Biology

Biology Capstone Presentations

Biology students presented the findings from their review papers or independent research in the first stand-alone Capstone seminar. Biology Capstone is a course for senior biology students in which you investigate advanced topics in biology thereby integrating the concepts and knowledge you have gained from previous courses taken in the major. In the first Capstone seminar, students explored the topic of epigenetics with Dr. Pierce. Epigenetics has been defined as inheritance above and beyond differences in DNA sequences. Epigenetic effects usually result from other changes in DNA, such as traits and processes that are transmitted to cells and sometimes across generations that are not the result of differences in DNA base sequences, usually involving other changes to DNA such as methylation and chromatin structure that affect gene expression. Epigenetics has been called “inheritance, but not as we know it.” Over the past several years, much research has demonstrated that epigenetic effects are important in behavior, cancer, nutrition, response to pollutants, and evolution. After a semester of research, students will present their Capstone papers.

Thursday, April 26, 2018   CB 330
9:00 am Leika Otero, Epigenetic mechanisms associated with neurological disorders

9:15 am Taylor Curtis, DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and histone methylation are epigenetic mechanisms related to alcoholism

9:30 am  Nalehya Singleton, Brains and brawn: the epigenetic effect of exercise on the brain and skeletal muscles

Friday, April 27  CB 310
2:30 pm  Brenna Jobb, The effects of traumatic events on DNA and how it relates to Native American residential schools

2:45 pm  Aaron Collier, Sauropod gigantism: causes and consequences of colossal size

3:00 pm  Melanie Aing, Comparison of phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in 22 cultivars of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

3:15 pm  Elliot Hershberg, Claudin-3 and claudin-4 deregulation in endometrial cancer

3:30 pm  Hugo Cepeda, Prone to a future of obesity and its consequences: dietary progenitor prenatal and postnatal protein and fat intake effects on offspring.

4:00 pm  Sydney Oorlog, Why you might be afraid of the dentist

4:15 pm  Jacob Taylor, Epigenetic effects observed in coral reefs as an indicator of ocean health

 

And happy smiles after for being done!

 

Celebrating Successful Capstone with Monument Breakfast