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Modeling Intellectual Disability in Drosophila

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Animal Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 104))

Abstract

Intellectual disability (ID) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 3 % of the population. At this time, no pharmacological treatment has been identified for the treatment of ID patients. An increasing number of genes are identified in patients with ID but a significant gap persists between gene discovery and treatment. Lack of treatment can be explained by our poor understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking cognition and genes. We present here a model of learning and memory in Drosophila that has now been used by several groups to gain genetic understanding in memory defects related to ID genes. We review the pertinent background about the assay and its relation to ID. We also review the assay in detail and provide some advice about troubleshooting tips. Finally, we discuss how flies and other animal models could be used synergistically to develop new treatment for ID patients.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Tim Tully for his mentorship. We would also like to thank the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program (CCHCSP) for the Career Development Award, the Woman and Children Health Research Institute (WCHRI) and Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) and Dart Neuroscience for their financial support to my laboratory. Finally, we would like to thank the members of the Tully and Bolduc lab, Dr. Andrew Simmonds and Sarah Hughes, Dr. Steven De Belle, Dr. Terry Klassen, Dr. Thiery Lacaze, Dr. Peter Nguyen, Dr. Jerry Yager and Dr. Susan Gilmour and Dr. Lori West as well as the members of the University of Alberta Fly Group and of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute at the University of Alberta for stimulating discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, 4-588 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 1C9

    Alaura Androschuk & Francois V. Bolduc

  2. Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Francois V. Bolduc

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  1. Alaura Androschuk
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  2. Francois V. Bolduc
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Correspondence to Francois V. Bolduc .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Div. Pediatric Neurology, University of Alberta Dept. Pediatrics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Jerome Y. Yager

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Androschuk, A., Bolduc, F.V. (2015). Modeling Intellectual Disability in Drosophila. In: Yager, J. (eds) Animal Models of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Neuromethods, vol 104. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2709-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2709-8_14

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2708-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2709-8

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