LAUSR

Animal behavior is arguably among the most intricate and complex phenotypes. Not only are the molecular processes underlying most behavioral phenotypes exceedingly complex, but these processes are also variable, to allow for behavioral adjustments in response to external and internal conditions. The adaptation of behavior to the current circumstances (i.e. plasticity) can be crucial for survival as a single behavioral strategy may only be beneficial under the right conditions. Accordingly, the molecular processes that regulate behavior need to allow for a certain degree of plasticity, within an optimal range of behavioral responses. Over the last decade an extensive number of studies from insects to humans has highlighted the importance of epigenetic gene regulation in the fine-tuning of behavioral responses. Here we discuss recent behavioral epigenetics work using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster .