Effects of per on longevity and
fecundity in Drosophila
James Lester
Dr. Jadwiga Giebultowicz
Dr. Giebultowicz’s research
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Circadian Rhythms
Clock Genes
Tim
Per
Effects of expression
Increased longevity
Survival Curves
100
Female Survival (percent)
90
80
wild-type
70
per01
60
per04
50
perR
40
UAS Gal4
30
UAS per
20
Gal4 x UAS per
10
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
Days
60
70
80
90
100
Increased fecundity
Genotype
#5 #34
8x
#4 #34
5x
#5 #33
8x
#3
3
x
Cs
#4
5
pe
rR
#4
5
#3
3
40,000.0
35,000.0
30,000.0
25,000.0
20,000.0
15,000.0
10,000.0
5,000.0
0.0
pe
r0
1
pe
r0
4
#5
8
#3
4
Eggs Laid (Thousands)
Average Life Progeny
Copulating Drosophila
My research
Survival Curves
100
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Female Survival (percent)
90
80
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70
60
50
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40
30
Cross-breeding
Verify UAS Gal4 x UAS
per results
Eliminate cross breeding
as variable
Determine how per
increases longevity and
fecundity
–UAS
Gal4 x UAS per
(over expressed) wild-type
per01
–UAS
per x Whiteper04
perR
–UAS
Tim: Gal4
Gal4 x White
UAS per
–White
20
10
x White
–Wper01
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
Days
60
Gal4 x UAS per
x Wper01 (no
70 expression)
80
90
100
Possible Longevity Factors
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Diet:
How much food is eaten?
How much is stored?
Ovaries: Do the ovaries develop at different
rates?
Stress resistance:
-Heat
-Oxidative stress
-Metabolic stress
Preliminary Metabolic Stress
Results
Percentage of Drosophila alive after starvation
120
Percentage alive
100
80
CS 1
CS 2
60
Per01 1
Per01 2
40
20
0
8
20
32
44
56
68
80
Hours starv ing
92
100 110
Results
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Aging of cross-bred and over expressed is
ongoing…
Metabolic and oxidative tests are about to
occur…
Aging of virgins
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The fun has just begun!!!
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