Sex in your genes

Sexual behaviors are evoked by a wide variety of sensory cues and generated by specialized sensory neurons that sense mate-derived signals.  In C. elegans, male sexual behaviors are driven by long- and short-range chemical and contact-based signals from a potential mate.  We are interested in identifying the genes, molecules, and neural circuits that control sexually-dimorphic sensory behaviors.

Image description:  Scanning electron micrograph of adult C. elegans male tail.

References:

Wang J, Schwartz H.T., Barr M.M. (2010)  Functional specialization of sensory cilia by an RFX transcription factor isoform. Genetics. 186(4):1295-307.  

Liu T, Kim K, Li C, Barr MM.  FMRFamide-like neuropeptides and mechanosensory touch receptor neurons regulate male sexual turning behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans.  J Neurosci. 2007 Jul 4;27(27):7174-82. PMID: 17611271

Barr MM, Garcia LR.  Male mating behavior.  WormBook. 2006 Jun 19:1-11. Review. PMID: 18050467

Peden EM, Barr MM.  The KLP-6 kinesin is required for male mating behaviors and polycystin localization in Caenorhabditis elegans.  Curr Biol. 2005 Mar 8;15(5):394-404. (PMID: 15753033)