By Josiah Arnold

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dianne Baker

Abstract

The prevalence of type 1 diabetes is growing globally, and its onset is influenced by factors beyond
genetic heritability. One possible factor is sodium benzoate, a common preservative found in many foods
and cosmetic products. Its use is widely controversial, and it has recently been linked to β cell apoptosis.
We hypothesize that exposure to sodium benzoate during development will impair pancreatic
development. This will be done by exposing zebrafish embryos to concentrations of sodium benzoate
within the dietary maximum as recommended by the FDA. Afterwards, we will test the glucose tolerance
of the fish and observe transcript levels of genes related to pancreatic function.