Most research projects will focus on the physiological adaptation of chaparral and coastal sage to wildfire and drought. Animals that live in the marine intertidal zone are periodically exposed to air or sequestered in tidepools during a low tide. Challenges for survival include desiccation, changes in physical parameters such as temperature, salinity, and pH, and absence of a liquid respiratory medium. Examples of research projects include respiration in water and air by tidepool fishes, salinity effects on intertidal invertebrates, bleaching of symbiotic zooxanthellae in sea anemones, and metabolism during development of grunion eggs. For more information go to Karen Martin's Home Page Mammalian Cell Biology - Dr. Jay L. Brewster.
Multicellular systems display complex regulation of cell division, differentiation, and even death.
The removal of damaged or unwanted cells is accomplished through activation of a cellular apoptosis system, also known as programmed cell death. Several genes have been discovered that are involved in activating or resisting this cell death mechanism. We are using mouse modeling techniques to learn more about the function of Dad1 in mammals. The Honors Research Program in Biology Biology majors are encouraged to participate in the Honors Research Program, which is aimed at providing students with insight into how scient ists design experiments, collect and analyze data, and communicate their results to the scie ntific community. Students apply to the program in their sophomore or junior year and are admitted to the program based upon grade point average, recommendations, career goals, and potential for successful completion of the program.