Influence of cry1 and cry2 genes on the sleep pattern of Blattella germanica
Date Issued
2014
Date
2014
Author(s)
Hirsch, Pierre
Abstract
The universality of a basic rest-activity cycle in the animal kingdom is almost unquestioned, a prominent manifestation underlying this cycle being the sleep. Sleep can be defined as a behavioral syndrome of inactivity and reduced sensory responsiveness. In insects, it is likely that the fundamental behavioral features of sleep are conserved, in perhaps simpler ways. I decided in this study to focus on the rest period of Blattella germanica and whether or not it can be defined as a sleep-like state, and how sleep is linked to the circadian clock. Based on studies, a sleep-like state should be defined as having the following features: consolidated circadian periods of immobility, a species-specific posture, an increased arousal threshold and a homeostatic regulatory mechanism. Sleep was here defined using the specie-specific posture of the cockroaches and the timing of its occurrence within the day. To investigate the links between sleep and the circadian clock, silencing of two clock genes, cry1 and cry2 by RNA interference, has been performed. Locomotion data was then acquired using an automated tracker program to assess the periodicity of double strand RNA injected cockroaches. It appears from that study the the silencing of cry1 and cry2 through injection of dsCry1 and dsCry2 causes a loss of rhythmicity in half of individuals. This loss of rhythmicity also causes a loss of circadian organization of sleep patterns, indicating that the timing of sleep is linked to the circadian clock.
Subjects
德國蜚蠊
約日節律
核醣核酸干擾術
睡眠
Type
thesis
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