Longevity and Diet: Studying the Relationship between Caloric Intake, Dietary Manipulation, and Life Span in Drosophila

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of my project was to observe the quantitative effects that caloric restriction, rapamycin and resveratrol supplementation, and intermittent starvation had on lifespan in Drosophila Melanogaster. Methods/Materials 1 Live Drosophila Melanogaster Culture 18 Drosophila Culture Vials w/foam stoppers for each 18 Plastic Vial Nettings 1 Liter Drosophila Media 1 Liter Distilled Water 100% Purified Trans-Resveratrol 100% Purified Rapamycin 1 Dissection Scope 1 100mL Vial Fly-Nap# Solution 5 Anesthetic Wands Results The flies that were given 75% of recommended calories lived approximately 12.5% longer than the flies fed the control diet. The flies supplemented with resveratrol lived approximately 15% longer than flies fed the control diet. Flies that were given 75% of recommended calories AND supplemented with resveratrol live approximately 20% longer than flies fed the control diet. Intermittent starvation was found to have an effect very similar to a 75%-calorie diet. Resveratrol supplementation was also found to have a greater effect in the last 5 days of life rather than the first 5 days. Each of the aforementioned findings were found to be statistically significant using a one-tailed student's t-test. Conclusions/Discussion Diets that contain lower amounts of calories may have positive effects on lifespan in organism. Resveratrol, found in the skin of grapes, may also have a significant effect in lengthening the lifespan of organisms. Since these two methods seem to have an additive effect, it seems to suggest that they elongate lifespan through seperate mechanisms. Since the resveratrol supplementation was more effective later in life than earlier, resveratrol seems to prevent natural breakdown of the body rather than provide a strengthening effect.

Awards (1)

• Fourth Place

Competition history

• CSEF 2011 Pharmacology/ Toxicology · Entry S1719

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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