The Philipsborn group is interested in how the nervous system generates and controls behaviour, at the level of genes, neurons and neuronal circuits. We use the fruit fly Drosophila with its small and compact nervous system as model organism for basic research in behavioural genetics and circuit neuroscience. Furthermore, we are also collaborating on using Drosophila as a model system for understanding molecular and cellular aspects of neurodegenerative diseases.
Our focus is on motor behaviour, the ultimate output of the nervous system. We are in particular interested in multifunctionality of neuro-muscular systems and mechanisms of motor pattern generation, as well as and higher order organisation of motor behaviour, context dependent action selection and behavioural hierarchy. We aim at uncovering and understanding general mechanisms and principles of nervous system function by investigating small, genetically accessible circuits of identifiable neurons which drive robust and ecologically relevant behaviour. Our main model system is Drosophila reproductive behaviour, courtship and sex-specific communication, which includes a rich set of fascinating innate and experience dependent motor behaviours. Many of the genes and stereotyped neurons underlying sexual behaviour are described, offering an ideal starting point for mechanistic understanding of circuits and their context dependent modulation. We make full use of the state-of-the-art genetic toolkit for observing and probing the Drosophila nervous system at cellular resolution and employ live imaging, anatomical reconstructions, manipulation of neuronal activity and gene expression in combination with behavioural assays.
The Philipsborn group has projects available for Master, Bachelor and Erasmus students. Please contact Group Leader Anne von Philipsborn directly, if interested.
2018.02.07 | Research news
The surprising findings are the result of a new joint publication entitled ‘Dopamine genes are linked to Extraversion and Neuroticism personality traits, but only in demanding climates’ by AIAS Former Fellows Machteld N. Verzijden (DANDRITE/Bioscience) and Ronald Fischer (Psychology) and co-author Anna Lee.
2018.02.06 | AnnevonPhilipsborn
Graduated in 2017 in biotechnology at the University of Pavia, Francesca is now started as intern in Philipsborn Group. She is interested in neurogenetics, and performing specific genetic techniques in order to access GABAergic neurons and functionally test their role in the Drosophila courtship song patterning. Francesca is also planning to start…
2017.09.27 | Research news
D. melanogaster sexual behavior was first described by A.H. Sturtevant in 1915. Today, a hundred years later, scientists are still learning about neuroscience by studying this behavior. Our review focuses on findings in circuit neuroscience that have been made within the last two years using D. melanogaster sexual behavior as…
2017.09.14 | People
Machteld Verzijden is new postdoc in Anne von Philipsborn's group from September 15th. She will be investigating the neurological mechanism of how sugar consumption affects male mating success in Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies.
2017.07.10 | People
Lasse is new Student Assistant in Anne von Philipsborn's group per July 1st. Duties of the student job include preparation of Drosophila food, autoclaving Drosophila waste and help with maintenance of Drosophila stock.
2017.05.10 | People
Per started in Anne's group from April 15th. He will work with data analysis, scientific computing, scientific visualization and illustration.
2017.05.02 | Events
As usual DANDRITE attended the Festival of Research. It was a busy and enjoyable day where group leaders and students from DANDRITE demonstrated their research areas to the general Danish public. Four labs where represented: Anne von Philipsborn lab, Poul Henning Jensen lab, Mark Denham lab and Poul Nissen Lab.
2015.05.29 | People
DANDRITE’s aim of appointing five top researchers as Group leaders has just become a reality with the appointment of Dr Sadegh Nabavi, whose research includes how memory is formed, how it can be erased, and how it can subsequently be restored.
2013.11.12 | People
DANDRITE has appointed Anne von Philipsborn and Mark Denham as Group Leaders. These appointments are the first two in a series of five group leaders to be employed at DANDRITE. Anne and Mark will start their research in December and January, respectively.