New York University · BiologyThe Ants and Flies Lab
Claude Desplan · New York, New York
Research Focus
Claude Desplan's lab at New York University studies two main areas: the unique aging process in ants and the development of neural diversity in the fruit fly Drosophila. The lab investigates how environmental factors influence aging and longevity in ants, particularly focusing on the reproductive role of certain workers that can dramatically extend their lifespan. Additionally, they explore how different neurons are formed in the fly brain, looking at the various mechanisms that contribute to neural diversity and circuit formation. Through these studies, the lab aims to uncover fundamental principles of biology that may have implications for understanding aging and neural development in other animals.
AgingLongevityNeural diversityDrosophilaCRISPRGene regulationSocial insectsNeurogenesisEpigenetics
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling aging in the ant Harpegnathos
AIM 02Study the impact of the insulin signaling pathway on lifespan extension in ants
AIM 03Define how spatial patterning influences neural diversity in Drosophila
AIM 04Examine the role of neurogenesis in the formation of neural circuits
AIM 05Explore stochastic factors that contribute to variability in neuron production.
Skills the Lab Values
CRISPR/Cas9RNA sequencingMicroscopyGene expression analysisBehavioral assaysCell cultureTranscription factor analysisPharmacological manipulationsSingle-cell mRNA sequencing
Output against the department
Publications321top 16% of dept.170th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations20ktop 20% of dept.206th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.