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Simon Kashchock - Marenda was in the sixth grade when he adjudicate to study the effects of various sweeteners on the wellness of fruit flies ( Drosophila melanogaster ) for a science just labor . With help and supplies from his beginner , Daniel Marenda , an assistant professor of biological science at Drexel University in Philadelphia , Penn . , Simon begin raising groups of flies — feed each group a different memory board - bought sweetener . One of the sweeteners was Truvia ® — an FDA - approved sweetening that carry erythritol , a simoleons alcohol present in many plants and fruits .
Could an ingredient in sugar substitute Truvia work as an insecticide?
After just six day , all of the flies raised on Truvia ® had pall . Simon and his Father-God — along withSean O’Donnell , a Drexel biological science prof with a background in dirt ball — then replicate the experiment under stricter conditions , in a laboratory .
[ learn newsworthiness story on the 6th - grader ’s findings ]
The results of the research lab subject were similar to Kaschock - Marenda ’s original result : The lab study point that rainfly kindle on food containing Truvia ® lived for only 5.8 days on average , compared to 38.6 to 50.6 day for fly rear on food without Truvia ® . fly front raised on food for thought containing Truvia ® also show noticeable motor impairments prior to death .
Could an ingredient in sugar substitute Truvia work as an insecticide?
With more investigating , the enquiry radical found that erythritol provide the toxic effect , not a stevia plant extract also present in Truvia . More examination is postulate to determine the specific physiological and molecular chemical mechanism of erythritol ’s toxicity to fruit fly sheet , the researcher said .
The bailiwick also find that flies were drawn to erythritol - turn back Truvia over Equal , Splenda , Sweet’n’Low , and PureVia , which they also tested .
These upshot propose that erythritol may supply an additional use as a human - safe insecticide .
The flies’ food was dyed blue so it would show up in their stomachs.
But just how erythritol might one day be used to crusade insect pest is unclear . “ We are not going to see the planet sprayed with erythritol and the probability for far-flung craw app are slight , ” O’Donnell said . “ But on a small graduated table , in position where worm will come to a lure , consume it and die , this could be huge . ”
Value of STEM Education
The find come as a arrant surprisal , said O’Donnell . Everyone regarded the study Kashchock - Marenda initiated as a “ standard middle school skill project , ” he said . “ This is a great example of simple studies lead to real advances . ” But there is no elbow room to know when payoff of this kind will occur in basic research , he added . [ What is STEM Education ? ]
In June 2014 , theresults of the erythritol studywere publish in PLOS ONE — with Kashchock - Marenda , now in the 9th level , Marenda and several other investigator quote as co - authors , and O’Donnell reference as a aged source .
“ I cerebrate it ’s strong to overemphasize [ the welfare of ] promoting curiosity and encouraging fry to get involved in science at a young age , ” say O’Donnell . “ The takeout here is not that every science fair project can be a tangible find , but rather that you never know what it might lead to down the route . In oecumenical , having student engaged in and comfortable with science can enable them to make discoveries in future . ”
