Marianna Trillos Sosa
The Effects and Epigenetics of Social Stress in Vinegar Flies
London Central Secondary School
Vinegar flies, also known as Drosophila melanogaster, are really important for biological research. They are ideal models because of their short life cycle, high reproductive rate, ethics, and ease of care (Tolwinski, 2017). What makes flies particularly interesting is that they share around 70% of genes with humans, and have many homologous traits (How Close Are You to a Fruit Fly?, 2015). My project uses vinegar flies to study how social stress affects these flies and whether those effects pass to their offspring. Specifically, I measured longevity (lifespan), social space (”personal bubble”), and weight. This connects to epigenetics, which is how experiences and the environment can change the way genes are turned on and off. Applying my findings to humans could help theorize how overpopulation might impact human health, social behaviour, and lifespan, not just because of poverty or lack of healthcare, but due to biological changes caused by stress.
Bronze Medal
Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship $3000
University of Ottawa – $1000 Entrance Scholarship
Western University – $1000 Entrance Scholarship