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A proper sense of gravity - graviperception in insects K. Beckingham, Dept. Biochemistry and Cell Biology, MS-140, Rice University, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX  77251

   For most forms of life, perception of the gravity vector is an essential sensory modality.  This is particularly so for complex, motile multi-cellular animals, in which rapid responses to changes in the gravity vector are often required.  Although the specialized sense organs associated with graviperception have been identified in many animals, the molecular signaling pathways used in these organs are little understood.  We have taken a genetic approach to the task of identifying the proteins with roles in gravity signaling.  Using the organism Drosophila melanogaster we have identified a number of genes that affect gravitational responses.   The roles of these genes both in Drosophila and across evolution will be discussed.  In addition, an investigation into the mechanosense organs underlying graviperception in the Insecta and the Arthropoda will be discussed.