LINKS

PROJECT ABSTRACTS

Repeated bleaching events are known to be damaging to coral, and widespread coral bleaching is considered a very serious environmental issue. Although both thermal and sedimentation stress have been shown to produce bleaching in coral, the exact mechanism of this induction is not well known. Many scientists suggest that if bleaching is observed in coral, the stress that produced that event may have occurred much earlier. In many cases, several stressors may have been integrated over weeks to months to produce the event. This project will involve the use reef survey techniques and an investigation of genetic markers to better understand the various indicators of stress in tropical coral reef ecosystems.

The concepts related to this research would fit well in an introductory biology course and could cover topics related to the regulation of gene expression, population and community ecology, and environmental issues. <top>

Therapeutic massage involves direct contact between therapist and client and most likely involves the transfer of bacteria.   Our research focuses on examining the transfer of bacteria between massage therapist and client during massage and in determining whether the use of specific of massage lubricants impacts transmission.  This transfer may not be as important in a traditional setting where a client is healthy, with a fully functional immune system.  An understanding of this phenomenon is now becoming more important, however, as massage therapy is increasingly used as a form of palliative care for immunocompromised individuals.  

These concepts and lab procedures would fit well into a General Biology II course to cover topics including prokaryote anatomy and metabolism, bacterial cell culturing, sterile technique, transfer of microbes, and the host-bacteria relationship in healthy hosts and immunocompromised hosts. <top>

DNA sequences from whole blood will be used in the development of a series of population genetics studies focused on several different species of raptors. Three main objectives have been established for this study: 1) to test subspecies validity between species captured in the Rochester, NY area and those captured in the Duluth, MN area, 2) to access population variation within subspecies, and 3) to create a relationship tree for these raptors. The project involves a collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology, Finger Lakes Community College, and Braddock Bay Raptor Research.

Concepts related to this project would fit well in an introductory unit on DNA structure and function, population genetics, and applied techniques such as PCR and DNA sequencing techniques. <top>

Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology of Caribbean Anoles

Martha Monica Munoz
Harvard University

Cellular Protective Effects of Nutriceuticals
Prof. James Hewlett
Finger Lakes Community College

Many current Nutriceuticals on the market claim to prevent cellular damage. Using cell culture, a variety of cellular protective mechanisms will be explained. A collaboration has been developed with CherryPharm. Using HPLC, samples of this juice will be analyzed for quality and components of the juice will be tested fro their ability to prevent cell damage. A wide range of nutriceutical products can be tested in a series of projects, and compounds can be compared for efficacy

Elements of this project can be used to teach concepts related to cell structure and function and basic chemistry. In addition, the project works well for teaching experimental design, including the concept of positive and negative controls. <top>

The studies will address a wide variety of research questions that include information on home ranges, relatedness, paternity, sub-populations, forensics cases, and genotyping. We are in the process of purchasing an Argos GPS system for Black Bear collars to track movements and build a more robust GIS database. Results from these studies will be provided to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to aid in management efforts.

Concepts related to this project would fit well in an introductory unit on DNA structure and function, population genetics, and applied techniques such as PCR and DNA sequencing techniques. Additional topics include animal behavior and ecology, and GIS and GPS. <top>

The woodland salamanders of the Genus Ambystoma (A. laterale and A. jeffersonianum) are common in the Finger Lakes region and known to hybridize. It is now estimated that the hybrids are more numerous than the parent species. As a result, the Jefferson complex is listed as a "species of greatest conservation need" by the New York State DEC. Using field survey methods and genotyping, scientists will work toward better understanding the density and distribution of the parent species and the degree of hybridization occurring within the local populations.

Concepts related to this project would fit well in an introductory unit on DNA structure and function, population genetics, and applied techniques such as PCR and DNA sequencing techniques. Additional topics include animal behavior and ecology, and GIS and GPS. <top>

Agrobacterium tumefaciens causes crown gall disease, a disease affecting several varieties of fruit trees and grapes. A. tumefaciens transfers virulence genes and proteins into susceptible host cells. The transferred virulence genes and proteins cause infected cells to form undifferentiated tumors. In nature, the organism is attracted to wound sites via chemotaxis. This project examines the mechanisms of infection and explores potential inhibitory signals present in native soils.

Concepts related to this project can be employed to teach concepts related to microbiology, agricultural biotechnology, host pathogen interactions, and cell signalling. <top>

Unlike human hormones, plant hormones are chemicals that control more than one characteristic and also exhibit varied interaction depending upon the amount of other hormone in vivo or in vitro. Some plants can regenerate without any external application of auxin, whereas others show root formation (rhizogenesis) when auxin is added to the soil as rooting mixture. Using appropriate growth medium, mature plant cells can be induced to divide, form callus (undifferentiated mass of cells), differentiate and regenerate into a new plantlet by using a proper growth medium with varying concentration mixtures of auxin and cytokinin, thereby demonstrating totipotency and cloning in plant kingdom.

Concepts in this study are aligned with the learning objectives for introductory biology course about understanding of mitosis, asexual reproduction, regeneration, differentiation, totipotency, cloning in plants, and some aspects of plant physiology. <top>

Big Brown Bat Population Genetics
Dr. Virginia Balke

Delaware Technical and Community College

The White Clay Creek Preserve is home to a maternal colony of big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus.   Although common throughout all of North America, many questions still remain unanswered about the behavior of the big browns.  DNA from bat droppings will be used to address research questions such as female relatedness, paternity, and genotyping.   Field techniques will be used to investigate effect of temperature on migration patterns and juvenile behavior and survival rates.

Concepts related to this project can be incorporated into units on DNA structure and function, population genetics, and applied techniques such as PCR and microsatellite analysis.  Additional topics include animal behavior and ecology. <top>

Characterization of Culturable Soil Bacteria

Dr. Virginia Balke
Deborah Theis
Delaware Technical and Community College

The purpose of this research is to develop methods for studying and identifying culturable soil bacteria from different vegetative communities.  A variety of solid media will be tested to determine which ones give the most diversity and largest number of culturable soil bacteria.  Most probable number assays will be developed to isolate bacteria grown in liquid media supplemented with various carbon sources or signaling molecules.  PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene will be performed on characterized isolates.  After RFLP analysis, PCR products will be submitted for sequencing and identification.

Microbial Production of Biofuel

Dr. James R. Jacob
Tompkins-Cortland Community College

The use of renewable resources for biofuel production is dependent on increasing the efficiency of the process to break down complex sugars and convert them into alcohols. Cellulytic biomass is the favored resource. However, use of chemicals for hydrolysis and maintaining conditions for strict anaerobic bacterial degradation are difficult for backyard production. The goal of this project is to develop a backyard biofuel production unit that utilizes grass clippings. Specific objectives target the acid pretreatment, bacterial enzymatic digestion, fermentation and distillation processes.

Concepts encompassed in this project can be integrated in majors level chemistry, biology, or engineering lectures and labs. Chemical hydrolysis, enzyme activity, bacterial (and fungal) isolation and culture, scale-up production of biologics, process development are all points of interest that students pursue as a research project. <top>

Genotyping American Game Fowl

Dr. James R. Jacob
Tompkins-Cortland Community College

The American gamefowl is a breed of chicken now used as a show bird in the United States. American game fowl were bred from English and Irish bloodlines combined with Mexican, French and Latin American bloodlines. According to the United Gamefowl Breeders Association, Inc, “the economic benefit of the gamefowl industry to the United States can be measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars.” The goal of this project is to work with local breeders to establish a genetic pedigree profile. A “Microsatellite Locus Population Tester Kit” provided by the U.S. Poultry Genome Project at Michigan State University, permits investigation of highly polymorphic sequences of the avian genome by PCR. The objective is to establish unique polymorphisms in the American gamefowl.

Chicken Embryonic Stem Cell Cultures

Dr. James R. Jacob
Tompkins-Cortland Community College

ES cells are found in the early stages of cellular development, usually during the first few stages of cellular division.   Maintaining ES cell cultures is demanding from a technical standpoint and not many undergraduate programs provide cell culture facilities to support such studies.  A more practical teaching tool for use in an academic lab may be the use of chicken ES cells. Each cell type has specific markers that allow scientists to identify them.  Some of the markers common to ES cells are the transcription factor Oct-4, stage-specific embryonic antigens (SSEA), and telomerase activity.  The goal of this project is to develop a feasible ES cell culture kit applicable for student lab activities or educational demonstrations. Specific objectives are to streamline the isolation, culture, and identification of chicken ES cells.

Concepts embodied in this project are related to all aspects of cell biology. Primary cell isolation, cell culture techniques, and immunohistochemcial staining are several technical lab skills student’s gain from this project and should be incorporated into every Cell Biology laboratory section. <top>

Cancer Metastasis, apoptosis, and chemokines

Dr. Jacqueline Crisman
Jamestown Community College

Advanced cancer is notoriously followed by the spread of the cancer to other sites, a process called metastasis. In advanced breast cancer, typically metastasis to bone marrow is common. Moreover, the isolated nature of the bone marrow compartment reduces the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents, and thus elevates the recurrence of disease. Typically chemotherapeutic agents induce a type of programmed cell death known as apoptosis in cancer cells. During this process, the cells die using a particular biochemical pathway that causes the cells to fragment and ultimately to be removed by macrophages without signs of inflammation.

Understanding why breast cancer cells migrate to bone, and how the bone marrow environment allows them to escape the effects of chemotherapy will lead to the development of more efficacious therapeutic strategies. Currently, students are inducing apoptosis of bone marrow cells using ultraviolet radiation and tracking the induction of apoptosis. They are also tracking the production of chemokines which will attract immunological cells and cancer cells to bone marrow.

Concepts embodied in this project are related to all aspects of cell biology, immunology, cell culture, and cell signaling. <top>

Marine Archaeological Survey of the HMS Solebay

Chris Cartellone, Texas A&M University and Prof. James Hewlett Finger Lakes Community College

Over late March and early April, 2010, the Nevis Historical & Conservation Society (NHCS) in partnership with The Nevis Air and Seaport Authority (NASPA) and Envision Mapping (UK) launched a successful expedition to find the wreck site of the British Frigate HMS Solebay which was lost January 25th 1782 in the waters around the island during the French invasion of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Researchers are developing a detailed underwater map and inventory of the wreck site. Future work on the site has the potential to disrupt the local reef habitat, so biologists are working with archaeologists to develop a picture of the potential biological interactions that exist on the site.

Concepts related to this proejct can be incorporated into a general biology or ecology courses to cover concepts related to the structure and function of ecosystems. <top>