Neurotoxicological Investigation of Arsenic’s Effects on the Developing Nervous System in Fruit Fly Model Organism
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Department
Biological Sciences
Abstract
Meaningful data have been gathered that indicates long term exposure to arsenic levels in drinking water supplies in Maine lowers IQ scores in children. Maine, along with many other states, has heavy arsenic deposits due to geological rock formations. This project intends on gathering information as to how this exposure affects the developing nervous system in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. In vivo research has and will allow for a sensitive investigation of how arsenic affects individual neuron development, morphology, connectivity, and complexity. This sensitive analysis uses UV microscopy, high resolution imaging, and immunohistochemistry making use of genetically modified fluorescent fruit fly proteins to illuminate these individual neurons.
Neurotoxicological Investigation of Arsenic’s Effects on the Developing Nervous System in Fruit Fly Model Organism
Meaningful data have been gathered that indicates long term exposure to arsenic levels in drinking water supplies in Maine lowers IQ scores in children. Maine, along with many other states, has heavy arsenic deposits due to geological rock formations. This project intends on gathering information as to how this exposure affects the developing nervous system in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. In vivo research has and will allow for a sensitive investigation of how arsenic affects individual neuron development, morphology, connectivity, and complexity. This sensitive analysis uses UV microscopy, high resolution imaging, and immunohistochemistry making use of genetically modified fluorescent fruit fly proteins to illuminate these individual neurons.
