Research in Chronobiology and Behavioural Neurogenetics

We are interested in examining behaviours of animals and their neuronal underpinnings as well as their evolutionary trajectories.  Many of our studies are focused on those behaviours which are rhythmic with a near daily frequency – or circadian rhythms.  We use populations of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster to answer many of our questions.

Our scientific endeavors can be broadly classified as follows:

• Chronotype evolution or the evolution of ‘owl’ and ‘lark’ phenotypes
• Clock evolution under semi-natural conditions
• Plasticity of circadian waveforms
• Circadian clocks and feeding rhythms
• Genetic and neuronal basis of egg-laying rhythms
• Neuronal circuitry underlying locomotor activity rhythms
  • The neuronal circuits that modulate rhythms based on temperature 
  • The role of gap junction proteins in circadian pacemaker circuit
• The circadian neuronal circuit as a model to understand cellular players in neurodegeneration
• Social cues and their impact on the behaviour and life-history traits of flies
• Sleep circuits of fruitflies