The effect of Livatrex, Ganoderma lucidum, theanine, and vitamin E in combination with ethyl alcohol on the response to thermotaxis in Caenorhabditis elegans

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

10th Grade

Presentation Topic

Physiology and Health

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

1st Place

Written Paper Award

3rd Place

Abstract

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a disorder that is resulted from the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women. Substances like Livatrex, theanine, vitamin E, and reishi mushroom may help prevent the onset of symptoms including, poor intrauterine growth and delayed developmental milestones. C. elegans is an excellent model for FAS as there are many stimuli that can be tested to show changes in neurological capability. The purpose of this experiment was to test the efficiency of treatments against FAS modeled by C. elegans. It was hypothesized that theanine would allow for the highest percentage of C. elegans in the coldest section of the thermotaxis gradient. For experimentation, 6 square petri dishes, divided into 4 sections, were seeded with C. elegans. During this time, 30 microliters of ethanol and each treatment was added. The petri dishes were then placed on a thermotaxis gradient, with temperature increasing from one side to the other, and the number of C. elegans in each section was recorded after 72 hours. However, percentages were used as results because there were a different number of C. elegans that matured in each petri dish. A percentage would yield a quantification that would fit all petri dishes. A two-way ANOVA was conducted at ɑ=0.10. The p-value for the percentage and treatment showed statistically insignificant results with p=0.9998. The p-value for the percentage and section number showed statistically significant results for that with it being 0.0933. Regardless, Livatrex appeared to be the most effective treatment.

Location

Neville 121

Start Date

4-14-2018 2:30 PM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

COinS
 
Apr 14th, 2:30 PM

The effect of Livatrex, Ganoderma lucidum, theanine, and vitamin E in combination with ethyl alcohol on the response to thermotaxis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Neville 121

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a disorder that is resulted from the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women. Substances like Livatrex, theanine, vitamin E, and reishi mushroom may help prevent the onset of symptoms including, poor intrauterine growth and delayed developmental milestones. C. elegans is an excellent model for FAS as there are many stimuli that can be tested to show changes in neurological capability. The purpose of this experiment was to test the efficiency of treatments against FAS modeled by C. elegans. It was hypothesized that theanine would allow for the highest percentage of C. elegans in the coldest section of the thermotaxis gradient. For experimentation, 6 square petri dishes, divided into 4 sections, were seeded with C. elegans. During this time, 30 microliters of ethanol and each treatment was added. The petri dishes were then placed on a thermotaxis gradient, with temperature increasing from one side to the other, and the number of C. elegans in each section was recorded after 72 hours. However, percentages were used as results because there were a different number of C. elegans that matured in each petri dish. A percentage would yield a quantification that would fit all petri dishes. A two-way ANOVA was conducted at ɑ=0.10. The p-value for the percentage and treatment showed statistically insignificant results with p=0.9998. The p-value for the percentage and section number showed statistically significant results for that with it being 0.0933. Regardless, Livatrex appeared to be the most effective treatment.