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BIOLOGY NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS

A Message and Welcome from the Department Chair

Greetings from the Department of Biology at Wheaton College! If you are reading this message, you are a new or returning visitor to our Department Website at www.wheaton.edu/biology. We appreciate your visit! Here at Wheaton College, we have the privilege, and the mission, of teaching and investigating the life of God’s marvelous creation at all levels of biology, from molecules, genes, and cells to landscapes and ecosystems. If you are a current or prospective student, we offer ourselves as a resource to you in your own study of biology, and of your consideration of biology at a vocation within God’s will and mission for your life. Here at the website, you can examine our curriculum, our faculty, and our work to determine if we can offer an educational and research experience that could be of value to you. If you are a Wheaton Alumni, especially one who studied biology at Wheaton, welcome back! We invite you to visit and re-visit often, and read about the many exciting things our faculty and students are now engaged in studying. If you are a visiting scientist, we invite you to read about the current research of our faculty, and correspond with us if there are areas of mutual interest in which we can help or encourage you. To everyone we extend a warm welcome, an interest in knowing what brought you to our site, and a commitment to answer your inquiries or provide any assistance to you that we can. Thank you again for your visit. Feel free to write to me at fred.g.vandyke@wheaton.edu. We look forward to hearing from and about you!

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Dr. Scott and Students Team with Brookfield Zoo in Turtle Study

Dr. Rod Scott and his students in the Biology Department of Wheaton College are using molecular genetics to understand the mating patterns of the Blanding’s turtle, a Threatened Species in DuPage County, Illinois, specifically how many male turtles are the fathers of offspring in individual nests.  They work with Dan Thompson, an Animal Ecologist with the DuPage County Forest Preserve who collects pregnant female turtles in the spring, allows them to lay eggs, and then raises the young for two years before returning them to the wild to give them a better chance of surviving.  Thompson supplies Dr. Scott and his students with blood samples from young turtles and their mothers to use as a source of DNA, generating fluorescently-labeled DNA fragments that produce genetic “fingerprints” for mother turtles and their offspring.  To analyze these DNA fragments Dr. Scott collaborates with Dr. Jean Dubach, Geneticist for the Brookfield Zoo, who uses a capillary electrophoresis system with a fluorescent detector to characterize the fragments. Using these techniques Dr. Scott and his students hope to determine the frequency of a phenomenon called “multiple paternity” within turtle populations in DuPage County.  Female turtles have the ability to mate with several males and store their sperm until a later time when the eggs become fertilized.  This can result in the offspring of a single nest having one mother, but several fathers.  This phenomenon has the potential to enhance the amount of genetic diversity in a given population.  Dr. Scott and his colleagues are interested in understanding the role that multiple paternity plays in the reproduction of Blanding’s turtles in DuPage County. The Wheaton College Biology Department commends Dr. Scott and his students for this important effort and imaginative scientific approach to species conservation.

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Dr. Page Publishes Feature Research Article in Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Dr. Kristen Page’s continuing research on factors affecting the transmission of the parasite, raccoon roundworm, have recently been featured in the third volume of this year’s Journal of Wildlife Diseases, entitled "Land-Use Effects on Prevalence of Raccoon Roundworm (Baylisascaris Procyonis)." Dr. Page is the senior author and Nathaniel Robinson, a Wheaton College graduate is the third author of this paper. Dr. Page, an ecologist, has been investigating how landscape patterns, especially the amount of urbanization in a landscape, affect the rate of transmission of raccoon roundworm, a parasite that not only infects raccoons, but can infect humans, where, in young children, it can result in severe or even fatal disruption of the central nervous system. Dr. Page determined that the transmission rate of raccoon roundworm is lower in urban landscapes compared to rural landscapes. In urban areas, this reduced transmission of the disease may be due to decreased predation by raccoons on small mammals, such as mice and chipmunks, which serve as intermediate hosts to the parasite. Dr. Page and her research students are currently engaged in an ongoing study of this important aspect of human-wildlife interactions. The Department of Biology congratulates Dr. Page on her research efforts in this area, and on her recognition in this important journal.

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Dr. Folino-Rorem to Present Work on Invasive Species at International Conference

Dr. Nadine Folino-Rorem will be a presenter at the upcoming 16th International Conference On Invasive Species (ICIS) to be held in Toronto, Canada in April 2009. Considered to be the scientific community’s largest and most prestigious annual conference on the worldwide problem of invasive aquatic species,  ICIS brings scientists from around the world together to share research, management approaches, and potential solutions to the problems caused by invasive species in aquatic environments. Dr. Folino-Rorem’s ongoing work on the invasive colonial hydroid, Cordylophora caspia, an invasive aquatic species in both North America and Europe, is drawing increased attention and recognition from biologists and conservationists worldwide. Her investigations currently focus on the conditions that promote the invasive spread of this species, as well as its capacity to adapt its physiology to different and changing aquatic conditions. Through her studies, Dr. Folino-Rorem has been creating an increasing array of research opportunities and recognition for her student researchers through her ongoing work and its presentation in conferences, meetings, and scientific journals. The Department of Biology commends Dr. Folino-Rorem for her continuing efforts in this important problem, and her recognition by the scientific community for her contributions to its understanding and management.

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Dr. Busch Continues Research on Protein Kinases at Vanderbilt University

Dr. Jennifer Busch spent this past summer in the laboratory of Drs. Jackie Corbin and Sharron Francis at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, continuing her research on the regulation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG).  When activated by the cyclic nucleotide cGMP, PKG regulates many important physiological processes including blood pressure and flow, learning and memory, gastrointestinal motility, and gene regulation.  Dr. Busch hopes to publish the results of her current research in a peer-reviewed journal within the next year.  Thomas Bridges, a 2005 Wheaton College Biology graduate, will co-author the paper.  While in the lab, Dr. Busch also has collaborated on research on phosphodiesterase-type 5 (PDE5) research.  PDE5 works with PKG in a negative feedback loop to maintain a constant internal state (homeostasis) in the human body.  For instance, an elevation in blood pressure could trigger this series of events: 1) an increase in cGMP concentration within muscle cells lining blood vessels, 2) an activation of PKG within these cells, 3) relaxation of muscle cells in response to PKG, 4)  an increase in blood vessel diameter, leading to 5) a consequent decrease in blood pressure.  Once homeostasis has been achieved, PKG is turned off to prevent a further, and potentially dangerous, drop in blood pressure.  The Wheaton Department of Biology congratulates Dr. Busch for her ongoing efforts in this important area of physiological and medical research. Keep up the great work!

Biology Wheaton College Students Reflect on Their Summer Jobs and Internship Experiences

Taylor Buckley Conducted Summer Research Among Orphanges in Honduras

I spent the first half of my summer in the Central American country of Honduras, performing research with some students here at Wheaton. Our research is focused on the psychological health of Honduran children in orphanages and how the corresponding orphanage deals with these situations. I learned so much during my time there and not only sharpened my research and problem solving skills but my spanish speaking as well! Our team also focused on the writing portion of the research and how we as students can be an aid to this increasing concern in the country. I spent the rest of my summer at home working and volunteering at a local hospital, where I was able to gain some experience and shadow different doctors in various fields.



Benjamin Matthews Conducted Summer Research with Wheaton College Botanist, Dr. Ray Lewis

For ten weeks this summer, I conducted research with Dr. Lewis on environmental factors affecting the extent of oogenesis, or egg production, in the brown algae species Saccharina japonica and Costaria costata.  We found near-optimal light and temperature conditions and used these to design experiments testing the effects of salinity and male presence on oogenesis.  Adding to past experiments, the results of our salinity experiments support the ideas that optimal salinities for oogenic growth in brown algae vary significantly between species but that all determined optima fall below the salinity of their ocean habitats.  It is interesting that brown algae are most prominent in habitats where gametogenesis is inhibited.  Our male presence experiments were not successful, in other words: normal science.  The data gathered in our experiments will be useful in future experiments and have raised new questions.
This lab experience was an opportunity to acquire skills that will help me in any future laboratory work: organization, documentation, time management, data analysis, and scientific writing.  These ten weeks also showed me that I might enjoy doing biological research in the future, provided that I find a field that absolutely fascinates me, and helped me see that phycology is not that field (one field ruled out, an infinite number to go).  The experience was tremendous and certainly will prove beneficial in the future.

Autumn Fox Worked with Wheaton College Field Biologist, Dr. Fred Van Dyke on His Elk Response Study

I spent the summer working on the response of elk to habitat change near natural gas wells in Colorado. The study is part of a larger study hoping to understand how elk are affected by the operation of energy companies in Southern Colorado. This was the first year of a three to five year study, so we spent our time preparing the sites and recording initial elk use and vegetative characteristics. We hope the study will help provide insight for complex decisions pertaining to land and mineral use in the area.

Erin Mackinney Conducted Summer Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin

This summer I had a research job at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  I worked for Dr. Russ Wilke who is studying the genetics of obesity.  My summer research work involved SNP genotyping of the FAAH gene (finding out individuals' DNA coding in a region involved in obesity).  It was interesting learning different genotyping techniques and studying obesity which is pretty much an epidemic in the US. In Dr. Wilke’s words, "millions may be prevented from heart attacks through my research, but no one is going to thank me for the heart attack that they didn't have." In addition to learning the science involved, I learned what it would take to do research for a living.  There are moments that are super exciting like when one piece of the puzzle becomes clear; but a lot of the time the work is monotonous.  I don't know yet whether I will spend my life researching, but I have gained a greater appreciation for those who do. During this summer research I also came to appreciate what great love "non-Christians" can have for humanity.  

Eric Elliott Interns at the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa College of Public Health

I spent the majority of my time this summer working as an intern at the Center For Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Iowa College of Public Health - Epidemiology.  At the CEID I culture cells and viruses, use molecular techniques to type various A influenzas and adenoviruses, and analyze human sera for antibodies against viral antigen.  For instance, I might be responsible for running a microneutralization assay and ELISA on human sera from a group that has occupational exposure to turkeys and a control group without turkey exposure to determine if zoonotic transmission of avian influenza from the birds to turkey workers occurs more than from birds to control population - which might suggest that workers need to take more biosafety measures.

At the CEID I also was able to participate in some field epidemiology by traveling to several different areas and collecting throat and nasal swabs from humans and animals.  I was trained in phlebotomy so that I could collect sera samples for analysis.

Through this experience I learned many techniques that will be valuable for any cell or molecular biology I might do in the future. I also understand how clinical studies are organized and carried out. Additionally, I had the wonderful experience of training others in the knowledge I had acquired; I helped new interns and international students taking a two week course for a certificate in Epidemiology. Besides learning many practical skills, the experience was valuable because the people were so fun to work beside. My supervisors were excellent teachers and they really enjoyed their work. Everyone in the
lab really understood how to function as a unit in order to accomplish tasks - because people have differing specialties or focuses, the teamwork is very efficient. Also, it was really fun to meet study subjects from around the state when I was doing field epidemiology. The study participants were very kind and interesting people.

Jason McKechnie Worked this Summer at a Veterinary Clinic in Virginia

I worked this summer at a Veterinary Hospital in Centreville, VA near Washington, DC. My job title was veterinary assistant and entailed a wide array of responsibilities. I was responsible for a lot of the grunt work at the large centre (3 stories and 150 employees) such as sweeping, mopping, cleaning cages twice daily, walking dogs, feeding animals, stocking materials and equipment, washing animals, hold animals for injections, and cleaning the dishes. While a lot of time was occupied doing the latter activities, I did have a lot of interaction with the veterinarians I worked with and learned a lot from them about medication, common procedures, and how to get into vet school! I worked most of the summer in the exotics department upstairs where I was able to interact with a lot of neat animals, i.e. sugar gliders, iguanas, chinchillas, ferrets, geckos, frogs, pythons, bearded dragons, macaws, African grays, conures, turtles, and even an ant-eater! I was also able to stand in on a few surgeries, which was pretty cool- the vets go so fast! One of the most interesting things I saw was a hamster's eyeball pop out and get snipped off.
After working over the summer, I've become a lot more aware of the challenges involved with being a veterinarian, and I feel that I have a more realistic excitement for becoming a vet.

Kyle Mayer Conducted Summer Research with Wheaton College Geneticist, Dr. Rod Scott

This summer Dr. Scott and I used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify microsatellite DNA markers in Blanding's turtle, a threatened species in DuPage County. We did this in order to examine the genotypes of mother turtles and their offspring, hoping to make a conclusion about the incidence of multiple paternity as a reproductive strategy of the species. One day we were able to go out in to the field to search for turtles in a forest preserve with one of our collaborators, Mr. Dan Thompson. We also, on multiple occasions, got to go to the Brookfield zoo in order to use a special machine to characterize the turtle DNA. Both of these "field trips" were unexpected and added bonuses to doing research here over the summer. I was able to experience first hand professional research. We saw a problem, and thus had questions that needed to be answered. Developing research techniques for a project outside of assigned lab class requirements was exciting. It was also good to see how Dr. Scott approached this new project and provided insights on the research methods. This experience will help me in the future if I'd like to go to graduate school, both because I have the research experience itself, and because I was heavily exposed to the field of ecological genetics.

Morgan Younkin Worked in a Surigical Lab at Washington University Medical School

This summer I worked in a surgery department lab at the Washington University Medical School.  I had the opportunity to help surgery residents with their research on various pancreas cancer chemotherapies both in vitro and in vivo (mice models).  The doctors that I worked for were gracious enough to let me shadow them on several occasions.  This gave me the opportunity to observe surgeries, the ER, the ICU, and academic meetings.  My main project involved assembling a database and starting a paper analyzing surgical and endoscopic of treatment of ampullary tumors.  The paper will be submitted soon and we will hopefully have the opportunity to present the findings at a medical conference in the coming months. This experience exposed me to academic and clinical medicine, giving me a better idea of what a doctor's training and work entails.  It was also very rewarding to be involved in research related to topics that I had previously studied in some of my biology classes.

Paul Nelson Worked this Summer at the University of Iowa Hospital's Dermatology Clinic

This summer, I worked with the University of Iowa Hospital's
Dermatology Clinic. I helped prepare patient files for the physicians, contacted patients with rescheduling information, and performed general office work. I also assisted patients in the use of the clinic's new self check-in kiosks (similar to those used at the airport). The Dermatology Clinic is piloting the kiosk program, which the administration eventually hopes to expand throughout the entire hospital. Professionally, I learned how to act as a representative of an organization much bigger than myself. This was a challenge at first, as the hospital had a stringent code of conduct for its employees. But being in such an environment helped to prepare me for future endeavors in the corporate world. Personally, I was able to develop my patience and my interpersonal skills. The position in which I was placed required intensive interaction with a wide variety of people, and forced me to put others before myself. This lesson was hard to learn: but it was extremely valuable.

Nelson Stauffer Conducted Summer Research with Wheaton College Molecular Biologist, Dr. Pattle Pun

My research was all related to the genetic underpinnings of endospore formation in Bacillus subtilis.  Using three mutant strains with varying ability to sporulate, I set out to confirm gene sequences from previous research, examine sporulation efficiency for each mutation based on media composition, and examine genome-wide expression changes based on the mutations.  This required microarrays, real-time PCR, various growth media, standard PCR, reverse transcription, and mRNA and DNA extraction. I learned a number of technical skills from the summer, most relating to the process of preparing and using microarrays and real-time PCR.  I actually really enjoy both of those techniques despite the difficulties from the summer.  We encountered back-mutation, contamination, and more than once a complete failure of our PCR to amplify any DNA.  Figuring out how to deal with setbacks is a major part of research; I've been reminded by more than one professor that it's called research for a reason.  I, unfortunately, was working on too short a timescale to have a chance to find ways to correct the procedures.  I'm not sure where the research will head next, but I know that my work, while appearing unfruitful, will inform the path the next student involved takes.

Emily Kiel Biology Minor, Volunteered at an Animal Hospital in Louisiana

This summer I volunteered at the North Shreveport Animal Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana several days a week.  I was able to see the whole spectrum of veterinary practice in my time there.  I assisted the doctors in surgeries, observed them as they conducted patient examinations, helped clean cages in the kennel, and made many furry friends!  My experience provided me with many practical skills (such as how to calm nervous animals), but more importantly it confirmed my desire to study veterinary medicine in the future.  I found a profession I am passionate about and the field where I want to serve "For Christ and His Kingdom."