生物科学专业

Liora埃德尔斯坦, 切丽Musgrove 和 贾斯汀Bala-Hampton

These students performed re搜索 experiments in Dr. Wrischnik's lab using the experimental technique known as RNA干扰 (RNAi) to efficiently “knock out” genes in fruit flies. The students participated in the construction of the RNAi vectors, which were designed to destroy the function of DNA repair genes in fruit flies. 除了 to learning the basics of molecular biology, these three students learned how to microinject DNA into fly embryos to get their DNA inserted into the fly genome. The latter re搜索 was made possible by the department's sophisticated microinjection equipment.

梅丽莎Lipat

Melissa在Dr。. Wrischnik's laboratory building several types of DNA vectors that facilitate visualization of the expression of DNA repair genes in fruit flies during development. 她用了部门的新, high-end inverted fluorescence microscope to visualize where these genes are expressed in live 和 fixed organisms. She also performed real-time PCR analysis to help confirm when these genes are expressed during fruit fly development.

Khanh cloned several of the homologous recombinational repair proteins from the parasite 阴道毛滴虫, a single-celled organism with a very ancient lineage. By using the department's ABI DNA Sequencer to analyze her clones, she revealed new information about the evolution of this repair pathway, as well as generated data to help underst和 the evolution of sex in single-celled organisms.

科比·拉·马蒂纳

Coby在Dr. Vierra's laboratory to elucidate the molecular properties of black widow spider silk. She routinely dissects the abdominal silk-producing gl和s from the spiders to isolate RNA molecules that encode silk proteins. 应用ing quantitative real-time PCR analysis, Coby has determined the expression profiles for several different silk genes. 除了, she has learned how to screen cDNA libraries to hunt for new spider silk genes found in egg case silk, which represent one of the most ancient silk threads in spiders. These studies have relied on the use of mass spectrometry 和 molecular biology.

罗素绮, 亨利常 和 香农麦克纳瑞

这些学生也在Dr. Vierra's laboratory on the isolation of new silk genes from black widow spiders, as well as silk overexpression in bacteria 和 yeast. 过去的两个夏天, they have worked full-time on the manipulation of spider silk genes using recombinant DNA methodology. Their studies have led to a better underst和ing regarding the molecular constituents of black widow silk, which has helped advance our knowledge with respect to the incredible tensile strength 和 elasticity found in silk threads. Long-term objectives include being able to produce synthetically for commercial applications, which include the use of synthetic silk for ropes 和 cords, 医用缝合线, bullet proof vests 和 lightweight airplane wing materials.