Revealing the molecular mechanism of mouse innate behavior by single-cell sequencing

Innate behaviors, like fear, are basic behaviors which animals possess to ensure their survival and reproduction. Now we know that in animals, for example mouse, different behaviors are controlled by different or similar neural circuits. Whether these behaviors are coded by specific genes are not clear. In this project, we used single-cell sequencing to solve this problem in fear and hunting behaviors. Single cell RNA-seq of the superior colliculus of the adult mouse先天性行为（innate behaviors）是动物为保障生存与繁衍所具备的基础行为，恐惧行为便是这类行为的典型代表。目前学界已明确，在小鼠（mouse）等动物体内，不同行为由不同或相似的神经环路调控。但此类行为是否由特定基因编码，目前尚无定论。本研究借助单细胞测序技术，针对恐惧与捕猎行为相关的科学问题展开探究，具体实验内容包括对成年小鼠上丘（superior colliculus）开展单细胞RNA测序（single cell RNA-seq）。