|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The powerful genetics and
well-defined nervous system of C. elegans makes it possible to
genetically dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying poorly
understood aspects of nervous system function. However, many genes with
critical roles in neuronal function have effects on behavior that to a
casual observer appear very subtle or difficult to describe precisely.
Therefore, to fully realize the potential of C. elegans for the
genetic analysis of nervous system function, it is necessary to develop
sophisticated methods for the rapid and consistent quantitation of
behavioral phenotypes. We have been developing machine vision tools for
quantitatively characterizing the behavioral patterns caused by
mutations or pharmacological treatments in C. elegans.
Ultimately, we hope to generate a comprehensive database of phenotypic
information for C. elegans that would be widely available for the
evaluation of newly generated gene knockout lines or uncharacterized
neuroactive substances. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Movie of
egg-laying coordinated with locomotion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Movie of
calcium influx in egg-laying muscles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent
papers and abstracts: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Geng,
W., Cosman, P., Baek, J.-H., Berry, C.C., W.R. Schafer. (2003)
"Quantitative classification and natural clustering of C. elegans
behavioral phenotypes" Genetics 165: 1117-1123. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baek,
J.-H., P. Cosman, Z. Feng, J. Silver, W. R. Schafer (2002) "A machine
vision system for quantitative analysis and classification of C.
elegans behavioral phenotypes" J. Neurosci Meth., 118:
9-21. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hardaker,
L.A., E. Singer, R. Kerr, G. T. Zhou, W. R. Schafer. (2001) "Serotonin
modulates locomotory behavior and coordinates egg-laying and movement
in Caenorhabditis elegans" J. Neurobiol. 49: 303-313.
(correction) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waggoner,
L.E. , L. A. Hardaker, S. Golik, W. R. Schafer. (2000) "Effect of a
neuropeptide gene on behavioral states in Caenorhabditis elegans
egg-laying". Genetics 134: 1181-1192 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zhou,
G. T., W. R. Schafer, R. W. Schafer. (1998) "A three-state biological
point process model and its parameter estimation" IEEE Trans. Signal
Process. 46: 2698-2707. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waggoner,
L. E., G. T. Zhou, R. W. Schafer, W. R. Schafer. (1998) "Control of
alternative behavioral states by serotonin in Caenorhabditis elegans"
Neuron 21: 203-214. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
People
who are working on this project: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andy Huang (Graduate Student)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kathleen Quast (Lab manager)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kathy Andrews (Lab
technician)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notable
alumni : |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Zhaoyang
(John) Feng (Postdoctoral Fellow) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Laura Waggoner
(Graduate student) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wei Geng
(Graduate student) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Laura Hardaker
(Masters student) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jay Silver
(Undergraduate student) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|