- International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology (2013) Volume 1, Issue 4

Effect of Exercise on Adult Lifespan of The Wild Type Strain Drosophila Melanogaster

Effects of physical exercise on fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster were quantified in two environmental conditions. First, in the natural light-dark (NLD) cycles with fluctuating temperature and relative humidity and second, at constant temperature of 25°C, relative humidity of 65±10% and light intensity of 100 lux. It was observed that, in the NLD conditions the flies walking on a single cotton thread were subjected to an extensive physical exercise and hence they exhibited a lifespan of ~59 days while the flies walking on the double cotton threads and the double nylon threads were subjected to least degree of exercise, their lifespan was of just ~30 days. Flies maintained at 25°C, nevertheless, had entirely different life span vis-à-vis (in relation) to the characteristic of the threads. The flies walking on the double nylon threads when subjected to extensive physical exercise, they exhibited the longest lifespan of ~35 days. Whereas the flies walking on a single and double cotton threads were subjected to least degree of exercise, their lifespan was observed to be of only ~22 days. These results demonstrate that the exercise has profound influence on the lifespan of Drosophila which has indisputable implication in human health too. Furthermore, natural light-dark cycles with fluctuating temperature and relative humidity have life enhancing effect than the constant temperature conditions.

Author(s): L.J. Gaikwad* and R.D. Thombre

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