Fighting flies: Quantifying and Analyzing Drosophila Aggression

International audienceAggression is an innate behavior that likely evolved in the framework of defending or obtaining resources. This complex social behavior is influenced by genetic, environmental, and internal factors. Drosophila melanogaster remains an effective and exciting model organism to unravel the mechanistic basis of aggression due to its small but sophisticated brain, an impressive array of neurogenetic tools, and robust stereotypical behavioral patterns. The investigations of many laboratories have led to the identification of external and internal state factors that promote aggression, sex differences in the patterns and outcome of aggression, and neurotransmitters that regulate aggression. AGGRESSION IN DROSOPHILA Aggression is an evolutionarily conserved behavior, essential for survival and genetic success, as gaining access to mates, access to resources and defending progeny are key favorable outcomes (Lorenz an