FSC
biology students are participating in many exciting research projects this
semester as members of the Ecology Research or Molecular Biology Research courses. Their projects investigate a wide variety of
biological questions and seek to create new knowledge and increase information
about their topics. Below is a glimpse
into some of the ongoing research in the Molecular Biology course.
Seniors
Jordan Campbell, Han Nguyen, and Jon Scott are investigating the DNA of the
elusive Siren lacertina, a large
aquatic member of the salamander family that can be found in Lake
Hollingsworth. The team is working with
members of the Ecology course to capture and tag specimens in the lake and
acquire DNA samples from them. Once the
molecular biology team has isolated and amplified the DNA, they will use
several DNA primers to sequence a portion of the genome. This information will be used to compare and
analyze differences in DNA sequence to related salamander species Pseudobranchus.
Jessie
Fleming and Alexander Stein (also seniors), are working with Raphanus sativus: the radish.
They will be studying radish seeds that have been exposed to specific
amounts of radiation and quantifying the amount of genetic damage that is
suffered from different amounts of radiation exposure. The team plans to grow the irradiated seeds
for several weeks and gather enough plant material to extract DNA from each
exposure level. The DNA will be analyzed
and compared using Southern Blotting and Gel Electrophoresis techniques. Fleming and Stein hope to use their data to
predict damage done to flora exposed to radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear plant in Japan.
Finally,
seniors Byron Hu, Sebastien Parisot, and Adam Urbanski are exploring the photoreactivation
mechanism of DNA repair.
Photoreactivation mends UV damaged genetic material through exposure to
visible light. The team plans on
isolating the genes necessary for light production in bioluminescent bacteria and
transferring them into strains of Escherichia
coli (bacteria) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) so that
they will also exhibit bioluminescence.
These “glow in the dark” strains will be exposed to UV radiation and
placed in dark surroundings. The team
will measure the transformed strains capability to heal their DNA through
photoreactivation stimulated by their own light production.
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