Grant: Operating Grant

Social experience modulates the biology of an individual, influencing gene expression, physiology, behaviour and personality. At the individual level, social interactions are key to the definition and diagnosis of various psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism. At the community or group level, patterns of interaction between individuals (social networks) predict patterns of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and happiness, as well as the spread of infectious disease. Yet, little is understood about how the social environment modulates biological processes. Understanding the molecular, cellular and behavioural mechanisms that underlie normal social interactions is required to more accurately diagnose abnormal social pathology, to establish interventions and therapies for individuals, and to predict group-level risks to public health. Drosophila, the fruit fly, is an outstanding model organism for studying genes and behaviour. The fly has helped us understand molecular mechanisms that underlie biological clocks, learning, alcohol and drug addiction, and pain. In this context, and based on our preliminary data, we are confident that a fly model of social behaviour provides a rapid, efficient method for developing hypotheses that will yield insight into molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders with a social dimension.