X-Message-Number: 19756
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 22:42:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 63'rd update on fly longevity experiments
This is the 63'rd update of my fly longevity experiments. Average
temperature was 21.5 C during this run. Back in run #55 (25.5 C), both
tansy, and tarragon doubled maximum lifespan from 1 month to a more normal
2 months. I beleive the breeding bottle used then probably held diseased
flies, and tansy and tarragon were acting as antiviral agents. In this run
I check to see what benefit these supplements provide at a lower
temperature. In addition both honey and glucose can help reduce spoilage
of food, so the effect of these food preservatives, both by themselves,
and in conjunction with other supplements with (supposed) antiviral
activity were also tested.
Perhaps due to bad luck 1 tsp honey failed by itself to offer any
benefit, although glucose did well. Using glucose as a positive control,
it does appear that tansy, tarragon, and paprika offer a further benefit.
Increasing the dosage of honey to 2 tsp also further increased survival.
It is quite possible that none of these supplements would have any effect,
if I was running my experiments under clean room conditions, and with the
fly food being changed every day. However this would be so time consuming
as well as expensive, that I doubt I would undertake any experiments in
the first place.
The present experiment produced one centenarian fly. I ascribe this to
the lower temperature this experiment was conducted at.
Run #63 Percent Survival on Day
supplement 17 22 27 32 42 48 53 61 68 74 83 95 105 114
_________________________________________________________________
control 69 69 65 62 50 12 8 4 0 - - - - -
glucose 1 tsp 88 88 81 81 69 44 31 31 19 6 0 - - -
honey 1 tsp 73 53 47 47 33 20 20 13 7 0 - - - -
+ paprika 1/4 tsp 82 71 71 71 65 59 59 53 47 41 29 12 0 -
+ rice protein 1 tsp 80 75 65 50 35 30 25 10 5 5 0 - - -
+ soy protein 1 tsp 76 72 68 64 44 36 28 12 4 0 - - - -
+ tansy 1/4 tsp 67 67 67 62 62 52 52 33 24 14 0 - - -
+ tarragon 1/4 tsp 55 65 60 60 60 50 45 40 25 25 10 5 0 -
honey 2 tsp 86 77 77 64 55 50 36 36 32 27 9 5 5 0
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