The Effects of Circadian Disruption on Behavior, Lifespan, and Fecundity in Drosophila Melanogaster
Location
SU-003
Department
Biology
Abstract
Circadian disruptions can have adverse behavioral and/or physiological effects on organisms, impacting their overall health and reproductive fitness. We disrupted the circadian biology of Drosophila melanogaster through exposure to excessive nighttime light. We used locomotor, lifespan, and fecundity/fertility assays to quantify negative effects in Ore-R and W1118 wildtype flies. Control flies were kept in a 12:12 hr. light-dark cycle (LD) while the experimental flies were kept in a 12:12 hr. light-low-light cycle (LLC) of 4 lux to mimic exposure to artificial-light-at-night (ALAN), a form of photopollution. Our data showed significant behavioral differences in the active-rest phases of wildtype flies, with the LLC group having a longer duration of midday inactivity and reduced lifespan compared to controls. In addition, there were significant sex differences in both locomotion and lifespan as well as preliminary data indicating that LLC conditions affect fecundity. To date, our research confirms that ALAN can have a significant impact on the behavioral patterns and lifespans of D. melanogaster, establishing a more convenient model to explore future questions related to circadian disruption.
Faculty Sponsor
Aaron Schirmer, Northeastern Illinois University
Faculty Sponsor
Elyse Bolterstein, Northeastern Illinois University
The Effects of Circadian Disruption on Behavior, Lifespan, and Fecundity in Drosophila Melanogaster
SU-003
Circadian disruptions can have adverse behavioral and/or physiological effects on organisms, impacting their overall health and reproductive fitness. We disrupted the circadian biology of Drosophila melanogaster through exposure to excessive nighttime light. We used locomotor, lifespan, and fecundity/fertility assays to quantify negative effects in Ore-R and W1118 wildtype flies. Control flies were kept in a 12:12 hr. light-dark cycle (LD) while the experimental flies were kept in a 12:12 hr. light-low-light cycle (LLC) of 4 lux to mimic exposure to artificial-light-at-night (ALAN), a form of photopollution. Our data showed significant behavioral differences in the active-rest phases of wildtype flies, with the LLC group having a longer duration of midday inactivity and reduced lifespan compared to controls. In addition, there were significant sex differences in both locomotion and lifespan as well as preliminary data indicating that LLC conditions affect fecundity. To date, our research confirms that ALAN can have a significant impact on the behavioral patterns and lifespans of D. melanogaster, establishing a more convenient model to explore future questions related to circadian disruption.