X-Message-Number: 23229
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 10:36:00 -0800
Subject: Re:119'th update on fly longevity experiments
From: Kennita Watson <>

Doug Skrecky wrote:
> ...
> Yellow banana pulp once again offered substantial protection during
> the first two weeks of the experiment. Ripe banana failed to acheive 
> this,
> and cooked banana offered a lesser degree  of protection. The active
> ingrediant(s) are apparently unstable, and maximal longevity was 
> reduced
> at high 20% doses of banana. Dragonfruit rind also offered some 
> transient
> benefit.
>     Since fly food is never changed after an experiment is initiated,
> unstable protectants can not offer long-term protection, due to this
> experimental limitation.

Maybe adding some preservative -- BHT, or stuff that keeps
salads from turning brown (lemon juice?) -- would help the
banana pulp active ingredients stay active longer.  I
guess the preservative would need to be tested with other
things too, so the banana didn't get an unfair advantage...

Kennita

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