AUTHOR=Sullivan Luis F. 

TITLE=Rewiring the Drosophila Brain With Genetic Manipulations in Neural Lineages

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2019.00082

DOI=10.3389/fnmol.2019.00082

ISSN=1662-5099

ABSTRACT=<p>Neurons originate from neural stem cells and then synapse with stereotyped partners to form neuronal circuits. Recent findings indicate that several molecular mechanisms generating neuronal identity can rewire neuronal connectivity in the <italic>Drosophila</italic> brain when genetically manipulated. In this review, I discuss how mechanisms generating neuronal identity could activate molecular pathways essential for circuit formation and function. Next, I propose that the central complex of <italic>Drosophila</italic>, an ancient and highly conserved brain region essential for locomotor control and navigation, is an excellent model system to further explore mechanisms linking circuit development to circuit function.</p>