This National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) Project Grant award of $502,563 to Villanova University will fund research to investigate how larval neurons in the fruit fly Drosophila are reprogrammed during maturation to enable adult-specific behaviors. The project aims to: 1) Determine how different subtypes of specific neurons in adult female flies contribute to mating behaviors, and elucidate the larval counterparts of these neuron subtypes and their functions; and 2) Uncover the molecular mechanisms that reprogram these neurons during metamorphosis. The research leverages the powerful Drosophila model system to provide transformative insights into the developmental processes governing neuron reprogramming that underlie changes in behavior as animals mature. The award period is from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028.
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