Meagan Robertson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
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Papers by Meagan Robertson
Gerontology, 2013
[4]. Complex genetic architecture and diverse cell types regulate both sleep and aging, making th... more [4]. Complex genetic architecture and diverse cell types regulate both sleep and aging, making the study of ageassociated changes in sleep experimentally challenging. Recent genetic studies in the fruit fly suggest the molecular basis of sleep and aging is conserved from flies to mammals [5]. Flies show age-dependent changes in sleep that are comparable to those observed in humans, but the neural basis for age-dependent changes in sleep remains unclear. Powerful genetic tools and a simplified nervous system of approximately 200,000 neurons make Drosophila an excellent system for dissecting the molecular and neural basis of sleep and aging. A large collection of genetic mutants, genome-wide RNA interference libraries and a host of tools that allow for activating or silencing small populations of neurons provide unparalleled capabilities for genetic manipulation [6]. Flies live for only 60-80 days in standard laboratory conditions, allowing for behavioral monitoring over an entire life cycle [7]. Furthermore, gene expression can be temporally regulated allowing for adult-specific modulation of cellular function and neural circuitry [6]. Because of their small size and the ease of manipulating environmental factors such as light, temperature and food, the interactions between sleep and longevity can be investigated. Here, we briefly review studies examining the relationship between sleep and aging in Drosophila and propose future avenues for studying the molecular basis of age-dependent changes in sleep.
Gerontology, 2013
Across phyla, aging is associated with reduced sleep duration and efficiency. Both aging and slee... more Across phyla, aging is associated with reduced sleep duration and efficiency. Both aging and sleep involve complex genetic architecture and diverse cell types and are heavily influenced by diet and environment. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of age-dependent changes in sleep will require integrative approaches that go beyond examining these two processes independently. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, provides a genetically amenable system for dissecting the molecular basis of these processes. In this review, we examine the role of metabolism and circadian rhythms in age-dependent sleep loss.
Gerontology, 2013
[4]. Complex genetic architecture and diverse cell types regulate both sleep and aging, making th... more [4]. Complex genetic architecture and diverse cell types regulate both sleep and aging, making the study of ageassociated changes in sleep experimentally challenging. Recent genetic studies in the fruit fly suggest the molecular basis of sleep and aging is conserved from flies to mammals [5]. Flies show age-dependent changes in sleep that are comparable to those observed in humans, but the neural basis for age-dependent changes in sleep remains unclear. Powerful genetic tools and a simplified nervous system of approximately 200,000 neurons make Drosophila an excellent system for dissecting the molecular and neural basis of sleep and aging. A large collection of genetic mutants, genome-wide RNA interference libraries and a host of tools that allow for activating or silencing small populations of neurons provide unparalleled capabilities for genetic manipulation [6]. Flies live for only 60-80 days in standard laboratory conditions, allowing for behavioral monitoring over an entire life cycle [7]. Furthermore, gene expression can be temporally regulated allowing for adult-specific modulation of cellular function and neural circuitry [6]. Because of their small size and the ease of manipulating environmental factors such as light, temperature and food, the interactions between sleep and longevity can be investigated. Here, we briefly review studies examining the relationship between sleep and aging in Drosophila and propose future avenues for studying the molecular basis of age-dependent changes in sleep.
Gerontology, 2013
Across phyla, aging is associated with reduced sleep duration and efficiency. Both aging and slee... more Across phyla, aging is associated with reduced sleep duration and efficiency. Both aging and sleep involve complex genetic architecture and diverse cell types and are heavily influenced by diet and environment. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of age-dependent changes in sleep will require integrative approaches that go beyond examining these two processes independently. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, provides a genetically amenable system for dissecting the molecular basis of these processes. In this review, we examine the role of metabolism and circadian rhythms in age-dependent sleep loss.