Time Flies Like an Arrow; Fruit Flies Like a Banana by Emily Miller

Hello again! TRIP, unfortunately, is coming to an end after this weekend when we give our presentations.  I’m glad to have had the opportunity to learn so much about science and work with such talented people.
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When I first started TRIP, I was nervous that I wouldn’t succeed as well as the other students because I had difficulty with a math-related packet we were assigned.  Luckily, once we moved on to the experimentation part of the class I felt a lot steadier. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to research initially, but talking to the other students helped me out a lot.  Everyone in the morning session was super sweet and energetic even though it was early in the morning. My favorite part in the mornings was when someone brought in donuts or cookies to snack on. There’s nothing like a chocolate donut while you’re cutting off fly heads, right?

When I was choosing my independent project, I was learning about the rise of antibiotic use in America in AP Biology.  At the same time, I read an article about how healthy food without added sugar has become more expensive compared to junk food over the years.  I wanted to experiment to see if there was any effect that the simultaneous change in diet would have on fruit flies and therefore possibly humans.

​The in-lab portion of TRIP was my favorite because I learned how to complete different types of fly tests and analyze the resulting data.  The glucose assay took most of the class time, but it was still fun to complete. Unfortunately, I wish there had been a bit more coordination between the program and the school faculty because I spent most of the time overwhelmed with the amount of work demanded from both TRIP and my other classes.  Overall, this program was definitely the highlight of my junior year. I’m so excited to share my research with others at the symposium this Saturday!

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