1.1 Identify and describe the major principles of biology.
The core curriculum that Longwood University requires for biology students is set up to initially be broad, and then allows for students to take more specific classes of their choice. The broad, required courses are very important for giving students the basic knowledge and understanding to apply to specified classes. For instance, I am a senior biology major mostly interested in genetics and molecular biology. When other students talk about their interests in ecological biology or related concentrations, I can still understand and relate to this. Furthermore, when molecular biology or genetics is applied to ecological or other purposes, it is important to have an understanding of all basics of biology to be fully informed while conducting research or reading literature.
Comparison of Bacterial Diversity in Multiple Areas at Longwood University
In my first biology course at Longwood, Integrative Biology, we covered a broad range of topics including ecology, cell biology, and genetics. We conducted a class research project where we swabbed several separate areas on campus and compared the levels of bacteria. In my project, I swabbed light switches, faucet handles, and elevator buttons in Chichester Science Center. This project allowed me to practice basic cell biology methodology and write a lab report to share my results with the rest of the class.
Comparison of Amphibian Diversity
In spring of 2017, I enrolled in Introduction to Ecology and Evolution, a course that covered all of the basic principles of this concentration. I worked with a group to study amphibian diversity and compare abundance and diversity between two lentic water habitats: one small and one large pond. We went into the field and took water samples, which we compared the amount of species and the population number of each species in the two ponds. We found that there was no significant difference in abundance or diversity between the two ponds. We presented these results as a group in a presentation at the Spring Showcase for Research and Inquiry in 2017.
Microbial Diversity Compared Between Murky and Clear Ponds in Farmville, Virginia
In my sophomore year, I took Introduction to Genetics and Cell Biology, which is a course I greatly enjoyed. I conducted a project where I took water samples from a clear water pond and a murky pond in Lancer Park in Farmville, VA and studied the microbial diversity. From the results, I determined that the murky pond had higher microbial diversity due to its higher level of biomass. I presented these results in a poster at the Longwood Fall Showcase for Research and Inquiry in 2017. This gave me more specific experience in working in a lab and researching within the molecular biology concentration.