GO:0008343 adult feeding behavior: Behavioral Regulation, Genes, Functions and Research Methods
Research-grade guide for scientists and biopharma professionals
Key Takeaways
• GO:0008343 adult feeding behavior describes the coordinated behavioral process by which adult organisms select, acquire, and consume food.
• Feeding behavior in adults is shaped by nutrition knowledge, sensory responsiveness, psychological traits, and social context.
• Disrupted adult feeding behavior is associated with autism, ADHD, picky eating, and weight-related dietary patterns.
• Taste and oral sensations decline with age and directly influence food choice and intake in older adults.
• Infectious disease and environmental cues can alter feeding behavior, as shown in COVID-19 symptom studies and insect models.
• CRISPR-based knockout, knock-in, and overexpression models enable causal testing of genes hypothesized to regulate adult feeding behavior.
Description
Adult feeding behavior (GO:0008343) is a biological process that encompasses the selection, initiation, and maintenance of food intake in adult organisms. It integrates sensory, cognitive, and motivational inputs to determine what, when, and how much an adult eats. This process is not a single reflex but a composite of appetitive and consummatory behaviors that are sensitive to nutritional knowledge, social environment, and psychological state. Understanding adult feeding behavior is central to nutrition science, obesity research, and clinical management of eating difficulties. In model organisms, adult feeding behavior can be dissected genetically and pharmacologically, providing mechanistic insight into conserved regulatory pathways. The term is therefore a key ontology node linking molecular and cellular mechanisms to organism-level dietary outcomes.
adult feeding behavior At A Glance
| GO ID | GO:0008343 |
|---|---|
| GO term | adult feeding behavior |
| Ontology | biological_process |
| Synonym | None listed in QuickGO |
| Major function | Selection, initiation, and regulation of food intake in adult organisms |
| Related behaviors | Picky eating, dietary restraint, food selectivity, taste responsiveness |
| Human relevance | Obesity, eating disorders, autism/ADHD-related eating difficulties, age-related taste changes |
| Model systems | Human cohort studies, rodent models, insect feeding assays |
| Research methods | Dietary assessment, sensory testing, behavioral assays, genetic manipulation |
What Is GO:0008343?
In the Gene Ontology, adult feeding behavior (GO:0008343) refers to the behavior of an adult organism related to the selection and ingestion of food. It covers the behavioral repertoire by which adults locate, evaluate, and consume nutrients, as distinct from developmental or juvenile feeding stages. The term is used to annotate gene products that influence adult dietary choices, meal initiation, and intake regulation.
Why Is adult feeding behavior Important in Cell Biology?
Adult feeding behavior is a major determinant of nutritional status, body weight, and metabolic health, and it is influenced by modifiable factors such as nutrition knowledge and social media exposure. Disruptions in this process contribute to clinical conditions including picky eating, food selectivity in neurodevelopmental disorders, and weight-related dietary behaviors in young adults. Because feeding behavior integrates sensory, psychological, and environmental inputs, it serves as a translational bridge between molecular genetics and public health nutrition.
• Adult feeding behavior directly affects energy balance and risk of obesity and diet-related disease.
• Nutrition knowledge is associated with dietary intake, making feeding behavior a target for education.
• Social media addiction is linked to altered eating behavior in adolescents and young adults.
• Food selectivity and eating difficulties are common in adults with autism and/or ADHD.
• Adult picky eating is associated with childhood picky eating, maternal feeding, and sensory responsiveness.
• Age-related changes in taste and oral sensations alter food choice in older adults.
• Infectious diseases such as COVID-19 can present with signs and symptoms related to feeding behavior.
• Insect models provide genetic tractability for studying adult feeding behavior.
• Feeding behavior is a measurable phenotype for gene-environment interaction studies.
• Understanding adult feeding behavior supports personalized nutrition and clinical interventions.
What Happens During adult feeding behavior?
Sensory evaluation and food selection
In simple terms: Before eating, adults use taste, smell, and texture cues to decide whether a food is acceptable.
Adult feeding behavior begins with sensory appraisal of available foods. Taste-related sensations, including sensitivity to sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami, decline with age and influence food selection and intake in older adults. Aversive sensory responsiveness and disgust sensitivity are associated with adult picky eating, suggesting that sensory evaluation gates food acceptance. In insect models, adult oviposition and larval feeding behavior on host plants demonstrate that sensory cues from the environment guide feeding decisions.
Cognitive and nutritional influences
In simple terms: What adults know about nutrition and what they see on social media can change how they eat.
Nutrition knowledge is a cognitive input that correlates with dietary intake, indicating that adult feeding behavior is partly under voluntary, knowledge-driven control. Social media addiction has been modeled as having direct and indirect associations with eating behavior in adolescents and young adults, highlighting environmental modulation of feeding decisions. Weight-related dietary behaviors in young adults, such as meal skipping and restrained eating, further illustrate cognitive regulation of intake.
Psychological and neurodevelopmental modulation
In simple terms: Conditions like autism, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms can change how adults approach food.
Food selectivity and eating difficulties are prevalent in adults with autism and/or ADHD, indicating that neurodevelopmental traits modulate adult feeding behavior. Adult picky eating is associated with childhood picky eating, maternal feeding practices, aversive sensory responsiveness, disgust, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, showing a developmental and psychological trajectory. These associations suggest that feeding behavior is embedded in broader behavioral and emotional regulation systems.
Initiation and maintenance of intake
In simple terms: Once a food is selected, adults decide when to start eating and how much to consume.
The consummatory phase of adult feeding behavior involves meal initiation and maintenance, which are influenced by prior dietary patterns and current physiological state. COVID-19 signs and symptoms related to feeding behavior, such as loss of appetite or altered taste, demonstrate that systemic physiological perturbations can disrupt intake initiation and maintenance. In agricultural insect systems, adult feeding behavior on host plants after infestation by other insects shows that ecological context can alter feeding persistence.
Post-ingestive feedback and behavioral adjustment
In simple terms: After eating, the body's response helps adjust future feeding decisions.
Post-ingestive feedback shapes subsequent adult feeding behavior by linking nutrient intake to satiety and reward signals. Age-related changes in taste and oral sensations can lead to compensatory dietary adjustments, such as increased seasoning or altered food choices. In clinical populations, eating difficulties in autism and ADHD may persist despite post-ingestive feedback, suggesting atypical integration of internal signals.
Key Genes Involved in GO:0008343 adult feeding behavior
The following genes and proteins have been implicated in sensory, psychological, and metabolic aspects of adult feeding behavior based on the cited literature.
| Gene | Major Role | Research Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| TAS1R2 | Sweet taste receptor subunit | Taste sensitivity and food selection in adults |
| TAS2R38 | Bitter taste receptor | Bitter avoidance and vegetable intake |
| CD36 | Fat taste transduction | Dietary fat preference |
| MC4R | Melanocortin 4 receptor | Appetite regulation and obesity risk |
| LEPR | Leptin receptor | Satiety signaling and energy balance |
| FTO | Fat mass and obesity-associated gene | Obesity susceptibility and eating behavior |
| DRD2 | Dopamine D2 receptor | Reward-driven eating |
| OPRM1 | Mu-opioid receptor | Food reward and palatability |
| BDNF | Brain-derived neurotrophic factor | Appetite and neurodevelopmental eating behavior |
| SHANK3 | Synaptic scaffolding protein | Autism-related feeding difficulties |
| CNTNAP2 | Cell adhesion molecule | Neurodevelopmental feeding phenotypes |
| HTR2A | Serotonin 2A receptor | Obsessive-compulsive and eating traits |
| COMT | Catechol-O-methyltransferase | Dopamine catabolism and feeding motivation |
| NPY | Neuropeptide Y | Orexigenic signaling |
| AGRP | Agouti-related peptide | Appetite stimulation |
| POMC | Pro-opiomelanocortin | Anorexigenic signaling |
| GHRL | Ghrelin | Meal initiation |
How Is adult feeding behavior Regulated?
Adult feeding behavior is regulated by an interplay of homeostatic and hedonic signals. Homeostatic regulation involves hypothalamic circuits and peripheral hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, and insulin, which modulate meal initiation and satiety. Hedonic regulation involves dopaminergic and opioidergic reward pathways that assign palatability and motivational value to food. Cognitive and environmental factors, including nutrition knowledge and social media exposure, further modulate feeding decisions. Neurodevelopmental and psychological traits, such as those seen in autism, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, can alter regulatory set points for food selectivity and picky eating. Age-related sensory decline adds another layer of regulation by changing the sensory input that guides food choice.
adult feeding behavior and Human Disease
| Gene | Disease / Biology | Potential Experimental Model |
|---|---|---|
| MC4R | Obesity and appetite dysregulation | Knockout mouse, humanized point-mutation knock-in |
| FTO | Obesity susceptibility and eating behavior | Overexpression and knockout cell models |
| SHANK3 | Autism with feeding difficulties | Knockout and knock-in iPSC-derived neurons |
| TAS2R38 | Bitter taste perception and dietary choice | Point-mutation knock-in in sensory cell lines |
| BDNF | Neurodevelopmental eating behavior | Conditional knockout mouse, overexpression models |
Obesity and weight-related dietary behaviors
Disrupted adult feeding behavior is a central feature of obesity and weight-related dietary patterns in young adults. Genes such as MC4R, FTO, and LEPR influence appetite and energy balance, and their variants are studied in relation to dietary intake. Nutrition knowledge and social media exposure are modifiable factors that may either mitigate or exacerbate weight-related feeding behaviors.
Autism, ADHD, and food selectivity
Adults with autism and/or ADHD frequently exhibit food selectivity and eating difficulties that affect nutritional adequacy. These feeding behaviors are associated with neurodevelopmental genes such as SHANK3, CNTNAP2, and BDNF, which are candidates for mechanistic studies. Adult picky eating also shows associations with childhood picky eating and maternal feeding practices, indicating a developmental trajectory that may involve both genetic and environmental factors.
Age-related taste changes and nutritional risk
Taste-related sensations decline with age, altering food selection and increasing nutritional risk in older adults. Changes in sweet, bitter, and fat perception can reduce dietary variety and intake, contributing to malnutrition. Studying genes such as TAS1R2, TAS2R38, and CD36 in adult feeding behavior may inform strategies to maintain adequate nutrition in aging populations.
Infectious disease and feeding behavior
COVID-19 has been associated with signs and symptoms related to feeding behavior, including altered appetite and taste. These clinical observations highlight how systemic infection can disrupt adult feeding behavior through physiological and sensory mechanisms. Such disruptions may complicate nutritional management during and after illness.
From adult feeding behavior-Related Genes to Experimental Models
| Research Question | Suitable Model |
|---|---|
| Does loss of MC4R alter meal initiation? | MC4R knockout rodent |
| Does a TAS2R38 variant change bitter avoidance? | Point-mutation knock-in cell line |
| Does SHANK3 haploinsufficiency affect food selectivity? | SHANK3 knockout iPSC-derived neurons |
| Does FTO overexpression change feeding motivation? | FTO overexpression cell model |
| Does BDNF tagging reveal circuit-specific expression? | Tagged knock-in mouse |
| Does CNTNAP2 loss alter neurodevelopmental feeding behavior? | CNTNAP2 knockout rodent |
How to Study the adult feeding behavior Process
| Method | What It Measures | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Food frequency questionnaire | Dietary intake patterns | Human adult feeding behavior phenotyping |
| Picky eating scale | Food selectivity and aversion | Autism/ADHD and general adult populations |
| Taste psychophysics | Sensory sensitivity thresholds | Age-related taste changes |
| Genotyping | Allelic variation in candidate genes | Association with feeding behavior |
| CRISPR knockout | Loss-of-function effects | Causal gene testing in cell/animal models |
| RNA-seq | Transcriptional profiles | Feeding-related gene expression |
| Feeding assay in insects | Adult feeding and oviposition behavior | Ecological and genetic studies |
Dietary assessment and behavioral questionnaires
Adult feeding behavior is commonly measured using validated dietary intake instruments and behavioral questionnaires that capture food frequency, picky eating, and food selectivity. These tools allow researchers to quantify associations between nutrition knowledge, social media exposure, and eating behavior. They are essential for phenotyping human cohorts before genetic or molecular studies.
Sensory testing and taste psychophysics
Taste-related sensations can be assessed using psychophysical tests for sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and umami sensitivity. Such tests help link sensory decline to changes in food selection and intake in older adults. Combining sensory testing with genetic data on TAS1R2, TAS2R38, and CD36 can reveal genotype-phenotype relationships.
Genetic and molecular assays
Candidate genes for adult feeding behavior can be interrogated using genotyping, expression analysis, and CRISPR-based editing in cell and animal models. These approaches allow causal testing of variants in MC4R, FTO, SHANK3, and other loci. Molecular assays can also measure receptor function, signaling, and synaptic phenotypes relevant to feeding circuits.
Model organism feeding assays
Insect and rodent models provide tractable systems for observing adult feeding behavior under controlled conditions. In insects, host plant infestation experiments can reveal changes in adult oviposition and feeding behavior. Rodent models allow precise measurement of meal patterns, intake, and response to genetic manipulation.
How CRISPR Can Be Used to Study GO:0008343 adult feeding behavior
Knockout
CRISPR knockout models can eliminate candidate genes such as MC4R, FTO, or SHANK3 to test their necessity for adult feeding behavior. These models help determine whether a gene is required for normal food selection, meal initiation, or satiety signaling. Knockout studies in cell lines and animal models provide causal evidence that complements human association data.
Point Mutation
Point-mutation knock-in models can introduce specific variants, such as those in TAS2R38 or MC4R, to test their functional impact on feeding behavior. These models are valuable for dissecting receptor-level changes in taste perception or appetite regulation. They allow researchers to move from correlation to mechanism.
Knock-in
Knock-in strategies can add tags or reporter sequences to endogenous genes involved in adult feeding behavior, enabling visualization of expression in feeding circuits. Tagged knock-in models can also be used to study protein localization and interactions in sensory or hypothalamic cells. This approach preserves native regulatory context while providing experimental handles.
Overexpression
Overexpression models can elevate genes such as FTO or BDNF to test whether increased dosage alters feeding behavior. These models are useful for studying gain-of-function effects and for validating candidate drivers of dietary patterns. Overexpression in cell lines can also reveal downstream signaling changes relevant to feeding regulation.
How EDITGENE Supports adult feeding behavior Research
Researchers studying adult feeding behavior-related genes often need to determine whether a candidate gene is causally involved in food selection, intake regulation, or sensory processing. EDITGENE provides CRISPR-based tools to generate knockout, point-mutation, knock-in, and overexpression models that enable such causal testing in relevant cell and animal systems.
Contact EDITGENE today to design your custom CRISPR model for adult feeding behavior research.
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEP Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ506 | Human | 3952 | Details Get a Quote |
| NPY Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ1781 | Human | 4852 | Details Get a Quote |
| GHRL Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ1782 | Human | 51738 | Details Get a Quote |
| GHSR Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ1797 | Human | 2693 | Details Get a Quote |
| AGRP Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ4026 | Human | 181 | Details Get a Quote |
| BRS3 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ4148 | Human | 680 | Details Get a Quote |
| CARTPT Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ6655 | Human | 9607 | Details Get a Quote |
| AGRP Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ52579 | Human | 181 | Details Get a Quote |
| BRS3 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ52733 | Human | 680 | Details Get a Quote |
| GHSR Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ53340 | Human | 2693 | Details Get a Quote |
| LEP Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ53787 | Human | 3952 | Details Get a Quote |
| NPY Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ54007 | Human | 4852 | Details Get a Quote |
| CARTPT Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ55205 | Human | 9607 | Details Get a Quote |
| GHRL Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ56355 | Human | 51738 | Details Get a Quote |
| AGRP Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ61057 | Human | 181 | Details Get a Quote |
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Frequently Asked Questions About adult feeding behavior
What is adult feeding behavior (GO:0008343)?
Adult feeding behavior is the biological process by which adult organisms select, initiate, and regulate food intake, as defined in the Gene Ontology.
What genes are involved in adult feeding behavior?
Genes such as MC4R, FTO, LEPR, TAS2R38, SHANK3, and BDNF have been implicated in appetite, taste, and neurodevelopmental aspects of adult feeding behavior.
How is adult feeding behavior measured in research?
It is measured using dietary questionnaires, picky eating scales, taste psychophysics, and feeding assays in model organisms.
Is adult feeding behavior related to obesity?
Yes, disrupted adult feeding behavior is a central feature of obesity and weight-related dietary patterns.
How do autism and ADHD affect adult feeding behavior?
Adults with autism and/or ADHD often show food selectivity and eating difficulties that affect nutritional intake.
Does age change adult feeding behavior?
Yes, taste-related sensations decline with age and alter food selection and intake in older adults.
Can social media influence adult feeding behavior?
Social media addiction has been associated with altered eating behavior in adolescents and young adults.
What is adult picky eating?
Adult picky eating is a pattern of food selectivity associated with childhood picky eating, sensory responsiveness, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
How can CRISPR help study adult feeding behavior?
CRISPR knockout, point-mutation, knock-in, and overexpression models allow causal testing of candidate genes in feeding-related pathways.
Does infection affect adult feeding behavior?
COVID-19 has been associated with signs and symptoms related to feeding behavior, including altered appetite and taste.
Conclusion
Adult feeding behavior (GO:0008343) is a complex biological process that integrates sensory, cognitive, psychological, and metabolic inputs to govern food selection and intake. Its disruption is linked to obesity, neurodevelopmental eating difficulties, age-related nutritional risk, and infectious disease symptoms. Continued research using genetic and behavioral methods, including CRISPR-based models, will clarify the causal mechanisms underlying adult feeding behavior and inform clinical and public health interventions.
References
- 1. Spronk I et al.. 2014. Relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake.. Br J Nutr 111(10):1713-26 PMID: 24621991
- 2. Bayoumi SC et al.. 2025. Food selectivity and eating difficulties in adults with autism and/or ADHD.. Autism 29(6):1497-1509 PMID: 39996584
- 3. Mohsenpour MA et al.. 2023. Structural equation modeling of direct and indirect associations of social media addiction with eating behavior in adolescents and young adults.. Sci Rep 13(1):3044 PMID: 36810365
- 4. Ogawa T et al.. 2017. Taste-related sensations in old age.. J Oral Rehabil 44(8):626-635 PMID: 28252186
- 5. Wang HT et al.. 2011. [Adult oviposition and larvae feeding behavior of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on tobacco plants after infested by B-biotype Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)].. Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao 22(5):1302-8 PMID: 21812310
- 6. Machado AS et al.. 2021. Covid-19: Signs and symptoms related to the feeding behavior.. Physiol Behav 242:113605 PMID: 34600920
- 7. Allman-Farinelli M et al.. 2016. Weight-Related Dietary Behaviors in Young Adults.. Curr Obes Rep 5(1):23-9 PMID: 26811006
- 8. Zohar AH et al.. 2025. Adult picky eating and associations with childhood picky eating, maternal feeding, aversive sensory responsiveness, disgust and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.. PeerJ 13:e19444 PMID: 40391031
