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Regular updates from students in TRIP

The Final TRIP by Amira Phillips

11/29/2019

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Hello again, my name is Amira Phillips. I am a rising junior at Lankenau High School. I am very proud to say that I have completed the 2019 Summer TRIP @ Temple session. Let me just start off by saying that it was so much fun. My first day at TRIP was an interesting one. I met a lot of new people in just a few hours. We also dove right into the workload the first day which was really awesome and thrilling. I was really skeptical about the flies. At first I felt a little bad about using flies as “testers” or as “experimental models.” That did not last for too long because I got really excited about being able to do my own experiments and to learn from the flies. I learned to CO2 flies for sorting, which means that I put them to sleep to separate them in groups of males and females. I also learned how to test female fertility and how to test the activity of flies. I was part of the morning session from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, and it was really amazing to start my day off by learning so much. 
Once it was time to choose our own independent project I was super nervous but really intrigued. I had already had a few things in mind as to what I wanted to test but I had to change direction a few times.
Then It hit me. 
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My project was on “How erectile Dysfunction medication affects female fertility and development”. Crazy right? Yes, I know, but very interesting. I wanted to test something out there and on a subject most people aren’t comfortable with. I also wanted my independent project to be about something that was important. To sum things up, I tested female fertility by using the female fertility assay.  I first administered my drug which was called “Rhino 69” to my flies and then let them feed. I then used grape plates and agar to get my females to lay their eggs. Finally I was able to quantify the number of embryos, hatchlings, and embryos laid per female.
To be completely honest that's not even half of what I learned in the TRIP lab. I learned to be more independent. That's really important. I learned that it's okay to fail but it's NOT okay to quit. There were a few instances in which my patience was tested, such as when my flies woke up from CO2 anesthesia and flew away. More importantly, I learned to keep my head up and keep going, even when it’s hard. I learned to communicate with others better. Most importantly, I was able to narrow down my career path. I had known that I wanted to work in medicine and that I wanted to help people. There are so many ways to do just that. Working in the lab made me realize that I definitely want to be a surgeon or doctor. Although the lab was really fun and I appreciate the valuable experience, I now know I do not want research as my career. 
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Overall I would like to thank Dr. Amanda Purdy for having me participate and for creating a program for high school students that allows them to really learn in a hands-on setting. 
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The End of the Beginning by Jacqueline Munis

11/19/2019

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Hey everyone!
​The past five weeks have gone by so quickly. It’s crazy to think about how much I have learned since the beginning of the summer. For the last few weeks, we have been working on our independent projects. I have been studying the effect of Zantac on the fly nervous system. Zantac is an antacid and antihistamine that is prescribed to over 15 million people in the US alone. However, Zantac blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and is linked to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. I wanted to examine exactly how Zantac affects the nervous system.
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To test the effect of Zantac on the nervous system, I had the choice of going in multiple directions. I had to choose which parts of the nervous system I wanted to test and decide between testing adults and/or larvae. ​
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​I ended up focusing on larvae’s sensory and motor function, but that choice came with many ups and downs. I initially planned on using locomotion assays on both adults and larvae, alongside the proboscis extension assay (PER) assay. When I first attempted the PER assay, all my adults flies ended up dying. I decided that instead, I would test light response in adults. Ultimately, this did not work out. In the end, I tested larval locomotion and olfaction. This process was difficult, but it showed me how challenging, and yet rewarding research is. I am currently analyzing my data, and I am excited to see how Zantac affects fly health. 
Overall, TRIP has been an amazing experience! 
Not only have I learned about research and science, but also about how to problem solve and be an effective communicator.

I am so grateful for this experience and the opportunity to meet and connect with people who share my passion for science. Thanks so much to Dr. Amanda Purdy, Mr. Robert Herbstritt, my labmates, and all the TAs: Surali Panchani, Tyler Yannuzzi, and Leslie Lopez! I cannot imagine a better way I could have spent my summer.
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Bittersweet by Sebelah Sheriff

11/16/2019

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Over the past few weeks at TRIP I spent so much time doing science, math, and homework. Three things I would have never thought I would be doing over the summer two years ago. My experience at TRIP was bittersweet. The sweet side is that I get to do my own project, but the bitter side is that I have to do a lot of homework. The weeks went by pretty fast and it was a good program for me. I didn’t have any major issues, other than project missteps, but it was okay. Even though I spent my summer in a lab, I would never refer to myself as a nerd, because I do other things than just science; though, science and math are both my favorite subjects. I used my passions in TRIP when I was doing my independent project. 
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​My project was testing the effects of pomegranate juice and coffee on fly memory. ​

​I chose this project because I forget things a lot on exams that I actually know, but panic and forget sometimes. I know other people have this problem, so I wanted to see if there is a way to help remember more things. I tested larvae in particular. I used the Larval Memory Assay for my project. To describe this assay in one sentence, the Larval Memory Assay is an assay that tests larvae ability to remember scents with sugar and agar. I did this assay 3 times and got a good amount of data to determine if memory can be enhanced from coffee and pomegranate juice.
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My project was pretty straight forward, but it involved a lot of calculations, especially since I had to make 2 drug stocks for both coffee and pomegranate juice. Also, I had to make 21 total vials, and I had 30 males and 30 females in each vial. Meaning that I had to sort 1260 flies. That is a lot of flies to sort! My project was unique from a lot of other people’s since I tested 3 conditions, rather than 2. I found that coffee and pomegranate juice both improve memory from my data, but I can’t be 100% sure because it was 1 experiment.
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From what I have seen, a lot of my friends have been on vacation all summer. Some do athletic camps and overnight camps, but I did a science internship. What I have learned recently is that I will usually be the odd one in the group and I have learned to deal with that.
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I appreciate all that TRIP has done for me. I developed my research skills in performing independent projects.
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Time Flies by Annabelle Jin

11/9/2019

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​Hi everyone, it’s me again! My time at TRIP has really flown by. It’s incredible how I went from knowing nothing about flies to being able to sort them on ice and expertly transport them from one vial to another. I have gotten the chance to know my lab mates and learn about their own passions for science through their independent projects. I also got to explore my own interests through my independent project, which investigated whether or not female fertility could recover after a period of starvation.
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You might be wondering why this is important, and why I chose this question. The incidents of eating disorders have increased in the past few decades, and it’s no coincidence that usage of social media has increased exponentially since then as well. Social media has become ubiquitous in today’s society, with many people spending hours of their time glued to their phone screens. It has given rise to a very image- and health-focused world, with users being constantly exposed to filtered and often altered pictures that give unrealistic expectations of how someone should look. All of this has been linked to negative body image and disordered eating behavior. In addition, the relationship between recovery from an eating disorder and female fertility needs to be studied because the average onset for anorexia nervosa is 18 years, the average duration is 8 years, and the average age that women in the U.S. have children is 28 years.
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That doesn’t leave a lot of time for recovery.
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So, for my independent project, I starved flies for two days and allowed them to recover for one week. I tested female fertility right before recovery began after starvation, five days after (a medium recovery time), and seven days after (a long recovery time). I did this by counting the number of embryos that were laid by the female flies, and then finding out how viable the embryos were by quantifying the percent of embryos that hatched in two days. From my results, I found that the flies were essentially infertile before they were allowed to recover from starvation. However, female fertility improved when the flies were given enough recovery time. In fact, the fertility rates of the starved flies returned to the rates of the control flies by Day 7. However, the percent hatching data was inconclusive, as my data suggests that starvation may not have as big of an impact on embryo viability as it did on fertility.
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The results of this experiment have real-life implications— survivors of eating disorders still have a chance at having children and a family. That’s what truly really matters in my mind.
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I can’t wait to share my experiment with everyone at the symposium!
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Time Flies When You’re Having Fun! by Georgia Flego

11/4/2019

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I’ve found that I love getting lost in an experiment, appreciating the satisfaction of completing trials that I have conducted, and then being able to compile data into creative forms of media... I have learned that my path may not be linear, but if I am willing to roll with the punches, then a solution is bound to show itself. I have learned that I can thrive independently, and can manage my path to find answers to my own questions."
Hello! I am back to give a final, bittersweet update regarding my independent project as well as my reflections on my time at TRIP. It is amazing how in as little as five weeks, I have acquired more understanding of the techniques and culture of the lab than I ever thought I could obtain before a college experience.
For those who have not been following along, I finally settled on testing how three common herbal supplements-- fenugreek, black cohosh, and folic acid-- affect female fertility when implemented individually and in various combinations. Through my preliminary research, I came across the statistic that around 80% of the world population uses herbal supplements for some part of their primary healthcare; however, not a lot of research has been done on the effects of these supplements, including how they interfere with preexisting conditions, or how they react with other medication. This research would be especially important for those actively trying to become more fertile, as the human anatomy can be extremely delicate, and utilizing supplements without in-depth knowledge as to how they affect a body, let alone a growing organism, can pose significant danger. Therefore, it is an increasingly pressing topic that should be explored, and explored now.
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Picking up from my last post, I had just conducted my first female fertility assay, and was eagerly awaiting the results of the percentage of embryos that had hatched, which would dictate the overall embryo viability of each condition. As of now, I have conducted six female fertility assays total, eight vials per assay, and twice ran two assays consecutively. By now, I could probably do these assays in my sleep! Although there were some hardships-- collecting developmental data on a maximum of 32 vials, sorting on ice as not to affect the fertility of the flies, working against time with the two hour incubation period per trial, experiencing two complete failures with two of my trials-- I was able to gather an immense amount of data, and procure some interesting suggestions. I had hypothesized that the use of individual supplements would increase fertility, while combined supplements would reduce fertility, however, was proved slightly wrong. Separately, fenugreek was able to increase both the number of embryos laid and embryos hatched; black cohosh and folic acid decreased fertility. Even in combinations, fenugreek was not enough to counter the negative effects of the other supplements. These findings then lead to more inquiries such as the effects of different concentration levels, how male fertility is impacted, or how these herbal supplements affect flies over generations. Although suggestions at this point, my data demonstrates that the world population must be extremely cautious when it comes to using herbal supplements, especially in combination, and must keep in mind to consume in moderation.

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I began TRIP with the hope that I would figure out if I would be interested in pursuing the research sciences, and have discovered fascination in both the minutiae and the bigger picture of the career. I’ve found that I love getting lost in an experiment, appreciating the satisfaction of completing trials that I have conducted, and then being able to compile data into creative forms of media. In addition to the affirmation this program has provided, it has also left me with knowledge that I can apply regardless of where my life takes me. I have learned that my path may not be linear, but if I am willing to roll with the punches, then a solution is bound to show itself. I have learned that I can thrive independently, and can manage my path to find answers to my own questions. Above all, I have learned that I have the capacity to pursue my curiosity, and that people encourage it; it is what creates passionate ambition and exciting innovation.

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​I cannot wait to see what the future holds for all of us! This summer has been one amazing trip, and am so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to have a hands-on lab experience, and to have met such intelligent, driven individuals.
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Flies Fly When You’re Having Fun by Olivia Bamford

11/3/2019

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Not only have I learned so much, especially regarding the scientific process as I create my own project, but I’ve also been exposed to information and techniques that I never would have imagined I’d be doing before college... working with living organisms has been completely new to me, but it’s as equally daunting as it is fun."
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Hello again, thanks for coming back to round two!  I have to say that while the last time I wrote a blog I was sure I was winning, this second time around I think the flies have gotten the best of me… for now ;)
BUT before we get into all that, let’s talk about the first few weeks--so far, I’ve absolutely LOVED my experience with TRIP.  Not only have I learned so much, especially regarding the scientific process as I create my own project, but I’ve also been exposed to information and techniques that I never would have imagined I’d be doing before college. I think the most challenging thing I’ve done is making solutions because of all the math; despite there being a formula to plug all your numbers in, it’s pretty hard to put the right numbers in to begin with, so that’s something I’m continuing to work on and slowly but surely getting better at. I also think analyzing developmental data over the past two weeks has been really fascinating.  In general, working with living organisms has been completely new to me, but it’s as equally daunting as it is fun.
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Anyways, time to move on to the really fun stuff--my independent project, which is testing the courtship abilities of male fruit flies under exposure to various drugs.  Now, I will admit that this wasn’t my first idea; however, after realizing that there were many complications with using CBD as a drug (the cost, the law, and all those other inconvenient things), I decided that I wanted to study and learn about something we hadn’t really discussed during the first few weeks: courting.  Male fruit flies have a courtship dance that is identical to every other male’s.  This dance involves moves such as “bumping” the female, “singing” a single-winged song, and physically chasing the female.  The male continues to do this in order to gain a positive response, or, more simply put, until she agrees to copulate with the him, or, even more simply put, until the two flies have sex (cue candles and “Careless Whisper” by George Michael).
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Thus, after completing some preliminary research, I settled on how I would apply courtship into my remaining two weeks at TRIP: fruit fly breeding.  I noticed that between the beginning and [possible] success of a male’s courtship dance, there is an X amount of time. I decided to explore what different drugs affect this amount of time and came up with using caffeine and alcohol, used both separately and together.  If there is a known substance that can essentially decrease the amount of time it takes for a male to receive a positive sexual response from a female, this could possibly be applied to scientists who commonly use fruit flies in their research.  If the time it took to produce fruit flies could be lessened, then the efficiency of fruit fly breeding increases.
I’m mostly still in the planning stages of this project.  There’s going to be a lot of steps for this experiment to be completed right, and I haven’t even begun them! In fact, the other day I sorted my first round of flies into four vials for each condition, but the most challenging thing was actually creating what I’m going to call the “courtship chambers”.  There has to be a fairly small space, since I essentially want to force the male to attempt to court the female.  This means designing my own chambers for my courtship assay, which has been pretty tough.  Turns out cutting glass is harder than it looks, so I’ve decided to try and utilize transparent Legos to build my chambers; however, after a few ideas, I think I’ve figured it out, much to my satisfaction. Below is a video that better explains my various attempts (and, of course, failures!) to create courtship chambers… excuse the poor vlogging skills; my career as a YouTuber has yet to take off, and I’ve been just a bit busy with all these fruit flies.
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​Time really is whizzing by, and I can’t believe we’re already on Week 4. 
Overall, though, I would say that so far the TRIP has been interesting, fun, and just a tad bit frustrating… but that’s science, after all.
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A Fast Five Hours by Rachel McCabe

11/1/2019

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​Hi everyone! At this point; I have finished the first three weeks of TRIP, meaning there are only four sessions left. This is a little terrifying, as there is a lot I still need to get done. This past week, we designed and began working on our Independent Projects. 
I have always thought it was interesting that foods with Omega-3 Fatty Acids are said to help your brain. What I didn’t know is that there are 3 types of Omega-3s. The first two (EPA and DHA) are found in fish, but the other one (ALA) is found in plant-based sources, such as oil. When I found this information, I wanted to know which type was better, so for my project I will be comparing the two sources of Omega-3s, and their effect on cognitive function. I will give some flies fish oil, some canola oil, and others a combination of the two, to determine which is most effective. I also want to test how these diets affect progeny, so I will be testing the cognitive function of the larvae as well. 
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This past Tuesday, I talked to the instructors about my idea, and we made a plan to execute it. Because we do not have much time left, we needed to figure out how to fit everything into five sessions. We met in groups of four students, so I also got to hear the plans that my peers were making. After finalizing my ideas, I made a detailed outline of how I was going to allocate my time. 
On Thursday, I began my project by making stock solution with the different types of oils. This turned out to be rather complicated, as the solutions had to be very diluted to account for the flies’ small sizes. After making the solutions and mixing them with the fly food, I sorted my flies and made agar plates. I plan on using the agar plates on Tuesday when performing the Larval Memory Assay.
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If there is one thing I learned from Thursday, it is how fast time flies when you have a lot to do. I found myself scrambling to finish in time, and had to ask a couple instructors to help (thank you!!). In future sessions, I’m going to try to be faster at the beginning of the session, even if it feels like I have time to spare. Hopefully this way I will be able to complete everything on time.
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