Ten students majoring in biological or agricultural sciences will gain practical knowledge of biotechnology through hands-on experience in research labs in different departments. They also will visit biotech facilities on and off campus. Parag Chitnis, associate professor of biochemistry, and David Oliver, chair and professor of botany, started the program last year to provide research opportunities to undergraduates from small colleges and minority institutions. Chitnis said the program also helps participants figure out if laboratory work is right for them before applying to graduate-level studies. During the eight- week program, students work on projects that reflect their interests, including generation of recombinant DNA, genome analysis and molecular genetics.
Participants receive a stipend and room and board in campus dormitories as part of the experience.
As global food demand progressively recovers, the United States is in an excellent position to capitalize on expanding consumption. Projection data and analysis for major commodities are available in the 1999 World Agricultural Outlook and the 1999 U.S. Agricultural Outlook. ISU food scientist Kevin Schalinske is researching how factors like nutrition and hormones may affect the normal function of folic acid, compromising the body's ability to resist disease and maintain health. Folic acid's function is to transfer methyl groups from one chemical compound to another. When a body has enough folic acid, the vitamin can hinder the development of cancerous tumors, heart disease and birth defects.