Molecular mechanisms to regulate the divison of labor in ants

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26830005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Koto Akiko 東京大学, 大学院薬学系研究科(薬学部), 助教 (80583997)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 社会性昆虫 / 行動アッセイ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The social interaction with others has beneficial impact in various animals. Animals develop the flexible strategies to respond their social environment to maximize their fitness and health. By using social insects, in particular ants, we aim to understand the evolutionary origins of neural mechanisms that regulate social behaviors. We induced the development of division of labor in artificial condition by utilizing the behavior tracking system. And we identified the neuropeptide which expression correlates with the status of division of labor, in age-dependent manner and also environment-dependent manner. We will develop the manipulation strategies with genetical or pharmacological approach to understand its molecular function in workers.

Free Research Field

生態行動学