Abstract:
the Lobster, which has often been deemed immortal due to its inability to show signs of aging, has brought up many question regarding the DNA sequence TTAGGG. This string occurs at the 3' of the "telomere regions" found at the end of a eukarote's chromosome. Telomeres are closely associated with the process of aging and more important.y, cell replication. Every replication cycle, the telomere region shortens and is then elongated by telomerase, the subject of this study. Lobsters, along with other "biologically immortal" organisms express quite a bit of this trait, and it is thought to be the cause of their longevity. Experiments to be conducted will determine if and to what extent, the addition of a telomerase destroying gene can shorten the life of a lobster. This experiment will identify not only if the introduction of telomerase degenerative substances shorten the lifespan of a lobster, but also if the lobster is truly biologically immortal when left undisturbed.
Question: Can the addition of hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), a degenerative allele for telomere elongation, to the TERT gene, responsible for the endogenous production and elongation of telomeres through telomerase, shorten the life of a lobster, and if so, by how much?
Hypothesis: seeing as experiments done on rats proved the blocking of telomerase degenerative tot he rat's age, the lobster's lifespan will also decrease because telomerase is the only identified age-associated protein found in the lobster.
Materials:
-2 saltwater tanks 100 gallons
-20 male lobster larvae
-water heater 20ºC
-hydroxytamoxifen
-constant and controlled environment
-diet of opened shellfish (mainly clams)
Procedure: This experiment will compare two groups of ten lobsters. their containers will be identical as well as water temperature and diet which will all remain constants. The independent variable of this experiment is the degenerative 4-OHT and TERT genes that will be present in group A but not group B. Both tanks will be fed constantly and left undisturbed until the lobsters die off of natural causes. The expected time for this experiment is 50-100 years.
1) fill two 100 gallon tanks with saltwater.
2) heat them to 20ºC
3) place cut up clam in tank (enough to feed 10 larvae)
4) Inject group A lobster larvae with hydroxytamoxifen
5) put group A and B in separate tanks
6) observe growth patterns and mortality rates
Graphs:
Weight of each lobster over time. y=weight x=time
Mortality rates per year y=# of deaths x=time
the Lobster, which has often been deemed immortal due to its inability to show signs of aging, has brought up many question regarding the DNA sequence TTAGGG. This string occurs at the 3' of the "telomere regions" found at the end of a eukarote's chromosome. Telomeres are closely associated with the process of aging and more important.y, cell replication. Every replication cycle, the telomere region shortens and is then elongated by telomerase, the subject of this study. Lobsters, along with other "biologically immortal" organisms express quite a bit of this trait, and it is thought to be the cause of their longevity. Experiments to be conducted will determine if and to what extent, the addition of a telomerase destroying gene can shorten the life of a lobster. This experiment will identify not only if the introduction of telomerase degenerative substances shorten the lifespan of a lobster, but also if the lobster is truly biologically immortal when left undisturbed.
Question: Can the addition of hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), a degenerative allele for telomere elongation, to the TERT gene, responsible for the endogenous production and elongation of telomeres through telomerase, shorten the life of a lobster, and if so, by how much?
Hypothesis: seeing as experiments done on rats proved the blocking of telomerase degenerative tot he rat's age, the lobster's lifespan will also decrease because telomerase is the only identified age-associated protein found in the lobster.
Materials:
-2 saltwater tanks 100 gallons
-20 male lobster larvae
-water heater 20ºC
-hydroxytamoxifen
-constant and controlled environment
-diet of opened shellfish (mainly clams)
Procedure: This experiment will compare two groups of ten lobsters. their containers will be identical as well as water temperature and diet which will all remain constants. The independent variable of this experiment is the degenerative 4-OHT and TERT genes that will be present in group A but not group B. Both tanks will be fed constantly and left undisturbed until the lobsters die off of natural causes. The expected time for this experiment is 50-100 years.
1) fill two 100 gallon tanks with saltwater.
2) heat them to 20ºC
3) place cut up clam in tank (enough to feed 10 larvae)
4) Inject group A lobster larvae with hydroxytamoxifen
5) put group A and B in separate tanks
6) observe growth patterns and mortality rates
Graphs:
Weight of each lobster over time. y=weight x=time
Mortality rates per year y=# of deaths x=time