Rory Coleman, PhD: K99 Pathway to Independence Fellow, Rockefeller University
Title: “A modular circuit architecture coordinates the diversification of courtship strategies in Drosophila"
 
Abstract: Mate recognition systems rapidly evolve to reinforce reproductive boundaries, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. Here we leveraged the rapid coevolution of female pheromones and male pheromone circuits in Drosophila to gain insight into how the architecture of mating circuits facilitates their diversification. We show that D. yakuba males evolved the ability to use 7-tricosene, a sexually-monomorphic pheromone, as an excitatory cue for courtship. Comparing key nodes in the pheromone circuits across Drosophila species reveals that this sensory innovation arises from coordinated peripheral and central circuit adaptations: a sensory subpopulation with acquired sensitivity to 7-tricosene selectively signals to a subset of P1 neurons that trigger courtship. Such a modular circuit organization allows different sensory inputs to independently connect to parallel courtship-control nodes, facilitating the emergence of species-specific strategies for mate recognition.
 
Hosts: Feng-Kuei Chiang, PhD & Alberto Corona, PhD
Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 3 PM
Location: Hess 8-101 and Zoom
 
Student & Postdoc Lunch Registration (10 person max): First come, first served so reserve your spot today with this https://forms.gle/fZ12jTys2euXjgbz9

The Twitter hashtag for this event is #MSNseminars.