Behavior Individuality: A Focus on Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Among individuals, behavioral differences result from the well-known interplay of nature and nurture. Minute differences in the genetic code can lead to differential gene expression and function, dramatically affecting developmental processes and adult behavior. Environmental factors, epigenetic modifications, and gene expression and function are responsible for generating stochastic behaviors. In the last decade, the advent of high-throughput sequencing has facilitated studying the genetic basis of behavior and individuality. We can now study the genomes of multiple individuals and infer which genetic variations might be responsible for the observed behavior. In addition, the development of high-throughput behavioral paradigms, where multiple isogenic animals can be analyzed in various environmental conditions, has again facilitated the study of the influence of genetic and environmental variations in animal personality. Mainly, Drosophila melanogaster has been the focus of a great effort to understand how inter-individual behavioral differences emerge. The possibility of using large numbers of animals, isogenic populations, and the possibility of modifying neuronal function has made it an ideal model to search for the origins of individuality. In the present review, we will focus on the recent findings that try to shed light on the emergence of individuality with a particular interest in D. melanogaster.

Reduced Insulin Signaling Targeted to Serotonergic Neurons but Not Other Neuronal Subtypes Extends Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

“…Such lifespan variation is common in Drosophila and the median lifespan of the w Dah genetic background has been shown to vary from 32 to 75 days between experiments under defined control conditions ( Ziehm et al, 2013 ). Similarly, inter-individual variability in behavior is common and well investigated ( Molla-Albaladejo and Sanchez-Alcaniz, 2021 ), with trial to trial variability arising from noise in the nervous system ( Faisal et al, 2008 ). Variability in exploratory walking parameters with age between experiments can be seen in our data when comparing the UAS-InR DN / + genotype which was run in all experiments.…”

Study of drosophila kinship from three regions in East Java, Indonesia

“…This temperature difference can affect the Drosophila phenotype because high temperatures can denature enzymes, and conversely, low temperatures can inactivate enzymes responsible for regulating metabolism and phenotypic expression [23]. Disruption of enzyme work means that the expressed genes may also experience differences [24]. These differences in expressed genes result in differences in the phenotype of an organism [25].…”

Shedding Light on Inter-Individual Variability of Olfactory Circuits in Drosophila

“…Thus, epigenetic mechanisms, genetic variation, developmental growth and environmental conditions can shape the personality of an animal’s individuality ( Figure 1C ; Mollá-albaladejo and Sánchez-alcañiz, 2021 ). However, the variability of behavioral traits and their genetic and non-genetic origins need to be further studied to enlighten the evolution of personality traits.…”