Session 3H: The Effects of Phenol on Locomotor Behavior and Aging on Drosophila melanogaster

In today’s world, there is a constant threat of environmental pollutants which negatively affects the daily lives of humans. One of these known pollutants is phenol, which is found in common consumer products such as mouthwash, lotions, and ointments. It has been found to accelerate senescence(definition) and decrease lifespan when introduced during early development. We utilized Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, as a model organism to assess the effects of 0.1% phenol relative to a control group raised on water. Through assays such as negative geotaxis and longevity, we examined the differences between the instinctual behavior of both groups of fruit flies as they aged. Our results indicated that phenol diminished locomotive ability, which is a possible symptom of premature aging, and also suggested that phenol has a detrimental effect on the lifespan of fruit flies. Considering the extensive similarities between the DNA of fruit flies and humans, such findings imply that phenol might have a parallel effect on humans. Further research will be performed to counteract the aforementioned negative effects through the manipulation of certain genes and introduction of antioxidants or anti-inflammatory substances into the diet of the phenol-exposed flies.