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BIOLOGY NEWS

MICAH HUGHES ’04 BIOLOGY ALUMNUS TO SPEAK IN BIOL 374 BIOINFORMATICS CLASS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30TH 2008 FROM 2 – 3:05 P.M.

Micah Hughes ’04 biology alumnus will speak to students about the current research he is conducting with the Rush University Department of Cardiology. His talk is entitled, "The investigation of safety and retention of Human CD34+ progenitor cells delivered into the myocardium of swine."  Or, “Cardiology Research in Biotheraputic Delivery." The research is investigating the safety and accuracy of a new cardiac catheter and looking at the retention of stem cells delivered to the heart. More specifically they investigated the Biotheraputic delivery of adult bone marrow progenitor cells (CD34+ cells) into ischemic myocardium. It was a preclinical research study and the animal model used is yorkshire swine.

Micah received his MS degree in Biotechnology at Rush and has been doing research for the Alzheimer's Disease Center for two years and Research for the department of Cardiology in the Rush Cardiovascular Pre-Clinical Research lab for one year. As for the future, Micah will be starting Medical School next year in Colorado at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

After Micah’s presentation, Dr. Prancan, Assistant Dean of The Graduate College Rush University will then give a short presentation about the nine month accelerated Master's of Biotechnology program at Rush and will answer questions from students.

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TYLER FOXWELL ’08 BIOLOGY MAJOR PRESENTED HIS RESEARCH AT THE ACCA (ASSOCIATED COLLEGES OF THE CHICAGO AREA) SYMPOSIUM ‘08

Tyler Foxwell, who will graduate this May with a B.S. degree in Biology, conducted research last semester with Dr. Ray Lewis on the effects of salinity and male presence on oogenesis in the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida. Undaria is native to East Asia, where it is prized as a source of food. Tyler’s work with this brown alga showed that lowering the salinity resulted in a large increase in the number of eggs and sporophytes produced. This research has implications regarding the environmental tolerance of various stages of the life cycle of Undaria, and for optimizing the cultivation of this commercially important seaweed. Tyler was one of 12 Wheaton College students who took part in the 41st Annual ACCA (Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area) Student Symposium at Lewis University on Saturday, April 12, 2008, where he gave an oral presentation of his research to an audience of students and faculty from the 15 ACCA institutions.

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BIOLOGY MAJOR LIANA DOLAN SELECTED FOR 8 WEEK SUMMER INTERNSHIP WITH DR. SUGARBAKER, PROFESSOR AND CHIEF OF THORACIC SURGERY AT HARVARD

Liana Dolan ‘09 pre-med student will travel to Boston MA, this summer for 8 weeks to conduct research in Dr. David Sugarbaker’s lab. Dr. Sugarbaker is a Wheaton Alumnus & Professor and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Harvard Medical School.  Research in Dr. Sugarbaker’s lab will focus on gene discovery and expression patterns in human malignant pleural mesothelioma and on early detection markers in lung cancer. Work involves RNA extraction, Northern Blotting and microarray analysis. Liana Dolan is a transfer student from University of West Florida. Since coming to Wheaton, Liana has developed a love for research, and would like to explore the possibility of doing a combination of research in genetics, human physiology and treatment of diseases within these fields. Liana will also be starting an accelerated master’s degree in Intercultural Studies. She loves to learn about other cultures and has spent a lot of time overseas in Peru and Uganda and would like to practice medicine in different areas of the world. At least 14 Wheaton undergraduate science students have been involved since the early nineties. All of these students have continued their scientific training in post graduate work or gone on to medical school and some students have been included in professional scientific presentations at national meetings as well as in peer reviewed publications. Alumnus Rachel Rienstra ’07 is working at Sugarbaker's lab currently and has been admitted into Harvard graduate school in a biological science program.

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BIOLOGY MAJORS TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO DO INTERNSHIPS/SUMMER RESEARCH '08
Though internships/summer research experiences are not required in the biology curriculum, students are encouraged to get this experience in fields of interest. Whether interests consist of medical/health professions, veterinarian, cell biology, immunology, biotechnology, biochemistry, conservation biology, ecology/environmental, botany, entomology, marine, forensic biology, or educational, students get hands on experience learning how research is conducted and how to interact professionally in an internship/research environment. Students then are able to take this knowledge and experience, after college to be effective Christian witnesses and servants in their professional lives. Look for future opportunities on our website for internships/summer research for '09.

KEN KELLNER ’09 BIOLOGY MAJOR CHOSEN FOR SUMMER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AT MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD OHIO

Ken Kellner ’09 biology major was selected for an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) from the National Science Foundation at Miami University of Ohio working on a project related to Species and Ecosystem Responses To Human-Dominated Landscapes. Since human activities have significantly altered natural landscapes, scientists are attempting to understand how ecosystems and their embedded species assemblages respond to these changes. Some anthropogenic alterations such as residual pesticides, extermination of keystone species, introductions of invasive species, or general habitat destruction seem uniformly negative. Other alterations such as prescribed fire or sustainable harvests may be considered management strategies attempting to mimic natural processes. The summer research that Ken will be involved in will focus on understanding the relative impacts and ecological consequences from these alterations by investigating how species and ecosystem processes respond to various human-induced perturbations. Ken was the recent recipient of the Beaver Schmale Award in Biology at Wheaton College this past year and has done research with Dr. Kristen Page, Ecologist, in the Biology Department at Wheaton College since his freshmen year. Ken and Dr. Page are currently writing a paper that they will submit for publication at the end of this semester. Last summer, Ken received national recognition as the winner of the American Society of Parasitologists Undergraduate Research Grant Competition. 

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SARAH McCORD ’09 BIOLOGY MAJOR TO DO RESEARCH WITH WHEATON COLLEGE ECOLOGIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DR. KRISTEN PAGE

Sarah McCord, Biology Major ’09 took the initiative and volunteered last summer joining Dr. Page’s research group last summer. Since then, Sarah has been working with Dr. Page all year and will continue to do research with Dr. Page this summer. Sarah has been working on a project testing drug resistance used to kill parasites in people and animals.  The 2 drugs Sarah and Ken Kellner have tested, have a similar structure, and would act on the parasites in similar way in which the parasites could develop co–resistance to the drugs.  This would be a problem in areas of the world where both of the drugs are used and where physicians prescribe both drugs.  Dr. Page and Sarah hope to publish this research before Sarah graduates.

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NELSON STAUFFER ’09 BIOLOGY MAJOR SELECTED TO DO SUMMER RESEARCH WITH MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR AT WHEATON COLLEGE, DR. PATTLE PUN

Nelson Stauffer ’09 biology major recently featured on the front page of the Wheaton College website, will join Dr. Pattle Pun, Molecular Biologist and Professor for summer research. Bacillus subtilis are among the bacteria that form spores when nutrients become limiting thus allowing them to survive until they germinate and grow under more favorable conditions. Nelson Stauffer will be working with Dr. Pun this summer on a project that will attempt to determine the role that the RNA polymerase encoded by the gene rpoB plays in the formation of spores. Nelson will attempt to clone and characterize a mutant form of the rpoB gene that affects the efficiency of  B. subtilis spore formation.

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BIOLOGY MAJOR KYLE MAYER ’10 TO DO SUMMER RESEARCH WITH DR. ROD SCOTT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND GENETIST OF BIOLOGY AT WHEATON COLLEGE

This summer Dr. Rod Scott and Biology Major Kyle Mayer ’10 will initiate a new study in conservation genetics aimed at helping to preserve an animal species that's threatened in DuPage County, the Blanding’s turtle.  They will study genetic markers to characterize the diversity among hatchling turtles in individual nests.  They will collaborate in this project with DuPage County Forest Preserve Animal Ecologist, Dan Thompson, and the Brookfield Zoo Geneticist Dr. Jean Dubach.  The results of this study may ultimately be used in management strategies to increase the genetic diversity of Blanding's turtle populations in DuPage County and elsewhere.

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BENJAMIN MATTHEWS ’11 BIOLOGY MAJOR TO DO SUMMER RESEARCH WITH BOTANIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR. RAY LEWIS

Biology major Benjamin Matthews will conduct research with Dr. Ray Lewis on the effects of male pheromones on egg production in brown algae during the Wheaton College Summer Research program. During 10 weeks of full-time research, Benjamin plans to examine the specificity of male pheromones across combinations of species of these brown algae, first focusing on two species whose pheromones show evidence of inducing increased egg production, possibly through production of a higher quantity or quality of pheromone.

Ben, nearing the end of his freshman year, has been intrigued and fascinated by the introduction to physiology in BIOL 242 lecture and labs. He also has been influenced by some profound explanations from Nelson Stauffer '09 about what it means to be a Christian studying biology.  Ben explains that, "In the past semester, I have recognized the ways in which biology spurs me to orient myself toward God.  If studying something so complex and stimulating can be a medium for worship, why would I not pursue it?"

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BIOLOGY SPRING SEMINARS '08

Current Research of the Biology Faculty
This spring, the biology faculty will be giving seminars of their current research. Several opportunities exist for undergraduate students to work with the biology faculty in their continued research both during the school year and during the summer. Below is a list of dates and times of the Wheaton College Biology Faculty Research Seminars with MP3 links to the seminars when available.

The Biology Department Newsletter Spring 2008
Click here for a PDF file of the newsletter

Contents

• “It’s and Amazing Time to Be a Biologist,” by Dr. Rod Scott, Biology Department Chair
• “What is New with the Biology Department Professors?”
• Exceptional Biology Student Abstracts / Papers – click on the papers for a PDF file

• Investigation of the Effects of Varying Concentrations of Zinc and Lead on Gametophtic Oogenesis in Macrocystis integrifolia, Undaria pinnatifida, Saccharina japonica, Saccharina latissima, and Saccharina angustata (Phaeophyceae)
  By: Brian Hollett & Haley Hunt,
  for Biol 252 (Lewis) Fall 2007
  
  
• The Importance of Ethnic Based Research,
  By: Ben Dons, Sarah Krahn, and Amber McGregor,
  for Biology/Philosophy 317, Fall 2007
  
  
• Ceratopteris richardii: The influences of gravity and Ca2+ ions on archegonial orientation in the dkg1 mutant.
  By Parry Macdonald and Matt Duggan,
  for Biol 252 (Scott) Fall, 2007
  
  
• Reproductive Options: Rights and Ethics.
  By Tracey Harris,
  for Biol 494 Capstone, Fall 2007
  
  
• The Search for Truth
  By Luke Regan,
  for Biol 494 Capstone, Fall 2007
  
  
• The Need for a Biblical Decision-Making Model in the Allocation of Health Care Resources
  By Ruth Armstrong,
  for Biol 494 Capstone, Fall 2007
  
  
• Phytochrome responses in ferns:  a complex chain reaction necessary for survival
  By Carolyn Regan,
  for Biology 252 (Scott) Fall 2007
  
  
• Biology Major Graduates 2007-2008
• Seminars in Biology!