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Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Series

2021

Articles 1 - 10 of 10

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Comparing Expression Of Green Fluorescent Protein (Gfp) With Different Plasmids, Tinsae Alem, Charles Curbeam, Mackenzie Woody Apr 2021

Comparing Expression Of Green Fluorescent Protein (Gfp) With Different Plasmids, Tinsae Alem, Charles Curbeam, Mackenzie Woody

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

How do different plasmids carrying different promoters affect the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) expression? If the appropriate promoter is not used within the bacterias, then the bacterias will not be able to survive and glow.


Techniques Learned By Students To Determine Which Agar Coated Plates Will Show Bacterial Growth And Glow., Lilly Rogers, Hannah Spencer Apr 2021

Techniques Learned By Students To Determine Which Agar Coated Plates Will Show Bacterial Growth And Glow., Lilly Rogers, Hannah Spencer

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The process in which students conducted a series of experiments to find if agar plates would produce the GFP gene.


The Transformation Of E. Coli Using The Pglo Plasmid, Hailee Banks, Kira Edens Apr 2021

The Transformation Of E. Coli Using The Pglo Plasmid, Hailee Banks, Kira Edens

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The experiment was based on taking E. coli and transforming those cells using pGLO plasmid. It was questioned whether colonies will grow after genetic modification using GFP and if so, will the colonies present a fluorescent green glow. With the consideration of GFP and pGLO being normally associated with each other, it was hypothesized that the colonies will present a fluorescent green glow after using biotechnology processes. This experimental process undergone various steps to successfully verify the presence of GFP and then transform the E. coli. PCR amplicon via gel electrophoresis, purification of amplicon sequence, and transformation using agar plates …


Encouraging Public Outreach And Education To Drive Covid-19 Vaccination In Farmville, Grace Freeman, Marcia Lanasa, Mitchell Sharry Apr 2021

Encouraging Public Outreach And Education To Drive Covid-19 Vaccination In Farmville, Grace Freeman, Marcia Lanasa, Mitchell Sharry

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

As part of our Biology Capstone, we have created a white paper to communicate the importance of public outreach and education regarding the current COVID-19 vaccines to the Farmville Town Council. Previous research has shown that available vaccinations help to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and highlights the importance of widespread community vaccination. Our recommendation to the Farmville Town Council is to create an educational campaign to encourage vaccination within the Farmville community.


Transformation Of E. Coli And Regulation Of Gfp In Pglo, Melanie Rowland, Emily Edwards Apr 2021

Transformation Of E. Coli And Regulation Of Gfp In Pglo, Melanie Rowland, Emily Edwards

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Research Question: Will the presence of pGLO plasmid containing GFP gene produce glowing cells? Hypothesis: In the presence of pGLO plasmid containing GFP gene, the production of glowing cells will occur.


The Abundance Of Soil Microbes In Relationship To Proximity To The Urban Area Of Lancer Park In Farmville, Virginia, Christian Michael, Callie Cutrell, Miguel Diaz-Montealegre Apr 2021

The Abundance Of Soil Microbes In Relationship To Proximity To The Urban Area Of Lancer Park In Farmville, Virginia, Christian Michael, Callie Cutrell, Miguel Diaz-Montealegre

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Soil microbes are microorganisms found in soil that serve various critical roles and functions in the environment, such as decomposition and the cycling of nutrients in ecosystems. Natural and human-caused factors can have positive and/or negative impacts on soil microbes. The objective of this study is to examine the abundance of soil microbes in relationship to proximity to the urban area of Lancer Park in Farmville, Virginia. Soil samples were taken from four locations within Lancer Park: the upper and lower floodplain of Buffalo Creek, the bottom of a large stormwater detention pond, and adjacent to an ephemeral channel connecting …


Combined Effects Of Allelochemical And Pesticide Treatment On The Growth Of Cucumber Plants, Samue Morgan Apr 2021

Combined Effects Of Allelochemical And Pesticide Treatment On The Growth Of Cucumber Plants, Samue Morgan

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Allelochemicals are biochemicals produced by one plant that inhibits the success of other plants in its vicinity. These allelochemicals are sometimes produced naturally or as a result of stimulus or stress. Ferulic acid is a widespread allelochemical found in cucumbers (Cucumis sativus). Artificial inhibitory chemicals such as the pesticide zeta cypermethrin may create new interactions with ferulic acid. We found that cucumbers acclimate to ferulic acid over time while the inhibitory effects of pesticide remained relatively constant over 14 days.


Activating The Innate Immune Response By Utilizing Macrophages As Aâ Defense For Immunosuppressed Individuals And Covid-19, Ashley Coddington, Christina Amoruso, Emma Rogers Apr 2021

Activating The Innate Immune Response By Utilizing Macrophages As Aâ Defense For Immunosuppressed Individuals And Covid-19, Ashley Coddington, Christina Amoruso, Emma Rogers

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The activation of the innate immune response by utilizing Interferon-Gamma to activate macrophages will provide for immunosuppressed individuals an additional treatment option for COVID-19.


Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution For The Homeless Population In Virginia, Brandi Joyner, Hunter Gillespie, Terika Williams Apr 2021

Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution For The Homeless Population In Virginia, Brandi Joyner, Hunter Gillespie, Terika Williams

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Due to the lack of proper personal hygiene, clean water and housing, the homeless population is more susceptible to infections. In addition, the homeless are more likely to have compromised immune systems (i.e., HIV/AIDS) due to illicit drug use and sex work. Furthermore, there is not a current systematic state program that allows feasible access to the COVID-19 vaccine due to limited internet access and/or phone access. We are proposing that the Virginia House of Delegates provide state funding for vaccination drives in areas with high poverty rates. Locations can be at soup kitchens, food banks, domestic abuse shelters, and …


Which Weather And Water Conditions Affect The Biodiversity And Abundance Of Macroinvertebrates The Most?, Alyssa Oppedisano, Phil Anderson, Val Phillips Apr 2021

Which Weather And Water Conditions Affect The Biodiversity And Abundance Of Macroinvertebrates The Most?, Alyssa Oppedisano, Phil Anderson, Val Phillips

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Macroinvertebrates are important biological monitors that play a valuable role in the metabolism of freshwater food chains. Previous studies have suggested that conditions such as dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature, precipitation, and air temperature can affect the abundance of macroinvertebrates which can in turn affect the health of freshwater ecosystems. This research aimed to find the relationship between macroinvertebrate biodiversity and various environmental conditions in freshwater ecosystems. Weather data was taken from a weather station at Lancer Park and water data was taken on-site at Wilson stream, both locations in Farmville, Virginia. Sample collection and identification occurred twice a week …