Nature vs Nurture Examining the Impact of a

Nature vs. Nurture: Examining the Impact of a Manipulated Environment Allison N. Frando*, Dr. Fidelma O’Leary, St. Edward’s University

Purpose • Personal Interest • Behavioral Neuroscience • NPY-1 – Neuropeptide Y Receptor – Controls behavioral processes • Inability to test human subjects

What are C. elegans? • • Microscopic nematodes 1 mm in length Short lifespan Hermaphroditic • NPR-1 – Neuropeptide Receptor 1 – Involved in aggregation and social behaviors – Analogous to NPY-1 in humans

Research Question Can Environment Override Genetic Coding in C. elegans?

Strains • Transgenic strains: – N 2 Wildtype – AX 301 Solitary • High npr-1 activity – SD 1891 Social • Low npr-1 activity • Feeding behaviors

Methods: Treatments Preferred Social Manipulated x 8 Preferred x 8 Solitary Manipulated

Lifespan Assay • Age Synchronization 4 HOURS • FLDR Plates (8 Worms) • Monitor Survival

Lifespan Data: Social Strain Preferred 9 8 Number of C. elegans 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Number of Days 10 11 12 13 14 15

Lifespan Data: Solitary Strain Preferred 9 Number of C. elegans 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Number of Days 10 11 12 13 14 15

Fertility Assay • Age synchronized • Day Five 4 HOURS • Count Eggs Laid • Recounted larvae next day

Fertility Assay Data 12 Number of Eggs Laid 10 8 6 4 2 0 Social Preferred n=6 Social Manipulated n=3 Strains N 2 Control n=6

Anecdotal Data Social in preferred environment Social in manipulated environment

Conclusions • Environment seems to override genetics – Shorter Lifespan – Decreased Fertility • Future Research – GFP – Quantification of Consumption – Additional anecdotal data

Works Cited http: //www. nature. com/nature/journal/v 458/n 7242/full/nature 07886. html http: //www. sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S 0092867400816098 http: //www. plosbiology. org/article/info%3 Adoi%2 F 10. 1371%2 Fjournal. pbio. 10012 37 http: //www. jove. com/video/3362/visualization-caenorhabditis-elegans-cuticularstructures-using http: //www. plosgenetics. org/article/info%3 Adoi%2 F 10. 1371%2 Fjournal. pgen. 1004 156 http: //www. ncrna. org/glocal/cgibin/hg. Gene? org=C. +elegans&hgg_gene=C 39 E 6. 6&hgg_chrom=none&db=ce 2

Acknowledgements • • • Dr. Richard Kopec NSF STEP Grant #0969153 Dr. Fidelma O’Leary Olivia O’Keefe Cassandra Boduch Gilbert Rivera

Thank you St. Edward’s University