Project description
A unique fruit fly under the microscope
A fruit fly like no other, Drosophila sechellia, which is found in the Seychelles, will only feed and lay its eggs on the fruit of a species of tree called Morinda citrifolia. What’s more, these fruits are toxic to all other Drosophila species. This makes D. sechellia a highly interesting species in the study of behavioural and nervous system evolution. In this context, the EU-funded NEUROFLIES project will investigate how the sechellia fruit fly has adapted to its niche. Also, by defining the genetic basis and functional significance of a neuronal adaptation in this fruit fly, the project will uncover the causal genetic changes underlying this adaptation in D. sechellia and its physiological and behavioural significance.
Objective
How animals’ extraordinarily diverse behaviors have evolved is unknown. Relating interspecific behavioral differences to anatomical or physiological distinctions in neural circuits, and causal genetic variation, offers a powerful approach to inform how nervous systems develop, function and change.
Understanding behavioral and nervous system evolution requires deep investment in select species. We propose to establish a new model neurogenetic system: Drosophila sechellia, an island endemic that is closely related to D. melanogaster and D. simulans. While D. sechellia retains global genomic and superficial morphological similarity to its cosmopolitan generalist cousins, this species has adapted to a unique ecological niche, using Morinda fruit as a sole host for feeding and breeding. The project has three aims:
Aim 1. Establishment of a D. sechellia (neuro)genetic toolkit: we will build essential genetic reagents for generation and maintenance of animals of desired genotypes, for neurogenetic manipulations, and for recombination mapping-based approaches.
Aim 2. Behavioral, neuroanatomical and molecular phenomics: systematic comparison of D. sechellia, D. simulans and D. melanogaster for their behaviors, their neuroanatomy and their neuro-molecular expression properties will reveal how D. sechellia has adapted to its niche, and will provide multiple entry-points to relate molecular, neuronal and behavioral differences between these species.
Aim 3. Defining the genetic basis and functional significance of a neuronal adaptation in D. sechellia: through high-resolution mapping and allele swap approaches, we will identify the causal genetic changes underlying a neural adaption in D. sechellia, and its physiological and behavioral significance.
This project will establish a powerful new model system for evolutionary neuroscience (and many other fields) and provide fundamental insights into the origins and mechanisms of nervous system and behavioral diversification.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2018-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.