What jobs are available for a young person who understands how genes work and who has lab skills in molecular biology, microbiology, and genomics? That was one of the questions that 104 students at Rootstown High School in northeast Ohio had to think about during the 2007-2008 academic year. Working with their biology teacher Stephanie Lammlein and faculty at Hiram College, the students participated in the third iteration of a long-term functional genomics project and made some real scientific contributions. Along the way, they learned a lot about basic molecular biology, how to apply it to a real-world problem such as agricultural production, and hopefully expanded their thinking as to possible future careers.
On Wednesday, May 21st, 2008, students at Rootstown High School presented posters and learning quilts to members of their local community about their year-long research project. Their efforts are one of the outreach projects of the Center for Deciphering Life’s Languages at Hiram College. The Center strives for distinctiveness in the teaching of the molecular sciences through student involvement in cutting-edge research within courses and beyond. The outreach project involving the Rootstown High School students was supported by grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Science Foundation. Over the course of the academic year, the Rootstown students carried out transposon mutagenesis of the sequenced bacterial strain Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58, and screened several thousand mutants for phenotypes such as auxotrophy, acid and base sensitivity, salt sensitivity, motility defects, and biofilm defects. Brad Goodner, associate professor of biology and Center Director, and his colleagues at Hiram College helped the students isolate genomic DNA and clone out the transposon insertion sites. The insertion sites will soon be sequenced and “this will allow us to tie specific genes to particular cellular functions”, according to Goodner. “These students and their peers from past years have found some very interesting mutants that are allowing us to add some new players to well-established biochemical pathways as well as dissect some novel processes such as the interaction of the bacterium with plant cells.” In parallel with their lab research, Ms. Lammlein led her students through readings and discussions of the science behind genetically modified crops, which often involves Agrobacterium as a gene transfer agent, and the hopes and potential concerns that come with the use of those crops. The students also did some research on career choices involving molecular biology lab skills.
The Center for Deciphering Life’s Languages at Hiram College was established in 2006 as one of six centers of excellence. The Center follows up and greatly expands on the earlier success achieved by the Hiram Genomics Initiative. Since January of 2002, undergraduate and high school students have been involved in novel genomics and microbiology research projects as part of the classroom in order to (1) teach basic scientific principles involved in genetics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, genomics, biochemistry, and microbiology, (2) excite students about getting the most out of their biology education, and (3) encourage students to seek out further research experiences beyond the classroom. Approximately one-sixth of the Hiram College student body has participated in HGI activities during that time as have over 300 high school students from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The Center expands these efforts by adding metabolomics, developmental biology, neuroscience, molecular imaging, organic and polymer chemistry, and computational science to its preexisting leadership in genomics and bioinformatics education.
For more information about the Center for Deciphering Life’s Languages and other efforts at Hiram College funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, please contact Brad Goodner (330-569-5260, goodnerbw@hiram.edu), Shawn Brown (330-569-5286, brownsm@hiram.edu), or Michelle Robertson (330-569-5284, robertsonml@hiram.edu).