Characterization of novel genes affecting male courtship and mating behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. Janna Schultzhaus, Ginger Carney. Biology, Texas A&M, College Station, TX.

   Drosophila melanogaster males perform stereotypical courtship behaviors to attract female mates. While the roles of many genes involved in these mating behaviors have been characterized and the basic genetic hierarchy underlying male mating behavior is well understood, there are undoubtedly numerous other components that contribute to the expression of this dynamic, complex trait. To identify additional genes that may contribute to male courtship behavior, a list of candidate genes involved in courtship was generated from microarray analyses on the heads of males that had courted females. We tested these genes for effects on courtship and mating behaviors by decreasing adult expression via RNAi. Reducing expression of two genes, hairy and CG1416, increased mating latency, indicating that the males are either less attractive to females or less efficient at courting. Reducing expression of two other genes, Drop and Tdc1, decreased copulation duration, signifying an inability of males to mate for longer periods or an unwillingness to invest more energy into a single mating. We have identified and characterized how these genes, which had previously not been implicated to play a role in male courtship behavior, can shape male-female interactions.