fairfolio
Saved Projects

The Effects of UV Radiation on C. elegans Growth Rate as a Model for the Impacts of Interstellar Travel

CSEF · 2019 Toxicology

Li F. Meinhold · Dos Pueblos Senior High School, Goleta, Santa Barbara County

Overview

Objectives My goal was to determine the impacts of UV radiation on C elegans growth rate, as a model for its impacts on C elegans overall genetic health. Methods I used C elegans on E coli and agar plates that were exposed to radiation provided by a lamp designed for reptiles. I then time synchronized the worms, and imaged them using a microscope. Results The lengths of the worms showed a statistically significant change when comparing the UV exposed populations and the control populations. Conclusions This shows that more study is needing into the suitability of C elegans as an interstellar passenger, as well as the effects that such travel could have on these organisms.

Summary statement

I found that as the radiation dose increased there was a statistically significant impact on the growth rate of C elegans nematodes.

Help received

I received safety training and information on common laboratory procedures from Dr, Pradeep Joshi in the Neuroscience Research Rnstitute of University of California Santa Barbara. I was also allowed access into Rothman Labs, also at UCSB.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2019 Toxicology · Entry S2109

Resources

Related projects

Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.

Browse more like this

Source: California Science & Engineering Fair public projects

Save projects to your library

Sign in with Google to keep track of projects you find interesting, organized into folders. An account also raises your daily allowance for “Has this been done?”, and lets you create a key for the MCP server with a much higher limit than anonymous use. Browsing stays public.

Continue with Google