural circuits. These studies have also shed light on various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and autism spectrum disorders.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to Drosophila

Drosophila is a genus of small fruit flies, commonly used as a model organism in genetic research. The most widely studied species is Drosophila melanogaster, which has been used in many scientific studies to understand genetics, development, and neurobiology.
02

Genetic Similarities between Drosophila and Humans

Although Drosophila and human brains have significant differences in complexity and structure, there are many similarities between their genetic makeup. Around 75% of known human disease genes have a match in the Drosophila genome, making them a suitable model for studying the genetic basis of various human brain functions and disorders.
03

Advantages of Using Drosophila in Research

There are several advantages to using Drosophila as a model for studying brain function. They have short life cycles, which allow for multiple generations to be studied quickly. Drosophila are also relatively cheap to maintain, allowing for large-scale studies to be conducted efficiently. Additionally, the development of sophisticated tools and techniques for genetic manipulation and analysis in Drosophila has greatly facilitated research progress.
04

Contributions of Drosophila Research to Human Brain Understanding

Research on Drosophila has provided numerous insights into the fundamental mechanisms of brain function and development in humans. For example, studies on Drosophila have advanced our understanding of the genetic basis of learning and memory, circadian rhythms, and the development and function of neural circuits. Additionally, research on the fruit fly has shed light on the genetic underpinnings of various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and autism spectrum disorders.
05

Conclusion

In conclusion, research on the genetic involvement of brain function in Drosophila is crucial for understanding the functioning of the human brain. By studying the genetics and neural mechanisms in Drosophila, we can uncover the fundamental principles of brain function, which can be applied to humans to develop treatments for numerous neurological disorders and improve our overall understanding of the human brain.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

There are at least eight known progressive neuronal dysfunction diseases in humans that are caused by abnormal numbers of CAG repeats within the coding regions of specific genes. Genes carrying such mutations are typically of the gain-offunction class and often share a common mechanism of progressive pathogenesis. Why are such genes "gain-of-function"? Speculate on why such diseases are probably caused by a common mechanism of pathogenesis.

Caenorhabditis elegans has become a valuable model organism for the study of development and genetics for a variety of reasons. The developmental fate of each cell (1031 in males and 959 in hermaphrodites) has been mapped. \(C .\) elegans has only 302 neurons whose pattern of connectivity is known, and it displays a variety of interesting behaviors including chemotaxis, thermotaxis, and mating behavior, to name a few. In addition, isogenic lines have been established. What advantage would the use of \(C .\) elegans have over other model organisms in the study of animal behavior? What are likely disadvantages?

In July \(2006,\) a population of flies, Drosophila melanogaster, rode the space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station (ISS) where a number of graviperception experiments and observations were conducted over a nine- generation period. Frozen specimens were collected by astronauts and returned to Earth. Researchers correlated behavioral and physiological responses to microgravity with changes in gene activity by analyzing RNA and protein profiles. The title of the project is "Drosophila Behavior and Gene Expression in Microgravity." If you were in a position to conduct three experiments on the behavioral aspects of these flies, what would they be? How would you go about assaying changes in gene expression in response to microgravity? Given that humans share over half of the genome and proteins of Drosophila, how would you justify the expense of such a project in terms of improving human health?

Fragile-X syndrome is characterized by intellectual deficits, some dysmorphia, and hyperactivity. It is caused by abnormal expansion of a (CGG) \(_{n}\) repeat in the \(5^{\prime}\) -untranslated region of the \(F M R 1\) gene and as such results in hypermethylation of CpGs. Considering the role of the \(F M R 1\) gene in expression of fragile-X syndrome, what is the relationship between hypermethylation and \(F M R 1\) gene expression?

Autism, a relatively common complex of human disorders, can range from severe to mild. What evidence indicates a possible link between genetics and autism?
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