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As a group, we, will be performing an experiment to see how microgravity affects the life cycle of a butterfly. We plan to send over butterfly eggs to the ISS for experimentation in space before they hatch. As developed cocoons, they will hatch in space in a microgravity environment. Their development before the launch will not be affected by gravity. When a butterfly hatches, it adapts to its environment, but if the butterfly hatches in microgravity, its bodily functions may not be adapted to the normal gravity of the environment on Earth. Will butterflies survive and adapt in the conditions of space?
We want to make sure that there are no flaws in our experiment.
Butterfly Development in Microgravity
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Re: Butterfly Development in Microgravity
Hello! This is an awesome proposal and I'm happy to help you brainstorm the experiment set up.
For the simplest version of this experiment, you need to ensure that all possible variables except that of microgravity are identical between butterflies hatched on earth (control group) or in the ISS. For example their diets should be identical (exact same concentration of sugar solution or whatever is the recommended diet), and the food should be available in equal quantities (volumes) with similar intervals between feeding. Another aspect that often affects developmental rate and lifespan of many organisms is crowding. It is important to make sure that similar (or exactly same) number of individuals are housed together both on earth and in space.
Once they hatch, one can determine developmental speed by how soon they become adults, and lifespan by following how many days on average individuals in each group live up to.
One thing to think about is how do you prevent the cocoons from hatching before the experiment is ready to be started on the ISS? Is there a way to ensure the cocoons are exactly the same age i.e. somehow synchronized? A way around this could be to send many eggs and cocoons at different stages so that there are at least some cocoons which will be in the correct developmental stage for the experiment to be started.
Hope you find these suggestions useful! Please reach out if you would like to discuss further and if you have additional questions.
Best wishes,
MS
For the simplest version of this experiment, you need to ensure that all possible variables except that of microgravity are identical between butterflies hatched on earth (control group) or in the ISS. For example their diets should be identical (exact same concentration of sugar solution or whatever is the recommended diet), and the food should be available in equal quantities (volumes) with similar intervals between feeding. Another aspect that often affects developmental rate and lifespan of many organisms is crowding. It is important to make sure that similar (or exactly same) number of individuals are housed together both on earth and in space.
Once they hatch, one can determine developmental speed by how soon they become adults, and lifespan by following how many days on average individuals in each group live up to.
One thing to think about is how do you prevent the cocoons from hatching before the experiment is ready to be started on the ISS? Is there a way to ensure the cocoons are exactly the same age i.e. somehow synchronized? A way around this could be to send many eggs and cocoons at different stages so that there are at least some cocoons which will be in the correct developmental stage for the experiment to be started.
Hope you find these suggestions useful! Please reach out if you would like to discuss further and if you have additional questions.
Best wishes,
MS