# Preliminary muscle atrophy results

Based on a [recently published study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38760886/) in crickets, we decided to look at the influence of *atg6* (also known as *beclin-1*) on flight muscle development and atrophy in soapberry bugs.


#### Some conclusions so far
- My first impression is that *atg6* RNAi is having an effect. It looks like those bugs are able to fly better, sooner (panels B, D in the attached figure) and that they spend more time really flying (panel D: “level4 career”).
- We need more bugs! Especially ds*GFP* treatment bugs, and preferably long-winged bugs, since they’re the ones who fly. Right now sample sizes for many contrasts are still too small to make firm conclusions.
- Having daily information is great, but it may be overkill. I think it’s okay if individuals are skipped occasionally, for weekends etc.
- There appears to be no circadian effect, but again sample sizes aren’t huge.
- Perhaps we should increase the concentration of dsRNAs?

#### Other / next steps
- microCT scan of bugs at early and late stages as well as *atg6* RNAi and controls
- qPCR to validate *atg6* knockdown
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