Ben de Bivort
@debivort.bsky.social
Drosophila neurobiologist. We study insect behavior and individuality using the tools of computational neuroethology.
Harvard Organismic and Evolutionary Biology & Center for Brain Science
https://debivortlab.org
fediverse: @debivort@drosophila.social
Harvard Organismic and Evolutionary Biology & Center for Brain Science
https://debivortlab.org
fediverse: @debivort@drosophila.social
Alas no, but my student did, and presented on quantifying collective digging in fly larvae. Did your whole lab go?
November 12, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Alas no, but my student did, and presented on quantifying collective digging in fly larvae. Did your whole lab go?
I'm sorry ... Astrid and Morris send their love.
November 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I'm sorry ... Astrid and Morris send their love.
Inspired by the samhain this year
October 31, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Inspired by the samhain this year
Our orange cat looks dignified about 20% of the time.
September 27, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Our orange cat looks dignified about 20% of the time.
OK - here's a quick and dirty analysis comparing raw variances (plotted as log(std), since the range is so wide depending on how the behavior is measured).
It looks like there is a slight effect of lower var in inbred, but many counter-examples. black and blue are diff batches of the inbred line.
It looks like there is a slight effect of lower var in inbred, but many counter-examples. black and blue are diff batches of the inbred line.
September 8, 2025 at 10:53 PM
OK - here's a quick and dirty analysis comparing raw variances (plotted as log(std), since the range is so wide depending on how the behavior is measured).
It looks like there is a slight effect of lower var in inbred, but many counter-examples. black and blue are diff batches of the inbred line.
It looks like there is a slight effect of lower var in inbred, but many counter-examples. black and blue are diff batches of the inbred line.
And in Werkhoven et al (2021) we measured covariance matrices of behavior measures in inbred+balancer-isogenized versus outbred flies. The covariances matrices were qualitatively the same and had the same spectral characteristics. (matrix on left is outbred, right inbred)
doi:10.7554/eLife.64988
doi:10.7554/eLife.64988
September 8, 2025 at 12:44 PM
And in Werkhoven et al (2021) we measured covariance matrices of behavior measures in inbred+balancer-isogenized versus outbred flies. The covariances matrices were qualitatively the same and had the same spectral characteristics. (matrix on left is outbred, right inbred)
doi:10.7554/eLife.64988
doi:10.7554/eLife.64988
The patterns differed a bit by behavior, but the most pertinent takeaway is that the magnitude of effects on the trait means were smaller than the variability effects. (ie the effect of G on trait mean is less than the effect of G on trait variance).
doi: 10.1242/jeb.202234
doi: 10.1242/jeb.202234
September 8, 2025 at 12:41 PM
The patterns differed a bit by behavior, but the most pertinent takeaway is that the magnitude of effects on the trait means were smaller than the variability effects. (ie the effect of G on trait mean is less than the effect of G on trait variance).
doi: 10.1242/jeb.202234
doi: 10.1242/jeb.202234
In Buchanan et al, we saw the same thing in locomotor handedness with multiple sets of lines. (but need to acknowledge this is an unusual behavioral trait with very little genetic variation for the mean.)
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1500804112
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1500804112
September 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
In Buchanan et al, we saw the same thing in locomotor handedness with multiple sets of lines. (but need to acknowledge this is an unusual behavioral trait with very little genetic variation for the mean.)
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1500804112
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1500804112
OK, here are the experiments we've done that I think go most directly at this question:
In Kain et al 2012, we measured variability of light preference pre- and post-inbreeding. If anything happened, variability went up (Cambridge-A vs Cambridge-A(iso)).
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1211988109
In Kain et al 2012, we measured variability of light preference pre- and post-inbreeding. If anything happened, variability went up (Cambridge-A vs Cambridge-A(iso)).
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1211988109
September 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM
OK, here are the experiments we've done that I think go most directly at this question:
In Kain et al 2012, we measured variability of light preference pre- and post-inbreeding. If anything happened, variability went up (Cambridge-A vs Cambridge-A(iso)).
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1211988109
In Kain et al 2012, we measured variability of light preference pre- and post-inbreeding. If anything happened, variability went up (Cambridge-A vs Cambridge-A(iso)).
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1211988109
Fly labs — Now is the time to show some solidarity and chip in support for this vital resource!
August 20, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Fly labs — Now is the time to show some solidarity and chip in support for this vital resource!
August 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Some diagrams here:
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
More microscopy tagged as mitosis:
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
More microscopy tagged as mitosis:
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
August 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Some diagrams here:
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
More microscopy tagged as mitosis:
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
More microscopy tagged as mitosis:
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?...
Yeah, I think I've seen them a few times, including from pond water microscopy. Here's a cave-dwelling velvet worm we saw in Table Mountain!
April 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Yeah, I think I've seen them a few times, including from pond water microscopy. Here's a cave-dwelling velvet worm we saw in Table Mountain!
Harvard campus, just a little while ago.
April 15, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Harvard campus, just a little while ago.
April 4, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Just printed up a stack of these, 4 to a sheet, to keep in my work bag.
April 2, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Just printed up a stack of these, 4 to a sheet, to keep in my work bag.
Be careful out there folks.
March 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Be careful out there folks.
I bet a head-fixed, leaf-suspended prep a la spangenglobus would work
February 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I bet a head-fixed, leaf-suspended prep a la spangenglobus would work
it was very windy at the Lion's Head
January 26, 2025 at 12:09 AM
it was very windy at the Lion's Head