Studying Aggression in Drosophila (fruit flies)

Abstract

Aggression is an innate behavior that evolved in the framework of defending or obtaining resources. This complex social behavior is influenced by genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. In many organisms, aggression is critical to survival but controlling and suppressing aggression in distinct contexts also has become increasingly important. In recent years, invertebrates have become increasingly useful as model systems for investigating the genetic and systems biological basis of complex social behavior. This is in part due to the diverse repertoire of behaviors exhibited by these organisms. In the accompanying video, we outline a method for analyzing aggression in Drosophila whose design encompasses important eco-ethological constraints. Details include steps for: making a fighting chamber; isolating and painting flies; adding flies to the fight chamber; and video taping fights. This approach is currently being used to identify candidate genes important in aggression and in elaborating the neuronal circuitry that underlies the output of aggression and other social behaviors.

Protocol

1. Assembling the chamber walls

1. Take two plain glass slides, mark the middle at the two edges and using a straight edged ruler as a guide, score the glass with the diamond cutter.
2. Slide the diamond cutter back and forth a few times until you hear a scraping noise.
3. Wash the glass, and holding it with two paper towels over a broken glass receptacle, apply gentle pressure close to the scored line with the scored side
   facing away from you to break the slide into two halves.
4. Generously apply the glass adhesive along an edge of one piece of glass and push a second piece of glass against the adhesive at a right angle to the firs....