This remarkable little bugger is scientifically known as Diploptera punctata. RÜDIGO GIOSUè Ronja Frigard and her colleagues published an important result in the Journal of Experimental Biology recently. The findings of this study offer clear insights into the nuanced maternal behavior of such a unique species. This research was done collaboratively by scientists from UC and the University of Bristol.
Recent undergraduate chemist Gabrielle LeFevre from UC served as the research teams’ first author. Along with Dr. Benoit, she worked with co-authors Lilian Ezemuoka and Sinead English from the University of Bristol. As far as we know, this study is the first to demonstrate how complex interactions between sleep and gestation in cockroaches. It further aims to underscore the importance of undergraduate research engagement in postsecondary education.
Findings on Sleep and Pregnancy
Our study thus aimed to perform a targeted investigation into how rhythms of daily activity shape patterns of sleep in pregnant Diploptera punctata. Researchers discovered that these cockroaches display modified sleep requirements throughout gestation. The mom cockroach takes care of her babies by feeding them milk proteins. During the three-month gestation period she employs a specialized structure known as a broodsac.
CMR’s Ronja Frigard presented the results in greater detail. She noted that the mother cockroach’s increased need for sleep may be critical for her well-being and the development of her offspring. This study isn’t only about cockroaches. In doing so, it might help us better understand how other species, including our own, sleep during pregnancy.
Collaboration and Research Environment
For Gabrielle LeFevre, one of the things that made the research truly shine was the collaborative nature of it. What she liked most was the nurturing environment that Dr. Benoit’s lab at UC fostered. She underscored one of her favorite parts about learning at UC. Undergraduates do not often have the opportunity to engage in hands-on, original research. This opportunity for authentic, hands-on experience makes for impactful learning, inspiring and preparing the next generation of scientists to continue their work and scientific exploration.
The experience is great,” she said, encouraging other students to take advantage of opportunities like this and make the most of experiences that can really deepen their educational experience. UC and the University of Bristol joined forces to study cockroach biology. It’s their collaborative spirit that helped make this deep-dive investigation so extensive and ambitious.