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Neurobiology of Sensory Systems pp 171–194Cite as

Developmental Studies on the Optic Lobe of Drosophila Melanogaster Using Structural Brain Mutants

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Summary

On the background of a detailed analysis of wildtype structure, mutants of the visual system of Drosophila melanogaster are being used for identification of genetic and epigenetic factors in the development of the compound eye and optic lobe. Mutant analysis reveals the role the larval visual system plays in the development of the adult optic lobe, and that visual fibres are able to reach their retinotopic destination via ectopic pathways. By use of different mutations and their multiple combinations, the visual system can be simplified by drastically reducing the number of cell types in the optic lobe. Simplification is limited by the response of remaining neurons which show sprouting and compensatory innervation. It is expected that the molecular characterization of the neurological genes will yield information about mechanisms of neuronal function, neuronal diversification, axonal pathfinding, and target recognition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biologie III, Schänzlestr.1., D-7800, Freiburg i. Brsg., Federal Republic of Germany

    K.-F. Fischbach, F. Barleben, U. Boschert, A. P. M. Dittrich, B. Gschwander, B. Houbé, R. Jäger, E. Kaltenbach, R. G. P. Ramos & G. Schlosser

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  1. K.-F. Fischbach
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  2. F. Barleben
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  3. U. Boschert
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  4. A. P. M. Dittrich
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  5. B. Gschwander
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  6. B. Houbé
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  7. R. Jäger
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  8. E. Kaltenbach
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  9. R. G. P. Ramos
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  10. G. Schlosser
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, India

    R. Naresh Singh

  2. The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Nicholas J. Strausfeld

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Fischbach, KF. et al. (1989). Developmental Studies on the Optic Lobe of Drosophila Melanogaster Using Structural Brain Mutants. In: Singh, R.N., Strausfeld, N.J. (eds) Neurobiology of Sensory Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2519-0_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2519-0_13

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