Blog Archives

So far into my TRIP! By Jenan Hazazi

6/23/2022

Welcome back readers! Since the last time I wrote, I have conducted an introductory experiment, regarding the effects of head trauma and Ginkgo Biloba on the drosophilas’ moods, as well as presented my findings and procedures to my fellow TRIP peers. Might I add that within the past few weeks, I have grown very fond of these people, and I look forward to coming together with these brilliant, passionate, like-minded people every week.

ImageJ software

Going back to the introductory experiments, prior to any of it, I had seen flies as creatures who merely had the purpose of surviving, flying around disposed items, and buzzing. To say that my way of thought has changed is an understatement. Now I can’t help but see them as fascinating creatures that resemble the human body and all of its complex functions. We have learned so much about our physiology through these tiny creatures, things we wouldn’t have thought been possible to study. As we conducted our introductory experiments, I became more and more proficient in sorting flies, learning to set up assays, understanding not only the procedure itself, but also the reason behind each step, and how to collect and analyze data using a new software (ImageJ). Now, I have an endless sense of gratitude, rather than distaste, for these flies.

After we had concluded our introductory experiments, we finally reached the point in this research internship in which we would conduct our own, independent projects from start to finish. At first, I had wanted to test the flies’ memory by training them using their color perception and a mazy assay, but strayed away as my head continued to flood with all the possibilities of the independent projects I could do. I had hit a plateau. None of the experiments I had conjured up resonated with me or my day-to-day encounters that I had with friends and family. I had really hit a full stop. That is until one night I had stayed up a little late, to sort through the jumbles of ideas I had, made myself a cup of hot cocoa, and became aware of my family’s stash of tea next to it. Though there had been an assortment of teas, one caught my eye specifically, weight loss tea. This opened a whole new pathway of experimental opportunities, all of which I had started to resonate with. Weight Loss.

In a world in which obesity has become more and more prominent, a world in which body shaming has sadly become a norm, it's safe to say that we all know a person, or two, or three, who wished to lose weight. Even on social media, this is a continuous discussion and we continuously find ourselves tangled up in ‘lifestyle’ influencers using our insecurities against us and selling us these weight loss teas that they claim work so effectively to ‘burn off fat.’ Is weight loss teas really the best way to go in terms of weight loss and side effects though? I had remembered drinking that tea for a week, and the nausea and the obstructed bowel movement I had experienced has kept me far away from it since.

That has now led me to my question, is saffron tea or turmeric tea, two herbal alternatives, a better alternative than weight loss teas regarding their effects on weight loss and side effects? I have set up my experiment this past Saturday and I look forward to continuing my research on this in the upcoming weeks. I’m beyond excited to see what conclusions the results will take me to, but until then, goodbye for now readers.

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Time Flies When You’re Having Fun! by Keith Thompson

6/22/2022

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Hello there! I've come back to tell my readers what I have been doing since I last checked in. 7 weeks into the program, we're over halfway done and there is so much I have done, yet so much more to do. I've learned how to sort flies (even if it is a struggle), how to make a highly diluted solution, how to collect developmental data, and even how to determine how motile flies are based on their activity. I took all these steps in conducting my introductory experiment, which answered the question, "Does intestinal inflammation impact adult fly motility? Can diet have a protective effect?". By feeding my flies soap to cause inflammation and Vitamin E to protect against it, I determined that flies fed both Vitamin E and soap were most motile. Flies fed just soap and food were least motile, proving that inflammation decreases motility and that diet is in fact able to protect against it.

Now that we've moved on from our introductory experiments, we have begun setting up our own independent experiments. You may have heard the expression: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". I take that literally. For over a year, I have been eating an apple every single day for breakfast. Now, it is an integral part of my daily routine. Without it, I often feel sluggish and less energetic. When researching the actual benefits of eating an apple everyday, I found that a flavonoid in it, Quercetin, can ameliorate the effects of Alzheimer's. My initial idea was to imitate the experiment that proved this in rats on flies, but this proved to be far too impractical. Instead, I've decided to find out if Quercetin can improve the memory of developing larvae, similar to how I am still developing.

Over the next few weeks, I will be conducting the Larval Memory Assay to determine if Quercetin is able to improve the memory of the larvae. I hope to report back with positive results, both for the larvae and for my own health. Until next time, thanks for reading!

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Independent Project Kickoff Day! by Eri Maeda

6/21/2022

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Hello everyone!

This week, I started my independent project. I started brainstorming with Dr. Purdy and Dr. Leystra two weeks ago, and I now have a question that interests me. My research revolves around the impact of isolation on mental health and aggression. This experiment reflects on how there was/is growing concern for mental health during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, the number of adults that reported symptoms of anxiety/depression was 40%, a steep increase from the 10% in 2019. My objective for this experiment is to understand whether this is caused by purely societal pressures (ex. unemployment) or if isolation itself affects mental health, and to what degree. In Japan, this is not just a coronavirus-related problem. Japan has a long-standing problem of "hikikomori," or people in societal withdrawal. While clinicians consider it a disorder, incessant broadcasting of specific cases like the Sagamihara stabbings created a strong social stigma associating these recluses with violence. My objective is to prove that isolation severely affects both socialization and aggression to determine how these recluses can impact society.

I'm relieved that the fruit flies are easy to work with. Once I got into the rhythm, handling the flies became much more manageable. I was a little nervous about "flipping" the flies (to move them from one container to another), but now I’m efficient with it. One important takeaway from my TRIP experience is to practice the protocols/processes beforehand. It's helpful if you have some experience with similar protocols, but it's best to have some practice under your belt if you don't. I am making a new protocol for an aggression assay, so I'm glad that I took the time to practice and troubleshoot my protocol before beginning my trials.

I am so glad that I'm getting to participate in TRIP! I didn't know many people outside of my school because I moved during the pandemic, so it's interesting to learn more about the schools around the area. It's been a blast so far, and I can't wait for next week!

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Regular updates from students in TRIP

So far into my TRIP! By Jenan Hazazi

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun! by Keith Thompson

Independent Project Kickoff Day! by Eri Maeda

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