Presentation description

My research examines how natural genetic variation shapes odor-driven behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. I study attraction to 2-phenylethanol, a yeast-derived odor produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using olfactory trap assays with lines from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel, I quantify behavioral variation and plan to assist in a genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants underlying differences in attraction to this ecologically relevant odor.