College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2025-12-13 12:28:05
Major
Biomedical Science
Honors Course
Sr Honors Project in Biology
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Fall 2025
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that daf-12 has the ability to upregulate mir-84 and mir-241 in C. elegans. Rifampicin helps C. elegans live longer by reducing glycation and activating daf-16. It is not clear if daf-12 is needed for this to happen. Daf-16 turns on genes that promote a longer lifespan. Daf-12 increases mir-84 and mir-241 and helps daf-16 become active so it can turn on genes that relate to lifespan. C. elegans were divided into four groups: wild-type, wild-type with RIF, daf-12 RNAi, and daf-12 RNAi with RIF. Worms were incubated at 20°C. An LDH assay and protein assay were conducted to determine the LDH enzyme activity in Units per milligram of protein. A higher LDH activity is attributed to lower lifespan. The average LDH enzyme activity for the RNAi daf-12 group with sample size of two was 0.06778 ± 0.004021 U/mg protein, 0.06904 ± 0.003457 U/mg protein for wild-type with RIF with a sample size of two, and 0.09350 ± 0.007481 U/mg protein for the wild-type group with a sample size of two. The hypothesis that daf-12 is important for RIF to increase lifespan in C. elegans cannot be supported.
Research Sponsor
Richard Londraville
First Reader
Robert Joel Duff
Second Reader
Chrys Wesdemiotis
Honors Faculty Advisor
Brian Bagatto
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Multani, Randhir S., "Daf-12’s Effects on Lifespan in C. elegans" (2025). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2077.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2077
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