Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

King, Lanikea

Abstract

Neurofibromatosis is an inherited neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the tumor suppressor gene NF1 in humans. Symptoms include nerve tumors, learning impairment, and ADHD. The cognitive effects of neurofibromatosis were studied by using grooming as a behavioral phenotype of Nf1 mutations in Drosophila melanogaster. Previous studies indicate Nf1 mutations increase grooming up to seven times. If Nf1 mutant flies are optogenetically stimulated, will grooming levels increase? The CsChrimson protein can be stimulated with light to excite motor neurons of flies and initiate grooming. Drosophila subjects were placed in a chamber, stimulated with red light, and a camera recorded grooming behavior. Grooming levels observed between control and Nf1 mutant flies were compared. Overall, grooming levels increased as expected. Although in previous studies Nf1 mutations caused increased grooming, when both Nf1 and wild type Drosophila were stimulated, increased comparative levels of grooming in Nf1 type flies were not observed.

Comments

Includes bibliography.

Extent

29 p.

Identifier

FA00012610

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