Georgia Tech Neuro Seminar Series

Virtual Event
Participation Link: https://bluejeans.com/824485104/

"Analysis of Social Behavior in Lake Malawi Cichlids using Automated Behavior Phenotyping"

Patrick McGrath, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Tech

McGrath Lab
Most biological traits have a strong genetic, or heritable, component. Understanding how genetic variation influences these phenotypes will be important for understanding common, heritable diseases like autism. However, the genetic architecture controlling most biological traits is incredibly complex – hundreds of interacting genes and variants combine in unknown ways to create phenotype. The McGrath lab is interested in using fundamental mechanistic studies in C. elegans to identify, predict, and understand how genetic variation impacts the function of the nervous system. We are studying laboratory adapted strains and harnessing directed evolution experiments to understand how genetic changes affect development, reproduction, and lifespan. We combine quantitative genetics, CRISPR/Cas9, genomics, and computational approaches to address these questions. We believe this work will lead to insights into evolution, multigenic disease, and systems biology.