The Effect of the Overconsumption of Sugar on the Reproduction of Drosophila Melanogaster
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Zoology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
5th Place
Abstract
The quality of diet plays a major role in lifestyle choices and can potentially impact reproduction. Many individuals in today’s society consume high amounts of sugar on a daily basis (Tasevska et al., 2012). Sugar can cause hormone imbalances; this can affect the levels of the estrogen and testosterone found in the body. The purpose of this study was to help determine the possible risks in reproduction from over consuming sugar. It was hypothesized that if the Drosophila melanogaster were given high amounts of sugar to consume, then the Drosophila given no sugar would have higher reproduction rates. To begin experimentation, the P1 generation of flies were used to reproduce an F1 generation of flies. There were two experimental groups: sixty flies were given 2.5 grams of sugar and another sixty were given 5 grams. These sugar-fed flies were used to see how they would reproduce and were compared to the reproduction of flies on a normal diet. A one-way ANOVA [F(2,27)=26.699, p<0.05], followed by a post-hoc Tukey test, was conducted to see if a significant statistical difference existed between the different groups of offspring produced. The hypothesis was supported; there was a statistically significant difference between the control group and each experimental group, with the sugar-fed flies reproducing significantly less flies than those not given any sugar. Based off of the descriptive and inferential statistics, it can be concluded that a high amount of sugar consumed may lower reproduction in fruit flies.
Recommended Citation
Avula, Siri, "The Effect of the Overconsumption of Sugar on the Reproduction of Drosophila Melanogaster" (2019). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 243.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2019/all/243
Location
Founders Hall 210 A
Start Date
3-30-2019 9:30 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of the Overconsumption of Sugar on the Reproduction of Drosophila Melanogaster
Founders Hall 210 A
The quality of diet plays a major role in lifestyle choices and can potentially impact reproduction. Many individuals in today’s society consume high amounts of sugar on a daily basis (Tasevska et al., 2012). Sugar can cause hormone imbalances; this can affect the levels of the estrogen and testosterone found in the body. The purpose of this study was to help determine the possible risks in reproduction from over consuming sugar. It was hypothesized that if the Drosophila melanogaster were given high amounts of sugar to consume, then the Drosophila given no sugar would have higher reproduction rates. To begin experimentation, the P1 generation of flies were used to reproduce an F1 generation of flies. There were two experimental groups: sixty flies were given 2.5 grams of sugar and another sixty were given 5 grams. These sugar-fed flies were used to see how they would reproduce and were compared to the reproduction of flies on a normal diet. A one-way ANOVA [F(2,27)=26.699, p<0.05], followed by a post-hoc Tukey test, was conducted to see if a significant statistical difference existed between the different groups of offspring produced. The hypothesis was supported; there was a statistically significant difference between the control group and each experimental group, with the sugar-fed flies reproducing significantly less flies than those not given any sugar. Based off of the descriptive and inferential statistics, it can be concluded that a high amount of sugar consumed may lower reproduction in fruit flies.
