 Hi again! I’m so happy you’ve joined me for my third and final blog post. These past 11 weeks have flown by quicker than I ever could have imagined. This experience has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. From micro pipetting to learning to sort flies on ice (even if I lost quite a few flies in the process).  My independent project, where I tested the effects of NSAIDs on general health has concluded. I was initially interested in this topic due to the widespread use and level of accessibility of NSAIDs. On top of some dangerous and unexpected side effects, some previous research showed that NSAIDs had led to possible disruption of female ovulation. In a way, I found this ironic as a lot of women take NSAIDs to help with the pain that comes with a menstrual cycle. I used the ibuprofen as my form of NSAID. To quantify ibuprofen’s effect on health, I set up four vials. The only thing that varied from vial to vial was the liquid solution used to hydrate the dry fly food mix. My control was hydrated with just water and my second vial was (taking into account the weight difference between a fruit fly and a human, the number of flies in the vial, and the weeks the flies had to stay in the vial) hydrated with a solution equivalent to 200mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours, my second vial with a solution equivalent to 400mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours, and my fourth vial was hydrated with a solution equivalent to 2000mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours. I looked at three main aspects of health; developmental health, female fertility, and pain sensitivity.  I quantified developmental health by looking at the number of total pupae and the percent of the pupal cases that eclosed in a 21 day period. In observing this, I would be able to see the level of success the flies had transitioning from larvae to pupae to adults. I quantified female fertility by looking at the average number of embryos laid per female in each vial over a 2-hour incubation period. Finally, I observed pain sensitivity by looking at the flies' reaction to extreme heat. Throughout 5 trials, it has become clear that as ibuprofen doses increase, female fertility decreases. Luckily, I concluded that ibuprofen doesn’t harm developmental health nor does it hinder the ability to sense pain. In the future, I would like to work with higher doses of NSAIDs or look at other stages of development. Although I’ve learned a lot from the lab, I’ve also learned so much from the bonds I’ve made. I’ve had some of the funniest and most interesting conversations with my fellow TRIP-mates, instructors, and TAs. I realize now that I’ve taken those Saturday morning conversations (or as my session called it, “yap-fests”) for granted, and although it sounds sappy, I’ll genuinely miss them these coming Saturdays. I’d like to specifically thank my instructors, Dr. Leystra and Mr. Cozzone, for putting my experiment into action, Dr. Valdes for her constant warmth and support, Dr. Purdy for improving my final symposium presentation exponentially, my TAs for always listening to what I have to say, Fox Chase Cancer Center for providing me with this opportunity, William Tennent High School for providing a place to carry out these experiments, and last but certainly not least, my fellow TRIP mates for always keeping my spirits high in the lab! I’ve been SO fortunate to be in the presence of these talented and intelligent people, and I can’t wait to see where the future takes all of us!  And of course, thank YOU for reading about my “TRIP” through these blogs. Although this one is my last, rest assured that my “TRIP” in exploring the world of science will continue for much longer!
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I focused my independent project on the impact caffeine consumption has on anxiety. To test this, I set up four vials, which consisted of a control and three different concentrations of caffeine. After letting the flies live in these vials for a week, I conducted the open field test to measure anxiety in the flies. I did 4 repetitions of this and averaged the data. From that, I was able to conclude that caffeine does cause an increase in anxiety. In addition to discovering the impact caffeine has on anxiety, I also collected developmental data and found that caffeine consumption reduces health and has a negative impact on development. With this being said, I also had many setbacks while running my experiments. I found myself unable to collect all of my desired data some days because of external factors and accidentally poisoned a vial of flies with caffeine (oops). It was due to the supportive TRIP environment built by the instructors, TAs, and my labmates that encouraged me to persist even when I faced challenges.
I am incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learned from TRIP and can’t wait to see how this experience will lead me in the future! Well, that was the TRIP of a lifetime. These last 3 months have been so eventful and it has been so exciting to watch myself and my fellow lab mates grow in the realm of research. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the entire research process and seeing the results of my hard work. My independent project was focused on looking at the effects of diet on overall health of the flies, specifically fertility and development.  To do so, I first used a gut microbiome assay, which, in my opinion, is one the most fun assays to perform. In this assay, I crushed up flies and examined their microbiome by incubating this crushed fly mixture on an agar plate. The results were so cool and I could clearly see how my two conditions, probiotic and potato chip, differed greatly. The next assay I used was a female fertility assay, through which I counted embryos and analyzed the data accordingly. Even though these assays might seem simple and straightforward I learned that everything doesn’t end the way I plan for it to. I encountered many challenges during my time at TRIP, but I also learned how to navigate these challenges in order to obtain results. I learned that practice makes perfect, as the more I performed my assay, the better I got at it and the easier it became for me. Presenting my data and conclusions at the final symposium was the best reward for all of my hard work as I was able to communicate the implications of my research and present it to family, friends, peers, and mentors. TRIP truly allowed me to learn more about myself as a researcher and make lasting friendships. Thank you so much to Dr. Purdy for this opportunity, Dr. Leystra for being a patient and supportive instructor, Mr. Cozzone for always making me laugh, and our TAs Niki and Anoosha for your enthusiasm; I could not have had such an enjoyable learning experience. I am ever so grateful for this amazing opportunity, and I am so excited for what this opportunity will bring me for my future! Signing off- Shloka
Since the last time I wrote, I tweaked my independent project! Originally, I wanted to look at the effects of epinephrine on female fertility, but I decided to add its impact on motility and activity to get a greater idea of the drug’s impact on the overall health of the fly. I did this by incorporating the negative geotaxis assay on the F1 offspring in each of the conditions. These offspring have lived their entire lives with the increased levels of epinephrine, so it would convey the impacts of long-term exposure.  Week by week, I set up and tested 4 vials: a control, a 0.1x dose of Epi-Pen, a 1x dose of Epi-Pen, and a 10x dose of Epi-Pen. Throughout the six weeks, I was able to rack up 20 vials of flies! Using the female fertility assay, I measured the number of progeny produced per female, but I was unable to see a distinct pattern. Luckily, over the course of 3 replications, my negative geotaxis assay saw a distinct downward trend in activity as more epinephrine was added. I also took developmental data, and especially looked at the percent eclosion for each of my experimental conditions. I was surprised to see that there was also a direct correlation between the amount of epinephrine and their ability to eclose! Long term exposure to epinephrine did not just negatively impact their activity, but their overall health and developmental cycle. This data shows that exposure to epinephrine, thus stress, can negatively impact many biological processes of fruit flies and humans alike. During the entire process, I had to learn how to adapt and become more efficient with my time and materials. In the beginning, it took me almost an hour to prepare the fly vials, but by the end it took less than half! This experience was easily the highlight of my junior year in high school, and I will remember it for the rest of my life. I just wish it was longer! Thank you to the TAs Niki and Anoosha for teaching me assays and always brightening the mood. I especially want to thank Dr. Leystra, Dr. Purdy, and Dr. Valdés for walking me through the entire program and teaching me how to think like a scientist. This really was a TRIP I will not forget about!
It’s hard to believe that my TRIP journey has come to an end. After presenting my research at the symposium and saying goodbye to my labmates, I'm excited to share my research on my final blog.
For my independent project I choose to look at the effects of the anti-stress drug, Ashwagandha, on fruit fly stresses. Ashwagandha is a plant-based supplement found in parts of Africa, India and the Middle East, and has anti-stress properties. As a three season athlete I often struggle to get a goodnight’s sleep. For my project I decided to stress my flies by sleep depriving them. I wanted to test the effects of sleep deprivation on both short and long term stresses so I chose to investigate the effects on both anxiety and depression.  Although 12 weeks ago I dreaded having to wake up early to conduct my assays, I will miss the morning conversations with my lab mates. The opportunities and doors that have opened through this program are incredible. Not only have I gained hands-on lab experience, but I am also a more confident scientist. I’d like to thank Dr. Leystra, Dr. Valdes and Mr. Cozzone for helping me conduct my assays, conduct calculations, and understand my data. I’d also like to thank my TA’s Anoosha and Niki as well as my labmates for making the experience so much fun. Thank you!
As I write this blog, I am already feeling the nostalgia of sorting flies while chatting on a Saturday morning. Often, we would forget the number we were on while counting, so we would have to redo it again. When I joined TRIP, I did not realize how much joy this program would bring me. I truly cherish the times I got to share my ideas and thoughts with my TRIP-mates. It is officially over, but I would love to come back to help out in the future.   Not only did I build new friendships, but I also learned many aspects of science along the way. Prior to this program, I had not been in a lab before, so I was very curious about the basics of using lab equipment. Although I had difficulty getting used to new concepts in the beginning, I appreciate the outcome that it brought me. By the end of my experiment, I was an expert in my topic and I was excited to share my research with others. I remember when I applied to this program, I had emphasized the importance of scientists sharing their knowledge. TRIP provided me with that exact opportunity and I’m proud to say I have reached that goal. For my independent project, I studied the effects of ginger on cognitive function, specifically our ability to think and retain information
Then, they will be put into a testing plate and timed for a minimum of 5 minutes. However, this time may not be enough for them to fully recognize the scents, so you would have to analyze their movements on a time lapse before making a solid conclusion. At the end, I saw distinct differences between the ginger and the stressor (benadryl) in the associative learning of flies. The end of TRIP was memorable and I have learned life and lab skills. My appreciation goes towards my wonderful instructors and teachers; Dr. Leystra Dr. Purdy, Dr. Valdes, and Mr. Cozzone who all helped me figure out my path and guided me through the process. With the knowledge that I obtained in this program, I hope to use it for future studies and research opportunities. I’m already thinking of new ideas to experiment with. This time, I’ve got a better sense of how to conduct it.
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