X-Message-Number: 8462
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 20:51:59 -0700
From: Kennita Watson <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #8459 - #8461

>Message #8461
>Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 23:03:48 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Doug Skrecky <>
>Subject: 14'th update on fly longevity experiment
>
>    This is the fourteenth update on my fly experiments. On day 73 I
> checked the third run for survivors and found none. However after
> smelling the activated charcoal, anise, malt, paprika bottles while
> cleaning them I discovered that none of these smelt bad, indicating that
> it was the lack of pathogens in these bottles that was at least partly
> responsible for their life extending effects. The sage bottle had a
> slight smell.

What are you using for a clean technique?  Possibly some fly mortality
could be avoided (well, postponed) by keeping so many pathogens from
getting in to begin with, rather than trying to kill them once they get
there.

I'm sure there are people who are much better at this than I am, but I'm
thinking of things like wearing rubber gloves, boiling the jars,
wearing a face mask, sterilizing your instruments, using an air purifier,
wiping down all surfaces with alcohol, keeping the jars in some kind
of case to reduce airflow, and making as sure as possible that whatever
you add to the jars is sterile (for example, boiling, baking, or
otherwise sterilizing the fly food, whatever it is).  Maybe you do some
of this, but I haven't noticed any mention of it.

BTW, depending on where you are, your lack of air conditioning could make a
big difference.  Do you record the temperature regularly in the breeding
area?  Certainly (on the off chance you didn't think of it) make sure your
jars are never in direct sunlight.  Insulating them with blankets at night,
and maybe tossing in some desiccant (into each jar or into a case that you
keep the jars in) would help.  I think that if you have some from your
vitamin bottles you can rejuvenate it by baking it at 200 degrees for half
an hour.

I look forward to feedback from you and from other laboratory scientists.

Cheers,
Kennita


Kennita Watson    | The bond that links your true family is not one of blood,
| but of respect and joy in each other's life.   Rarely do
                  | members of the same family grow up under the same roof.
                  |                            -- Richard Bach, _Illusions_

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