ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 4, 1996 TAG: 9605060033
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: HALE SHEIKERZ STAFF WRITER
It's been a year of firsts for Amanda Alley.
The 17-year-old junior is finishing her first year at the Southwest Virginia Governor's School. This past winter, she researched, tested and wrote her first science project. She then entered her first school science fair and won - first place in zoology.
She proceeded to the regional science fair where she cleaned up: a first place in her category, an award from the Virginia Junior Academy of Science and a grand prize award.
The grand prize is letting her experience more firsts.
Alley will leave today for a week-long trip to Tucson, Ariz., where she will compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair. This will be her first time on a plane and her first time away from the East Coast. She is surprised her project has done so well.
"I think it's interesting that science can take you this far, even a small project like this," Alley said. "I really am not a math and science person. I more of an English person," she said. She really enjoys research, too.
Her project is titled "How allium products affect the growth of cancerous tumors on Drosophila melanogaster." Translated: how do products that contain sulfur, such as garlic, onions and leeks, affect the growth of cancer in fruit flies.
Alley came up with the project idea with the help of her sponsor, Margaret Duncan, who is a teacher and director of the Governor's School.
"A lot of the ideas I'd come up with had been shot down," Alley said.
She knew, however, that whatever she did it had to be something live so she could test it. Duncan suggested fruit flies because they are good to work with and cancerous ones can be ordered. Alley said she found ordering cancerous fruit flies intriguing.
"She came to this school because she wanted to be challenged," Duncan said. She added that Alley was diligent about her work and that when the first rough draft was due, Alley's was the best.
Alley decided to test allium products after reading an article about garlic inhibiting cancer. She decided to use fruit flies with cancerous tumors to test how allium vegetables would affect their tumor growth. She also used Cytoxan, which is used in cancer treatment, to test against the natural process of cancer blocking with allium foods. Alley tested different percentages of allium and Cytoxan on fruit flies. Her collected data indicated the different percentage solutions did have an impact on tumor growth.
Alley started her project in January and because of bad weather, she was not able to have all her data for the school or regional science fairs. She did have it at the state fair, where she didn't place but won a company-sponsored special award.
Since her initial presentation at her school's science fair, Alley has made some adjustments to her project after receiving tips from teachers who have attended state fairs.
She's designed a taller background board and changed the colors from green and yellow to gray, burgundy and black. She also laminated her text and drawings.
Alley will go to Tucson with Duncan, Shannon Hughes, who is a regional winner from Carroll County, and several regional winners from Roanoke.
While she's not occupied with science fairs, the Pulaski resident likes to read and write.
She's editor of the Pulaski County High School newspaper and writes for the literary magazine. Alley said she doesn't plan to study the sciences in college. She wants to get a liberal arts degree because "I'd love to write for a living."
Recently, a teacher asked, "What has English done for you lately?" knowing that science is giving her many opportunities.
"Any area of writing would be interesting, but if I can make a career out of scientific writing I think that would be good."
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Alleyby CNB