Thanks for your kind words, Evan! We discussed this as a group and would have liked to found undiluted Vidatox to start with. The challenge was that the Vidatox we acquired was in solution, so it was already highly diluted. If we were able to acquire undiluted Vidatox, we would’ve liked to repeat the experiment using 1:2 dilutions until we reached the ~33% diluted mark (which is the solution Vidatox arrived in). Does that make sense?
Good question, Abigale! The difference most simply put was age or larvae. Third instar larvae are about 3 days old (post embryo), whereas first instar larvae are only 1 day old (post embryo). The third instar larvae went on to be irradiated, and the first instar larvae were frozen or used to grow our population cages.
Thanks for commenting, Kendal! I would’ve liked to have conducted at least three more rounds of testing to provide a buffer for any larvae issues (like we unfortunately experienced in this experiment)
Thanks for commenting, Tucker! There are variations in the studies, but generally the scorpion venom was diluted and administered to cell cultures in vitro. Our research has shown that Vidatox (33% solution) is sometimes ingested orally (droplet(s) under the tongue) as an informal, unregulated, homeopathic treatment.
That was an awesome poster and presentation, also interesting experiment. How do you maintain the toxicity as the concentration is increased? Or would you want the toxicity lower?
Hi Connor! Thanks for commenting. We’d like to increase the toxicity, because Vidatox (in the concentrations used in our experiments) appeared to actually increase fly survival rates (eek!)
Amazing job! If you were to redo the experiment, how much would you extend the concentration range by?
Thanks for your kind words, Evan! We discussed this as a group and would have liked to found undiluted Vidatox to start with. The challenge was that the Vidatox we acquired was in solution, so it was already highly diluted. If we were able to acquire undiluted Vidatox, we would’ve liked to repeat the experiment using 1:2 dilutions until we reached the ~33% diluted mark (which is the solution Vidatox arrived in). Does that make sense?
When the larva were separated using the siv, what was the difference between the larva groups that were caught at the different layers?
Good question, Abigale! The difference most simply put was age or larvae. Third instar larvae are about 3 days old (post embryo), whereas first instar larvae are only 1 day old (post embryo). The third instar larvae went on to be irradiated, and the first instar larvae were frozen or used to grow our population cages.
If you had the time, how many rounds of testing do you think would provide the most reliable data?
Thanks for commenting, Kendal! I would’ve liked to have conducted at least three more rounds of testing to provide a buffer for any larvae issues (like we unfortunately experienced in this experiment)
What method was Vidatox ingested in the homeopathic trials?
Thanks for commenting, Tucker! There are variations in the studies, but generally the scorpion venom was diluted and administered to cell cultures in vitro. Our research has shown that Vidatox (33% solution) is sometimes ingested orally (droplet(s) under the tongue) as an informal, unregulated, homeopathic treatment.
That was an awesome poster and presentation, also interesting experiment. How do you maintain the toxicity as the concentration is increased? Or would you want the toxicity lower?
Hi Connor! Thanks for commenting. We’d like to increase the toxicity, because Vidatox (in the concentrations used in our experiments) appeared to actually increase fly survival rates (eek!)