An insect model of cognitive decline and extended longevity
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Biochemistry
Abstract
This project combines approaches from evolutionary biology, comparative neuroscience, and ageing research in order to identify mechanisms of extended longevity in the neotropical Heliconius butterflies. Heliconius is a widely studied genus in evolutionary biology, and thus presents a tractable system with many available genomic tools for probing interesting phenotypes. One such interesting phenotype is its extended longevity in comparison with its close relatives, with Heliconius living up to 6 months in the wild - approximately 6 times longer than its closely-related outgroups. This extension in lifespan has been attributed to its pollen-feeding behaviour, unique among butterflies, which provides Heliconius with an adult source of amino acids, and has been linked to a delay in reproductive senescence within the genus. This pollen-feeding behaviour in Heliconius has also been associated with a dramatic expansion of the mushroom body, an insect learning and memory centre, making it an especially intriguing system from a neurobiological perspective.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Stephen Montgomery (Primary Supervisor) | |
Jessica Foley (Student) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MR/N013794/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2025 | |||
2448919 | Studentship | MR/N013794/1 | 01/10/2020 | 01/07/2024 | Jessica Foley |