The End of the Beginning by Jacqueline Munis

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.

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. ​

​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.