McQuade Lab Update 2017

In 2017, BIOSINQ funds supported the work of four students working in my laboratory. Those students, Josh Shettler, Amber Gillard, Molly Kubesh, and Rachael Holm, conducted work on two major projects. The first is an established project aimed at assessing the mechanisms by which bioactive compounds exert their effects. Some of this work was incorporated into a research article that was published this summer (Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2017;491(2):449-454). The second is a new project focused on understanding the role amoebae play in the soil food web. BIOSINQ funds were essential for routine maintenance of the model organism, Dictyostelium discoideum, used in both projects.

Thanks to our donors for their support.

 

Ozsoy Lab Update 2017

For 2016-2017 I was awarded $865 for the support of undergraduate research projects in my laboratory.  The funds were used to purchase RNA isolation kits and a DNA extraction kit.  Two undergraduate students, Alex Colombo and Madison Vincent used these kits for their projects.

Alex Colombo used the RNA isolation kits to isolate the total RNA from Northern Tamarisk Beetles (Diorhabda carinulata).  He studied the expression levels of the genes associated with the diapause response in these biological control agents.

Madison Vincent is using the DNA extraction kits to isolate the DNA from gel slices prior to sequencing reactions.  Her project involved beetles of the Coniatus genus obtained from museums overseas with the goal of developing a phylogenetic tree of the Coniatus species using molecular markers.

Thank you to our wonderful donors!

Alex Colombo sorting Diorhabda beetle pairs for two conditions: diapause inducing 12 hour light,12 hour dark (12L:12D) and reproductive 16L:8D photoperiods.

Alex isolating RNA from beetles for differential gene expression experiments.