Invasive Seaweed to Help Cure Dementia

Independent Biology Research

Antioxidative Effects of Sargassum horneri on Alleviating
Neurodegeneration Induced by Sustained Alcohol Exposure on
Caenorhabditis elegans Model

Why does it matter?

While on a beach stroll in Jeju, I discovered a rotting carpet of seaweed vexing the local community—discovering it contained antioxidants, which could help slow down dementia patients, like my own grandma, I got to researching.

Caenorhabditis elegans is a microscopic roundworm that is used as a model animal for the study of nerve cells due to its high similarity with human genes

Sargassum bloom damages coastal ecology, tourism, acquaculture, and public health worldwide (NBC News)

What did I do?

Making Sargassum extracts from powder

Making extract-infused growth media for worms—I built my method upon so many papers as well as personal innovation

Long story short:

1. Extracted antioxidants from Sargassum horneri

2. Poisoned worms with alcohol

3. Gave S. horneri extracts to slow the damage to worms' nerve cells.

4. Analyzed the extracts' effect by using Wormlab software on worm behavior

Wormlab softwards I used to analyze warm movements and determine how damaged their nerve cells were

Paper

Poster

Local project to an International Stage

Presenting my work at the 2024 Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair was an exhilarating experience! It filled my heart with joy to spotlight Jeju's problem of marine invasive species, especially Sargassum blooms, to my fellow scientists, engineers, and experts in Connecticut! Exploring current issues in science through my peers' research inspired me to keep on doing science that makes my community and this world a better place.

Recognition

2024 Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair

Finalist in Life Sciene Category

Life Science Award

2024 Korea Science & Engineering Fair

Bronze Medal

2024 Korea Science & Engineering Fair International

Silver Medal