Principal Investigator H Horvitz
Professor Horvitz’ work has influenced many areas of biology over the years, but neuroscience has always been a central interest. By hunting for genetic mutations that affect C. elegans behaviors, Horvitz has revealed much about the genetic control of brain function, including how neural circuits control specific behaviors and how behavior is modulated by environment and experience. Many of the chemical signals used by the worm’s nervous system are also present in the human brain. For example, Horvitz showed that serotonin, a neurotransmitter implicated in the control of human mood and appetite, also regulates the locomotory behavior of worms. This finding has led to the discovery of several new genes that affect serotonin signaling, which could help to identify potential targets for human drug development.