Genes, Circuits, and Behavior: Modulation of Neural Circuit Development and Function by Biological Sex

Our group uses the nematode C. elegans, a powerful experimental model, to study the relationships between genes, neural circuits, and behavior. Much of our research focuses on sex differences, which offer striking examples of naturally occurring behavioral variation. By asking how biological sex tunes developmental and physiological processes in C. elegans, we aim to identify genetic and circuit mechanisms that produce adaptive plasticity in innately programmed behavior. Our findings also provide a framework for understanding how biological sex can modulate susceptibility to a variety of human neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Our research is supported by an NIGMS R35 MIRA award from the National Institutes of Health.