# Genes underlying reproductive behavior physiology and neuronal development

> **NIH NIH R35** · FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $8,191

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
To understand mental health and disease, we need to understand the function of the brain at the level of genes,
gene regulatory networks, neurons, circuit structure, and physiology. Drosophila has emerged as one of the
most powerful model systems for these questions, given the range of tools and the tractability of analyzing
complex behaviors at all these levels. This proposal seeks to understand Drosophila reproductive behaviors.
One reason Drosophila is such a powerful system is that the sex-specific master regulatory transcription factors
that direct reproductive behaviors are known. This has provided a powerful molecular inroad into identifying and
manipulating the neurons that underlie these behaviors. These tools can also be used to perform neuron-specific
mutational studies to discover the functions of genes that direct behaviors, which leverages one of the biggest
strengths of the Drosophila model system. In addition, this system affords an unparalleled model to both examine
the sex-specific development of these neurons and how they are modified by adult experiences. Research using
the Drosophila model has continued to uncover biologically important processes that have informed on human
health and disease, including studies of the nervous system and behavior. The work will build off of my
laboratories 15-year NIGMS funded research program. We will continue to address these behavioral questions
using cutting-edge molecular-genetic, genomic, proteomic, behavioral and microscopy tools to gain insights into
complex behaviors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10797431
- **Project number:** 3R35GM145282-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHELLE N ARBEITMAN
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $8,191
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-05-06 → 2027-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10797431

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10797431, Genes underlying reproductive behavior physiology and neuronal development (3R35GM145282-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10797431. Licensed CC0.

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