Students will be able to evaluate, interpret, and apply experimental design and draw valid conclusions from experiments.
In Biology 250: Intro to Genetics and Cell Biology, we conducted an experiment with the pGLO plasmid. GFP has been used as a marker in cells for gene expression and protein targeting. Through this project, our group had the task of testing CAP activity in pGLO. We did this in order to evaluate how arabinose and glucose altered expression of GFP from the pBAD promoter. This project was very intriguing and gave me a greater insight into protein processing.
In my third year at Longwood, I took Biology 360: Development Biology and learned about how animals grow and develop. My experiment for this class was a group project where we analyzed the effect of water quality on early development of Daphnia from a variety of water sources. Our group hypothesized that Daphnia heart rates would increase in treatment water when compared to the control. Here is the results of our project along with figures and literature analysis we completed to support our findings.
For Biology 404: Immunology I worked with a group to properly diagnose a patient. This was a semester long project in which we learned how to apply different immunological tests and run experiments in order to properly diagnose an example patient that presented specific symptoms of an immunodeficiency.
I am continuing to learn more about how to evaluate, interpret, and apply experimental design and draw valid conclusions from experiments. My experiences in the biology major courses has definitely helped to prepare me for pharmacy school and my future in lab and experimental settings.