X-Message-Number: 16291
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 17:54:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 39'th update of fly longevity experiments
This is the 39'th update of my fly longevity experiments. In order
to complete these updates on a timely basis, many runs are in progress
simultaneously. For example this run was started two months after Run #36
was initiated. At that time the highest survival was with flies fed
Knudsen black cherry juice, and this stimulated the present investigation
into cherry juices. However one limitation of these experiments is that
the flies used are a random assortment from the same breeding bottle. They
are therefore not all of the same age, and average survival is a rather
chancy affair. By comparison, as long as a few young flies wind up in each
bottle in a run, then maximum lifespan will tend to be roughly the same in
many bottles. It is this later figure that is my primary
interest. Unfortunately maximum lifespan in Run #36 subsequently proved to
be undistinguished for black cherry juice.
The present run further indicates that if anything, cherry juices are
toxic, rather than beneficial. Cherry juices are a source of cyanide,
which may account for these diverse results. The next run will have more
interesting results.
Run #39 Percent Survival on Day
supplement 29 34 40 44 51 56 62 68 74 81 87 93 99
____________________________________________________________________
control 82 73 68 68 68 55 36 36 18 18 9 5 0
BJ black cherry extract 40% 62 62 38 30 8 8 0 - - - - - -
Knudsen black cherry 40% 33 33 29 29 24 14 0 - - - - - -
Knudsen black cherry 79 79 67 67 61 58 42 33 18 9 0 - -
Knudsen black cherry (boiled) 79 75 71 71 58 54 33 25 13 4 0 - -
S+F 10 red cherries/cup 64 64 55 50 41 36 27 23 18 14 14 9 0
S+F red cherry juice 82 73 68 55 41 36 23 18 5 0 - - -
Sundew black cherry 95 84 79 79 53 53 37 5 0 - - - -
In Freezer Runs #11 & #12, I used some thicker plastic bags to store
the flies for 4 days. Apparently the lack of air permeating this plastic
proved to be lethal, with 100% mortality in some cases. No supplement
offered significant protection against freezing damage.
Since no supplement yet tested has been consistently successful in
reducing freezing induced mortality, I have decided to discontinue this
line of inquiry. Instead an alternative additional type of experiment will
be reported on in my next fly longevity update. This will be a personal
investigation of a food satiety index.
Freezer Run #11 Percent Survival After
supplement/20 gm food 0 35 minutes
______________________________________________
control 1 0 -
control 2 0 -
whey 2 tsp 0 -
whey 4 tsp 100 0
+ green tea polys 300 mg 18 0
whey 8 tsp 100 0
Freezer Run #12 Percent Survival After
supplement/20 gm food 0 35 minutes
_________________________________________
control 0 -
ginkgo biloba 800 mg 0 -
glutathione 1600 mg 100 7
inositol 4 tsp 38 0
propolis 800 mg 0 -
sucrose 4 tsp 100 0
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