Investigating the Genetic Basis of Sleep Through Experimental Evolution

Energy conservation is thought to be a central function of sleep. In collaboration with Allen Gibbs (UNLV) we have characterized sleep and metabolic phenotypes in outbred flies selected for starvation resistance. These flies live up to two weeks on food and sleep more than controls. We are currently investigating the genetic basis of these sleep changes, and how they relate to the metabolic changes that result from experimental evolution.