The Effect of Gravity on Metabolic Processes

Presenter

Deaux-Deaux Thibodeaux

Campus

Berkshire Community College

Sponsor

Dylan J. Carman, Department of Biology, Berkshire Community College

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A79, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

The experiment's purpose is to explore the impact of gravity on cellular metabolic processes by subjecting batch cultures of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to Earth gravity and microgravity settings. Both batch cultures will be liquid and given glucose broth. The glucose levels of both batch cultures will be tested via Benedict's Test. The levels of glucose will be used to gauge whether the batch cultures were able to carry out glucose fermentation, particularly the efficiency of their metabolic processes. The control group will be tested in Earth's gravity on Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s campus; as part of the Student Spaceflight Experimentation Program (SSEP) the experimental group will be sent into microgravity aboard the ISS inside a sealed Type 3 FME Mini-Lab. While the experimental group has not yet been sent to the ISS, evidence from other ongoing research studies suggests that gravity is vital for metabolic processes, as both astronauts and animal test subjects have returned from microgravity with widespread systemic cellular dysfunction, many of which can be connected to metabolic breakdown. I theorize that I will likely find impaired metabolic processes in the experimental group. This experiment is still in its infancy and will be underway for the next 2-3 years; I intend to return to USCs in the following years to share updated findings.

Keywords

Gravity, Microgravity, Metabolic process, Student Experiment Spaceflight Program (SSEP), Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Research Area

Medical Sciences

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