Sr. Research CONTENTS Course Syllabus Projects/Testimonials Class Pictures Blackboard The following is a sample of the projects from the Class of 2001 (SY 2000-01) in the Biotechnology Laboratory's Senior Research program. If you would like additional information about one of these projects, please e-mail the laboratory directors. The Effect of Prolonged Exposure to Ultraviolet Light on Saccharomyces cerevisiae "I worked with human epidermal cells, mouse epidermal cells, and yeast cells. As the year went on, I had to simplify my project. I learned not to let pitfalls stop me from finishing. Sometimes, even when months are spent working on a problem, it is necessary to start over. Rather than get discouraged, I built on my experiences and applied my new skills in different ways!" by Megan Evans Effects of Copper Concentration on the Growth Rate of Lemna minor "We examined the effect of copper (II) on the growth of duckweed (Lemna minor). We knew that this aquatic plant was a good phytoaccumulator of copper, but we were unsure of the copper concentrations at which duckweed could survive (and be a useful tool for phytoremediation). We got a valuable tech-lab experience and broadened our horizons." by Neil Losin & Ted Reinert The Effect of Temperature on Cold-Blooded Animals "We are using a Computer-Based Learning (CBL) oxygen probe to measure the rate of respiration of crickets at different temperatures. We have learned a lot about revision as a part of the scientific process." by Virginia Syptak & Kristen Zukosky A Comparitive Analysis of the Formation of Biofilms in Different Media "We are studying the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial biofilms. Specifically, we are comparing the growth of the bacteria in tryptic soy and brain/heart infusion broth media. We hope to gain a better understanding of the optimal conditions for biofilm growth. We have learned that you must always be careful in a laboratory, or else you will compromise your safety and the accuracy of your experiment." by Paul Lim & Erik Shumaker The Effects of Various Concentrations of Capsaicin on the Growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae "We treated yeast cells with varying amounts of capsaicin and noted the difference in growth rates. After conducting numerous cell counts using a hemacytometer, we determined that capsaicin significantly reduces the growth of yeast." by Merah Baird & Estin Yang Does Creatine Phosphate Neutralize the Buildup of Lactic Acid in Lactobacillus casei? "I examined the lactic-acid neutralizing effect of phosphocreatine. I feel I must give credit to the TJ Biotechnology program for my success; it has made me a better student [and] I was motivated to leave the Senior Lounge and actually go to class!" by B-Jay Anderson The Effectiveness of Bacterial and Fungal Bioremediators on Oil Spill Cleanup "Bioremediation is becoming a more effective way of cleaning up devastating oceanic oil spills across the world. The investigation of the various types of bacteria and fungi that remediate oil spills, and how effective each is, will provide useful information for future cleanup tasks. The physical properties of motor oil were examined while it was being degraded by Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, and Penicillium. Using this information, the effect of salinity on the degradation capabilities of the bacteria and fungus was then examined by observing the length of time needed to degrade oil at zero, 36, and 55 PPT of salt. It was found that Pseudomonas was the best bioremediator since it degraded the oil most effectively in each of the salinity levels. Biotech has given us a new outlook on the scientific community and a greater appreciation for the effort involved in research and experimentation." by Rebecca Rendall & Lauren Stites