Major

Molecular Biology

Anticipated Graduation Year

2020

Access Type

Open Access

Abstract

Drosophila Melanogaster contain distinct groups of clock cells in the brain. Much remains unknown about the cellular mechanisms whereby circadian information is coordinated from core clocks across output circuits. DN1p clock cells are hypothesized to coordinate circadian information to the output pathways, to test this we devised a genetic approach that allowed us for the first time to selectively and comprehensively silence these cells electrically. Unexpectedly, we found that rest:activity rhythms remained unchanged to DN1p silencing, suggesting the DN1p cells are dispensable for both the generation of circadian information and for the transmission of this information to output neurons.

Community Partners

Loyola University Chicago

Faculty Mentors & Instructors

Daniel Cavanaugh, Ph.D.

Supported By

Loyola University Chicago

Comments

Since the school's closure, I have been dealing with the hospitalization of my grandfather. For this reason, a large extent of the research has been put on hold while I stay with my grandmother to keep her going through the quarantine. This has been a huge stressor on my work, so I apologize for not being able to spend the time I would have if it were not for the situation we have all found ourselves in.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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DN1p Cell Activity is Dispensable for Circadian Rest:Activity Rhythms Under Constant Environmental Conditions

Drosophila Melanogaster contain distinct groups of clock cells in the brain. Much remains unknown about the cellular mechanisms whereby circadian information is coordinated from core clocks across output circuits. DN1p clock cells are hypothesized to coordinate circadian information to the output pathways, to test this we devised a genetic approach that allowed us for the first time to selectively and comprehensively silence these cells electrically. Unexpectedly, we found that rest:activity rhythms remained unchanged to DN1p silencing, suggesting the DN1p cells are dispensable for both the generation of circadian information and for the transmission of this information to output neurons.