As a Biology major at Longwood University, our course curriculum is designed so that we have the chance to take courses from all disciplines in biology. One of the three pillars of the biology curriculum is Cell and Molecular Biology. This side of biology quickly became my favorite and where I tended to take majority of my classes. For example, after some introduction courses I was able to further my knowledge in courses such as Genetics and Cell Biology and in even higher courses such as Immunology.
In Genetics, I conducted a project where I investigated the effects of resveratrol on the expression of apoptotic genes. Basically, seeing if resveratrol, a protein commonly found in red wine, would help prevent the development of cancer through certain genes commonly known to regulate cancer growth. In order to test this question, murine (mice) melanoma cells were treated with regular media (untreated) or with resveratrol (treated). From this real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted for three genes of interest BAX, BCL2, and p53. Based on the results resveratrol induced the gene expression of BAX (proapoptotic gene which promotes cell death) and p53 (tumor suppressor) while down regulating the expression of BCL2 (antiapoptotic gene which prolongs cell life). This project helped to explain how gene expression can be positively and negatively regulated by one protein using a real-world application. Below is my research report for this project which I wrote in the Fall of 2018.
Investigating the effects of resveratrol on the expression of apoptotic genes
In Cell Biology, we partnered with David Steeves, the Third Street (now known as Three Roads) Brew master, in order to help investigate how certain genes could be modified to change the look and taste of a beer through a specific cell signaling pathway called flocculation. In basic terms, flocculation is when yeast clump together during the brewing process therefore creating clear beers (high flocculation) and hazy beers (low flocculation). I conducted a project where I identified the variations of the flocculation domain of the Flo11 gene from four different yeast strains. Based the PCR, Gel electrophoresis, and BLAST analysis it can be concluded that this Flo11 domain was found in two of the four brewing strains, contains many repeat elements, and identified the two brewing strains to be different from the lab strain of yeast. This project helped to explain cellular pathways and how multiple genes can regulate a certain function such as flocculation in beer production. Below is my poster that I presented at Longwood University’s Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry in 2019.
In Immunology, I conducted a project where I investigated the effects of parabens to mimic estrogen to alter the differentiation of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Immature murine (mice) cells were exposed to estrogen and parabens to measure how they affected certain cellular activates such as Th1 or Th2 activation and T cell proliferation. Based on the flow cytometry, ELISA, and cell proliferation assays it can be concluded that parabens mimic estrogen to induce the differentiation of MDSCs. This project took concepts from both Genetics and Cell Biology to show how gene regulation and cellular pathways are intertwined. Below is my poster that I presented at Longwood University’s Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry in 2019.
Through this pillar of courses, I have been able to acquire not only basic information from courses such as Genetics and Cell Biology but also apply that knowledge in higher level courses like Immunology to further my understanding of Cell and Molecular Biology.