Genderblind

Genderblind, also known as CG6070, is a gene that was discovered in "Drosophila melanogaster" by University of Illinois at Chicago researcher David Featherstone. [http://www.livescience.com/animals/071209-fly-genes.html "Homosexuality Turned On and Off in Fruit Flies"] , "LiveScience", 9 December 2007, accessed 10 December 2007] The gene encodes a member of the cystine/glutamate transporter family of proteins.

Genderblind protein is expressed in glial cells where it secretes the neurotransmitter glutamate and regulates the organization of glutamate receptors.cite journal |author=Augustin H, Grosjean Y, Chen K, Sheng Q, Featherstone DE |title=Nonvesicular release of glutamate by glial xCT transporters suppresses glutamate receptor clustering in vivo |journal=J. Neurosci. |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=111–23 |year=2007 |pmid=17202478 |doi=10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4770-06.2007]

A mutation in Genderblind alters the sexual behavior of "Drosophila", turning the flies bisexual. "Drosophila" given drugs to alter synapse strength, independent of the Genderblind mutation, allowed researchers to "turn fly homosexuality on and off, within hours". The researchers believe this effect is due to the flies' altered response to pheromones.

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