Fighting Flies Reveal Gender Gap
By Sarah Gillham
Why is it, when girls fight, they slap, kick and pull hair whilst lads tend to wield fists, elbows and masculine grunts? Well, today we could be one step closer to finding out. Scientists have found a gene that is responsible for sexual differences in aggressive behaviour... in fruit flies that is.
Completely comparable to humans I’m sure; the gene, known as the ‘fruitless’ gene has proved a key factor in understanding the biology of aggression.
Initial experiments found that the gene generates a set of male-specific proteins found solely in the nervous system of fruit flies. The proteins are thought to be necessary for normal courting. Research has shown that males lacking these proteins tend to bat for the other side or at least ignore the chicks. Similarly, females that possess the male version of the gene tend to use the male flirting techniques with other females.
A research team from Harvard Medical School and the Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna have now shown that the ‘fruitless’ gene also controls fighting patterns in fruit flies. As is often the case in humans, female fighting amongst flies involves more pussy-footing around; some pushing and shoving and maybe a few head butts for effect (ok I’ve never actually seen a girl do that but wonders will never cease), whereas the males tend to go for the more macho approach, rearing on their hind legs and flooring any unsuspecting male opponent.
These fighting tactics are completely reversed when the specific male and female genes are swapped, thus making a ‘head-butting’ male and a ‘rearing’ female.
While these fruit fly aggression models may seem completely ridiculous, it is thought that the findings may lead us one step closer to understanding the causes of aggression in society and maybe even other complex behaviours such as sleep and responses to pain.
Completely comparable to humans I’m sure; the gene, known as the ‘fruitless’ gene has proved a key factor in understanding the biology of aggression.
Initial experiments found that the gene generates a set of male-specific proteins found solely in the nervous system of fruit flies. The proteins are thought to be necessary for normal courting. Research has shown that males lacking these proteins tend to bat for the other side or at least ignore the chicks. Similarly, females that possess the male version of the gene tend to use the male flirting techniques with other females.
A research team from Harvard Medical School and the Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna have now shown that the ‘fruitless’ gene also controls fighting patterns in fruit flies. As is often the case in humans, female fighting amongst flies involves more pussy-footing around; some pushing and shoving and maybe a few head butts for effect (ok I’ve never actually seen a girl do that but wonders will never cease), whereas the males tend to go for the more macho approach, rearing on their hind legs and flooring any unsuspecting male opponent.
These fighting tactics are completely reversed when the specific male and female genes are swapped, thus making a ‘head-butting’ male and a ‘rearing’ female.
While these fruit fly aggression models may seem completely ridiculous, it is thought that the findings may lead us one step closer to understanding the causes of aggression in society and maybe even other complex behaviours such as sleep and responses to pain.
Image: Jyn Meyer
Share this
