Studying how altered clock genes affect fly circadian rhythms and rhythms of cell respiration in the brain

Studying how altered clock genes affect fly circadian rhythms and rhythms of cell respiration in the brain
Connor Enestvedt ’26, Biology major
Alex Beauchene ’25, Biology major
Campbell Bridges ’27, Biology major
Jane Pittorino ’25, Biology major
Mary Nicole Hunsberger ’25, Biology major
Faculty mentor: Dr. Pamela Snodgrass, Biology

Poster Presentation: Wednesday, April 23, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Drosophila have circadian rhythms which are daily biological rhythms synchronized by an internal clock that regulate endogenous behavioral and physiological systems. Central clock genes signal to peripheral clock genes to set rhythms. By mutating these central clock genes, we can observe changes to locomotion, gene expression, and cellular brain metabolism in the flies. In this project, we will study how flies’ circadian rhythms and cellular brain respiration change with clock gene mutations. By measuring oxygen consumption in the brain at different times of day, we can plot the flies’ metabolic circadian cycle and evaluate how alterations in clock function alter brain metabolism.