Time Flies by Saanvi Gupta

Hello, again!! Last time you met me, I had just started the TRIP journey, and now, I am already (sadly) halfway through. Over the past few weeks, I had been working on my initial project in which I studied how fenugreek and a high sugar diet impact female fertility. I conducted the female fertility assay, which allows a researcher to quantify the number of embryos laid by the female flies in a specific time period (I used a 2 hour incubation period). I absolutely enjoyed looking at the embryos under the microscope and using the data I collected to analyze and draw conclusions. My findings contradicted what I initially hypothesized; I thought that because a high sugar diet is directly correlated to lower fertility levels in women, it had to lead to lower fertility levels in the flies as well. However, to my surprise, I was wrong! The high sugar diet improved fertility rates in the flies. After further research and talking with Dr. Purdy and Dr. Leystra, I realized that sugar provides more calories to the female flies, improving fertility. This discovery challenged me to change my perspective and start looking at science from different perspectives. In other words, the answer is never straightforward - there are many factors and variables that a researcher needs to account for.

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On to the most exciting part: my independent project! While brainstorming possible project ideas, I knew that I wanted mine to focus on female fertility due to my interest in women’s health. Infertility is a widespread concern in women worldwide; in the United States, about 1 in 10 women face fertility problems. For my independent research project, I am studying the impact of three infertility medications and seeing which, either alone or in combination with each other, has the most beneficial results in regards to female fertility. My first drug is Metformin; although generally prescribed to diabetic patients, Metformin is also used to treat infertility in PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) patients. The next two are over-the-counter medications used to boost female fertility - Maca and Vitex. After much discussion with my TRIP peers, TA’s, and, of course, Dr. Purdy and Dr. Leystra, I was able to make a plan for the next few weeks that will help my experiment come to life. 

I am truly eager to come each Saturday morning and work on my experiment. This lab experience has taught me so much, and I can already see the improvement. On the first-day sorting flies, I accidentally opened a vial and released 60 flies into the lab room (oops!). Just yesterday, however, I was able to sort 480 flies in about 2 hours without losing a single one. Not only am I excited to see the results of my experiment, but I am also looking forward to seeing the progress of my talented peers that makes TRIP even more inspiring. Until next time!