1
12
32
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/d86d57d408694331662d848f092af4a6.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=uajCb%7EcyTdYyVl8AjAtg%7EFNtt1qLg%7E6Ouvnxpoqfd9AjaxM7cNxZ%7E5Ud4hA5g-tBtYnNku-Rxu-aTLmPYCookDhXDZNwZzwH%7ET5O8eawFP4yGx2bMvQbXuEDsimsUGUB9KkbrBhN6ctFWB1hRZvRQkdDmgHFvUQY1htf1nc7R3fmc1WKDaLKisrA1AqsY5UvBf%7E-GKH1VjJmbcjHDbqMXcj4Coco9wSmct8KjdUUs4WAuoDVGpepgk5I%7EKWTOR1D0mGAQQKrVWnzhFNOswisrfIUZ-DGeHV64DlijKjcyHZ70b3tMZ1CEv9qL4CC5QERs3rpPJki%7E48jeeduJ86PJw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
e8ac2ee409405157273e67ab92a05969
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2011, Issue Fall-01
September, 2011
SUMMER 2011 - BI:335: NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MID ATLANTIC STATES
Students of BI335 enjoy one of many spectacular sites, a dam, during their field trip to Watchung Reservation in New Jersey.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Biology Staff and Faculty News
Biology Student News
News from Clubs and Societies
Experiences
Opportunities
Publications, Presentations and Professional Meetings
Alumni
Cartoon
Guidelines for Contributors and Editorial Board
2
3
4
5
11
12
13
13
13
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The first LIMULUS in the academic year 2011/2012 comes
with a new format of the cover page: A big photograph and a
Table of Contents. I found this idea of one of the student
editors very good. I promise that we will not rename from
“Newsletter” to “Post” of the Department of Biological
Sciences. Moreover, there will never be half-naked polar bears
or the like on page 2.
In the first newsletter of a semester we used to review the last
semester. To some degree we keep this habit. However, we
have some contributions from the summer, and there are
already news and experiences of the current semester. I hope
you enjoy the first issue of the academic year 2011/2012.
Although it is somewhat late, I want to
welcome everybody back to the
college. Of course, a special hello goes
to Dr. Lily McNair, our new provost.
During the first months at Wagner
College she had to deal with the Main
Hall Catastrophe, an earthquake of
magnitude 5.8, and hurricane Irene.
Prepared by such challenging events, I
am sure Dr. McNair is well-prepared
to guide us through the harshest times, if that should be
necessary.
HAVE A SUCCESSFUL FALL SEMESTER!
Dr. Horst Onken, The Editor
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
BIOLOGY PROFESSOR RECEIVES TENURE
Dr. Heather Cook has been
at Wagner College for
several years. She teaches
many courses in the
biology
department
including: Cells, Genes,
and
Evolution,
Gene
Expression
and
Development, Molecular
Cell Biology, and Science:
The Good, the Bad, the
Controversial
(the
Freshman RFT). She is an
active researcher and her
new research project focuses on the effects of endocrine
disrupting chemicals on drosophila development. In the past,
Dr. Cook received the “Teaching with Technology” award at
the Faculty Awards Dinner in 2009. Recently, she learned that
she received tenure. The members of the biology department
went to celebrate Dr. Cook’s good news. Photographs from
the event are pictured in later pages of the newsletter. On the
behalf of the Limulus Staff, I would like to congratulate Dr.
Cook!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna with a photograph from Dr. Moorthy
DR. ONKEN BECOMES NEW DIRECTOR OF THE
HONORS PROGRAM
Dr. Horst Onken is an associate
professor of Physiology and
Zoology at Wagner College.
Dr. Onken has been teaching at
Wagner since 2006 and has
received recognition for his
exceptional work. He was the
recipient of the “Teaching with
Technology” award and the
Faculty Award for Exceptional
Performance in the Area of
Scholarship.
Dr. Onken has published
articles in various prestigious
publications, including two
articles in the Journal of Experimental Zoology. The papers
published in this journal were co-authored by his Wagner
research students. His research interests include studying
epithelial tissue and working with the Aedes agypti
mosquitoes. In addition to his extensive research schedule, Dr.
Onken teaches several courses in the biology department
including Human Biology, Forms and Functions, Comparative
Vertebrate Anatomy, and Animal Physiology. This past year,
he published a chapter in the book Epithelial Transport
Physiology. He also serves as the chair of the Academic
Honesty Committee.
Dr. Erica Johnson has been the director of the Honors Program
for several years. She has done exceptional work for the
program, and this year alone, the number of graduating
students that participated in the program has doubled. At the
end of the summer, she will be stepping down as the director.
Dr. Onken will be the new director of the program beginning
this fall semester. Congratulations to Dr. Onken!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
DR. HOULIHAN TEACHING AT RANDOLPH
COLLEGE FALL 2011
Dr.
Houlihan
began
teaching at Wagner during
the fall 2008 semester. Even
though he has been at the
college for a few years, Dr.
Houlihan has definitely
helped
the
biology
department grow. He will
be leaving Wagner to teach
at Randolph College in the
fall. Randolph College is in
Virginia and is a small
liberal arts college. He will
be teaching microbiology
and genetics classes to
undergraduate students. Additionally, he will teach a class that
is similar to Wagner’s Cells, Genes, and Evolution and will
have students conducting research in his lab. The biology
department and all of Dr. Houlihan’s students will miss him
dearly, and wish him the best of luck in the fall.
Dr. Houlihan received his Bachelors in Molecular Biology
from the University of Mississippi. He later obtained his PhD
in Microbiology from Cornell University. Dr. Houlihan’s
research is focused on plant microbe interactions, specifically
the ways in which plants resist and respond to infection. He
recently became more interested in gastrointestinal
microbiology research.
Dr. Houlihan has taught several courses at Wagner including:
Cells, Genes, and Evolution, Plagues and Outbreaks, Applied
Food, Microbial Physiology, Microbiology, Microbial
Ecology, Immunology, Serology, and a few years ago, he
began teaching a freshman learning community with Dr.
Stearns entitled, “Human Health and Survival.”
Prior to Wagner, Dr. Houlihan admits that he had very limited
teaching experience. “I had some teaching assistantships in
graduate school, but at Wagner, this was the first time I was
able to teach in this capacity,” he stated.
Additionally, Dr. Houlihan mentioned that it was extremely
rare for a college with less than 200 undergraduate students to
have such an impressive microbiology program. He said,” The
microbiology program is very unique and is made up of
dedicated faculty. I believe that it is good for the college to
have such an excellent program.”
Dr. Houlihan enjoyed his time at Wagner and believes that the
family environment is beneficial both to the students and
faculty. “The thing that stood out at Wagner was that it felt
like everyone was part of a family. This aspect of the college
is something that I will truly miss,” he said.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
VOLETA CAPRIC WINS STUDENT GOVERNMENT
PRESIDENTAL ELECTIONS
Junior Violeta Capric is a double
major
in
biology
and
anthropology. Capric ran a
successful campaign for the
SGA presidency for the 20112012 academic year. She served
as a SGA Senator during his
sophomore year. Additionally,
Capric is currently the Vice
President of Tri-Beta, and is a
member of the co-ed service
fraternity Alpha Phi Omega.
Last year, she received the
Academic Excellence Award
(4.0 GPA) for both the fall and
spring semesters and the Robert
D. Blomquist Memorial Award in Biology at the spring
Undergraduate Awards Ceremony. Congratulations on behalf
of the Limulus staff!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
SENIOR ACCEPTED BY DENTAL SCHOOLS
Senior biology major and psychology
minor Peter Pisano received acceptances
from four prestigious dental schools.
Peter was accepted to the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
(UMDNJ) and New York University’s
College of Dentistry last semester.
During spring semester, Pisano learned
that he gained admission to the School
of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook
University and Columbia University. He
will be attending Stony Brook
University in the fall.
Additionally, Pisano will be graduating with departmental
honors. He will receive the Kevin Sheehy Award in Biology,
given in recognition of the highest cumulative grade point
average in the study of biology and the Dr. Norman L. Freilich
Memorial Award, given to a graduating student accepted into
medical or dental school at the Senior Awards Banquet that
will be held before Commencement.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
Peter on all of his accomplishments!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
GRADUATING SENIOR TO ATTEND DUAL DEGREE
PROGRAM IN THE FALL
Senior double major (Biology/Chemistry) Victor Stora was
accepted to two excellent veterinary schools. Stora will be
attending Louisiana State University and will be pursuing his
D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and PhD in
Molecular Cell Biology starting this fall semester. Stora was
also accepted to Iowa State University College of Veterinary
Medicine.
Stora conducted research this past
summer at the School of
Veterinary Medicine at the
University of Pennsylvania. He
worked in the PennGen Lab for
Inborn Errors of Metabolism and
the Deubler Lab for Genetic
Testing. Stora’s research mentor
was Dr.Urs Giger DVM PD FS MS
ACVIM. The results from this
research are being presented at the
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Denver.
It is under review by the Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association (JAVMA).
Additionally, he is the vice president of Allied Health for the
Pre-Health Society. He is the SGA representative for Tri-Beta
and works in the Peer Tutoring Center as the biology tutor. On
the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
Victor on all of his accomplishments and wish him the best of
luck in the fall!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOPSYCHOLOGY MAJORS ACCEPTED
This year, three biopsychology majors will be attending
various graduate schools this upcoming fall. The Limulus staff
would like to highlight the achievements of these three senior
students.
Leandra Manfredini is a commuter student from Staten Island,
NY. She is a member of various honor societies on campus
including Psi Chi (the International Honor Society in
Psychology), Omicron Delta Kappa (the National Leadership
Honor Society), and Psi Epsilon Alpha (the Biopsychology
Honor Society). Manfredini is also a proud member of the
sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha and served as the VP of
Programming and Ritual for ASA. She also was the Greek
Senate chair for her sorority. Manfredini was accepted to the
City University of New York’s Graduate Program for Doctor
of Physical Therapy (DPT), and will begin her studies this
upcoming fall semester.
Aimee Marin is also a commuter student from Staten Island,
NY. She is a member of ODK, Tri-Beta, Psi Chi, and Gamma
Sigma Epsilon (the Chemistry Honors Society). She founded
the Wagner chapter of Psi Epsilon Alpha (Biopsychology
Honor Society) this year and she served as the organization’s
president. She gained admission to the Evelyn Spiro College
of Nursing at Wagner College. Marin will be pursuing her
second Bachelors in Nursing this fall and hopes to continue
her education at Wagner to receive her Masters in Nursing in
the near future.
Thomas Rammelkamp is a resident student from Long Island,
NY. Rammelkamp is a student athlete and was named to the
NEC (Northeast Conference) Winter Academic Honor Roll on
several occasions during his undergraduate career. Athletes
that are on the NEC Honor Roll need to have a grade point
average of at lease 3.20 and need to have distinction as an
athlete on a varsity college team. He is a member of the Men’s
Track and Field team. Despite having a demanding academic
and athletic schedule, Rammelkamp was able to graduate a
semester early and finished his undergraduate career this past
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
December. He gained admission to Stony Brook University’s
Physical Therapy (DPT) program and will begin his studies
shortly this upcoming June.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
all of the biopsychology majors on their acceptances to three
excellent graduate programs! I wish you all the best of luck in
the future.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
NEWS FROM CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
BIOLOGY CLUB
The biology club has passed the 100 active member mark and
growing. Working closely with organizations and charities, the
club will be holding a second annual health awareness event
this October featuring a "MED-iterranean Medley Feast."
Delicious kebobs, appetizers, dips and deserts from the
Mediterranean will be served in support of various biology
related topics and raising funds for ACS Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer Walk on Oct. 16th. New members are
always welcome to join and come to our fun-filled meetings to
discuss current events in biology and meet with other students
interested in the same field. Those interested in joining should
contact Janna Denisenko (janna.denisenko@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
A remark by the editor: First of all I want to congratulate the
Biology Club to surpassing 100 active members. This is truly
remarkable. As the faculty advisor of the Biology Club I am
proud, of course, but I want to underline that this outstanding
success of the Biology Club is most certainly based on the
engagement of the members alone. Especially under the
presidency of Leonid Denisenko this club has had remarkable
progress, and I hope that this success will continue under the
presidency of his sister Janna..
Contributed by Gregory Balaes. Photos by Joanna Emilio.
BIOPSYCHOLOGY HONORS SOCIETY
A new Biopsychology Honors Society has been formed at
Wagner College. The following photographs are from the
induction ceremony.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
TRI-BETA BIOLOGY HONORS SOCIETY
Tri-Beta took part in a garden rehabilitation for Dr. Onken and
the Biology Department. The garden behind Megerle should
now be ready to plant for the Spring.
Tri-Beta will also be participating in the Light the Night walk
on Staten Island. The Light the Night Walk supports The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's and is Saturday October 1st
at 5:30 PM on the Midland Beach Promenade. Please contact
Joanna.emilio@wagner.edu if you would like to be involved
in Light the Night.
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
related jobs. Certification is offered at a very discounted rate,
a factor which makes this event very appealing for students.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
The Pre-Health Society held elections this past month. The
new VP of Allied Health will be Samar Alwani, a rising junior
biology major. The results for the other E-Board positions will
be announced shortly. For more information, please contact
Pre-Health
Society
President,
Felicia
Giunta
at
Felicia.giunta@wagner.edu.
Photos are taken from the Spring 2011 CPR Certification
event at Wagner College.
All of those interested in the Fall 2011 CPR Certification on
Saturday, October 22 at 11 AM should contact predental@wagner.edu for more information for the
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
PRE-DENTISTRY SOCIETY
Many exciting events are
planned for the 2011-2012
academic
year.
Between
promoting oral health in
neighboring schools, and their
Spring 2012 Health Fair, the
Pre-Dentistry
Society
is
certainly giving back to the
community.
Among other exhibits and activities, the 2012 Health Fair will
feature the 21 feet. long by 15 feet. wide inflatable MEGA
Heart ®. The MEGA Heart displays the entire anatomy of the
human heart, including examples of heart disease, and some of
the latest medical treatments for the heart. Students of the PreDentistry Society and various clubs and organizations will
provide information and activities all in relation to promoting
proper health. The following are organizations who plan to
participate and incorporate components of maintaining proper
health: Physician Assistant Program, Tri-Beta Honors Society,
the Student Nursing Association, the Physician Assistant
Association, the Microbiology Club, TKE, and Theta Chi (two
fraternities here at Wagner Collge). In addition, the Society
has invited neighboring Public Schools, in an attempt to attract
and inform a diverse audience. If you’re your organization or
company is interested in participating, please contact the
Society’s
President,
Gregory
Balaes
at
gregory.balaes@wagner.edu.
The Pre-Dentistry Society will also hold their bi-annual CPR
Certification event on Saturday, October 22 at 11 AM.
Becoming CPR Certified not only is important for everyday
life scenarios, but remains to be a highlight for various health
Lastly, the Society has a new executive board, with the
following students and their respective positions:
Gregory J. Balaes (President), Leonard Giordano (Vice
President), Sara Mfarrej (Community Service Chair), David
Finkelstein (Treasurer), and Angelo Cacciatore (Secretary).
Any student interested in dentistry is certainly welcome to join
the Pre-Dentistry Society. For more information, please email
pre-dental@wagner.edu .
Contributed by Philip Fomina. Photos by Gregory Balaes.
EXPERIENCES
BI335: NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC
STATES
During the two weeks following the Spring 2011 semester’s
end, students of BI335 (taught by Dr. Palestis) truly had a
remarkable experience in “learning by doing.” BI335 involved
many trips to several nearby locations, such as the New Jersey
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Pine Barrens, Jamaica Bay, the Hackensack Meadowlands,
and the American Museum of Natural History.
Students particularly enjoyed two overnight trips to witness
the horseshoe crab spawning/shorebird migration spectacle in
Delaware Bay and to hunt for marine fossils in the Pocono
Mountains.
If you are interested in the course, please email
bpalesti@wagner.edu in order to express your interest.
Remember, this is elective course, which may be used as one
of the three required electives for the biology major, or
environmental minor.
Students taking a quick rest along side of a dam
at the Watchung Reservation in New Jersey.
Above: Students Gregory Balaes and Casey Lindine gearing
up, as they prepare to enter the deep sea!
Above: Dr. Palestis returning a snapping turtle to its habitat.
The turtle was previously stranded on the side of the road,
seemed dehydrated, and clearly lost. If it was not for Dr.
Palestis’ wild-life strategies, it may not have lived. Great job
Dr. Palestis!
Delaware Bay. Student Casey Lindine observed
as shore birds hunt mating horseshoe crab eggs.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
FROM BLARING HORNS TO SCREAMING PIHAS AND
BACK
During Summer 2011, I
was given an amazing
opportunity to experience
and
learn
biodiversity
survey methods in the
Iwokrama
Forests
of
Guyana, South America.
Through
Operation
Wallacea; an organization
funded by tuition fees that
operates biological and
conservation management
research
programs
in
remote locations across the
world, I was introduced to a
type of field work that
many do not get to
experience. The program was centered in the Iwokrama
Forests in the Guyana Shield at the Iwokrama Research Center
however as an expedition we traveled to additional sites;
including Canopy Walkway, Rock Landing in Surama Village,
and Sandstone.
The program started in
the capital, Georgetown
where our group of 16
met for the first time.
There were 5 volunteers
from America, 2 from
Canada, 1 from Wales, 2
from Scotland, and 6
from
England;
our
supervisors included 1
American scientist in the
PHD program at Missouri
and two scientists and a
doctor from England. Our
first week consisted of
introductory lectures into
the Guyana environment
and the background information on the animals and techniques
that we would be using over the next 3 weeks. We learned
how to set-up mist nets, how to extract birds and bats from the
mist nets, what to look for on mammal surveys and
herpetology surveys’, and how best to avoid any venomous
animals we may encounter. Our stay at the research facility
was short and mainly tutorial. The second week we arrived at
Canopy Walkway, which is a tourist attraction for Guyana.
This week we began to conduct regular surveys that started at
5:45 every morning and normally ended at 11:00 to 11:30.
These surveys included bird point counts, bird nets, two
mammal surveys, and a herpetology survey. On the bird point
counts we would walk onto the platforms (see picture) and
watch and listen closely to the birds that were around us.
We would have either a scientist or an Amerindian guide with
us to help identify the bird, the angle of its direction, and its
distance by the call that it made. The mammal surveys were
similar in that there were transects cut that ranged in distance
from 1.5 km to 3.4 km and a survey consisted of walking
slowly with a guide or scientist and listening and watching
closely for birds or any signs of large mammals. These were
difficult surveys to conduct because the forest is dense and we
as volunteers are clumsy at maneuvering the fallen logs and
swamps so we were easily heard and not always as observant
as our well trained guides. Bird netting was an all day
procedure that began at 6:00 in the morning and ended at 6:00
at night. At each site we set up 18 twelve meter nets, these
nets are made from a thin material and can be hard to see at
certain angles. A bird would fly into it and become tangled;
our job was to extract the birds from the net and identify it and
make a small mark on its far right tail feather so we knew that
it had already been counted. We would check the nets every
hour until dusk approached because then it would be time to
open the bat nets. We always kept the bat and bird nets
separate because the bats carry parasites that would potentially
transfer to the birds and be hazardous to their heath. The
herpetology survey consisted of a walk along either a transect,
or an access road that looked promising for reptiles or
amphibians. We
would use sticks
in order to poke
around the leaf
litter on the floor
to provoke a
frog to jump or
in some cases
and snake to
slither. In our
expedition we
were lucky enough to have caught a juvenile caiman, a
juvenile anaconda, and to see two bi-striped pit vipers, a rare
find (see picture below). During the night there were two
activities to participate in, either the night herpetology walk or
bat nets. The only difference in the night herpetology walk
was that you had to use you headlight, 1. to see where you
were going and 2. to see the eye shine of the different animals.
Red meant larger animal; caiman, predator cat, or some type
of mammal; blue meant spiders, and orange or yellow usually
meant frogs. Bat netting was similar to bird netting, the only
difference was that with the bats you have to avoid being
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
bitten by their fangs and the extraction process was more
tedious. The bats tended to bite and thrash more than the birds
creating holes in the net, so when a bat became tangled, he
was really in there and trying to adjust your body and the bats’
while not being bitten was sometimes a challenge. The second
and third camps that we visited were off of the Burro Burro
River and they included river surveys. River surveys consisted
of traveling 20 minutes either up or down stream and then
switching the motor off for an hour and looking to see any
large mammals such as monkeys, tapirs, or river otters in
addition to water birds as we floated down the river. For our
entire journey we stayed in hammocks that were tied between
two trees; we were provided with mosquito nets and a basher
or tarp that was tied above the hammock for protection from
the sun and the rain. Our meals were served on a routine basis
of 5:30 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m. of local cuisine consisting of
rice, chicken, beef, and fish. This trip was an experience of a
lifetime for so many reasons. Not only did I learn about the
techniques of field work and how science is carried out in a
real life application, but I also made international connections
and lasting friendships. Iwokrama Rainforest is under the
protection of the Guyana Shield and should remain so because
the pristine nature of the forest is remarkable. To be able to
spend a month in one of the last remaining untouched lands
was an honor and a privilege and I encourage all who ever
come across such an opportunity to take it.
Contributed by Judy Betz
ANOTHER SUMMER IN WASHINGTON
As in the last years, I spent the summer again at Washington
State University (WSU) where I have the chance to focus on
my research with mosquitoes. Hours of lab work are
accompanied
by
discussions
with
colleagues
and
students.
However, these times
in
the
Pacific
Northwest are not
only dedicated to
work. I meet old
friends, and it may be
a good opportunity to
introduce two of them to you today. Stacia and David Moffett
are professors for Neurobiology and Physiology at WSU.
However, they also have a second life. Living in the vicinity
of the Wawawai Canyon close to the canyon of the Snake
River, they are expert biological gardeners who grow produce
and fruit for a food
coop. On top, they
have a vineyard and
a winery, producing
a
selection
of
delicious wines that
are sold at home, in
their tasting room,
or online. Over the
years, their place
has
become
a
second home for me. Just
to give you a taste of
what it means to grow
biologically to Stacia and
David, let me tell you of
their way to fight
grasshoppers and other
insects that threaten their
crop. Instead of spraying
pesticides, David and
Stacia successfully use chicken, turkeys and guinea fowl to
fight insects. The eggs,
sold at the food coop or
at a local farmers
market,
give
some
additional income. Of
course, these birds need
to be taken care of, not
only because they could
become prey only too
easily to the cougars,
bobcats or coyotes that roam the countryside. At times also
other
little
vagabonds need to
be taken care of,
like these two little
raccoons that had
evidently lost their
mom. Small rodents
like the many kinds
of mice and moles
who favor to nibble
on the roots of producing plants are fought more or less
successfully by the
snakes who like to
explore Stacia and
David’s premises
for the abundant
food resources. A
special treat in a
country
like
Washington State
is for me the
opportunity
to
hike before or
after work or on weekends. It is very different to be
surrounded
by
sheetrock and cars or
by
nature
and
wildlife.
In
Washington State the
latter is close and
you
can
have
marvelous moments
in the most unlikely
places.
Since this year,
another very pleasant
PAGE 8
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
part of my summers in Washington State is, of course, my
wife and my family. Some of you may remember that my wife
moved to Washington State in 2010 to get her PhD in
Molecular Plant Science at WSU. Instead of teaching
Environmental Biology at Wagner College, she is now
studying the Münch Hypothesis and laminar flow in the
phloem of Arabidopsis.
Professor Beecher says
hello to everybody who
remembers her.
Last not least, my
summers are determined
by the drives across the
country. Leaving Staten
Island after graduation, it
almost seemed that the
cold, wintery weather did not want to let me pass the Rocky
Mountains. Despite the
obstacles, I had a great
time driving West at the
end of May. Fortunately,
the drive back East in
August was considerably
easier. During this last
summer my car crossed
25 states, and I had the
pleasure to visit eleven National Parks and five National
Monuments. My summer was
enriched by spending time in a
number of very interesting
National Preserves and State
Parks. My “batteries” were
recharged for another academic
year at Wagner College while I
was camping in remote places
in Eastern Oregon or Northern
Colorado. My campfire burnt in
Southern Utah and Western
Arizona. Many times, I was
surrounded
by
most
magnificent
scenery
and
amazing animals and plants.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
LEARNING COMMUNITY AT WASTE WATER PLANT
Last
Tuesday,
September 20, 2011,
the
first-semester
freshmen in Learning
Community 17, taught
by Dr. Mosher and Dr.
Stearns went on their
first of many field trips.
This one in particular
was
to
a
large
wastewater treatment facility, where the students learned how
microbes are used to biodegrade organic wastes.
The experiential component of that learning community
involves several class field trips to see how microbiologists
earn their livings. We go to private pharmaceutical
corporations (e.g., ImClone), academic research institutions
(e.g., microbiology research facilities at Rockefeller
University and New York University), federal facilities (e.g.
Food and Drug Administration), city facilities (e.g. New York
City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), medical
schools (e.g., New York University Medical School), hospitals
(e.g., Bellevue Hospital), as well as a wastewater treatment
facility in New Jersey. The students also have opportunities to
attend two professional meetings especially focused on
microbiology themes this fall (e.g., New York Academy of
Science, and the Metropolitan Association of College and
University Biologists). The students also are preparing to
teach basic microbiology concepts in three local elementary
schools in November.
As part of this learning community, the students also conduct
empirical research to determine if bacteria can survive and
thrive using an industrial chemical as the only source of
carbon. In other words, the students are determining if
bacteria can biodegrade an industrial chemical that they have
been given. For the Bioremediation Project, the students are
working in pairs; each pair has been given a different
chemical. At the end of the semester, they will give a
PAGE 9
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
presentation of their results, to which we will invite the
college community. Anything new that is learned here may be
useful in biologically eliminating lab-created chemicals that
are otherwise long-lived in the environment.
Contributed by Dr. Stearns, Dr. Mosher, and Gregory Balaes
ACE LECTURE ABOUT THE HUMAN GENOME
PROJECT
The field of biology has been
advancing every day. Scientists
learned to manipulate pieces of DNA
and even developed ways to use
machines
to
automate
many
laboratory procedures. The first rough
draft of the human genome project
was first proposed at the turn of the
century. The human genome project
was an incredible technological
achievement; however, the project
stirred controversy. Many individuals believed that the
genome project was a crazy idea, and many skeptics did not
understand why it would be useful to sequence the entire
human genome.
George Dewey, Provost and a chemistry professor from the
University of La Verne, gave an ACE lecture at Wagner
College recently. In the near future, Dewey speculated that
parents of newborns might receive a CD-ROM version of their
child’s entire genome. Although sequencing the human
genome had many benefits, there were some problems
associated with sequencing the genome. The human genome
has three billion nucleotide base pairs. It was rather difficult
to try to assemble 3 million reads (reads refer to a fragment in
the genome) in perfect order. Craig Venter, a prominent
American biologist, believed that the best way to sequence the
human genome was to use shotgun assembly. This method
chews up the DNA and the computer will be able to read the
fragments. Contrastingly, Francis Collins, an American
physician-geneticist, believed that the best way to sequence
the human genome was to match 1000 reads with the physical
location of the chromosomes. Nevertheless, Venter’s method
was the most efficient sequencing technique, and he did not
need to identify the chromosomes in the fragments. Many
individuals were still skeptical that it was impossible for a
computer to read the DNA libraries. Eventually, Venter
chopped the DNA a second time, and was able to get a
different set of 1000 reads.
After the human genome project was sequenced, there were
many direct outcomes. The human genome project allowed
scientists to discover 1800 new disease genes and 1000
genetic tests for human disease conditions were developed as a
direct result of the human genome project. Additionally, 50
major types of cancer were identified. There were also many
surprises from the human genome project. Scientists realized
that the number of genes in the human genome is roughly
35,000. The human genome also contains many silent genes.
The outcomes from the human genome project also taught
people about genes and race,
Many individuals believe that race can be defined through
genes. Scientists realized that there are no genes for race and it
is difficult to clearly define race through genes. The human
genome project taught scientists about the differences and
similarities between individuals of various races. There are
three million human single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
in the genome. The SNPs occur at 1 out of every 1000 bases.
The individual variations between people are due to the SNPs,
and the SNPs allow scientists to compare how individuals are
similar and different from each other. Additionally,
individuals of different racial backgrounds can actually have
identical SNPs. Dewey stated that race is a consequence of
population migrations, but, there is no fundamental difference
between race. Race is defined by society, and there is no
scientific way to accurately define race.
Dewey’s lecture on the human genome focused on the
importance and the controversies surrounding the human
genome project. The human genome project allowed scientists
to study the variations and similarities between human beings.
Additionally, many genetic tests and diseases were discovered
using the data that was obtained from the genome project. The
wealth of data from the human genome project has also
allowed scientists to study the evolution of human beings.
Early humans actually had the genes for brown eyes and
lactose intolerance. As agriculture developed, early humans
were pressured to develop a tolerance for lactose. Even though
there are a lot of ethical issues surrounding the human genome
project, scientists can use the information from the genome
project to study the evolutionary history of human beings.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna with a photograph from the University of La
Verne’s website
RUTHIE’S RETIREMENT
Ruthie Hernandez has retired from her position of
housekeeping, and will forever go down in history as one of
the best housekeeping ladies ever! To celebrate close to 45
years of hard work, co-workers from the physical sciences,
social sciences, library, registrar, housekeeping and others
gathered in Megerle Science Hall to wish the best of luck to
Ruthie. Her commitment, strength and kind heart made her
more than just another co-worker. She is truly a friend to
many, and not seeing her smiling face will leave a gap in the
daily routine of those who will miss her motherly attention
and vibrant personality.
PAGE 10
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
according to these studies, it appears the little brown bat, will
become almost extinct in the northeast in 16 years.
For his gallant efforts in saving this elusive, helpful, and now
threatened animal, a big thank you to Dr. Onken!
Contributed by Stephanie Rollizo with a photograph from the US Fish &
Wildlife Service.
OPPORTUNITIES
Contributed by Gregory Balaes, Stephanie Rollizo, and Professor Linda Raths
RESCUE OF BROWN BAT
It began when Dr. Kathy Bobbitt came from her “General
Pathology” class to let us know that as she was teaching about
rabies transmission through an animal such as a bat, a student
questioned if a bat was in their classroom. Dr. Bobbitt
assumed the student was kidding around, but it was not a joke
when she spotted the little brown bat clinging onto the ceiling.
Prof. Linda Raths, Dr. Horst Onken and I immediately went to
investigate. And there, quietly attached to a ceiling tile, was
the tiny creature. Luckily, we are prepared in the biological
sciences department, and after assessing the situation thought
we might be able to rescue the frightened mammal.
With an old butterfly net in hand, Dr. Onken climbed atop a
desk, reached up, and caught the bat! With the helpless
animal trapped, we took it on a quick journey up to the roof of
the science building, and released it. At first its wings were
spread; then it quickly folded them up and rested. We left it
there, overnight, and discovered it had found its way back into
the wild this morning.
Although it is true that bats can transmit rabies, as Dr. Bobbitt
confirms, they still do more good than harm, eating up lots of
mosquitoes, which then decreases the spread of other diseases,
such as West Nile virus. See:
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2007/09/15/2007-0915_bats_do_far_more_good_than_harm.html
In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that a
fungus called white-nose syndrome, first noticed in 2006 in
New York bats, has a 95% mortality.
See:
http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/ .
Unfortunately,
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr. Onken offers
research opportunities
for students in the
frame of a project in
which he collaborates
with scientists from
Washington State University, the University of Idaho, and the
University of Alberta (Edmonton, CA). The project is funded
by the National Institute of Health and studies the physiology
of the midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes
aegypti). Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of parasites,
transmit devastating diseases like malaria, yellow fever and
dengue, and are a major threat to the health of billions of
people on our planet. The principal investigators of this
project address larval mosquitoes, because it appears more
straightforward to fight these vectors as long as they are
confined in an aquatic habitat.
In collaboration
with colleagues
from the U.S.
(Mt.
Desert
Island Biological
Laboratories,
Maine),
Brazil
(University
of
São Paulo in
Ribeirão Preto,
University of Paraná in Curitiba) and Canada (University of
Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken pursues research with
Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory capacities and
mechanisms of crabs.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
For the spring semester Dr. Onken offers a work study
position related to his work with mosquitoes.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
The editor would like to encourage faculty members of the
Department of Biological Sciences to describe their
opportunities for research projects in the LIMULUS.
If students are interested to volunteer, to do research for
credit (BI 493 and 494), or to prepare for their research
experience in the frame of the senior learning community,
please, contact the faculty members of the department.
PAGE 11
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the fall of 2011 should contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Onken
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
Proficient student writers are invited to become assistant
editors for the newsletter of the Department of Biological
Sciences. If you are interested, please, contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Onken
PUBLICATIONS
To our knowledge, no manuscripts have been published
during the year of 2011. Please, communicate publications
to the editor.
PRESENTATIONS
Palestis, B.G. and K.E. Eppinger. 2011. A banding study of
common terns on Pettit Island, NJ: Preliminary results.
Greater New York/New Jersey Harbor Herons and Waterbirds
Working Group. Staten Island, NY. January 12-13.
Dr. ONKEN IN SCOTLAND
In June/July, Dr. Onken visited Glasgow, UK, for a week to
participate in the annual meeting of the Society of
Experimental Biology. One of the major symposia in the
frame of this conference, entitled “Molecular physiology of
epithelial transport in insects: a tribute to William R.
Harvey.”, was dedicated to the professional life of Bill
Harvey. Dr. Harvey holds a PhD in Biology from Harvard,
worked for decades at Temple University and is currently
Professor of Physiology and Functional Genomics (Whitney
Laboratory, University of Florida) and Professor of Global &
Environmental Health (College of Public Health and Health
Professions, University of Florida). He has significantly
influenced the past 50 years of epithelial transport in insects.
Bill received many honors, organized significant meetings,
and acted as editor of the Journal of Experimental Biology, a
leading journal of the field. The symposium was attended by
about 60 researchers especially active and successful in the
field of epithelial transport in insects. Apart of the scientific
sessions, there was time to socialize and discuss plans,
hypothesis and results.
Palestis, B., I. Nisbet, J. Hatch, J. Arnold, and P. Szczys.
2011. The importance of tail length for sexual selection in
roseate terns. Waterbird Society. Grand Island, NE. March 1316.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
SENIOR PRESENTS AT CONFERENCE
Senior biology major and environmental studies minor Farha
Rashid presented at a conference earlier in Spring 2011. She
presented her research that was entitled, “Spectral
Photosensitivity of the Pupal Stage of the Yellow Fever
Mosquitro Aedes aegypti Larvae.” This research was
conducted under the direction of Dr. Stearns and was funded
with the generous donations from the Undergraduate Senior
Thesis Research Fund for the Department of Biological
Sciences.
The research symposium that Rashid attended took place at
William Paterson University. Undergraduate students from the
Mid-Atlantic area presented their findings in biology and
chemistry. Rashid gave a poster presentation.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
Dr. Onken presented a poster at the conference in the Scottish
Exhibition and Conference Center in Glasgow under the title
“Electrophysiology of the isolated and perfused posterior
midgut of adult, female yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes
aegypti).” He was also invited to give a keynote lecture at a
satellite meeting in the University of Glasgow (the “home” of
Lord Kelvin). Dr. Onken’s visit in Scotland was financially
supported by the Litzenberger Fund.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
PAGE 12
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
MACUB FALL CONFERENCE
The 44th annual fall conference of the Metropolitan
Association of College and University Biologists will be held
on October 29 at Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ).
This year, the conference theme is “Microbes: Tiny but not
Insignificant”. The two keynote speakers are Dr. Bonnie
Bassler (Squibb Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton
University), who will talk about “How Bacteria Talk to Each
Other”, and Dr. Martin J. Blaser (Frederick H. King Professor
of Internal Medicine and Professor of Microbiology at New
York University School of Medicine) will address the topic “A
mixed Bag: Bacteria that Colonize Humans”. The MACUB
conference is always a great opportunity for students to
present their research. Applications for poster presentations
must be submitted online not later than October 13.
Conference registration is open until October 19.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
CARTOON
ALUMNI
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your contribution on a
level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and 500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to horst.onken@wagner.edu,
or to one of the assistant editors (see below).
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files (high quality jpg
is the preferred file format) attached to the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of the month. Contributions received later may or may not be considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Secretary of the Department of Biological Sciences
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (graduated Biology major; spring 2011)
Student Assistant Editor: Gregory Balaes (Biopsychology)
Student Assistant Editor: Philip Fomina (Biopsychology)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
PAGE 13
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, September 2011
Subject
The topic of the resource
McNair, Lily
Cook, Heather
Onken, Horst
Houlihan, Adam
Capric, Violeta
Pisano, Peter
Stora, Victor J.
Manfredini, Leandra
Marin, Aimee P.
Rammelkamp, Thomas J.
Palestis, Brain
Balaes, Gregory
Lindine, Casey
Hernandez, Ruthie
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Biology professor receives tenure / Nidhi Khanna and Ammini Moorthy -- Dr. Onken becomes new director of the honors program / Nidhi Khanna -- Dr. Houlihan teaching at Randolph College fall 2011 / Nidhi Khanna -- Violeta Capric wins student government presidential elections / Nidhi Khanna -- Senior accepted by dental schools / Nidhi Khanna -- Graduating senior to attend dual degree program in the fall / Nidhi Khanna -- Biopsychology majors accepted / Nidhi Khanna -- News from clubs and societies / Gregory Balaes, Horst Onken, Joanna Emilio, and Philip Fomina -- Natural history of the Mid-Atlantic states / Gregory Balaes -- From blaring horns to screaming pihas and back / Judy Betz -- Another summer in Washington / Horst Onken -- Learning community at waste water plant / Donald Stearns, Roy Mosher, and Gregory Balaes -- Ace lecture about the human genome project / Nidhi Khanna -- Ruthie's retirement / Gregory Balaes, Stephanie Rollizo, and Linda Raths -- Rescue of brown bat / Stephanie Rollizo -- Opportunities / Horst Onken -- Publications, presentations, professional meetings, alumni, and cartoon
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2011-09
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
13 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/b6d6044587f1b876de67d54e19f6fd0e.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=DyalqgnSw%7Ee2M57GwbqD31D7g%7E6ejgshzGFDP0nHiTru3HXfT1CuslRRX0m%7EcTGhmmiFeCkEK52rAI5c%7EJfYqnn71IYH6SKM3aizILdKgVYk9qqkXitOPERADxPOeDqfOLJzIsNNQkGFH22GkWC8QBCZsSnl9BDJiPw2v9CelgGZxUYDRjtZdDJxNa7Jl8LnvBDMM%7EKhlLAPfziwaPaKmnLBJ9SH-zHCU5PI2tSgj3OvsGhyV-vRqro1OZcHtlNEhV69A8mcu3RKq0kqE8iq9mTP5BqPGjf7nK5gxXdMPXEu8nbAqugKmekfeCtO8bd0Fji6jYwNmZSrc2FpilTQyA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
5755f97cb3bbc87787f8c3d0e27638c3
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2011, Issue Spring-04
April/May, 2011
SENIORS IN THE RFT MAJORING IN BIOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, OR BIOPSYCHOLOGY
In the front from left to right: Aimee Marin, Jessica LaVacca, Nidhi Khanna, Roseanna Valant, Julianna Maniscalco,
Violeta Capric (junior), Bedrije Goga, Lauren Raynor, Farha Rashid, and Shaza Irfan. In the back from left to right:
William Etts, Glenn Muoio, Peter Pisano, Philip Kaplan, and Terence Downing. Not in the photograph are the seniors
Felicia Giunta and Victor Stora. Graduating seniors who finished their RFT in last fall: Kaitlin Eppinger, Medije
Mashkulli, Alex Molesan, and Caroline Mroz.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The last Limulus in the academic year 2010/2011 presents our
graduating seniors (see above) and their achievements (see
below. That Nidhi and Farha graduate is of course welldeserved. However, for the newsletter and for me it is a loss.
It will be difficult to substitute such diligent editors. With
pride we celebrate the tenure of Dr. Cook and with sadness we
realize that Dr. Houlihan is leaving us.
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
Dr. Horst Onken, The Editor
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
BIOLOGY PROFESSOR RECEIVES TENURE
Dr. Heather Cook has been at
Wagner College for several years.
She teaches many courses in the
biology department including:
Cells, Genes, and Evolution,
Gene
Expression
and
Development, Molecular Cell
Biology, and Science: The Good,
the Bad, the Controversial (the
Freshman RFT). She is an active
researcher and her new research
project focuses on the effects of endocrine disrupting
chemicals on drosophila development. In the past, Dr. Cook
received the “Teaching with Technology” award at the Faculty
Awards Dinner in 2009. Recently, she learned that she
received tenure. The members of the biology department went
to celebrate Dr. Cook’s good news. Photographs from the
event are pictured in later pages of the newsletter. On the
behalf of the Limulus Staff, I would like to congratulate Dr.
Cook!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna with a photograph from Dr. Moorthy
DR. ONKEN BECOMES NEW DIRECTOR OF THE
HONORS PROGRAM
Dr. Horst Onken is an associate
professor of Physiology and Zoology
at Wagner College. Dr. Onken has
been teaching at Wagner since 2006
and has received recognition for his
exceptional work. He was the
recipient of the “Teaching with
Technology” award and the Faculty
Award for Exceptional Performance in
the Area of Scholarship.
Dr. Onken has published articles in
various prestigious publications, including two articles in the
Journal of Experimental Zoology. The papers published in this
journal were co-authored by his Wagner research students. His
research interests include studying epithelial tissue and
working with the Aedes agypti mosquitoes. In addition to his
extensive research schedule, Dr. Onken teaches several
courses in the biology department including Human Biology,
Forms and Functions, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, and
Animal Physiology. This past year, he published a chapter in
the book Epithelial Transport Physiology. He also serves as
the chair of the Academic Honesty Committee.
Dr. Erica Johnson has been the director of the Honors Program
for several years. She has done exceptional work for the
program, and this year alone, the number of graduating
students that participated in the program has doubled. At the
end of the summer, she will be stepping down as the director.
Dr. Onken will be the new director of the program beginning
this fall semester. Congratulations to Dr. Onken!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
FAREWELL TO DR. DEVORAH LIEBERMAN
Since 2004, Dr. Devorah Lieberman
has worked hard to create a platform
at Wagner College where every
student could have opportunities
through their classes and their cocurricular activites to contribute to
the College, to the local community,
to
the
greater
metropolitan
community, and to the international
community. At Wagner, the faculty
members are deeply dedicated to
teaching and advising students as well as pursuing scholarship
in their disciplines. The principal mission of the Wagner
administration is to support the educational programs of the
College, the work of the faculty, and the learning of our
students. Dr. Lieberman’s responsibility, as Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs, was to oversee this process.
Dr. Lieberman has been an active reader of the Limulus
monthly biology newsletter, and the Limulus staff would like
to wish Dr. Lieberman good luck in her future endeavors. She
has accepted a position as President of the University of La
Verne, and we are confident that she will do a superb job. We
thank you for your support throughout your time at Wagner
College.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
DR. HOULIHAN TO TEACH AT RANDOLPH COLLEGE
NEXT FALL
Dr. Houlihan began teaching at
Wagner during the fall 2008
semester. Even though he has
been at the college for a few
years, Dr. Houlihan has
definitely helped the biology
department grow. He will be
leaving Wagner to teach at
Randolph College in the fall.
Randolph College is in Virginia
and is a small liberal arts
college. He will be teaching
microbiology and genetics classes to undergraduate students.
Additionally, he will teach a class that is similar to Wagner’s
Cells, Genes, and Evolution and will have students conducting
research in his lab. The biology department and all of Dr.
Houlihan’s students will miss him dearly, and wish him the
best of luck in the fall.
Dr. Houlihan received his Bachelors in Molecular Biology
from the University of Mississippi. He later obtained his PhD
in Microbiology from Cornell University. Dr. Houlihan’s
research is focused on plant microbe interactions, specifically
the ways in which plants resist and respond to infection. He
recently became more interested in gastrointestinal
microbiology research.
Dr. Houlihan has taught several courses at Wagner including:
Cells, Genes, and Evolution, Plagues and Outbreaks, Applied
Food, Microbial Physiology, Microbiology, Microbial
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Ecology, Immunology, Serology, and a few years ago, he
began teaching a freshman learning community with Dr.
Stearns entitled, “Human Health and Survival.”
Prior to Wagner, Dr. Houlihan admits that he had very limited
teaching experience. “I had some teaching assistantships in
graduate school, but at Wagner, this was the first time I was
able to teach in this capacity,” he stated.
Additionally, Dr. Houlihan mentioned that it was extremely
rare for a college with less than 200 undergraduate students to
have such an impressive microbiology program. He said,” The
microbiology program is very unique and is made up of
dedicated faculty. I believe that it is good for the college to
have such an excellent program.”
Dr. Houlihan enjoyed his time at Wagner and believes that the
family environment is beneficial both to the students and
faculty. “The thing that stood out at Wagner was that it felt
like everyone was part of a family. This aspect of the college
is something that I will truly miss,” he said.
worked in the PennGen Lab for
Inborn Errors of Metabolism and
the Deubler Lab for Genetic
Testing. Stora’s research mentor
was Dr.Urs Giger DVM PD FS
MS ACVIM. The results from this
research are being presented at the
American College of Veterinary
Internal Medicine in Denver. It is
under review by the Journal of the
American Veterinary Medical
Association (JAVMA).
Additionally, he is the vice president of Allied Health for the
Pre-Health Society. He is the SGA representative for Tri-Beta
and works in the Peer Tutoring Center as the biology tutor. On
the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
Victor on all of his accomplishments and wish him the best of
luck in the fall!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
SENIOR ACCEPTED BY TOP SCHOOLS
Senior biology major and psychology
minor Peter Pisano received acceptances
from four prestigious dental schools.
Peter was accepted to the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
(UMDNJ) and New York University’s
College of Dentistry last semester.
During spring semester, Pisano learned
that he gained admission to the School
of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook
University and Columbia University. He
will be attending Stony Brook
University in the fall.
Additionally, Pisano will be graduating with departmental
honors. He will receive the Kevin Sheehy Award in Biology,
given in recognition of the highest cumulative grade point
average in the study of biology and the Dr. Norman L. Freilich
Memorial Award, given to a graduating student accepted into
medical or dental school at the Senior Awards Banquet that
will be held before Commencement.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
Peter on all of his accomplishments!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
GRADUATING SENIOR TO ATTEND DUAL DEGREE
PROGRAM IN THE FALL
Senior double major (Biology/Chemistry) Victor Stora was
accepted to two excellent veterinary schools. Stora will be
attending Louisiana State University and will be pursuing his
D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and PhD in
Molecular Cell Biology starting this fall semester. Stora was
also accepted to Iowa State University College of Veterinary
Medicine.
Stora conducted research this past summer at the School of
Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He
BIOPSYCHOLOGY MAJORS ACCEPTED TO
GRADUATE SCHOOLS
This year, three biopsychology majors will be attending
various graduate schools this upcoming fall. The Limulus staff
would like to highlight the achievements of these three senior
students.
Leandra Manfredini is a commuter student from Staten Island,
NY. She is a member of various honor societies on campus
including Psi Chi (the International Honor Society in
Psychology), Omicron Delta Kappa (the National Leadership
Honor Society), and Psi Epsilon Alpha (the Biopsychology
Honor Society). Manfredini is also a proud member of the
sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha and served as the VP of
Programming and Ritual for ASA. She also was the Greek
Senate chair for her sorority. Manfredini was accepted to the
City University of New York’s Graduate Program for Doctor
of Physical Therapy (DPT), and will begin her studies this
upcoming fall semester.
Aimee Marin is also a commuter student from Staten Island,
NY. She is a member of ODK, Tri-Beta, Psi Chi, and Gamma
Sigma Epsilon (the Chemistry Honors Society). She founded
the Wagner chapter of Psi Epsilon Alpha (Biopsychology
Honor Society) this year and she served as the organization’s
president. She gained admission to the Evelyn Spiro College
of Nursing at Wagner College. Marin will be pursuing her
second Bachelors in Nursing this fall and hopes to continue
her education at Wagner to receive her Masters in Nursing in
the near future.
Thomas Rammelkamp is a resident student from Long Island,
NY. Rammelkamp is a student athlete and was named to the
NEC (Northeast Conference) Winter Academic Honor Roll on
several occasions during his undergraduate career. Athletes
that are on the NEC Honor Roll need to have a grade point
average of at lease 3.20 and need to have distinction as an
athlete on a varsity college team. He is a member of the Men’s
Track and Field team. Despite having a demanding academic
and athletic schedule, Rammelkamp was able to graduate a
semester early and finished his undergraduate career this past
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
December. He gained admission to Stony Brook University’s
Physical Therapy (DPT) program and will begin his studies
shortly this upcoming June.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
all of the biopsychology majors on their acceptances to three
excellent graduate programs! I wish you all the best of luck in
the future.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOLOGY STUDENTS HONORED AT UNDERGRAUATE
AWARDS DINNER
The Undergraduate Awards Dinner
was held on Friday, April 29th.
Many students from the department
received honors and recognition for
their exceptional academic work.
The awards that students received
are in italics. The following
students were honorees at the
dinner: Gregrory Balaes (Biology
Major, Spanish Minor)- The
Student
Government
Award,
Terryn Marette (Biology Major)Robert D. Blomquist Memorial Award in Biology; Victoria
Felix (Psychology Major, Biology Minor)- Gertrude Aull
Award; Melanie Valencia (Chemistry Major, Biology Minor)Wagner College Award in Chemistry. Congratulations to all
the honorees!
Contributed by Farha Rashid
BIOLOGY MAJORS RECEIVE ATHLETIC AND
ACADEMIC HONORS
Junior biology major Thomas Iannacone and Tiffany Dawson
received recognition for their outstanding athletic ability.
Iannacone is a distance runner for the Men’s Indoor Track
team and he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of
the team. During the 2009-2010 season, he had the best time
for his team at the 1500-meter race at the Princeton
Invitational Tournament. Dawson was named the MVP of the
Women’s Tracks and Field team. During the 2009-2010
season, she finished with the team-best and personal-best in
the 60meter hurdles at Fordham. In addition, sophomore
biopsychology major Dominique Serpe and senior
biopsychology major Thomas Rammelkamp were named to
the 2010-2011 NEC Academic Winter Honor Roll.
Congratulations to the department’s student athletes!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
SENIORS RECEIVE DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
Some seniors received special recognition for their
outstanding work in the biology department. Three seniors
received awards for presenting at a conference, and for their
high GPA. Congratulations to Peter Pisano, Caroline Mroz,
and Philip Kaplan!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
LIMULUS EDITORS
Farha Rashid and Nidhi Khanna,
student-editors of Limulus, and
fourth-year students at Wagner,
will be graduating, and therefore
leaving not only Wagner
College, but also the Limulus
staff. Although their enriched
contributions will no longer
continue to captivate Limulus
readers, they will continue their
journey elsewhere.
Nidhi, for example, will be
taking on a summer internship as she prepares herself to begin
working on obtaining her Master’s degree. On the other hand,
apart from her studies, Nidhi was a part of a wide range of
extracurricular activities both at Wagner College and
elsewhere. Not only was she a student editor for Limulus, the
Biology Newsletter, but also section editor for the Wagnerian
and the Editor-in-Chief of Kallista (the college yearbook). “I
feel that my experiences in all three of these publications has
helped me grow as a leader, and I had a chance to strengthen
my writing skills,” said Nidhi. She was also a member of the
Pre-Health Society and served as the secretary during her
junior year. Additionally she was a member of the Pre-Health
Program, Interfaith on Campus, Biology Club, Spanish Club,
Tri-Beta, ODK, and the Honors Program. In addition, Nidhi
spent her spare time volunteering full-time in Staten Island
University Hospital, and was a philosophy tutor. Nidhi
graduated as a double major in biology and philosophy.
When asked about her interest in science, Nidhi went on in
explaining an interesting anecdote, “When I was a senior in
high school, my school had a ‘Global Warming Day,’ and
invited a guest speaker from a local college. Dr. Stearns was
the guest lecturer and he gave an interesting lecture that
actually sparked my interest in science. He spoke about global
warming and how there is so much scientific evidence that
indicates that global warming is a growing problem. Many
students believed that global warming is just a political issue,
and there were two sides to the issue. Dr. Stearns tried to tell
students that it is important to separate falsehoods from facts,
and we need to understand that there is a lot of scientific
evidence that supports climate change. After that lecture, my
interest in science grew, and I had a new appreciation for it.”
Farha, also has plans to continue her
education with plans to apply to
dental school and take the DAT after
graduation. She has also been
actively involved in Wagner, and
was an active member of the college
community. Farha was a member of
the Pre-Health Society, Pre-Health
Program,
Muslim
Student
Association, Honors Program, and
the Biology club. Farha also served
as the Historian for Tri-Beta. Additionally, Farha continues to
volunteer and shadow dentists in Staten Island University
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Hospital, where she provided administrative support for well
above 100 hours. Farha also currently shadows a local dentist,
and had previously worked as an aide at the Cerebral Palsy
Association of Middlesex County, where she assisted in taking
care of children with Cerebral Palsy by helping students with
math and reading.
When asked about her experience at Wagner, and her interest
in biology, Farha stated the following: “I absolutely loved my
experience at Wagner College. These four years truly flew by.
My experience at Wagner has been enriched due to all the
wonderful professors. I am really happy with my decision to
be a biology major because the professors of the department
are very supportive and helpful. Every since I was a little girl I
was fascinated with nature. There was a pond near my house
and I would go look for different animals. My interest in
biology grew as I got older and doing with research with Dr.
Stearns here at Wagner has allowed me to explore biology in a
more sophisticated way. My interest in biology has expanded
and I hope to take all of the knowledge I have acquired with
me to my future goals.”
On behalf of the Limulus staff, and the biology department,
we would like to thank both Nidhi and Farha for their time and
commitment to the monthly Limulus newsletters.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
board includes President Joanna Emilio, Vice President
Sheldon Rozman, Secretary Victoria Felix, Treasurer William
Rivera, and Historian Nimrod Philippe.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
The Pre-Health Society held elections this past month. The
new VP of Allied Health will be Samar Alwani, a rising junior
biology major. The results for the other E-Board positions will
be announced shortly. For more information, please contact
Pre-Health
Society
President,
Felicia
Giunta
at
Felicia.giunta@wagner.edu.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
This semester members of the biology club completed their
community service off-campus. Club members and other
students from the Wagner community took a trip to the NYC
Bodies Exhibit at South Street Seaport. The event was a
success and students stated that the trip was both fun and a
good learning experience.
The biology club held elections this last month.
Congratulations to the new E-Board!
President (Janna Denisenko), Vice President (Brittney Ayala),
Secretary (Judy Betz), and Treasurer (Radislav Meylikh).
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
TRI-BETA NEWS
Members of Tri-Beta have helped Dr. Palestis with “Project
Safe Flight” and monitored the grounds of Harborview and
Megerle for any birds that may have hit the glass windows
during this migration season. Additionally, members assisted
Dr. Onken in a garden clean up and helped remove weeds
from the garden planters near the Megerle parking lot.
Tribeta inducted new members who were carefully selected by
the executive board. Medije Mashkulli, the Tri-Beta President,
stated, “I am really satisfied with our selection and I feel our
newest members have shown excellence in the sciences.” New
members include: Samar Alwani, Gina Auricchio, Gregory
Balaes, Judith Betz, Jessica Bianculli, Nicole Bouchard, Janna
Denisenko, Joanna Emilio, Victoria Felix, Nimrod Philippe,
William Rivera, Sheldon Rozman, Felicia Rubertone, Brianna
Samson, Lisa Schneider and Melanie Valencia.
The tradition of initiation took place on April 27th, where
members of Tri-Beta were sworn in, including the new
members of the executive board. The 2011-2012 executive
PRE-DENTISTRY SOCIETY
The Dental Society won the “New Organization Award” at
Wagner College’s annual Undergraduate Awards Ceremony.
The award represents a club that has responded to a need in
the Wagner College community and set a tone for other
groups to follow. The Student Government Association (SGA)
selected the Pre-Dentistry Society for the award because just a
year after their formation, they have more than 35 dedicated
members and serve as a great outlet for the pre-dentistry
students. They have held events such as CPR certification
(open to everyone on campus) and handed out information and
toothbrushes to students to educate them about the importance
of dental and oral care. They have been extremely visible and
active, thus setting a tone for other groups.
Dental Health Promotion, which took place in April, was
again a huge success. Students in the Pre-Dentistry Society
handed out over 250 tooth brushes to members of the Wagner
community. While previous events were meant to collect
donations for Operation Smile, this event accepted donations
for the Oral Cancer Foundation instead.
Lastly, Dr. Steven Cisternas, a local dentist, had a symposium
at Wagner College. He spoke about specific topics in general
dentistry, and gave helpful advice to prospective dental
students. He discussed his experiences both before and after
dental school, including his insight for pre-dentistry students.
Gregory Balaes, the Pre-Dentistry Society President had
commented on the symposium. He stated, “Dr. Cisternas was
able to connect with the students on a personal level, and
offered advice that was truly unique, and inspiring. His
personable attitude, and pronounced charisma not only had a
positive influence on the students, but were particularly
motivational. Cisternas emphasized the importance of
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
preventative dentistry, in order to help stop dental issues
before they arise. He also portrayed his vision of his dental
practice, called Richmond Hill Dental Design Studio (located
on 211 Richmond Hill Road, in Staten Island) as a sincere and
caring dentist, where patients are treated with the utmost care,
to the point where they should feel comfortable enough in the
office as they are at home. The Pre-Dentistry Society, and the
Pre-Health Program would like to thank Dr. Cisternas for his
captivating symposium, and for taking the time to connect
with the students.”
Contributed by Farha Rashid
BIOPSYCHOLOGY HONOR SOCIETY
This past academic year, senior Aimee Marin founded the
Wagner chapter of Psi Epsilon Alpha, with faculty advisor Dr.
Zoltan Fulop. This semester the club completed their
community service requirements by donating to Project
Homefront. Project Homefront is a local organization that
collects items such as socks, crossword puzzles, toothbrushes,
and sends care packages to American soldiers serving abroad.
Additionally, the club donated to a local animal shelter. The
organization held its first initiation ceremony in April. The
initiates included: Hayat Abed, Angelo Cacciatore, Deeksha
Chawla, James Cuzzupe, Lisa Duncan, Leonard Giordano,
Leandra Manfredini, Aimee Marin, Maleeha Memon, Richard
Morgan, Caroline Mroz, Ashley Nati, Dominique Serpe, Zoe
Siegel, Alyssa Spivak, Eden Stark, Elissa Troisi, and Milton
Vera. Several members served on the E-Board. The following
members were officers in the club:
President: Aimee Marin; Vice President: Maleeha Memon;
Secretary: Deeksha Chawla; Treasurer: Lisa Duncan; SGA
Representative: Milton Vera.
Congratulations to the new initiates!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
EXPERIENCES
ACE LECTURE ABOUT THE HUMAN GENOME
PROJECT
The field of biology has been
advancing every day. Scientists
learned to manipulate pieces of DNA
and even developed ways to use
machines
to
automate
many
laboratory procedures. The first
rough draft of the human genome
project was first proposed at the turn
of the century. The human genome
project
was
an
incredible
technological achievement; however,
the project stirred controversy. Many individuals believed that
the genome project was a crazy idea, and many skeptics did
not understand why it would be useful to sequence the entire
human genome.
George Dewey, Provost and a chemistry professor from the
University of La Verne, gave an ACE lecture at Wagner
College recently. In the near future, Dewey speculated that
parents of newborns might receive a CD-ROM version of their
child’s entire genome. Although sequencing the human
genome had many benefits, there were some problems
associated with sequencing the genome. The human genome
has three billion nucleotide base pairs. It was rather difficult
to try to assemble 3 million reads (reads refer to a fragment in
the genome) in perfect order. Craig Venter, a prominent
American biologist, believed that the best way to sequence the
human genome was to use shotgun assembly. This method
chews up the DNA and the computer will be able to read the
fragments. Contrastingly, Francis Collins, an American
physician-geneticist, believed that the best way to sequence
the human genome was to match 1000 reads with the physical
location of the chromosomes. Nevertheless, Venter’s method
was the most efficient sequencing technique, and he did not
need to identify the chromosomes in the fragments. Many
individuals were still skeptical that it was impossible for a
computer to read the DNA libraries. Eventually, Venter
chopped the DNA a second time, and was able to get a
different set of 1000 reads.
After the human genome project was sequenced, there were
many direct outcomes. The human genome project allowed
scientists to discover 1800 new disease genes and 1000
genetic tests for human disease conditions were developed as a
direct result of the human genome project. Additionally, 50
major types of cancer were identified. There were also many
surprises from the human genome project. Scientists realized
that the number of genes in the human genome is roughly
35,000. The human genome also contains many silent genes.
The outcomes from the human genome project also taught
people about genes and race,
Many individuals believe that race can be defined through
genes. Scientists realized that there are no genes for race and it
is difficult to clearly define race through genes. The human
genome project taught scientists about the differences and
similarities between individuals of various races. There are
three million human single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
in the genome. The SNPs occur at 1 out of every 1000 bases.
The individual variations between people are due to the SNPs,
and the SNPs allow scientists to compare how individuals are
similar and different from each other. Additionally,
individuals of different racial backgrounds can actually have
identical SNPs. Dewey stated that race is a consequence of
population migrations, but, there is no fundamental difference
between race. Race is defined by society, and there is no
scientific way to accurately define race.
Dewey’s lecture on the human genome focused on the
importance and the controversies surrounding the human
genome project. The human genome project allowed scientists
to study the variations and similarities between human beings.
Additionally, many genetic tests and diseases were discovered
using the data that was obtained from the genome project. The
wealth of data from the human genome project has also
allowed scientists to study the evolution of human beings.
Early humans actually had the genes for brown eyes and
lactose intolerance. As agriculture developed, early humans
were pressured to develop a tolerance for lactose. Even though
there are a lot of ethical issues surrounding the human genome
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
project, scientists can use the information from the genome
project to study the evolutionary history of human beings.
learned about the different plants and animals that inhabited
both the forest and park.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna with a photograph from the University of La
Verne’s website
RUTHIE’S RETIREMENT
Ruthie Hernandez has retired from her position of
housekeeping, and will forever go down in history as one of
the best housekeeping ladies ever! To celebrate close to 45
years of hard work, co-workers from the physical sciences,
social sciences, library, registrar, housekeeping and others
gathered in Megerle Science Hall to wish the best of luck to
Ruthie. Her commitment, strength and kind heart made her
more than just another co-worker. She is truly a friend to
many, and not seeing her smiling face will leave a gap in the
daily routine of those who will miss her motherly attention
and vibrant personality.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna with photographs from Stephanie Rollizo
RESCUE OF BROWN BAT
Contributed by Gregory Balaes, Stephanie Rollizo, and Professor Linda Raths
CAPSTONE CLASS GOES ON FIELD TRIPS
The seniors in Dr. Palestis’ Ecological and Evolutionary
Theory Capstone course spent their last day of classes outside
of the classroom. Accompanied by both Dr. Palestis and
Stephanie Rollizo, the class visited the William L. Hutcheson
Memorial Forest and the Cheesequake State Park. Students
It began when Dr. Kathy Bobbitt came from her “General
Pathology” class to let us know that as she was teaching about
rabies transmission through an animal such as a bat, a student
questioned if a bat was in their classroom. Dr. Bobbitt
assumed the student was kidding around, but it was not a joke
when she spotted the little brown bat clinging onto the ceiling.
Prof. Linda Raths, Dr. Horst Onken and I immediately went to
investigate. And there, quietly attached to a ceiling tile, was
the tiny creature. Luckily, we are prepared in the biological
sciences department, and after assessing the situation thought
we might be able to rescue the frightened mammal.
With an old butterfly net in hand, Dr. Onken climbed atop a
desk, reached up, and caught the bat! With the helpless
animal trapped, we took it on a quick journey up to the roof of
the science building, and released it. At first its wings were
spread; then it quickly folded them up and rested. We left it
there, overnight, and discovered it had found its way back into
the wild this morning.
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Although it is true that bats can transmit rabies, as Dr. Bobbitt
confirms, they still do more good than harm, eating up lots of
mosquitoes, which then decreases the spread of other diseases,
such as West Nile virus. See:
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2007/09/15/2007-0915_bats_do_far_more_good_than_harm.html
In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that a
fungus called white-nose syndrome, first noticed in 2006 in
New York bats, has a 95% mortality. See:
http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/ . Unfortunately,
according to these studies, it appears the little brown bat, will
become almost extinct in the northeast in 16 years.
For his gallant efforts in saving this elusive, helpful, and now
threatened animal, a big thank you to Dr. Onken!
The research symposium that Rashid attended took place at
William Paterson University. Undergraduate students from the
Mid-Atlantic area presented their findings in biology and
chemistry. Rashid gave a poster presentation.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
ALUMNI
Dear Alumni,
Contributed by Stephanie Rollizo with a photograph from the US Fish &
Wildlife Service.
PUBLICATIONS
Palestis, B.G., J. Cabrero, R. Trivers, and J.P.M. Camacho.
2010. Prevalence of B chromosomes in Orthoptera is
associated with shape and number of A chromosomes.
Genetica 138: 1181-1189.
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
with
your
submission,
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
CARTOONS
PRESENTATIONS
Palestis, B.G. and K.E. Eppinger. 2011. A banding study of
common terns on Pettit Island, NJ: Preliminary results.
Greater New York/New Jersey Harbor Herons and Waterbirds
Working Group. Staten Island, NY. January 12-13.
Palestis, B., I. Nisbet, J. Hatch, J. Arnold, and P. Szczys.
2011. The importance of tail length for sexual selection in
roseate terns. Waterbird Society. Grand Island, NE. March 1316.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
SENIOR PRESENTS AT CONFERENCE
Senior biology major and environmental studies minor Farha
Rashid presented at a conference earlier last month. She
presented her research that was entitled, “Spectral
Photosensitivity of the Pupal Stage of the Yellow Fever
Mosquitro Aedes aegypti Larvae.” This research was
conducted under the direction of Dr. Stearns and was funded
with the generous donations from the Undergraduate Senior
Thesis Research Fund for the Department of Biological
Sciences.
Cartoons from www.lab-initio.com
PAGE 8
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your contribution on a
level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and 500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files (high quality jpg
is the preferred file format) attached to the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of the month. Contributions received later may or may not be considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Gregory Balaes (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
PAGE 9
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, April-May 2011
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cook, Heather
Onken, Horst
Lieberman, Devorah A.
Houlihan, Adam
Pisano, Peter
Stora, Victor J.
Manfredini, Leandra
Marin, Aimee P.
Rammelkamp, Thomas J.
Rashid, Farha
Khanna, Nidhi
Iannacone, Thomas
Dawson, Tiffany
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Biology professor receives tenure / Nidhi Khanna -- DR. Onken becomes new director of the honors program / Nidhi Khanna -- Farewell to Dr. Devorah Lieberman / Gregory Balaes / Dr. Houlihan to teach at Randolph College next fall / Nidhi Khanna -- Senior accepted by top schools / Nidhi Khanna -- Graduating senior to attend dual degree program in the fall / Nidhi Khanna -- Biopsychology majors accepted to graduate school / Nidhi Khanna -- Biology students honored at undergraduate awards dinner / Farha Rashid -- Biology majors receive athletic and academic honors / Nidhi Khanna -- Limulus editors / Gragory Balaes / Club and society news / Nidhi Khanna, Gragory Balaes, and Farha Rashid -- Ace lecture about the human genome project / Nidhi Khanna -- Ruthie's retirement / Gregory Balaes, Linda Raths -- Capstone class goes on field trip / Nidhi Khanna and Stephanie Rollizo -- Rescue of brown bat -- Publications, presentations, professional meetings, alumni, and cartoons
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2011-04
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
9 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/cabb23de95e63aafff012ae9fbc3ead8.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=i1wIL%7EplCtLEoxkvxyh3WFG4Kb93uVXX3B5ZbXrOLTIsfQOQeh6nOPKVJ6sl7NHFSS9VJgkA6i0mHSNHFy0ly2eijDnmAY%7EVM4HD1b8eclBC%7EV-uMeUmvJL3L%7EvURFh-cUKCN7EYuOhc6WpmF5VMDeoDJESu27ujgJ3jTnL-yfCbxyDUHwIKmQHbD2zM4pgj0hOcDT2anbK1cXrbEioisayJulM04tpxfw6TD7Vyih0eqD5DD%7EIti0%7EPK%7Ep9cjSnL9cdFnNtFnxxsoPDFncHUIWtBLt9OZK-aHDUGgiNHySlmBKnU5hrPt4NXnna3JabgwaC9HFvbJpwu7P0b7OifA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
b105e4cec2e53b9b4feac381164042cc
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2011, Issue Spring-03
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
As usual, time is running by at the speed of light. Already
April! The semester is almost over. Let us all get ready to turn
in (or grade) papers, presentations, exams and other
assignments. However, let’s all take a minute to look back to
March. Use the LIMULUS.
Welcome back, Dr. Moorthy! We have the last part of your
Dateless Diary with some beautiful photographs. News from
our clubs and societies is followed by Opportunities and
Experiences. The latter are dominated by the Eastern Colleges
Science Conference. At the end, we look back on the visit by
Dr. Allan O’Connell.
May spring come now!
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
DR. MOORTHY’S DATELESS DIARY CONTINUED
My teaching is going well. The students seem to be enjoying
my way of teaching. I am learning their names. They are
eager to hear the stories and anecdotes that I weave into my
lectures. Some of them stay after the class to discuss the
lecture topic and ask more questions. In addition to my
lecture classes I am also invited to participate and contribute
to the work of different academic committees and panels.
Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) in
Trivandrum is a major Research Center run by the India
Ministry of Science and Technology. Their vision “is to be an
international hub of biotechnology, providing the right
combination of research & development with the dedication,
transparency and creativity of a truly academic research center
combined with the power of innovation, IPR (Intellectual
Property Rights) driven programs and business transformation
to deliver discovery for India.” This will be accompanied by
another highly profitable and critical spinoff – highly trained
manpower. RGCB has a Ph.D. program run jointly with the
Kerala University. The Ph.D. students have to present a
dissertation proposal to the Kerala University when called for
by the University. I am invited to be part of the committee
that will review dissertation research proposals from three
candidates from RGCB.
The candidates present their
proposals that call for some leading edge research. Each
presentation is followed by a lengthy Q&A session during
March, 2011
which the candidate receives constructive feedback. At the
end the committee votes to approve, disapprove, or approve
with modifications the candidate’s proposal. The proposals
presented in this session included “Endocrine Regulation of
the Tumor Stem Cell in Papillary Thyroid Cancer”,
“Identification of Better Modes of Drug Delivery Using
Nanoparticle-based Releasing Systems”, “Identification of
Cold Active Promoters and Enzymes from Bacteria Isolated
from the Arctic”. Luckily for the candidates no proposal was
rejected.
India is becoming a destination for Medical Tourism because
of the availability of highly qualified medical professionals
and state-of-the art hospitals run by private companies. The
Apollo chain of hospitals in large cities and various “Institutes
of Medical Services” are good examples. In Trivandrum there
is such a facility called the Kerala Institute of Medical
Services (KIMS). I visited this hospital and was impressed by
the buildings that are modern, facilities that are excellent, and
the willingness to use technology for efficiency. Patient
information is kept in digital format. The service provided is
excellent although you have to pay for non-emergency
services up front. By Indian standards the charges are in the
medium-to-high range but for people who earn U.S. Dollars
the charges are quite affordable compared to what they are in
the U.S. thus creating the ideal environment for Medical
Tourism. One of my daughter’s physician friends, Dr.
Michael Pirri from the School of Medicine and Health
Sciences, GW University, happened to be in Kerala giving a
seminar and training in Emergency Medicine in a town north
of Trivandrum and he visited us in Trivandrum and stayed
with us for a few days. I wanted to get his impression of the
KIMS facility and took him there to visit a friend who was
recuperating from surgery. Dr. Pirri was quite impressed with
what he saw in the short time that he was able to spend.
As a further test I decided to get a small cosmetic surgery
done. Over the years the holes in my ears have become large
causing my ear rings to fall out and I wanted to correct this. I
was able to get an appointment within a day or two of my
enquiry and the plastic surgeon, Dr. Manish a UK trained
surgeon, took care of the issue quite efficiently and painlessly
by surgically closing the opening in a procedure that lasted
about thirty minutes. The procedure cost me less than $100/-.
I will get new holes put in the U.S. only because I will be back
in the U.S. by the time the wound is sufficiently healed.
Our son Ravi, currently working in Abu Dhabi, came on a
short visit for four days (it only takes about four hours by Air).
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
In anticipation of this we had made reservations to visit a
wildlife sanctuary and stay overnight in a lodge (called Aranya
Nivas that translates to “House in the Forest”) inside the
sanctuary. All of us rented a mini-van and headed to the
Thekkady Tiger reserve about 100 miles north of Trivandrum
in Kerala State itself. This sanctuary is in the western ghat
mountain range and is surrounded by tea plantations and
plantations that grow spices such as black pepper, cardamom,
cloves, ginger, nutmeg and others. History buffs would recall
that these spices were the magnet that attracted western
adventurers such as Columbus, and Vasco De Gama to seek
out this land. Columbus ended up in the Americas that he
thought was India and mistakenly called the natives Indians
but Vasco De Gama did land in the Arabian Sea coast of
Kerala. Over the years the British, the Dutch, and the
Portuguese as well as Arabs from the Middle East have found
their way to Kerala and traded for spices. Many of them
ended up settling down in Kerala and the demographics reflect
that.
In the Thekkady Tiger Reserve we did not go deep into the
jungle and did not see any Tigers. We did see monkeys, wild
boars and other small mammals and birds near the lodge but
the highlight was the boat cruise that we took in the river
Periyar (translates to Big River) that runs through the game
reserve. During this cruise we spotted Sambar Deer, Bison,
Cormorants nesting in abundance, Ospreys, Kingfisher birds
and luckily for us a herd of wild elephants with a baby in their
midst. The food at the lodge was absolutely superb and the
accommodations were splendid. We were warned to keep the
windows closed all the time to avoid unwanted visitors
(mostly curious monkeys).
Additionally we visited an elephant park, which housed tame
elephants, that offered elephant rides inside a local plantation
and my son and I rode an elephant. We also visited a spice
plantation and got a nice guided tour. Ravi also found time for
an Ayurvedic massage that is also a popular tourist attraction.
Thekkady village also boasts lots of wholesale spice shops and
I loaded up on high-quality spices and headed back to
Trivandrum.
The students are getting more used to the interactive nature of
the teaching. Some of them are curious and bold enough to
ask me about my students at Wagner College and how they
behave in class. The campus has many activities going on at
any given time and Dr. Nair, the head of the Biotechnology
Department, wants me to participate in these activities as
much as possible. One such activity that I got involved and
enjoyed with was the inauguration of a Genome Research
Center in the University that is being funded by the Kerala
State Government. The formal opening was done by the
Minister of Education and many other dignitaries participated.
It was done in the traditional Kerala style with the lighting of a
large auspicious oil lamp and with young girls beautifully
dressed up in traditional Kerala style saris holding brass plates
filled with fragrant jasmine flowers and other traditional items
as they welcome the guests of honor. This function afforded
me the opportunity to meet and interact with the Education
Minister and the Vice Chancellor (functionally equivalent to a
CEO) of the University.
The Research Center, formally called “The Inter-University
Centre for Genomics and Gene Technology” is intended to
serve as a frontier for research in DNA diagnostics,
recombinant vaccine development, genetic engineering,
plant/animal tissue culture and microbial technology. It is
hoped that the Center will promote cooperation between
industry and academia thus benefiting the people more than
either one of them could with the fruits of their work. The
Center was being staffed while I was there and I was fortunate
enough to be invited to be a member of the selection
committee comprised of scientists from different departments
and participate in a few candidate interviews. All the
candidates had Ph.D. degrees in relevant disciplines of
Biotechnology.
Another activity that I participated as a committee member
was in the defense by a Ph.D. candidate, Ms. Lakshmi
Mahadevan, of her research and dissertation. The research
done in Kerala university campuses and in the RGCB results
in about 20-25 Ph.D degrees being conferred every year. The
candidates are typically guided in their research project by
mentors from academia and other institutions such as the
RGCB, hospitals, and the Plant Genome Research Center. On
the average it takes about five to seven years to earn the Ph.D.
degree after the B.S. degree. Public defense of the dissertation
is the norm where the candidate defends the work in front of at
least one outside examiner from another University, the
candidate’s mentor(s), invited scientists from other
departments, and even peers such as other Graduate Students
who might be interested in participating. Lakshmi Mahadevan
successfully defended her work through a well-designed
presentation and by satisfactorily fielding all the questions
directed at her. I also reviewed the dissertations of couple of
other candidates but could only provide my feedback to Dr.
Nair since their defense is scheduled for some time after I get
back to the U.S.
Dr. Nair also arranged for me to give seminars on topics in
Genetics to mixed audiences from different departments. I
picked some of my favorite topics such as “Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMO)”, “DNA and Forensics”, “ELSI
of the Human Genome”, “Stem Cells: Embryonic and Adult
Cells”, and “Population Genetics and Human Migratory
Studies”. All the seminars were well attended and elicited lots
of discussions.
Well all good things end sooner or later. Summer Holidays
for Kerala University start by the middle of March and the
final exams begin in early March. My visiting professorship
here is ending and I am headed back to my home in the U.S.
The weather is getting hotter and more humid and crazy as it
might sound, for my friends in the east coast of U.S. who
endured a brutal January and February, I am longing for some
cooler temperatures. Kind words of appreciation were spoken
by Dr. Nair and others for my services but really I feel like I
got more than what I gave. The enthusiastic and eager young
faces of the students, the supportive and friendly colleagues
and the reaffirmation that Biological Sciences have expanded
tremendously and are flourishing in Kerala University (where
I got my start) will always be with me and inspire me. As a
token of appreciation by Wagner College and me I am leaving
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
a set of my books, several PowerPoint presentations, and
lecture notes with Dr. Nair.
In addition to my academic endeavors I also got to visit
relatives and friends, attend a traditional wedding, eat good
food, and shop for saris, jewelry and souvenirs. So many
people helped in so many ways to make this a productive and
enjoyable trip but I must single out my hosts Drs. Raman and
Prema who opened their home and hearts to us as well as to
numerous guests that we brought in.
A selection of Dr. Moorthy’s photographs follows:
Contributed by Dr. Ammini Moorthy
A wedding hall
Coffee-bean tree
“Miracle banana”
Dr. Michael Perri and Dr. Ammini Moorthy
Dr. Ammini Moorthy and husband, Sam Moorthy
Monkeys grooming each other
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
VOLETA CAPRIC WINS STUDENT GOVERNMENT
PRESIDENTAL ELECTIONS
Junior Violeta Capric is a double
major in biology and anthropology.
She currently serves at the Vice
President of Community Service for
the Student Government Association
(SGA). Capric ran a successful
campaign for the SGA presidency
for the 2011-2012 academic year.
She served as a SGA Senator during
his sophomore year. Additionally,
Capric is currently the Vice
President of Tri-Beta, and is a
member of the co-ed service
fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Last
year, she received the Academic Excellence Award (4.0 GPA)
for both the fall and spring semesters and the Robert D.
Blomquist Memorial Award in Biology at the spring
Undergraduate Awards Ceremony. Congratulations on behalf
of the Limulus staff!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
OMICRON DELTA KAPPA INDUCTS MICROBIOLOGY
MAJOR WILLIAM RIVERA
Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) is the
national leadership honor society. The
society selects well- rounded students
that strive for excellence through both
academic
and
co-curricular
achievement.
The
society
acknowledges accomplishments in
five
areas:
athletics;
campus/community service, social/
religious activities, and campus
government; journalism and mass
media; and creative and performing
arts. Sophomore microbiology major
William Rivera was inducted into ODK at the spring induction
ceremony. Rivera is currently doing research in parasitology at
Wagner. He aspires to attend dental school upon graduation.
Congratulations on behalf of the Limulus staff!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
TRI-BETA NEWS
TRI-BETA recently held a meeting on Tuesday, March 28th.
Members are participating in a new project with Dr. Palestis’
help. The organization will develop a way to prevent bird
strikes on campus. Recently, many birds have died after they
crashed into a few buildings on campus. Students will need to
help keep track of any dead birds that are found around either
Megerle Science Building or Haborview Hall. Each student
will be assigned to check for dead birds once a week. The
students will count the birds during the morning hours. This is
a great community service opportunity for members.
Additionally, students that need to complete the
Undergraduate Research I or II, and the 400E requirement, can
use this project as the focus of their research. Any students
interested in participating in this project for research purposes
should contact Dr. Palestis (bpalesti@wagner.edu). Tri-Beta
members that are interested in helping should contact Tri-Beta
president Medije Mashkulli (medije.mashkulli@wagner.edu).
Tri-Beta elections for the new executive board will be held in
the next few weeks.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
The Pre-Healthy Society invited the director of the American
University of Antigua School of Medicine and Veterinary
Medicine to speak at an informational event for Wagner
students. Students that could not attend the event, but would
like more information about the school should visit the
website (http://www.auamed.org/new-aua-hospital).
Contributed by Felicia Guinta
PRE-DENTISTRY SOCIETY
The Pre-Dentistry Society will hold their bi-annual Dental
Health Promotion Day on the Union Patio (weather
permitting) on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. Pre-dental students
from the society will be handing out toothbrushes, coupons for
local dental practices, and information regarding dental health,
all in effort to raise money for the Oral Cancer Foundation
(oralcancerfoundation.org).
Additionally, Dr. Steven Cisternas, a dentist from Staten
Island, will be presenting topics specifically related to
dentistry, including a select few of his treatment cases from
start to finish. The symposium will take place at Wagner
College on Saturday, April 16th at 9:30 AM in Spiro 2. All of
those who are interested are invited to attend.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
OPPORTUNITIES
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr. Onken offers
research
opportunities for
students in the
frame of a project
in
which
he
collaborates with scientists from Washington State University,
the University of Idaho, and the University of Alberta
(Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the National
Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the midgut of
larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). Mosquitoes
are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit devastating
diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue, and are a
major threat to the health of billions of people on our planet.
The principal investigators of this project address larval
mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to fight
these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic habitat.
In collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. (Mt. Desert
Island Biological Laboratories, Maine), Brazil (University of
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, University of Paraná in Curitiba)
and Canada (University of Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken
pursues research with Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory
capacities and mechanisms of crabs. Together with Dr.
Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor Beecher (Biology), an
ecophysiological study is in an early stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
For the spring semester Dr. Onken offers a work study
position related to his work with mosquitoes.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the fall and winter of 2010 are encouraged to
contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu). There is also
an official student job for collaboration in greenhouse and
garden.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
We just welcomed the third assistant editor for the LIMULUS:
Gregory Balaes. The more students actively contribute, the
better the newsletter becomes. Proficient student writers are
invited to become assistant editors for the newsletter of the
Department of Biological Sciences. If you are interested,
please, contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Ira Flatow, host of Talk Of The Nation: Science Friday, gave
the keynote address. Four undergraduate students presented
their achievements. In the following we reprint their abstracts
and show some photographs from this event.
Jennifer Ida (2011). Transmission of Infectious Disease
between Human and Non-human Primates. Department of
Anthropology, Wagner College.
Cross-species transmission of disease between non-human
primates and humans has increasingly become of great
concern; however we still lack essential background data on
the process. It is hypothesized that close phylogenetic
relationships,
overlapping
territories,
anthropogenic
disturbance, and frequent contact with humans will increase
the likelihood of transmission. This hypothesis is tested
through an analysis of the literature. Specific cases of
transmission were examined and the key factors of
transmission were identified. Factors were then compared
across cases. The research demonstrates that the degree of
relatedness between humans and nonhuman primate species,
as well as the extent of niche overlap and shared territory,
often resulting from human encroachment on primate habitats,
are salient factors in explaining frequency of transmission and
predicting which species are most affected. The examined
species will include gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, and
macaques. In addition, this research highlights possible routes
of exposure, including fecal/oral and aerosol/inhalation
transmission. The results then suggest directions for future
research, including an examination of ways to mitigate risk.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Greetings Everyone, I am Nidhi Khanna and I am currently a
senior. I am working with this non-profit organization called
Planting Peace. Planting Peace has many sub-organizations
including one called The Clean World Movement. The Clean
World Movement is trying to encourage more individuals
around the world to recycle and to take better care of the
planet. I am working with The Clean World Movement as the
environmental director in my community. I am organizing
some clean-ups in Staten Island during the semester. If
anybody is interested in helping out, please feel free to contact
me at nidhi.khanna@wagner.edu. Thanks for your interest and
I look forward hearing from you! If you would like more
information about the organization I am working with, please
visit: http://www.plantingpeace.org/.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
EXPERIENCES
EASTERN COLLEGES SCIENCE CONFERENCE
The 65th Eastern Colleges Science Conference was held at
Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, on April 2nd. This
year, Wagner’s cohort was somewhat smaller than in the years
before. Nevertheless, it was again a great experience for those
who attended.
William Rivera, Corey Gaylets, Roy Mosher, Brian Palestis,
and Adam Houlihan (2011). Carriage of bacterial and
protozoan pathogens among Common Tern chicks on Pettit
Island, Barnegat Bay, NJ. Biology Department, Wagner
College.
Little is known about the intestinal microflora of migratory
seabirds. If these avian species harbor gastrointestinal
pathogens, they may disseminate them along migratory
flyways. To assess this possibility, Common Tern (Sterna
hirundo) chicks on Pettit Island in Barnegat Bay, NJ were
evaluated for carriage of bacterial and protozoan pathogens
and nematodes. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were taken
for culturebased detection of bacterial gastrointestinal
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
pathogens during the June/July 2009 and June/July 2010
nesting seasons. Bulk fecal samples were also taken during the
2010 nesting season to determine nematode and
Cryptosporidium oocyst loads. Of 125 birds samples in 2009,
none carried Salmonella and only 1 carried Campylobacter. In
2010, 1 of the 54 birds sampled carried Salmonella and none
of them had Campylobacter in their intestines. Microscopic
examination of fecal smears obtained in 2010 revealed that 39
of 54 Common Tern chicks had Cryptosporidium oocysts in
their intestines and 10 of 54 carried adult and larval
nematodes. Preliminary data indicate that Common Tern
chicks in Barnegat Bay have low intestinal carriage of
bacterial pathogens but relatively high carriage of protozoan
parasites and nematodes.
numerical aberrations on human
peripheral leukocyte cultures.
chromosomes
from
Anthony Rafetto gave a platform presentation:
Anthony Rafetto (2011). A Mathematical Economic
Model. Mathematics Department, Wagner College.
A mathematical economic model based on the laws of
Newtonian physics will be presented. The economies of
several nations, including the U.S. and China, are
evaluated using this model.
Roseanna Valant (2011). Chromosome Aberrations Caused
by the Chemotherapeutic Agent Mitoxantrone on In Vitro
Human Peripheral Leukocytes. Biology Department, Wagner
College.
Chemotherapeutic drugs target dividing cells in the body and
since cancer cells are transformed with no control over their
cell cycle, more of the cancer cells are affected by these
treatments. These chemo drugs however, do have an effect on
normal dividing cells and have been known to lead to
secondary cancers in some cases. The purpose of this study is
to assess the chromosomal damage caused by Mitoxantrone,
an antineoplastic, antitumor drug that is used in the treatment
of various types of cancer. Using peripheral leukocytes, sets of
in vitro cultures (normal and drug treated) were prepared from
two different healthy human subjects. The cultures were
harvested after 68-72 hours of incubation using conventional
procedures. Slides were made using a flame drying technique,
stained with a Giemsa stain and viewed under oil immersion
using an Olympus light microscope. Structural and numerical
aberrations as well as changes in mitotic indices were noted
from all samples and digitally photographed. Statistical
evaluation of our results gives us an indication of the
magnitude of damage caused by this drug. Slides with drug
treated cells had a much lower mitotic index and cell density
present compared to the control slides. Preliminary data from
this project coupled with data from previous studies suggests
that the drug Mitoxantrone does cause both structural and
Contributed by Dr. Onken with photographs by Professor Raths
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES
Do not miss the experience! Summer Field Course: BI 335
Natural History of the Mid- Atlantic States. This course,
taught by Dr. Palestis, runs for two weeks (May 16-27) after
the end of the Spring semester and before the start of the main
summer session. It can be used as an elective for the Biology
major and minor and for the Environmental Studies minor.
The course is a great opportunity to experience nature, as it is
almost entirely field-trip based. Trips include several nearby
locations such as the New Jersey Pine Barrens, Jamaica Bay,
and the Great Swamp. There will also be two overnight trips,
to witness the horseshoe crab spawning/shorebird migration
spectacle on Delaware Bay and to hunt for marine fossils in
the Pocono Mountains. Students will learn about the
organisms, ecology, and geology of a wide variety of habitat
types, and will also learn basic methodology for field research.
PRESENTATIONS
Palestis, B.G. and K.E. Eppinger. 2011. A banding study of
common terns on Pettit Island, NJ: Preliminary results.
Greater New York/New Jersey Harbor Herons and Waterbirds
Working Group. Staten Island, NY. January 12-13.
Palestis, B., I. Nisbet, J. Hatch, J. Arnold, and P. Szczys.
2011. The importance of tail length for sexual selection in
roseate terns. Waterbird Society. Grand Island, NE. March 1316.
ALUMNI
MICROBIOLOGY ALUMNI GATHER FOR A MEMORIAL
TO REMEMBER DR. EDITH KERSHAW
Students gathered on March 26th, 2011 to remember Dr. Edith
Kershaw, who served as the Chair of the Bacteriology
department (now called the Microbiology department) at
Wagner College.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
ALLAN F. O’CONNELL VISITS WAGNER
Students in BI335 from Summer 2007 in front of a cranberry bog at Double
Trouble State Park in Ocean County, NJ. Students from left to right are
Shannon O’Neill, Amanda Rollizo, Jusuf Husic, and Frankie Costanza. Photo
by Dr. Palestis.
Shorebirds feeding on horseshoe crab eggs at Reeds Beach on Delaware Bay
in Cape May County, NJ. Most of the birds in this photo are ruddy turnstones.
The endangered red knot and more than one species of sandpiper are also
visible. Photo by Dr. Palestis.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
PUBLICATIONS
Palestis, B.G., J. Cabrero, R. Trivers, and J.P.M. Camacho.
2010. Prevalence of B chromosomes in Orthoptera is
associated with shape and number of A chromosomes.
Genetica 138: 1181-1189.
Wagner College alum Allan F. O’Connell (graduate of 1976)
visited Wagner College on March 28. Dr. O’Connell gave a
lecture entitled “Endangered Species, Climate Change, and
Alternative Energy: Implications for Natural Resource
Conservation in the 21st Century”. Allan O'Connell is
currently a research wildlife biologist with the US Geological
Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel,
Maryland. He has 30+ years of experience with the
Department of Interior as a field biologist, natural resource
management and science program manager, administrator, and
most recently as a research scientist at Patuxent, the worldrenowned ecological research center known for its work on
ecotoxicology, endangered species conservation, and
population ecology. Dr. O’ Connell discussed various
techniques used to get an estimate of a population size. Since a
lot of the species he works with are hard to detect such as
frogs and kangaroos, detection probability is so important. He
taught us that probability plays an important role in making an
accurate estimate of endangered species. Dr. O’ Connell
mentioned that there are very few tigers left in the world, in
particular India. He says that good management is necessary
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
to alleviate this problem. Camera trapping is a technique used
to sample all species without going to the actual site and does
not require one to actually catch the animal. The way this
works is that a photograph is taken of the animal. Camera
trapping is a technique that is revolutionizing how wildlife
populations are being sampled around the world. One project
that Dr. O’Connell worked on was reducing the raccoon
population at Cape Lookout, in order for the oyster catcher
population to survive. In addition, Dr. O’ Connell has been
working on sea birds and off- shore wind energy. A concern is
that the location of wind turbines will affect bird species and
all other marine mammals. On behalf of the Limulus staff, I
would like to thank Dr. O’Connell for taking the time to come
to Wagner and presenting his work in front of the student and
faculty body.
Contributed by Farha Rashid
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
CARTOON
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna
Student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid
Student Assistant Editor: Gregory Balaes
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your contribution on
a level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and 500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files (high quality jpg
is the preferred file format) attached to the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of the month. Contributions received later may or may not be considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be refused by the editor.
PAGE 8
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, March 2011
Subject
The topic of the resource
Capric, Violeta
Rivera, William
Gaylets, Corey
Valant, Roseanna J.
Rafetto, Anthony R.
Palestis, Brain
Ida, Jennifer
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Dr. Moorthy's dateless diary continued / Ammini Moorthy -- Violeta Capric wins student government presidential elections / Nidhi Khanna -- Omicron Delta Kappa inducts microbiology major William Rivera / Nidhi Khanna -- Club and society news / Nidhi Khanna, Felicia Guinta, and Gregory Balaes -- Opportunities / Horst Onken -- Eastern colleges science conference / Horst Onken and Linda Raths -- Natural history of the Mid-Atlantic states / Brian Palestis -- Publications and presentations -- Microbiology alumni gather for a memorial to remember Dr. Edith Kershaw / Gregory Balaes -- Allan F. O'Connell visits Wagner / Farha Rashid -- Cartoon
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2011-03
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
8 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/3c0f0b36176805a1e3606e6744cf11d8.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=nTVU8IVLLNag%7E4hMqvjaSvOlSc6-GEoju8lkzAxrqj2cGZSv-POfSzAeul20bF0Rp6qnvwtjEzKBEqmUJXgk2ELI1WoV2H0E4mKQDGhPb-7KExp%7ETHByvOxZkUxBjuRi5tjfISR3NjVDnRO3BJtn9D1Nv-l1c7RqACzhyy2Q4dxysz3HEy8XDTqoI0m-5ebOpAWz2igIK4YLypxpFb9TXVYa4Y3Tjva%7E464SWkuuxN9isXQZ6nqTDo-8lxHkD9uJA9cWZCPM2PlozR1KtFKw9skMHy7qaYzj6rRhTFGstIqdhDMd6PBatkMa1WQXNJd1pJP6mp2hdciaHIKaVITUeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
656b628cbb2fec04be286c4f069d30e7
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2011, Issue Spring-02
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
It has happened before! Our February newsletter is late. As
usual it is only my fault that I had to shift the final editing into
spring break. Nevertheless, I believe that we have prepared an
especially interesting issue. Apart of the already announced
contributions about Dr. Moorthy’s sabbatical and about a book
by Dr. O’Connell (’76) we display student successes,
experiences and opportunities.
I hope you enjoy reading our current LIMULUS!
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
DR. MOORTHY SPENDS HER SABBATICAL IN INDIA
It is December 13, 2010. The last exam for the students is
over. Once I have graded the exams and submitted the results
to Administration I can focus on the final preparations for my
spring Sabbatical Leave. Going back to Kerala University
after 10 years is exciting. I wonder how the campus would
have changed. I am thinking of my host family and how
wonderfully they take care of me.
Well I think I am getting ahead of myself here. I just
remembered that Don Stearns will be after me in January for
the class assessments of BI213 and BI219. He is not likely to
overlook them. I don’t think that even becoming a grandpa
twice over in one shot will change his work ethics. I must take
the templates that he has e-mailed and the necessary info in
my new laptop.
Packing up and leaving your home for an extended period is
always a hassle. Winter makes it doubly difficult. Added to all
this I have to shop for gifts to be taken for relatives and
friends. A few last-minute requests have come in via e-mail
(isn’t technology wonderful?) and the pressure is building.
But I am going “home”, to my birthplace Kerala State, INDIA,
to my alma mater Kerala University! Not usually prone to
reliving the “glory days” I cannot help reminiscing about how
proud my family was when I secured the top rank in Kerala
University and won a Gold Medal for my M.Sc. degree. I had
dreamed of greater things in India but fate took me to
America. Just think, my Wagner College students were not
around then- they were not even a gleam in their parent’s eyes.
Enough of this daydreaming, it makes me feel too old.
I do have mixed emotions about leaving the U.S. during the
Christmas and New Year period, a time when we get together
February, 2011
with friends and family and celebrate. I will miss Wagner
College and not being there in the Spring Semester. Above all
I will miss my students.
December 17, 2010. Tonight at 10:00PM we (my husband
Sam is coming with me) fly the Etihad Airlines to Abu Dhabi
(14 hours) and then to Thiruvananthapuram (TVM, in about
3.5 hours), the city in Kerala where I will be teaching. Also
India is 10.5 hours ahead of EST and so we will lose a day and
be under severe jet lag. Sam and I are going over our checklist
(stop mail, stop paper delivery, and arrange for snow
removal…), an endless list-so it seems. We decide we are OK.
Armed with Passports, Visas and Credit Cards we set off
bravely and climb into the limousine taking us to the JFK
Airport. We arrive in TV and our host family greets us at the
airport. Our hosts are relatives, and are a retired couple, both
Professors at the University.
Christina Lamb, Wagner alum and a former student of mine, is
coming to TVM and will be with me for a week. She decided
to take a week off of her busy schedule pursuing the PhD
program in Toxicology at the University of North Carolina
and spend it in India with her old mentor. She is scheduled to
arrive on December 31.
Christina Lamb’08 arrives at the airport.
Kerala is bordered by the Arabian Sea on the west coast and
mountains on the east. The sea penetrates the land in oddshaped formations and creates lakes into which many rivers
that are born in the mountains flow. These bodies of waters
are called backwaters. The water is generally brackish but
strategically deployed levees do keep some parts filled with
fresh water.
The scenery seen from a boat in these backwaters is absolutely
stunning and the crew of the boat can whip up freshly cooked
seafood and other mouthwatering dishes and serve them to
you at your leisure. You see the local fishermen and their nets
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
poised for action. Groves of coconut palms are dotted with
small enclaves of people.
You see churches, temples and mosques along the shore and
sometimes you hear prayers. Our menu included freshly
caught fish prepared Kerala Style, chicken curry, beans,
lentils, organic red rice, cauliflower curry, beetroot salad,
fresh yogurt, pappads. As the boat threads its way through the
canals and lakes you see fish jumping, eagles and cormorants
snatching fish and get glimpses of migratory birds, some
flying down from far north such as Russia. Christina is
thrilled as are we. Surely we are in “God’s Own Country.”
Some locals spend their day on their Kerala Houseboat.
Kerala University reopened after the Christmas Holidays on
January 3 and I began my academic duties on that day.
Christmas recess is shorter here than what we have at Wagner.
Incidentally the University starts the academic year in MidJune and finishes by Mid-March of the following year with
breaks for various Holidays in between. The summer holidays
are from Mid-March through Mid-June. So I am starting my
duties towards the end of the academic year.
I meet with Dr. Mohandas Nair, the chair of the
Biotechnology program in the morning to finalize the teaching
responsibilities and schedule. The faculty is diverse and their
research interests span a wide range. I get an updated copy of
the graduate syllabus. I will be teaching a course in Genetics
to the incoming M.S. students and a course in Introduction to
Recombinant DNA Technology and Applications to the 2 nd –
year Ph.D. candidates. Classes are small and I have only a
dozen or so students in each class. There are students from
other Asian countries in the classes. Also the female-to-male
student ratio is tilted significantly toward people with XX
chromosomes; only one male in one class and two males in the
other. Perhaps universally more women than men pursue life
science studies. Since the student population is very large in
India competition for college admission is brutal and only a
highly motivated fraction of students make it to the graduate
level.
Students are polite and respectful. I am addressed as
“Madam” (some title!). They stand up when I enter the
classroom and after class do not leave the classroom until I
leave. They tend not to ask questions. It is cultural. I used to
be exactly like that when I first came to the U.S after my MSc.
degree from Kerala.
The U.S. culture of being more interactive with professors in
class was something I had to learn and it took me many years
before I felt comfortable calling older people, especially
professors, by their first name. At this point in my life I am
more at ease with students such as my Wagner bunch who
crack jokes, laugh, complain and cannot wait to leave the
classroom.
Christina Lamb had accompanied me to the campus on the
first day and everyone was curious to meet with my American
student and compare notes. She got an invitation to return and
give a seminar on her PhD work.
The Biotechnology Department at Kerala University.
Dr. Martin Chalfie, the Nobel Laureate from Columbia
University, happened to be visiting the campus the following
day and I was honored to be invited to attend his lecture and to
bring Christina along. Dr. Chalfie won the Nobel Prize for
Chemistry in 2008 for his contributions to the application of
the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from Jellyfish to
biotechnological and developmental genetic studies.
The auditorium was packed with senior scientists and VIPs
from the University and the Government along with the local
media. Dr. Chalfie delivered an excellent lecture, dotted with
anecdotal stories, on his research. Later I met Prof. Oommen
from the Biology Dept., an old friend of mine, who introduced
me to Dr. Chalfie. Christina and I took the opportunity to take
some pictures with Dr. Chalfie.
My teaching schedule includes four hours of lecture three days
a week, a full time load for a professor by U.S. standard. The
class for the PhD candidates is from 9:00AM to 11:00AM and
the MS students are taught from 11:00AM to 1:00PM. Since
the semester is already under way and the students have
already had some lectures I started with Cloning and Genomic
Libraries for the upper level students and Bacterial and
Bacteriophage Genetics for the MS students. The classroom is
small, air-conditioned and is equipped with a computer and
projection facilities. This allows me to use my presentation
slides that I brought along on a flash drive (called “pen drive”
here).
The campus is about a mile (natives would say 1.5 kilometers
for India has adopted the Metric System) away from my
lodgings. My husband Sam and my hosts Raman and Prema
are very helpful in making sure that I get out on time. I get
preference for access to the bathroom and coffee and breakfast
are made available on time (this is life!). I take an auto
rickshaw (a three-wheeled golf-cart like vehicle that is
extremely prevalent here) to and from the campus. My driver
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
“Johny” shows up on time and fills me in on the local stories
of the day during our short drive. A typical day goes
something like this: Get up by 5:00AM (although it is still
dark outside birds are chirping, dogs are barking, milk is being
delivered and the roosters are crowing) and after brushing my
teeth I check my e-mails, have coffee, help with cutting
vegetables for the meals of the day, shower and get ready, eat
breakfast as a group and hit the road by 9:00AM. When I get
back around 1:30PM lunch is ready and we all eat together. I
also help out with other household activities such as cooking,
cleaning, and laundry. We also take time to visit friends, eat
out with them, and to be socially active.
Christina Lamb and I spend the day riding elephants.
Contributed by Dr. Moorthy
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
Christina Lamb is sitting with a statue of a medicine guru.
SENIOR ACCEPTED BY TOP SCHOOLS
Senior Biology major and psychology
minor
Peter
Pisano
received
acceptances from two prestigious
dental schools. Peter was accepted to
the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)
and New York University’s College
of Dentistry last semester.
During winter break, Peter learned
that he gained admission to the
School of Dental Medicine at Stony
Brook University.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
Peter on his acceptances to three great dental schools!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
SENIOR’S SUMMER RESEARCH UNDER PUBLICATION
REVIEW
Giant water lily leaf is unfolding.
Some of my Indian students take a break to smile for the camera.
Summer time brings smiles to
many people’s faces. Many
students bask in the sun, read
for pleasure, or travel across
the globe. Senior double
major
(Biology/Chemistry)
Victor Stora decided to make
use of his free time by
conducting research at the
School
of
Veterinary
Medicine at the University of
Pennsylvania. He worked in
the PennGen Lab for Inborn
Errors of Metabolism and the Deubler Lab for Genetic
Testing. Stora’s research mentor was Dr.Urs Giger DVM PD
FS MS ACVIM.
Stora screened through urines of canines for glucosuria (sugar
in the urine) and ketonuria with signs unrelated to diabetes
mellitus. After he screened with dipsticks, Stora assayed the
urine using paper chromatography. He found significant cases
of amino aciduria.
The researchers at the PennGen Lab study cystinuria and Stora
used a nitroprusside assay while working on this research
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
project. The nitroprusside assay was run to assess cysteine
levels (Cystinuria in Newfoundlands, English Mastiffs, Irish
Terriers, and Scottish Deerhounds). He tried to see whether
stones were present in the male dogs because the stones can
block the male ureter. Anatomically female dogs are not prone
to this condition unless a large enough stone is precipitated.
The malmutated gene is usually found in Newfoundlands and
breeders. As a result, these types of dogs are required to
screened.
He asked the owners of the dogs whether their dogs were
eating chicken jerky that was made in China. He noticed that
the dogs that ate the Chinese chicken were more likely to
show signs of presented. The results were compared to
Cystinuria and a general extreme exacerbated amino aciduria
was found from HPLC.
The results from this research are being presented at the
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Denver.
It is under review by the Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association (JAVMA).
In addition to Victor’s extra-curricular and academic
achievements, he is the vice president of Allied Health for the
Pre-Health Society. He is the SGA representative for Tri-Beta
and works in the Peer Tutoring Center as the Biology tutor.
Contributed by Victor Stora and Nidhi Khanna
STUDENT PROFILE: MICHAEL GUTKIN
Microbiology Graduate Student/Electron Microscopy Center Graduate
Assistant, Michael Gutkin.
Despite the immense workload of a graduate student, Michael
Gutkin, has managed to make conducting research enjoyable.
With his admirable sense of humor, he conducts
morphological research analyzing the zebrafish brain, which is
the size of a rice grain. When not conducting research, he
enjoys helping students around the lab, by sharing his
experiences with research, and teaching students how to use
equipment both efficiently and correctly.
Although he has learned various skills while working in the
laboratory, this process did not take place over night. Michael
began conducting research in Wagner’s laboratories during his
sophomore year. With these experiences, Michael became
very familiar and comfortable with the lab facilities and
equipment, and it was during this time that he decided that he
would no longer pursue a chiropractic career, as he had
originally planned to do. His passion and love for this research
has earned him first and third place prizes at the MACUB
(Metropolitan Association of College and University
Biologists) conference in 2009 and 2010 for his research
presentations.
In an interview, Michael mentioned, “I did not believe that
two years [as an undergraduate] in the lab were enough for me
to gain the required skills and knowledge to move directly into
a Ph.D. program, which is why I decided to continue on with
Wagner’s microbiology master’s program. I am currently a
Graduate Assistant, where I am mainly in charge of the up
keeping of the Electron Microscopy Center in the basement of
the Megerle Science Building.” Michael also described his
transition into the microbiology masters program as an easy
one, where he is able to take on more responsibility related to
research and the laboratories.
“Before I drive to Wagner every day, I pick up my medium
Dunkin’ Donuts iced dark roast coffee, with one sweet and
low, and a little bit of milk – it gets me going for the day. I
look forward to waking up every morning and being able to
come into Wagner and help students in their labs and carry out
my research. What I do on a day-to-day basis is an
educational, fun, and exciting experience. I leave every day
with an enormous sense of fulfillment and accomplishment,”
Michael said when asked about his day at Wagner.
Along side of Dr. Zoltan Fulop, the director of the Laboratory
for Developmental Brain Research and Neuroplasticity, and
Chris Corbo, a research associate and the Electron Microscopy
Center Director, Michael’s main research includes analyzing
the cellular morphology and neuroplasticity of the brain,
specifically how it changes in an in vitro culture system.
Last semester, the trio focused on trial and error using
different immunohistochemical procedures with the zebrafish.
Michael used the immune system (antibodies) to prepare
histological preparations, or tissue pieces, to examine under
the microscope. Immunohistochemical procedures are used
primarily for the confocal laser scanning microscope. “The
microscope uses different wave lengths of light to emit a laser
to scan different tissues on a slide at different z-depths. This
eliminates unfocused light in the thick tissue sample, while
allowing us to create 3-dimensional renditions of the cellular
structures,” said Michael.
Using the scanning electron microscope, Michael has been
able to analyze the surface structure of the brain tissue, while
the confocal microscope aided him in detecting cell
proliferation, or dividing cells, within the cultured brain tissue.
Michael has fluorescently labeled normal adult zebrafish brain
to analyze and identify the cellular composition under the
confocal microscope. He spent all of last semester finding the
proper antibodies to fluorescently label with the zebrafish
brain. “This is important,” Michael said, “because there has
not been much confocal microscopy performed on sections of
adult zebrafish brain.”
All of this labeling will aid their future projects, which will
include analyzing the adult zebrafish brain after culturing it in
vitro, and then use the same antibodies to fluorescently label
the brain after it has been cultured.
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
“I would like to remain in the tri-state area and eventually
teach at a university or college,” said Michael. “And I will
leave you with this: 'The brain is a world consisting of a
number of unexplored continents and great stretches of
unknown territory' – Santiago Ramon y Cajal (a pioneering
neuroscientist from the early 1900s).” Michael says, “It’s time
to explore!”
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
Normal adult zebrafish brain fluorescently labeled with DAPI (blue) to stain
cell nuclei and DM1A (red) to stain tubulin in the cellular processes as seen
on the confocal microscope. Images courtesy of Gutkin.
In this process, Michael has taken the normal brain out of the
fish and labeled it. The nuclei, tubulin (which makes up the
microtubules in the cellular processes), microglia (which are
support cells in the brain), neurons, and mast cells (an immune
cell in the brain) have all been fluorescently labeled. After
these subject matters have been completed on the normal
brain, Michael will then go back into the laboratory and
fluorescently label the damaged brain cells from cultured brain
tissue accordingly, where he expects to see various different
findings.
Currently, Michael is taking the same antibodies he used on
the normal brain but instead he will culture the brains like he
did in the past (over a specified time course - 12 hours, 24
hours, etc), fix the tissue, and label it accordingly as he has in
the past (for the normal brain).
“In the normal brain, we saw a very nice structure of normal
healthy looking cells. Now after the culture, we expect to label
them with the same antibodies, but we expect to see different
cellular structures and mast cells, aiding in the immune
response, which are thought to help repair the damaged tissue.
We will compare the cultured or damaged brain to the normal
brain.”
“By observing different antibodies for microglia, neurons, and
mast cells, we want to see if there are surviving neurons,
surviving microglia, or if some of them are damaged cells.”
When there are injuries induced to the brain, the microglia
cells are activated and act as the first form of immune defense.
“My master’s thesis will be comprised of the normal adult
zebrafish brain, and the traumatic brain injury model that has
been cultured in vitro,” where he will compare the two. “We
expect what we are going to observe because we have done
this assay before using other preparations for analysis on the
scanning electron microscope, transmission electron
microscope, and light microscope.” This last section of the
research is where he will utilize the confocal laser scanning
microscope.
“In my spare time, I collaborate with Chris Corbo in his lab
over at the College of Staten Island (CSI) under Dr. Alejandra
Alonso working with, and analyzing the tau protein. This
protein is seen in typical neurofibrillary tangles that are seen
in Alzheimer’s disease.” He also plans on finishing up his
research with confocal microscopy on the brain, cultured and
adult. “I am on course to hopefully publish the research and
our findings.” Afterwards, Michael will graduate with a
master’s degree in microbiology from Wagner College, and
from then on aspires to enter a Ph.D. program in neuroscience.
BIOLOGY CLUB
The Biology club held their Metric System Bake Night on
Thursday, February 24th in the Guild Lobby in Beisler Lounge.
Student that attended the event were treated to some delicious
free desserts! Members of the club taught those students in
attendance how to make crêpes and crème brûlée using the
metric system. The event was a great success.
The next club meeting will be held after spring break on
Monday, March 14th at 9:30pm. Refreshments will be
provided. All students that are interested in joining the club
should attend. Please email club president, Leonid Denisenko
for more details (leonid.denisenko@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Leonid Denisenko and Nidhi Khanna
TRI-BETA NEWS
Tri-Beta began the semester by co-sponsoring the Annual
Darwin Day celebration. Students brought donations of all
kinds of foods and drinks for the celebration. The organization
plans to complete their community service by cleaning up the
garden with Dr. Onken.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
The Civic Engagement certificate program is holding a canned
food drive for City Harvest. City Harvest is an organization
that helps feed hundreds of hungry New Yorkers every day.
The Civic Engagement Program is holding a campus-wide
canned goods drive to donate to City Harvest. The Pre-Health
Society will be holding their own canned food drive to support
the Civic Engagement Program’s cause. This food drive will
count towards the Pre-Health Society’s community service
requirement.
All donations will be presented to Jilly Stephens, the executive
director of City Harvest, during the Civic Engagement awards
ceremony.
Boxes will be set up on every floor in Megerle
Science Hall starting Monday, March 14th. For those going
home for spring break, it is strongly recommended that they
purchase canned items for this drive. Donating one canned
item can truly make a difference. For more details on the PreHealth Society’s canned food drive, please contact club
president, Felicia Guinta (Felicia.guinta@wagner.edu) for
more details.
Contributed by Felicia Guinta and Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PRE-DENTISTRY SOCIETY
The organization is having a Dental Health Promotion Day in
March. Pierre Yuzon won the election for the society's SGA
Representative, and Angelo Cacciatore won the election for
the society's Treasurer position. Also, we are planning a
conjoint effort with the Biology Club, and the Nursing
Program to start the first annual Disease Prevention Day at
Wagner College, most likely in April.
The society members received their monthly planners with
"Pre-Dentistry Society" and "Wagner College" engraved on
the front, along with a picture of a tooth. It is in an effort to
keep the members more organized, which may lead to being
more successful. In the coming months, look forward to
Dental Health Promotion Day, Disease Prevention Day, and a
symposium from a local orthodontist at Wagner College.
The Pre-Dentistry Society had their second CPR Certification
Day at Wager College through the American Red Cross. We
certified 21 students from Wagner College, who are mainly
interested in pursuing health careers in the future. This service
provided a great way for students to build their resumes, and
learn basic life saving techniques.
mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to fight
these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic habitat.
In collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. (Mt. Desert
Island Biological Laboratories, Maine), Brazil (University of
São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, University of Paraná in Curitiba)
and Canada (University of Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken
pursues research with Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory
capacities and mechanisms of crabs. Together with Dr.
Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor Beecher (Biology), an
ecophysiological study is in an early stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
For the spring semester Dr. Onken offers a work study
position related to his work with mosquitoes.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the fall and winter of 2010 are encouraged to
contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu). There is also
an official student job for collaboration in greenhouse and
garden.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
We just welcomed the third assistant editor for the LIMULUS:
Gregory Balaes. The more students actively contribute, the
better the newsletter becomes. Proficient student writers are
invited to become assistant editors for the newsletter of the
Department of Biological Sciences. If you are interested,
please, contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Onken
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Students attend the CPR certification course that was held on Feb. 21.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
OPPORTUNITIES
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr. Onken offers
research
opportunities for
students in the
frame of a project
in
which
he
collaborates with scientists from Washington State University,
the University of Idaho, and the University of Alberta
(Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the National
Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the midgut of
larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). Mosquitoes
are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit devastating
diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue, and are a
major threat to the health of billions of people on our planet.
The principal investigators of this project address larval
Greetings Everyone,
I am Nidhi Khanna and I am currently a senior. I am working
with this non-profit organization called Planting Peace. Planting
Peace has many sub-organizations including one called The Clean
World Movement. The Clean World Movement is trying to
encourage more individuals around the world to recycle and to
take better care of the planet. I am working with The Clean World
Movement as the environmental director in my community. I am
organizing some clean-ups in Staten Island during the semester. If
anybody is interested in helping out, please feel free to contact me
at nidhi.khanna@wagner.edu. Thanks for your interest and I look
forward hearing from you! If you would like more information
about the organization I am working with, please visit:
http://www.plantingpeace.org/.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
CANNED FOOD DRIVE
The Civic Engagement certificate program is holding a canned
food drive for City Harvest, an organization dedicated to
feeding New York's hungry. To benefit the Civic Engagement
program, the Pre-Health Society will be coordinating its own
drive for community service.
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
All donations will be presented to Jilly Stephens, the executive
director of City Harvest, during the Civic Engagement awards
ceremony on April 7th.
Boxes will be set up on every floor in Megerle Science Hall
on Monday, March 14th to collect the canned items. The Civic
Engagement program also accepts monetary donations, which
will be used to purchase additional cans of food. These
donations help:
provide nutrition education to individuals, families and
communities to help them prevent and manage dietrelated diseases;
support low-income communities seeking access to
affordable nutritious food;
Donating one canned item can truly make a difference in
someone’s life. Please donate!
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to
email Paki Mekki at pakinam.mekki@wagner.edu or Emily
Burkhardt at emily.burkhardt@wagner.edu
You can also read an interesting article comparing and
contrasting Darwin with Abraham Lincoln, who have the same
birthday, at the following web site:
http://www.darwinday.org/englishL/newsviews/darlin.html
Contributed by Pakinam Mekki (see also the announcement by the Pre-Health
Society above)
EXPERIENCES
ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF DARWIN DAY
The department of biological sciences got together for their
third annual celebration of DARWIN DAY on Friday,
February 11th. Charles Darwin was born 202 years ago on the
12th and is considered the “father” of evolution.
Photographs of birds that
Darwin would have seen
on his famous 1830s
voyage to the Galapagos
Islands aboard the Beagle
were shown, along with
copies of his ground
breaking book, “On the
origin of species by means
of natural selection.” In
addition, a departmental
collection was on display
so students, faculty and
staff could enjoy a handson
experience
with
various hominids.
If you are interested in the
Senior biology major Will Etts looks at
route the Beagle took,
some of the fossils that were displayed
follow this link:
in the Darwin Exhibit.
Welcome back, Dr. Raths!
Happy Birthday, Dr. Mosher!
http://www.aboutdarwin.com/voyage/voyage03.html
Organized by Prof. Raths and Mrs. Rollizo, the students from
TriBeta co-sponsored the festivities, along with faculty, staff
and students who shared home cooked meals and delicious
baked goods. A special thank you goes to the president of the
Biology Club (Leonid Denisenko) who supplied hot dogs and
other food for the event.
For more information about Charles Darwin, check out
http://darwin-online.org.uk.
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Contributed by Stephanie Rollizo
Photographs by Stephanie Rollizo and Nidhi Khanna
DR. STEARNS PRESENTS HIS RESEARCH AT
FEBRUARY’S FACULTY FORUM
Dr. Stearns speaks with a nursing professor at the end of his presentation at
the Faculty Forum.
Dr. Stearns has been working on a research project titled
Critical Thinking for Civic Thinking (CT 2). He gave a lecture
during the Faculty Forum that was held on February 10 th in
Kairos House Chapel. The presentation that he gave was
entitled “The Teaching and Learning of Critical Thinking:
Comparing Pedagogical Approaches for First-Semester
College Students.” He has been involved in the project with
five other institutions including Indiana University Purdue
University-Indianapolis, Central Connecticut State University,
Portland State University, Miami University, and University
of Akron.
Stearns presented the critical thinking aspect of this project to
a handful of Wagner professors from various departments.
Stearns and the other professors from the five previously
mentioned institutions developed a method to assess students’
critical thinking skills. The professors gave students in their
introductory courses critical thinking assignments to help the
students develop civic thinking skills.
The Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO)
research tool will be used to measure the students’
development in critical thinking. The professors conducting
this research want to determine whether students can apply the
critical thinking skills that they learn in the classroom to real
life situations. Interestingly, Stearns pointed out that students
PAGE 8
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
tended to do poorly on the critical thinking test when they
were told that the test was not going to be graded. Students
that had their critical thinking assignments graded usually
performed much better when compared to the test scores of
students that were not graded.
Stearns wants to encourage students to have a heightened
sense of concern in their community, and believes that
students must use critical thinking in order to develop into
responsible citizens. Most colleges want students to volunteer
or participate in civic engagement. However, Stearns stresses
that volunteering is not the same as being a responsible
citizen. “People need to separate facts from falsehoods to
achieve a clearer understanding of any situation,” he said. In
order to become a critical thinker that is engaged in his or her
community, an individual must recognize a problem in one’s
community. The critical thinker needs to not only show a
sense of concern for improving their community, but the
individual should devise a plan to improve the situation in
their community.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
THE DANGERS IN ENERGY DRINK CONSUMPTION
Jane E. Brody discusses the dangers of energy drinks in a
recent article in The New York Times. There have been many
deaths linked with the consumption of these drinks. The
dangerous combination of ingredients in newly introduced
energy drinks led three researchers from the University of
Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the University of
Queensland in Australia to study the effect that the contents of
these beverages have on individuals.
Many scientists are alarmed by the rate at which people are
consuming these highly caffeinated beverages. A few popular
drinks are Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster and Full Throttle.
There have been four documented cases of caffeine-associated
deaths that have been reported, as well as five separate cases
of seizures associated with consumption of energy drinks.
What is even more alarming is that the long-term effects are
unknown. There are a lot of possible problems that could be
affected by consuming these drinks such as liver and
cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and diabetes. The
Food and Drug Administration is being encouraged to step in
and regulate the market, which currently has few restrictions
on the ingredients and the quantity in the drinks.
Mr. Tuttle who works closely with sports teams, is very
concerned that even 11 and 12 year old kids can purchase
these dangerous drinks easily. Additionally, he is concerned
with how these energy drinks will affect athletic performance.
“A lot of kids are reaching for energy beverages instead of
sport drinks, which unlike the energy drinks are mostly water
with a nominal amount of sugar and electrolytes,” he said.
“The energy drinks contain a slew of ingredients, most of
which are not researched, especially in combination with one
another,” he stated.
According to the article the amount of caffeine in these energy
drinks can be very harmful to people that have pre-existing
cardiovascular complications and the effects these drinks have
when combined with alcohol can be catastrophic. Athletes
who drink these energy drinks are at a higher risk of being
dehydrated because the high doses of sugar found in these
energy drinks lowers the absorption of fluids.
An energy drink served in a 16-ounce contains approximately
thirteen teaspoons of sugar, which is equivalent to the amount
of caffeine found in around 5 colas. The ingredient guarana is
particularly dangerous because it contains high levels of
caffeine.
Tuttle mentioned that since caffeine is known to improve
muscle action and performance in endurance activities it is
banned in many sports competitions. Therefore, if an athlete
consumes an energy drink close to an event he or she could be
disqualified. According to one of the researchers, these new
energy drinks and all the different ingredients and their effects
are too much for the body to handle at one time.
One shocking incident that occurred, was when Donte’
Stallworth, who was a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns
killed a pedestrian with his car in March 2009. He had
drunken multiple shots of tequila and a Red Bull. What is even
more alarming is to learn that Mr. Stallworth claims he did not
feel intoxicated when the accident happened. The article
emphasizes the point that caffeine is being treated as a
flavoring agent and not as a drug.
Contributed by Farha Rashid
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES
Do not miss the experience! Summer Field Course: BI 335
Natural History of the Mid- Atlantic States. This course,
taught by Dr. Palestis, runs for two weeks (May 16-27) after
the end of the Spring semester and before the start of the main
summer session. It can be used as an elective for the Biology
major and minor and for the Environmental Studies minor.
The course is a great opportunity to experience nature, as it is
almost entirely field-trip based. Trips include several nearby
locations such as the New Jersey Pine Barrens, Jamaica Bay,
and the Great Swamp. There will also be two overnight trips,
to witness the horseshoe crab spawning/shorebird migration
spectacle on Delaware Bay and to hunt for marine fossils in
the Pocono Mountains. Students will learn about the
organisms, ecology, and geology of a wide variety of habitat
types, and will also learn basic methodology for field research.
Students in BI335 from Summer 2007 in front of a cranberry bog at Double
Trouble State Park in Ocean County, NJ. Students from left to right are
Shannon O’Neill, Amanda Rollizo, Jusuf Husic, and Frankie Costanza. Photo
by Dr. Palestis.
PAGE 9
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Response. Her Masters thesis is entitled:
The effect of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
Yuliya on her acceptances to two great PhD programs!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
CAMERA TRAPS IN ANIMAL ECOLOGY
Shorebirds feeding on horseshoe crab eggs at Reeds Beach on Delaware Bay
in Cape May County, NJ. Most of the birds in this photo are ruddy turnstones.
The endangered red knot and more than one species of sandpiper are also
visible. Photo by Dr. Palestis.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
LATE BREAKING NEWS: ECSC DEADLINE EXTENDED
Dear Science Community,
The registration deadline for this year's Eastern Colleges
Science Conference has been extended one week to Friday,
March 11. Please, use this link to register and submit
abstracts:
http://www.sacredheart.edu/pages/33910_eastern_colleges_sci
ence_conference_2011.cfm
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks, Dr. Houlihan.
ALUMNI
YULIYA SELDINA RECEIVES ACCEPTANCES TO
DOCTORAL PROGRAMS
Wagner alumna Yuliya Seldina’09
recently received acceptances to two
doctoral programs. She was accepted to
the SUNY University at Albany (PhD in
Biomedical Sciences in the School of
Public Health) and the Uniformed
Services University (PhD in Emerging
Infectious Diseases in the Department of
Microbiology and Immunology).
Seldina was a microbiology major and had minors in
chemistry and biology while she attended Wagner. She was
involved with a number of different organizations and held
many leadership positions. Seldina was the vice president of
Tri-Beta, vice president of the pre-med in the pre-heath
society, and members of ODK, and Gamma Sigma Epsilon.
Seldina will be graduating this May from the University of
Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health with a Masters in
Public Health. She is a student in the Infectious Disease and
Microbiology department, Communicable and Behavioral
Intervention of Infectious Disease. Additionally, she is getting
her certificate in Public Health Preparedness and Disaster
Wagner College alum Allen F.
O’Connell (graduate of 1976)
recently published a book together
with co-editors James D. Nichols
and K. Ullas Keranth. The book
entitled “Camera Traps in Animal
Ecology” collects contributions of a
number of authors to this very
interesting and path breaking field
of ecological research that may very
well considerably contribute to
animal conservation in the future. In
the following, we reprint a
summary from the product flyer by the publisher, Springer,
which can also be found online at
http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/animal+sciences/book/
978-4-431-99494-7
Remote photography and infrared sensors are widely used in
the sampling of wildlife populations worldwide, especially for
cryptic or elusive species. Guiding the practitioner through the
entire process of using camera traps, this book is the first to
compile state-of-the-art sampling techniques for the purpose
of conducting high-quality science or effective management.
Chapters on the evaluation of equipment, field sampling
designs, and data analysis methods provide a coherent
framework for making inferences about the abundance,
species richness, and occupancy of sampled animals. The
volume introduces new models that will revolutionize use of
camera data to estimate population density, such as the newly
developed spatial capture–recapture models. It also includes
richly detailed case studies of camera trap work on some of
the world’s most charismatic, elusive, and endangered wildlife
species. Indispensible to wildlife conservationists, ecologists,
biologists, and conservation agencies around the world, the
text provides a thorough review of the subject as well as a
forecast for the use of remote photography in natural resource
conservation over the next few decades.
ALLEN F. O’CONNELL BACK AT WAGNER
Dr. Allan F. O’Connell will visit Wagner College on March
28. At 1:30pm Dr. O’Connell will give a lecture entitled
“Endangered Species, Climate Change, and Alternative
Energy: Implications for Natural Resource Conservation in the
21st Century”.
In the following, we reprint the short biography from his
USGS web page. Welcome back Dr. O’Connell. We are very
much looking forward to your visit.
PAGE 10
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Allan O'Connell is currently a
research wildlife biologist with
the US Geological Survey's
Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center in Laurel, Maryland. He
is originally from New York
City where he grew up in the
shadows of the American
Museum of Natural History
(his father worked in the
Ornithology Department). He
has 30+ years of experience
with the Department of Interior
as a field biologist, natural
resource management and
science program manager,
administrator, and most recently as a research scientist at
Patuxent, the world-renowned ecological research center
known for it's work on ecotoxicology, endangered species
conservation, and population ecology. He has held a variety of
positions during his government tenure including Acting Chief
of the National Bird Banding Laboratory (USGS, Patuxent),
first director of the National Park Service's (NPS) Cooperative
Research Unit at the Univeristy of Maine's flagship campus in
Orono (NPS and USGS), Division Chief for Natural Resource
Management and Science at Acadia National Park (ME) and
Fire Island National Seashore (NY). He has also worked as a
biologist for the NPS at Gateway National Recreation Area
(NY) and Fire Island, and began his federal career with the U.
S. Department of Agriculture, Animal And Plant Health
Inspection Service as a plant quarantine inspector at Kennedy
Airport in NY. He holds a B.S. in Biology (Wagner College,
NY), M.S. in Zoology (New York University) and a Ph.D. in
Wildlife Ecology (University of Massachusetts). He has over
30 technical publications and is the principal co-editor (and
co-author of several chapters) of the new book (2011)
published by Springer Verlag - Camera Traps in Animal
Ecology: Methods and Analyses, a treatise on the use and
application of camera trapping, the technique that is
revolutionizing how wildlife populations are being sampled
around the world (see also above).
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
CARTOON
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna
Student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid
Student Assistant Editor: Gregory Balaes
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your contribution on
a level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and 500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files (high quality jpg
is the preferred file format) attached to the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20 th of the month. Contributions received later may or may not be considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be refused by the editor.
PAGE 11
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, February 2011
Subject
The topic of the resource
Lamb, Christina M.
Pisano, Peter
Stora, Victor J.
Gutkin, Michael
Etts, William C.
Mosher, Roy
Stearns, Donald
Seldina, Yuliya
O'Connell, Allan F.
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Dr. Moorthy spends her sabbatical in India / Ammini Moorthy -- Senior accepted by top schools / Nidhi Khanna -- Senior's summer research under publication review / Victor Stora and Nidhi Khanna -- Student profile : Michael Gutkin / Gregory Balaes -- Club and society news / Leonid Denisenko, Nidhi Khanna, and Felicia Guinta -- Opportunities / Horst Onken and Nidhi Khanna -- Annual celebration of Darwin Day / Stephanie Rollizo -- Dr. Stearns presents his research at February's faculty forum / Nidhi Khanna -- The dangers in energy drink consumption / Farha Rashid -- Natural history of the Mid-Atlantic states / Brian Palestis -- Professional meetings, alumni, and cartoon
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2011-02
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
11 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/e03d2195bf336b29bed3055dacfccef8.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=L1y8j8I29Bv-YGQG-zNfSN370IKaOFzdh5HjXYmHPw44vPu9Qfgi34HiYdnXI0czLSzA6TYvrAlfiAQWOckAzQllR6IlpR6WKIS5bGrxV783iVB46Vqqvzc%7Ey19z4LWOhqZOgpML0dtpcoZM2UdsADd2HgKus0qm8LJrRj6qKwGixcnAFJmotiblkvhpzKKg2t-DAmnDYNXHclb%7EC4MM%7EanYrS95X4PHIuky7DgFbXL5NqHHYR-FsbY6mNGjbnAMEGBlIQIxLI%7E8822PWtcVYuAHnzjXWYAeCN1XzzPEMIR3AAbRmoRE-dFug99e-cNTGAndu6vta8Q6nCztj0HW1g__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
cce41ddf5905ab4d90dba4c61ae11b16
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2011, Issue Spring-01
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to twenty eleven and the spring semester at Wagner
College. As usual, the LIMULUS opens the new year and the
spring semester with a review of the last fall semester. For
those of you who regularly follow our newsletter there is
nothing new but some remembrance and review. For those
new at Wagner College this issue offers a chance to get to
know what happened during the months before your arrival on
Grymes Hill.
Before I let you read on, let me give you a little preview on
what to expect in our next issue at the end of February. As you
read in the November/December issue, Dr. Moorthy is
spending her sabbatical in the spring semester in India. We
already received many photographs and the first part of a
“dateless diary”. Of course, this will considerably enrich our
coming newsletter. Moreover, I was contacted by Dr. Allan F.
O‟Connell, who graduated in 1976 from Wagner College, and
who works now as a research scientist for the U.S. Department
of Interior. Dr. O‟Connell‟s activities concentrate on federal
lands to address issues of wildlife conservation. We will
highlight Dr. O‟Connell and his book “Camera Traps in
Animal Ecology”, recently published together with his
coauthors James D. Nichols and K. Ullas Karanth.
Together with the editorial staff, I wish everybody a very
successful spring semester 2011.
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
January, 2011
ONE MORE PAPPAW AT WAGNER
On behalf of the Limulus staff, and
the entire biology department, we
welcome the latest papaw of the
college: Congratulations to Dr.
Donald Stearns on the birth of his
twin grandchildren, John Edison
(right) weighing 7 lbs, and Lucy
Grace (left) weighing 6 lbs 13 oz.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
DR. MOORTHY SPENDS HER SABBATICAL IN INDIA
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
CONGRATULATIONS
This year, Dr. Palestis is one of the
recipients of a Faculty Award for
Exceptional Performance in the
Area of Scholarship. His research
addresses certain aspects of the
biology of terns. However, he is also
very engaged in behavioral studies
with zebra fish. All recipients of
faculty awards will be honored at
the Faculty Awards Dinner on
Tuesday, November 16th. More will
be reported in the next newsletter after the awards dinner.
Contributed by Dr. Onken.
Dr. Moorthy will be going on
sabbatical this coming spring
2011 semester. She will be
spending a good part of her
sabbatical in Kerala, India
where she will be teaching
courses on "Applications of
Bio Technology,” and "
Ethical, Legal and Social
Implications (ELSI) of the
Human
Genome."
Her
coursework will be taught in
the Teacher's College, who is
involved with keeping college
and university professors updated on current events in their
fields. The Teaching College is housed under the Kerala
University Campus at Kariavattam, Trivandrum in Kerala,
India.
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
While Dr. Moorthy is in India, she will be meeting a Wagner
Alumni, Ms. Christina Lamb, a graduate from the Biology
Department. Christina is currently studying for her PH.D in
public health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Dr. Moorthy would like to remind the campus that she will be
checking her email, and can be reached at
asmoorth@wagner.edu.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
CURRICULUM NEWS
BIOLOGY MAJOR:
Students can now count any 300-level or higher microbiology
course with a lab as one of the three upper-level electives in
the biology major.
The list of upper-level electives in the biology major will now
read (changes in italics):
“Any 300-level or higher biology or microbiology course(s)
with a laboratory or BI493 or CH517 or the second Capstone
Course...”
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MINOR:
BI 110 Environmental Biology is now a required course
for the minor. It is the only required course.
HI 237 Environment: History, Society and Change in the
Modern World (I) is now an elective for the minor.
However, because History is in the Humanities, the
course will not satisfy the Social Sciences requirement of
the minor.
COURSE FREQUENCY CHANGES:
BI306 Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology will now be
taught every spring.
BI323 Basic Medical Histology will move to fall of
even-numbered years.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
SENIOR ACCEPTED BY TOP SCHOOLS
Senior Biology major and psychology
minor Peter Pisano recently received
acceptances from two prestigious
dental schools. Peter was accepted to
the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)
and New York University‟s College
of Dentistry.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I
would like to congratulate Peter on
his acceptances to two great dental
schools!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
The Biology Club completed their off-campus community
service event at the annual Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday
October 17th at Cloves Lake Park. The Biology Club is in the
process of ordering club T- shirts. The „Biology Club Raises
Awareness for Breast Cancer Pork Roast‟ held on October 6 th
was a huge success (see below for further details). During this
on-campus community service event club members were able
to raise a grand total of $482 for a great cause!
Contributed by Farha Rashid
The Biology Club planned a “Biology Club Bake Night” last
month. Due to unexpected events, the event was cancelled, but
will be postponed until next semester. Lastly, please look out
for the Biology Club on Facebook. Member Melanie Krongold
created the Wagner College Biology Club group on Facebook,
so make sure you keep yourself updated on upcoming club
news!
Be on the look out for upcoming events during the spring 2011
semester, including Metric System Bake Night (which was
postponed), and a trip to the Bodies Alive Exhibit in New
York City. Biology Club t-shirts are now in. Please contact
Janna
Denisenko,
the
club‟s
secretary,
at
janna.denisenko@wagner.edu. Meetings will resume after
break. Leonid Denisenko, the club‟s president, would like to
wish everyone has a safe winter, a happy holiday. New
members and ideas are always welcome. Please email
leonid.denisenko@wagner.edu if interested.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes and Nidhi Khanna
TRI-BETA NEWS
Tri-Beta held their first meeting of the semester on
Wednesday September 22th. Members completed their offcampus community service by participating in the Breast
Cancer Walk that took place at Cloves Lake Park on October
17th. Tri-Beta members plan to do community service in the
garden later in the semester
Contributed by Farha Rashid
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
This semester, the Pre-Health Society has a new president.
Senior Biology major Felicia Giunta serves as the club‟s
president. The organization will have its next meeting on
Wednesday, November 10th at 3pm. The club is hosting a
guest speaker from the New York College of Osteopathtic
Medicine. Students interested in obtaining a DO degree are
encouraged to attend this meeting to learn more about
NYCOM. The location is TBD. For more information, please
contact Felicia.Giunta@wagner.edu.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
TRI-BETA & PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
TEAMING UP TO RAISE MONEY
Tribeta president Medije Mashkulli and Pre-Health Society
president Felicia Giunta teamed up to complete their
respective organization‟s community service requirement for
the semester. The organizations conducted a joint donation
drive for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). The
items that were donated will be sold by the OCRF to for-profit
wholesalers. The profits from the donations are used by the
OCRF to develop new methods of detecting, preventing, and
treating this deadly disease that affects many women.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PRE-DENTISTRY SOCIETY
Congratulations to the Pre-Dentistry Society, who is now a
Student Government recognized organization established
during this Fall 2010 semester. President and founder of the
Pre-Dentistry Society, Gregory Balaes, referred to the society
as, “an environment where pre-dentistry students are able to
come together in one common place.”
The first annual Dental Health Promotion Day was held
September 29th, in the Union building. The society handed out
144 toothbrushes, as well as information, and tips on oral
hygiene. Donations were also collected for Operation Smile,
an organization who focuses their efforts on raising money for
surgeries to surgically correct cleft palate and cleft lip. Thank
you to all who donated!
The society has partnered with the American Red Cross, and
will be offering a CPR Certification class on Saturday,
November 6th. Certification is being offered at a discounted
cost for all those who are interested. In an interview, Vice
President Lenny Giordano stated, “By offering and setting up
a CPR certification class available for pre-dental students, as
well as all students interested, the Pre-Dentistry Society is
making small steps by giving students tools that will aid them
in the field, and when applying for jobs.”
For
more
information,
please
email
gregory.balaes@wagner.edu, or pre-dental@wagner.edu.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
Dental Health Promotion day was once again a great success.
The Pre-Dentistry Society held this event on November 29 th in
the Union Building, where club members handed out
toothbrushes, floss, and information regarding dental health. A
total of $95.49 was raised to benefit cleft palate and cleft lip
surgeries through the Operation Smile organization. The PreDentistry Society would like to send a “thank you” to all those
who donated and participated.
Next semester, the society will vote on candidates for an
available treasurer position. Candidates were selected at the
final meeting, and include Radislav Meylikh, Sara Mfarrej,
and Adriana Castillo. Also, the society would like to remind
members that the Pre-Dentistry Society t-shirts have arrived. If
you have not yet received your t-shirt, please email predental@wagner.edu. Any student is always welcome to join
the society, please email Gregory Balaes, the club‟s President,
at gregory.balaes@wagner.edu, or pre-dental@wagner.edu if
interested.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
OPPORTUNITIES
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr.
Onken
offers
research opportunities
for students in the frame
of a project in which he
collaborates with scientists from Washington
State University, the University of Idaho, and the University
of Alberta (Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the
National Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the
midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).
Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit
devastating diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue,
and are a major threat to the health of billions of people on our
planet. The principal investigators of this project address
larval mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to
fight these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic
habitat.
In collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. (Mt. Desert
Island Biological Laboratories, Maine), Brazil (University of
São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, University of Paraná in Curitiba)
and Canada (University of Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken
pursues research with Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory
capacities and mechanisms of crabs. Together with Dr.
Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor Beecher (Biology), an
ecophysiological study is in an early stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
For the spring semester Dr. Onken offers a work study
position related to his work with mosquitoes.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the fall and winter of 2010 are encouraged to
contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu). There is also
an official student job for collaboration in greenhouse and
garden.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
We just welcomed the third assistant editor for the LIMULUS:
Gregory Balaes. The more students actively contribute, the
better the newsletter becomes. Proficient student writers are
invited to become assistant editors for the newsletter of the
Department of Biological Sciences. If you are interested,
please, contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu).
LIMULUS WELCOMES STUDENT ASSISTANT EDITOR
Gregory J. Balaes is a second-year
student at Wagner College. He is a
Biology major and is double
minoring
in
Spanish
and
Chemistry. Greg has been an active
member of the Wagner community
and has served as a senator in SGA
since his first year. He is currently
a member of both the Biology
Club, and the Pre-Health Society.
Additionally, he helped found the
Pre-Dentistry Society this year, and
currently serves as President of the
society.
Before moving on to a career in orthodontics, he aspires to
pursue biomedical research at the graduate level. On behalf of
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
the Limulus staff, I would like to welcome Greg to the
Editorial Board!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
EXPERIENCES
BIOLOGY CLUB‟S FIRST ANNUAL PIG ROAST
The Biology Club made strides against breast cancer by
raising $482 in the first annual Breast Cancer Awareness Pig
Roast on Wednesday, October 6th. Roasted pork, kielbasas,
veggie burgers, chicken burgers, and pasta salads were served
buffet style, as students, faculty, and staff gathered on Guild
Patio.
Wagner students, as they enjoy the pulled pork, and the turkey
burgers.
President of the Biology Club, Leonid Denisenko, would like
to thank “Sabrina Slater from Co-curricular for helping us put
it all together, SGA for providing the resources, and all the
members of the Biology Club for working very hard. It was a
lot of fun, and we hope to do it again.” As for future prospects
of the club, Leonid continued in saying, “The Biology Club is
evolving as an organization on campus. I will work very hard
in conjunction with our members to bring educational and
interesting events to Wagner College. We will show that
Science can be a lot of fun.”
Photos from the event:
Members of the Wagner Community gathered on Guild Patio
to spread awareness, and to enjoy the food.
Ribbons distributed after donation, and pamphlets with
information on how to detect breast cancer.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
ANNUAL BREAST CANCER WALK
The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer is an annual event that takes place just down the hill
from Wagner, in Cloves Lake Park. Hundreds of individuals
walk around the park in order to raise money and show their
support for the women and men who are diagnosed with breast
cancer every year. The Biology Club, Tri- Beta, and PreHealth society participate in this walk as their off campus
community service event each year.
Contributed by Farha Rashid with photographs from Nidhi Khanna
LC 17: BACTERIA, HUMAN HEALTH, AND SURVIVAL
It is no secret that Wagner College focuses education on both
learning inside and outside the classroom. In a recent
interview with Dr. Stearns, and Dr. Houlihan, the backbone to
LC 17 was revealed: the experiential learning component. As
part of this component, students become actively involved
during the semester in field trips and other exercises that
demonstrate microbiological processes in the “real world.”
Fieldtrips began almost immediately in the semester, and
include the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties
Wastewater Treatment Facility. Students have also traveled to
a quality control center of Microbiology, ImClone Systems in
Branchburg, NJ, as well as to the Northeast Regional
Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Jamaica,
NY. Moreover, students participate in a 5-6 week research
experiment titled the “Bioremediation Project: Using Bacteria
to Destroy Pollutants.”
Each year, chemicals that are not normally found in nature are
manufactured, sold, and used for specific purposes. These
chemicals include pesticides designed to kill weeds, insects,
and crop parasites. Some of these industrial chemicals linger
in the environment for long periods (years, decades) and
accumulate with repeated use. This lingering occurs because
manufactured chemicals do not decompose as quickly as most
chemicals made by living creatures. After all, what are the
odds that a completely unnatural molecule discarded in a
natural environment would be quickly broken down when
such decomposition requires the presence of particular
enzymes that specifically degrade that unnatural molecule?
The Bioremediation Project is designed to identify specific
species of bacteria that can degrade certain compounds that
are presently manufactured in industrial laboratories, sold in
the marketplace, and thus introduced into the environment.
After selecting a manufactured chemical from a provided list,
students spent the majority of the semester researching
information. With training, and supervision, students used the
scientific method and standard procedures to culture bacteria
in the presence (and absence) of the chosen chemical, to
determine which species of bacteria decompose that
compound. With different students using different compounds,
the group results should indicate which of the tested chemicals
are particularly resistant to degradation, and which are easier
to break down. Group results should also indicate which
species of bacteria are better at decomposing specific
chemicals than other species of bacteria.
One may question why this information may be beneficial to
the community. The answer is simple: this information helps
the larger community by pointing out which species of
bacteria should be applied to which chemicals to speed up the
bioremediation process. The same bacteria will thus reduce
each chemical‟s possible impact on human health and the
environment. Research in LC 17 has not only become a major
component of the course, comprising of ¼ of the students
overall GPA, but functions in exposing students to research at
the college level during their very first semester at Wagner
College.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
CHEMICAL DEGRADTION OF BROMOXYNIL
On December 15th, 2010, the students and faculty of LC 17
invited the Wagner community to the Spiro building to view
their research findings through presentations. In particular, a
presentation by Ashley Anonsen and Laura Amorosa
highlighted the bioremediation process of a pesticide called
Bromoxynil. Bromoxynil‟s purpose serves in inhibiting
photosynthesis by binding to electron transport components of
photosystem II and respiration to eventually kill weeds, and
other unwanted plants. Ashley and Laura traveled to a farm in
Pennsylvania to collect dirt samples from a farm, and
ultimately successfully grew gram-negative bacteria called
Pseudomonas putida from this soil bacterium.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
LC 17 VISITS FISCHETTI LAB
On November 22, the Freshmen Learning Community of Dr.
Houlihan and Dr. Stearns visited the laboratory of Dr. Vincent
Fischetti at Rockefeller University. Dr. Fischetti is an alumnus
of Wagner (1962) who received an honorary doctorate in
spring of 2010. For students and instructors a visit of a
laboratory of a renowned microbiologist like Dr. Fischetti is
certainly a special experience. The photographs below were
kindly provided by Laura Barlament, editor of the Wagner
Magazine and member of the Communications Department of
Wagner College:
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Contributed by Dr. Onken with photos from Laura Barlament
SENIOR POSTER PRESENTATION
On December 8, the seniors presented their work in a poster
presentation. Professional discussions were accompanied by
coffee, soda and snacks. Congratulations to our seniors Kaitlin
Eppinger, Medije Mashkulli, Alex Molesan, and Caroline
Mroz.
Contributed by Dr. Onken with photographs from Stephanie Rollizo
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 2010
In the early afternoon of December 8, a number of science
faculty and graduate students met in the Espana Royal in
Richmond Road for the meanwhile traditional Holiday
Celebration. Special thanks go to Stephanie Rollizo who again
organized the event. What would we do without our
Stephanie?!
A special event was the birthday celebration for Lisamarie
Alba, a long-term adjunct professor of the Biology
Department. Once more: Congratulations Lisamarie!
Contributed by Dr. Onken with photographs from Stephanie Rollizo
PAGE 8
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PUBLICATIONS
Jagadeshwaran, U., Onken, H., Hardy, M., Moffett, S. B. &
Moffett, D. F. (2010). Cellular mechanisms of acid secretion
in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti.
Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 295-300.
Moffett, D.F. and Onken, H. (2010). The Cellular Basis of
Extreme Alkali Secretion in Insects: A Tale of Two Tissues.
In: Epithelial Transport Physiology (ed. George A.
Gerencser), pp. 91-112 . Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press.
ISBN: 978-1-60327-228-5.
Palestis, B.G., J. Cabrero, R. Trivers, and J.P.M. Camacho. In
press. Prevalence of B chromosomes in Orthoptera is
associated with shape and number of A chromosomes.
Genetica.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
MACUB
On a Saturday morning, a handful of Biology students and
faculty traveled to Molloy College where the annual
Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists
Conference was held. The conference began with a keynote
address made by Dr. Susan S. Kilham, a Professor of
Environmental Science at Drexel University gave a lecture
about global warming and the mountains of evidence that supports it. She does extensive research that deals with the effects
of climate change on various ecosystems.
Biology undergraduate students and Microbiology graduate
students gave poster presentations of their research at the
conference.
Graduate
Assistant
Michael
Gutkin
(Microbiology) received acknowledgment at the conference.
Gutkin was awarded third place in the graduate category for
his presenation that was titled, “Immunofluorescent
Characterization of the Cellular Composition in Normal Adult
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Optic Tectum.". Professor Corbo, Dr.
Alejandra Alonso (College of Staten Island), and Dr. Fulop
advised Gutkin with his research. Additionally, Caroline Mroz
(Senior, Biology major) was honored as a winner for the
Benjamin Cummings/MACUB Student Research Award. The
Limulus staff would like to congratulate Mike, Caroline, and
all of the other Wagner students who participated in this
prestigious conference.
Some photographs from the event:
PAGE 9
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Undergraduate
"Chromosomal Aberrations Caused by the Chemotherapeutic
Agent Mitoxantrone on In vitro Human Peripheral
Leukocytes." Roseanna Valant (Senior Biology major) and Dr.
Ammini Moorthy.
"Development of Genetically Encoded Malonyl-CoA Sensor."
Violeta Capric (Junior Biology major), Dr. Michael Wolfgang
(Johns Hopkins University). Wagner College faculty advisor:
Dr. Onken.
"Production of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos using In Vitro
Fertilization Techniques." Caroline Mroz (Senior Biology
major), Dr. Ammini Moorthy.
Graduate
"Exploration of the Regulatory Effects of jadW1, jadW2 and
jadW3 in the Biosynthesis of Jadomycin B in Streptomyces
venezuelae ISP5230." Jeffrey Bertone (Microbiology) and Dr.
Roy Mosher.
"Immunofluorescent Characterization of the Cellular
Composition in Normal Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Optic
Tectum." Michael Gutkin (Microbiology(, Prof. Christopher
Corbo, Dr. Alejandra Alonso (College of Staten Island) and
Dr. Zoltan Fulop.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
ALUMNI
Dr. FISCHETTI AGAIN ON CAMPUS
Dr. Fischetti who graduated from Wagner
College in 1962 received an honorary
degree during the commencement
ceremony in May 2010. He will return
this week again to Wagner College in
order to give a presentation in the frame
of the Academic and Cultural Enrichment
(ACE) lecture series.
In the following find a copy of Dr. Fischetti‟s biosketch as it
appeared on the Wagner College website and the
announcement for his ACE presentation this coming week.
Vincent A. Fischetti, Ph.D.
Professor and Head, Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and
Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Below is a list of all of the students and their presentations:
More than 90 percent of all infections begin at a mucous
membrane site (oral, nasal, upper or lower respiratory, ocular,
intestinal or urogenital). The Fischetti lab is working to
understand the earliest events that occur when gram-positive
bacteria interact with human tissues and cause disease. Its
research is aimed at interfering with these events by:
developing vaccines to induce a mucosal immune response;
blocking the attachment of surface protein in the bacterial cell
wall to prevent infection; and using phage lytic enzymes to
PAGE 10
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
both remove colonizing pathogenic bacteria to prevent
infection and treat established infections.
Dr. Fischetti works with gram-positive bacteria, such as
streptococci, that do not contain a second cell membrane
outside of the cell wall. In the fight against infectious disease,
Dr. Fischetti investigates two nonantibiotic treatment
strategies. This two-pronged approach involves blocking
bacteria from attaching to cells and exploring the use of phage
lytic enzymes to remove pathogenic bacteria once they have
colonized in the host.
To infect their host, bacteria use their surface molecules to
attach and invade human tissues, particularly those that line
the nose and throat. Knowledge of the process bacteria use to
anchor these molecules in their cell wall could lead to
strategies to prevent infection. The M protein is a surface
protein that is the major virulence factor of group A
streptococci because of its ability to impede attack by human
white blood cells. Analysis of this molecule by Dr. Fischetti‟s
lab shows that the region used to attach the M protein to the
cell surface is highly conserved in gram-positive bacteria,
indicating that the mechanism for anchoring surface proteins
in bacteria is also conserved. Since bacteria cannot cause
infection without their surface proteins, a molecule that blocks
surface protein attachment will be broadly applicable to
different gram-positive bacteria.
Dr. Fischetti‟s lab has also shown that the M protein can be
used to deliver the molecules to the surface of gram-positive
bacteria to be used as a vaccine. A vaccine that employs this
approach could be used against a variety of harmful pathogens
and is currently being tested in clinical trials. Dr. Fischetti has
also identified a membrane-associated enzyme responsible for
cleaving the highly conserved anchor region of surface
proteins. Inhibition of this enzyme prevents both cell wall
assembly and the proper attachment of most surface proteins,
resulting in nearly naked bacteria. Studies are under way to
further define the role of this enzyme in cell wall assembly
and the protein attachment process to identify inhibitors that
may be used as a new class of antibiotic.
As new antibiotics are proving futile against resistant strains
of bacteria, the Fischetti lab is investigating the efficacy of
lytic enzymes, which are found exclusively in viruses called
bacteriophages (or phages), viruses that infect bacteria.
Dr. Fischetti‟s lab has recombinantly produced lysins that will
kill the major gram-positive pathogens — Streptococcus
pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus,
Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus anthracis — and has used
these proteins to destroy their respective bacteria in animal
models of disease. The enzymes are extremely potent; only
very small amounts are needed to destroy millions of
organisms within seconds of contact. They are also highly
specific and unlike antibiotics, only kill the disease-causing
bacteria without harming the beneficial bacteria. Dr.
Fischetti‟s studies have shown that when small amounts of the
enzymes are administered to mice that have intentionally been
infected with these bacteria, the disease-causing bacteria are
rapidly destroyed. In an animal model of pneumococcus
pneumonia, Dr. Fischetti has shown that systemic
administration of the phage enzyme Cpl-1 can rescue mice
infected with the pathogen and completely reverse lung tissue
damage if given within 24 hours post-infection. Fischetti and
his colleagues showed that when the enzyme is delivered to
the brain of mice with pneumococcal meningitis, it effectively
removes the organisms from the site. The lab has also shown
that by removing colonizing S. pneumoniae from the nose of
mice, they could completely prevent secondary ear infections
triggered by influenza.
Using lytic enzymes as a tool, Dr. Fischetti‟s lab developed a
method of drilling through the thick cell walls of grampositive bacteria while keeping them intact. The technique
enabled the Fischetti lab to access the bacterial cytoplasm with
labeled antibodies to study intracellular molecules that were
previously inaccessible.
CAREER
Dr. Fischetti grew up in New York City, receiving his B.S. in
bacteriology from Wagner College in 1962 and his M.S. in
microbiology from Long Island University in 1967. He
received his Ph.D. in microbiology from New York University
in 1970. Dr. Fischetti came to Rockefeller as a postdoc in
1970 and became assistant professor in 1973, associate
professor in 1978 and professor in 1990. In 1987 Dr. Fischetti
received a 10-year National Institutes of Health MERIT
Award that was renewed in 1997.
USING WHAT PHAGE HAVE LEARNED TO
CONTROL GRAM-POSITIVE BACTERIA
ACE Presentation by Vincent A. Fischetti, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and
Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York,
NY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, 4:20 P.M.,
WAGNER COLLEGE, SPIRO HALL, ROOM 2
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
PAGE 11
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
CARTOONS
Cartoons from www.lab-initio.com
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your contribution on
a level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and 500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files (high quality jpg
is the preferred file format) attached to the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of the month. Contributions received later may or may not be considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Gregory Balaes (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
PAGE 12
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, January 2011
Subject
The topic of the resource
Palestis, Brain
Moorthy, Ammini
Pisano, Peter
Balaes, Gregory
Eppinger, Kaitlin E.
Mashkulli, Medije
Molesan, Alex J.
Mroz, Caroline L.
Fischetti, Vincent A.
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Biology staff and faculty news / Horst Onken and Gregory Balaes -- Curriculum news / Brian Palestis -- Biology student news / Nidhi Khanna and Farha Rashid -- Opportunities / Horst Onken and Nidhi Khanna -- Biology club's first annual pig roast / Gregory Balaes -- Annual breast cancer walk / Nidhi Khanna -- Publications, professional meetings, alumni, and cartoons
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2011-01
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
12 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/6b7c26c83bc7719ad04607f8e511ba34.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=J7%7EqwxpK7zApUKKtOoy8-n-n4EmT2XY5Vf5pa-07IZllgQsc6aYU9xOavFdofyim6TunhLMRaiNO6Au1WMdtpMV-jVjb3ZbGktPJoV%7ETCBvNUX3a6WG49uB1FIo64DlC8S4dVMeDUIYPpxY3MTpuXIYdISCPyNcIF9Ya8sDD%7ELQEj32YBrOKiaZpqjDvmzyPYtSjfma9blqM0l85pnAaa84M81votVAZH86aDHTVOJlqRI8dECptHb6TxYn1sBSwj%7EI3Mu9OxDcGUX-VeT1pvP2NAOkx8h7wGTY-sMxI7DWSswIUez-SnuxTgq-NnIGUo9J86tyvQCs8ciaS969JjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
198a8095a472ac44b612c06398f20658
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2010, Issue Fall-03
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The 25th issue of the LIMULUS newsletter of the Department
of Biological Sciences! It is a Christmas present for you, our
readers. Almost, it appears as if it were yesterday when I
edited the first newsletter in October of 2007. Time flies by!
Of course, everybody agrees that holidays pass by too fast and
can never be long enough for those who know what to do with
their time. For many students, I hear, the semesters appear
long. For me this is not the case. The fall semester 2010
appeared to have passed faster than the fall semester 2009. Not
only semesters, time in general, seems to accelerate with age,
a pretty common observation. May be I should direct my
research to this phenomenon of nonlinear time. However, I
guess this is more a research topic for somebody from the
departments of physics or psychology. In any case, I wish
everybody a longer winter break!
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
FACULTY NEWS
ONE MORE PAPPAW AT WAGNER
On behalf of the Limulus staff, and
the entire biology department, we
welcome the latest papaw of the
college: Congratulations to Dr.
Donald Stearns on the birth of his
twin grandchildren, John Edison
(right) weighing 7 lbs, and Lucy
Grace (left) weighing 6 lbs 13 oz.
November/December, 2010
DR. MOORTHY SPENDS HER SABBATICAL IN INDIA
Dr. Moorthy will be going on
sabbatical this coming spring
2011 semester. She will be
spending a good part of her
sabbatical in Kerala, India
where she will be teaching
courses on "Applications of
Bio Technology,” and "
Ethical, Legal and Social
Implications (ELSI) of the
Human
Genome."
Her
coursework will be taught in
the Teacher's College, who is
involved with keeping college
and university professors updated on current events in their
fields. The Teaching College is housed under the Kerala
University Campus at Kariavattam, Trivandrum in Kerala,
India.
While Dr. Moorthy is in India, she will be meeting a Wagner
Alumni, Ms. Christina Lamb, a graduate from the Biology
Department. Christina is currently studying for her PH.D in
public health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Dr. Moorthy would like to remind the campus that she will be
checking her email, and can be reached at
asmoorth@wagner.edu.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
CURRICULUM NEWS
BIOLOGY MAJOR:
Students can now count any 300-level or higher microbiology
course with a lab as one of the three upper-level electives in
the biology major.
The list of upper-level electives in the biology major will now
read (changes in italics):
“Any 300-level or higher biology or microbiology course(s)
with a laboratory or BI493 or CH517 or the second Capstone
Course...”
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MINOR:
• BI 110 Environmental Biology is now a required course
for the minor. It is the only required course.
• HI 237 Environment: History, Society and Change in the
Modern World (I) is now an elective for the minor.
However, because History is in the Humanities, the
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
course will not satisfy the Social Sciences requirement of
the minor.
COURSE FREQUENCY CHANGES:
• BI306 Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology will now be
taught every spring.
• BI323 Basic Medical Histology will move to fall of
even-numbered years.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
SENIOR ACCEPTED BY TOP SCHOOLS
Senior Biology major and psychology
minor Peter Pisano recently received
acceptances from two prestigious
dental schools. Peter was accepted to
the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)
and New York University’s College
of Dentistry.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I
would like to congratulate Peter on
his acceptances to two great dental
schools!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
The Biology Club planned a “Biology Club Bake Night” last
month. Due to unexpected events, the event was cancelled, but
will be postponed until next semester. Lastly, please look out
for the Biology Club on Facebook. Member Melanie Krongold
created the Wagner College Biology Club group on Facebook,
so make sure you keep yourself updated on upcoming club
news!
Be on the look out for upcoming events during the spring 2011
semester, including Metric System Bake Night (which was
postponed), and a trip to the Bodies Alive Exhibit in New
York City. Biology Club t-shirts are now in. Please contact
Janna
Denisenko,
the
club’s
secretary,
at
janna.denisenko@wagner.edu. Meetings will resume after
break. Leonid Denisenko, the club’s president, would like to
wish everyone has a safe winter, a happy holiday. New
members and ideas are always welcome. Please email
leonid.denisenko@wagner.edu if interested.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes and Nidhi Khanna
TRI-BETA & PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
TEAMING UP TO RAISE MONEY
Tribeta president Medije Mashkulli and Pre-Health Society
president Felicia Giunta teamed up to complete their
respective organization’s community service requirement for
the semester. The organizations conducted a joint donation
drive for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). The
items that were donated will be sold by the OCRF to for-profit
wholesalers. The profits from the donations are used by the
OCRF to develop new methods of detecting, preventing, and
treating this deadly disease that affects many women.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PRE-DENTISTRY SOCIETY UPDATES
Dental Health Promotion day was once again a great success.
The Pre-Dentistry Society held this event on November 29th in
the Union Building, where club members handed out
toothbrushes, floss, and information regarding dental health. A
total of $95.49 was raised to benefit cleft palate and cleft lip
surgeries through the Operation Smile organization. The PreDentistry Society would like to send a “thank you” to all those
who donated and participated.
Next semester, the society will vote on candidates for an
available treasurer position. Candidates were selected at the
final meeting, and include Radislav Meylikh, Sara Mfarrej,
and Adriana Castillo. Also, the society would like to remind
members that the Pre-Dentistry Society t-shirts have arrived. If
you have not yet received your t-shirt, please email predental@wagner.edu. Any student is always welcome to join
the society, please email Gregory Balaes, the club’s President,
at gregory.balaes@wagner.edu, or pre-dental@wagner.edu if
interested.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
OPPORTUNITIES
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr.
Onken
offers
research opportunities
for students in the frame
of a project in which he
collaborates with scientists from Washington
State University, the University of Idaho, and the University
of Alberta (Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the
National Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the
midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).
Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit
devastating diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue,
and are a major threat to the health of billions of people on our
planet. The principal investigators of this project address
larval mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to
fight these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic
habitat.
In collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. (Mt. Desert
Island Biological Laboratories, Maine), Brazil (University of
São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, University of Paraná in Curitiba)
and Canada (University of Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken
pursues research with Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory
capacities and mechanisms of crabs. Together with Dr.
Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor Beecher (Biology), an
ecophysiological study is in an early stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
For the spring semester Dr. Onken offers a work study
position related to his work with mosquitoes.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the fall and winter of 2010 are encouraged to
contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu). There is also
an official student job for collaboration in greenhouse and
garden.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
LIMULUS WELCOMES STUDENT ASSISTANT EDITOR
Gregory J. Balaes is a second-year
student at Wagner College. He is a
Biology major and is double
minoring
in
Spanish
and
Chemistry. Greg has been an active
member of the Wagner community
and has served as a senator in SGA
since his first year. He is currently
a member of both the Biology
Club, and the Pre-Health Society.
Additionally, he helped found the
Pre-Dentistry Society this year, and
currently serves as President of the
society.
Before moving on to a career in orthodontics, he aspires to
pursue biomedical research at the graduate level. On behalf of
the Limulus staff, I would like to welcome Greg to the
Editorial Board!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
EXPERIENCES
LC 17: BACTERIA, HUMAN HEALTH, AND SURVIVAL
It is no secret that Wagner College focuses education on both
learning inside and outside the classroom. In a recent
interview with Dr. Stearns, and Dr. Houlihan, the backbone to
LC 17 was revealed: the experiential learning component. As
part of this component, students become actively involved
during the semester in field trips and other exercises that
demonstrate microbiological processes in the “real world.”
Fieldtrips began almost immediately in the semester, and
include the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties
Wastewater Treatment Facility. Students have also traveled to
a quality control center of Microbiology, ImClone Systems in
Branchburg, NJ, as well as to the Northeast Regional
Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Jamaica,
NY. Moreover, students participate in a 5-6 week research
experiment titled the “Bioremediation Project: Using Bacteria
to Destroy Pollutants.”
Each year, chemicals that are not normally found in nature are
manufactured, sold, and used for specific purposes. These
chemicals include pesticides designed to kill weeds, insects,
and crop parasites. Some of these industrial chemicals linger
in the environment for long periods (years, decades) and
accumulate with repeated use. This lingering occurs because
manufactured chemicals do not decompose as quickly as most
chemicals made by living creatures. After all, what are the
odds that a completely unnatural molecule discarded in a
natural environment would be quickly broken down when
such decomposition requires the presence of particular
enzymes that specifically degrade that unnatural molecule?
The Bioremediation Project is designed to identify specific
species of bacteria that can degrade certain compounds that
are presently manufactured in industrial laboratories, sold in
the marketplace, and thus introduced into the environment.
After selecting a manufactured chemical from a provided list,
students spent the majority of the semester researching
information. With training, and supervision, students used the
scientific method and standard procedures to culture bacteria
in the presence (and absence) of the chosen chemical, to
determine which species of bacteria decompose that
compound. With different students using different compounds,
the group results should indicate which of the tested chemicals
are particularly resistant to degradation, and which are easier
to break down. Group results should also indicate which
species of bacteria are better at decomposing specific
chemicals than other species of bacteria.
One may question why this information may be beneficial to
the community. The answer is simple: this information helps
the larger community by pointing out which species of
bacteria should be applied to which chemicals to speed up the
bioremediation process. The same bacteria will thus reduce
each chemical’s possible impact on human health and the
environment. Research in LC 17 has not only become a major
component of the course, comprising of ¼ of the students
overall GPA, but functions in exposing students to research at
the college level during their very first semester at Wagner
College.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
CHEMICAL DEGRADTION OF BROMOXYNIL
On December 15th, 2010, the students and faculty of LC 17
invited the Wagner community to the Spiro building to view
their research findings through presentations. In particular, a
presentation by Ashley Anonsen and Laura Amorosa
highlighted the bioremediation process of a pesticide called
Bromoxynil. Bromoxynil’s purpose serves in inhibiting
photosynthesis by binding to electron transport components of
photosystem II and respiration to eventually kill weeds, and
other unwanted plants. Ashley and Laura traveled to a farm in
Pennsylvania to collect dirt samples from a farm, and
ultimately successfully grew gram-negative bacteria called
Pseudomonas putida from this soil bacterium.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
LC 17 VISITS FISCHETTI LAB
On November 22, the Freshmen Learning Community of Dr.
Houlihan and Dr. Stearns visited the laboratory of Dr. Vincent
Fischetti at Rockefeller University. Dr. Fischetti is an alumnus
of Wagner (1962) who received an honorary doctorate in
spring of 2010. For students and instructors a visit of a
laboratory of a renowned microbiologist like Dr. Fischetti is
certainly a special experience. The photographs below were
kindly provided by Laura Barlament, editor of the Wagner
Magazine and member of the Communications Department of
Wagner College:
Contributed by Dr. Onken with photos from Laura Barlament
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
SENIOR POSTER PRESENTATION
On December 8, the seniors presented their work in a poster
presentation. Professional discussions were accompanied by
coffee, soda and snacks. Congratulations to our seniors Kaitlin
Eppinger, Medije Mashkulli, Alex Molesan, and Caroline
Mroz.
Contributed by Dr. Onken with photographs from Stephanie Rollizo
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 2010
In the early afternoon of December 8, a number of science
faculty and graduate students met in the Espana Royal in
Richmond Road for the meanwhile traditional Holiday
Celebration. Special thanks go to Stephanie Rollizo who again
organized the event. What would we do without our
Stephanie?!
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
A special event was the birthday celebration for Lisamarie
Alba, a long-term adjunct professor of the Biology
Department. Once more: Congratulations Lisamarie!
Contributed by Dr. Onken with photographs from Stephanie Rollizo
PUBLICATIONS
NEW! Palestis, B.G., J. Cabrero, R. Trivers, and J.P.M.
Camacho. In press. Prevalence of B chromosomes in
Orthoptera is associated with shape and number of A
chromosomes. Genetica.
Jagadeshwaran, U., Onken, H., Hardy, M., Moffett, S. B. &
Moffett, D. F. (2010). Cellular mechanisms of acid secretion
in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti.
Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 295-300.
Moffett, D.F. and Onken, H. (2010). The Cellular Basis of
Extreme Alkali Secretion in Insects: A Tale of Two Tissues.
In: Epithelial Transport Physiology (ed. George A.
Gerencser), pp. 91-112 . Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press.
ISBN: 978-1-60327-228-5.
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
with
your
submission,
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
CARTOON:
Cartoonas usual from www.lab-initio.com
Key:
a. Satellite receiver for Global Positioning System
b. Infrared night-vision glasses.
c. Ceramic nose-cone and ceramic tiles, required to withstand
the incredible temperatures associated with the immense
speeds Santa must travel at nowadays in order to deliver
presents to the ever-expanding population of children on earth.
j. Asbestos-fibre beard and hair, to withstand high
temperatures (as noted above) and yet also maintain that ring
of Santa-authenticity. (All fabrics also soaked in fire-retardant
phosphine compounds).
d. Filtration unit and rebreathing apparatus, required due to
Occupational Safety and Health considerations associated with
the chronic inhalation of asbestos fibres.
e. Recoilless Rifle (Bazooka). Santa hasn't got time any more
to mess around trying to find your chimney, if that is you have
one. He hasn't even got time to stand around while you answer
your doorbell. This year, he intends to make a clean surgical
hole through your living-room wall.
f. Depleted Uranium shells ensure that the hole gets made,
even if your living-room wall happens to be surrounded by 3inch thick steel armour.
g. Heads-up display.
h. and i. Hand-held Laser Target Designation-Gun and LaserGuided Smart Presents. Once the hole is made, Santa will aim
the laser into your living room, and deliver Smart Presents
with pin-point accuracy by the 'Fire-and-Forget' method. (This
Christmas morning, you should awake to find a smoking hole
in your wall, a charred Christmas tree and a few Smart
presents dotted about, each in their own little crater.)
k. (we did j. before...) Boot-mounted precision Gyroscope for
backup navigation by dead-reckoning should the Global
Positioning System fail.
l. Boot-mounted Magnetic Anomaly Detector for no apparent
reason.
m. Belt-mounted Sextant, for navigation by starlight during
80% of the time when all the high-tech navigation gear is on
the fritz.
n. High-Speed-Anti-Radiation-Missile (HARM) to deal with
national defence networks or any further encounters with the
notorious Santa-hating scientist known only as 'Biggins.'
There's more about Biggins on the Santa page.
o. MacDonnell-Douglas S-33 Relaxed-Stability Sleigh with
the very latest in Fly-by-Wire avionics and externally mounted
Quadraphonic-Surround Sound Audio system set permanently
to 'Jingle-Bells' and featuring four 30 million watt speakers,
audible from the moon, should that become an issue.
p. Compact shoulder-mounted Supercomputer to filter
Population Data, the latest Census Statistics, Consumer
Research Polls, and Council Building Permits to determine
who is living where. Links through to ground-based spy
network to ascertain which children are being good, and which
children are being bad, and just how good or bad these
children are being.
q. (Not shown). The XJ-970. A new type of Reindeer-based
propulsion system designed specifically for the modern Santa
featuring superconductor-based Gravity-Repulsion-Units and
a unique Fly-by-Reins control system. Details of this highlyinnovative system remain shrouded in secrecy even to this
day.
The editors of the LIMULUS wish every
reader HAPPY HOLIDAYS and all the best
for a healthy and successful 2011!
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Gregory Balaes (Biology)
PAGE 7
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, November-December 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Stearns, Donald
Moorthy, Ammini
Pisano, Peter
Balaes, Gregory
Eppinger, Kaitlin E.
Mashkulli, Medije
Molesan, Alex J.
Mroz, Caroline L.
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Dr. Moorthy spends her sabbatical in India / Gregory Balaes -- Curriculum news / Brian Palestis -- Biology student news : Senior accepted by top schools / Nidhi Khanna -- Research with mosquitoes and crabs / Horst Onken -- Limulus welcomes student assistant editor / Nidhi Khanna -- LC 17 : Bacteria, human health, and survival / Gregory Balaes -- Chemical degradation of bromoxynil / Gregory Balaes -- LC 17 visits Fischetti Lab / Horst Onken and Laura Barlament -- Senior poster presentation / Stephanie Rollizo -- Holiday celebration 2010 -- Publications and cartoon
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2010-12
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
7 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/f8817240e920e24d4bc995a9d97d3319.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=dy2svMLWPE7DA6kykD41t8LAyxNlLo0FZntreMB6DtNHtwYfe6BPmWKNEYagV87nh0iSf1qP1YMQcXYIVVITn9KGM3RrSabbnczRZnY0M47Sg2tpHfZwKL0%7EAaXBk-GwDIS7yRGz6DN5dUs0YH6nUlOj2Ul4ghzW-esRIamgV7JIadmPjQa5LwjwVyOMn-j5xELfUTld1hMpnE-0KjZNoJfGrGRtL8JOAs2XKa3wsk4QpbYND4I69sfA0-Vjxz6oVGZiaoyODr6RgDl7ieqmAbHfr9oOb581YgYETr6yP8DcTjmOpFNjlZy0dDM2gA8AS1oWKzAnYhG0fSvg9Ojhug__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
a5cf02759eaede790d554f510d32c073
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2010, Issue Fall-02
October, 2010
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
TRI-BETA NEWS
With midterm just over, the fall semester appears to be
heading with full speed towards Thanksgiving and the “final
stress”. Although some call me “junior faculty”, I consider
myself in the “middle ages.” These semesters seem to pass by
faster and faster as older as I get. I wonder how this appears
for students and for “senior faculty”. Students probably think
in terms of the spring year and the fall year, whereas for Dr.
Anderson and Dr. Rath the semesters probably appear like a
week in spring and a week in fall.
Anyways, here is the second LIMULUS of this semester. The
various societies were pretty active. We have reports and
articles with lots of photos from the Pig Roast, the Breast
Cancer Walk, and the MACUB meeting. Noteworthy is also
the “Return of Dr. Fischetti” (see page 5+6).
Tri-Beta held their first meeting of the semester on
Wednesday September 22th. Members completed their offcampus community service by participating in the Breast
Cancer Walk that took place at Cloves Lake Park on October
17th. Tri-Beta members plan to do community service in the
garden later in the semester
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
CONGRATULATIONS
This year, Dr. Palestis is one of the
recipients of a Faculty Award for
Exceptional Performance in the
Area of Scholarship. His research
addresses certain aspects of the
biology of terns. However, he is also
very engaged in behavioral studies
with zebra fish. All recipients of
faculty awards will be honored at
the Faculty Awards Dinner on
Tuesday, November 16th. More will
be reported in the next newsletter after the awards dinner.
Contributed by Dr. Onken.
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
The Biology Club completed their off-campus community
service event at the annual Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday
October 17th at Cloves Lake Park. The Biology Club is in the
process of ordering club T- shirts. The „Biology Club Raises
Awareness for Breast Cancer Pork Roast‟ held on October 6 th
was a huge success (see below for further details). During this
on-campus community service event club members were able
to raise a grand total of $482 for a great cause!
Contributed by Farha Rashid
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
This semester, the Pre-Health Society has a new president.
Senior Biology major Felicia Giunta serves as the club‟s
president. The organization will have its next meeting on
Wednesday, November 10th at 3pm. The club is hosting a
guest speaker from the New York College of Osteopathtic
Medicine. Students interested in obtaining a DO degree are
encouraged to attend this meeting to learn more about
NYCOM. The location is TBD. For more information, please
contact Felicia.Giunta@wagner.edu.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PRE-DENTISTRY SOCIETY
Congratulations to the Pre-Dentistry Society, who is now a
Student Government recognized organization established
during this Fall 2010 semester. President and founder of the
Pre-Dentistry Society, Gregory Balaes, referred to the society
as, “an environment where pre-dentistry students are able to
come together in one common place.”
The first annual Dental Health Promotion Day was held
September 29th, in the Union building. The society handed out
144 toothbrushes, as well as information, and tips on oral
hygiene. Donations were also collected for Operation Smile,
an organization who focuses their efforts on raising money for
surgeries to surgically correct cleft palate and cleft lip. Thank
you to all who donated!
The society has partnered with the American Red Cross, and
will be offering a CPR Certification class on Saturday,
November 6th. Certification is being offered at a discounted
cost for all those who are interested. In an interview, Vice
President Lenny Giordano stated, “By offering and setting up
a CPR certification class available for pre-dental students, as
well as all students interested, the Pre-Dentistry Society is
making small steps by giving students tools that will aid them
in the field, and when applying for jobs.”
For
more
information,
please
email
gregory.balaes@wagner.edu, or pre-dental@wagner.edu.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
Contributed by Farha Rashid
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
OPPORTUNITIES
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr.
Onken
offers
research opportunities
for students in the frame
of a project in which he
collaborates with scientists from Washington
State University, the University of Idaho, and the University
of Alberta (Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the
National Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the
midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).
Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit
devastating diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue,
and are a major threat to the health of billions of people on our
planet. The principal investigators of this project address
larval mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to
fight these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic
habitat.
In collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. (Mt. Desert
Island Biological Laboratories, Maine), Brazil (University of
São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, University of Paraná in Curitiba)
and Canada (University of Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken
pursues research with Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory
capacities and mechanisms of crabs. Together with Dr.
Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor Beecher (Biology), an
ecophysiological study is in an early stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
For the spring semester Dr. Onken offers a work study
position related to his work with mosquitoes.
veggie burgers, chicken burgers, and pasta salads were served
buffet style, as students, faculty, and staff gathered on Guild
Patio.
President of the Biology Club, Leonid Denisenko, would like
to thank “Sabrina Slater from Co-curricular for helping us put
it all together, SGA for providing the resources, and all the
members of the Biology Club for working very hard. It was a
lot of fun, and we hope to do it again.” As for future prospects
of the club, Leonid continued in saying, “The Biology Club is
evolving as an organization on campus. I will work very hard
in conjunction with our members to bring educational and
interesting events to Wagner College. We will show that
Science can be a lot of fun.”
Photos from the event:
Contributed by Dr. Onken
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the fall and winter of 2010 are encouraged to
contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu). There is also
an official student job for collaboration in greenhouse and
garden.
Ribbons distributed after donation, and pamphlets with
information on how to detect breast cancer.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
We just welcomed the third assistant editor for the LIMULUS:
Gregory Balaes. The more students actively contribute, the
better the newsletter becomes. Proficient student writers are
invited to become assistant editors for the newsletter of the
Department of Biological Sciences. If you are interested,
please, contact Dr. Onken (horst.onken@wagner.edu).
EXPERIENCES
BIOLOGY CLUB‟S FIRST ANNUAL PIG ROAST
The Biology Club made strides against breast cancer by
raising $482 in the first annual Breast Cancer Awareness Pig
Roast on Wednesday, October 6th. Roasted pork, kielbasas,
Wagner students, as they enjoy the pulled pork, and the turkey
burgers.
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Members of the Wagner Community gathered on Guild Patio
to spread awareness, and to enjoy the food.
Contributed by Gregory Balaes
ANNUAL BREAST CANCER WALK
The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer is an annual event that takes place just down the hill
from Wagner, in Cloves Lake Park. Hundreds of individuals
walk around the park in order to raise money and show their
support for the women and men who are diagnosed with breast
cancer every year. The Biology Club, Tri- Beta, and PreHealth society participate in this walk as their off campus
community service event each year.
Contributed by Farha Rashid with photographs from Nidhi Khanna
PUBLICATIONS
Jagadeshwaran, U., Onken, H., Hardy, M., Moffett, S. B. &
Moffett, D. F. (2010). Cellular mechanisms of acid secretion
in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti.
Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 295-300.
Moffett, D.F. and Onken, H. (2010). The Cellular Basis of
Extreme Alkali Secretion in Insects: A Tale of Two Tissues.
In: Epithelial Transport Physiology (ed. George A.
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Gerencser), pp. 91-112 . Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press.
ISBN: 978-1-60327-228-5.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
MACUB
On a Saturday morning, a handful of Biology students and
faculty traveled to Molloy College where the annual
Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists
Conference was held. The conference began with a keynote
address made by Dr. Susan S. Kilham, a Professor of
Environmental Science at Drexel University gave a lecture
about global warming and the mountains of evidence that supports it. She does extensive research that deals with the effects
of climate change on various ecosystems.
Biology undergraduate students and Microbiology graduate
students gave poster presentations of their research at the
conference.
Graduate
Assistant
Michael
Gutkin
(Microbiology) received acknowledgment at the conference.
Gutkin was awarded third place in the graduate category for
his presenation that was titled, “Immunofluorescent
Characterization of the Cellular Composition in Normal Adult
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Optic Tectum.". Professor Corbo, Dr.
Alejandra Alonso (College of Staten Island), and Dr. Fulop
advised Gutkin with his research. Additionally, Caroline Mroz
(Senior, Biology major) was honored as a winner for the
Benjamin Cummings/MACUB Student Research Award. The
Limulus staff would like to congratulate Mike, Caroline, and
all of the other Wagner students who participated in this
prestigious conference.
Some photographs from the event:
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Graduate
"Exploration of the Regulatory Effects of jadW1, jadW2 and
jadW3 in the Biosynthesis of Jadomycin B in Streptomyces
venezuelae ISP5230." Jeffrey Bertone (Microbiology) and Dr.
Roy Mosher.
"Immunofluorescent Characterization of the Cellular
Composition in Normal Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Optic
Tectum." Michael Gutkin (Microbiology(, Prof. Christopher
Corbo, Dr. Alejandra Alonso (College of Staten Island) and
Dr. Zoltan Fulop.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
ALUMNI
Dr. FISCHETTI AGAIN ON CAMPUS
Dr. Fischetti who graduated from Wagner
College in 1962 received an honorary
degree during the commencement
ceremony in May 2010. He will return
this week again to Wagner College in
order to give a presentation in the frame
of the Academic and Cultural Enrichment
(ACE) lecture series.
In the following find a copy of Dr. Fischetti‟s biosketch as it
appeared on the Wagner College website and the
announcement for his ACE presentation this coming week.
Vincent A. Fischetti, Ph.D.
Professor and Head, Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and
Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Below is a list of all of the students and their presentations:
Undergraduate
"Chromosomal Aberrations Caused by the Chemotherapeutic
Agent Mitoxantrone on In vitro Human Peripheral
Leukocytes." Roseanna Valant (Senior Biology major) and Dr.
Ammini Moorthy.
"Development of Genetically Encoded Malonyl-CoA Sensor."
Violeta Capric (Junior Biology major), Dr. Michael Wolfgang
(Johns Hopkins University). Wagner College faculty advisor:
Dr. Onken.
"Production of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos using In Vitro
Fertilization Techniques." Caroline Mroz (Senior Biology
major), Dr. Ammini Moorthy.
More than 90 percent of all infections begin at a mucous
membrane site (oral, nasal, upper or lower respiratory, ocular,
intestinal or urogenital). The Fischetti lab is working to
understand the earliest events that occur when gram-positive
bacteria interact with human tissues and cause disease. Its
research is aimed at interfering with these events by:
developing vaccines to induce a mucosal immune response;
blocking the attachment of surface protein in the bacterial cell
wall to prevent infection; and using phage lytic enzymes to
both remove colonizing pathogenic bacteria to prevent
infection and treat established infections.
Dr. Fischetti works with gram-positive bacteria, such as
streptococci, that do not contain a second cell membrane
outside of the cell wall. In the fight against infectious disease,
Dr. Fischetti investigates two nonantibiotic treatment
strategies. This two-pronged approach involves blocking
bacteria from attaching to cells and exploring the use of phage
lytic enzymes to remove pathogenic bacteria once they have
colonized in the host.
To infect their host, bacteria use their surface molecules to
attach and invade human tissues, particularly those that line
the nose and throat. Knowledge of the process bacteria use to
anchor these molecules in their cell wall could lead to
strategies to prevent infection. The M protein is a surface
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
protein that is the major virulence factor of group A
streptococci because of its ability to impede attack by human
white blood cells. Analysis of this molecule by Dr. Fischetti‟s
lab shows that the region used to attach the M protein to the
cell surface is highly conserved in gram-positive bacteria,
indicating that the mechanism for anchoring surface proteins
in bacteria is also conserved. Since bacteria cannot cause
infection without their surface proteins, a molecule that blocks
surface protein attachment will be broadly applicable to
different gram-positive bacteria.
Dr. Fischetti‟s lab has also shown that the M protein can be
used to deliver the molecules to the surface of gram-positive
bacteria to be used as a vaccine. A vaccine that employs this
approach could be used against a variety of harmful pathogens
and is currently being tested in clinical trials. Dr. Fischetti has
also identified a membrane-associated enzyme responsible for
cleaving the highly conserved anchor region of surface
proteins. Inhibition of this enzyme prevents both cell wall
assembly and the proper attachment of most surface proteins,
resulting in nearly naked bacteria. Studies are under way to
further define the role of this enzyme in cell wall assembly
and the protein attachment process to identify inhibitors that
may be used as a new class of antibiotic.
As new antibiotics are proving futile against resistant strains
of bacteria, the Fischetti lab is investigating the efficacy of
lytic enzymes, which are found exclusively in viruses called
bacteriophages (or phages), viruses that infect bacteria.
Dr. Fischetti‟s lab has recombinantly produced lysins that will
kill the major gram-positive pathogens — Streptococcus
pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus,
Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus anthracis — and has used
these proteins to destroy their respective bacteria in animal
models of disease. The enzymes are extremely potent; only
very small amounts are needed to destroy millions of
organisms within seconds of contact. They are also highly
specific and unlike antibiotics, only kill the disease-causing
bacteria without harming the beneficial bacteria. Dr.
Fischetti‟s studies have shown that when small amounts of the
enzymes are administered to mice that have intentionally been
infected with these bacteria, the disease-causing bacteria are
rapidly destroyed. In an animal model of pneumococcus
pneumonia, Dr. Fischetti has shown that systemic
administration of the phage enzyme Cpl-1 can rescue mice
infected with the pathogen and completely reverse lung tissue
damage if given within 24 hours post-infection. Fischetti and
his colleagues showed that when the enzyme is delivered to
the brain of mice with pneumococcal meningitis, it effectively
removes the organisms from the site. The lab has also shown
that by removing colonizing S. pneumoniae from the nose of
mice, they could completely prevent secondary ear infections
triggered by influenza.
Using lytic enzymes as a tool, Dr. Fischetti‟s lab developed a
method of drilling through the thick cell walls of grampositive bacteria while keeping them intact. The technique
enabled the Fischetti lab to access the bacterial cytoplasm with
labeled antibodies to study intracellular molecules that were
previously inaccessible.
CAREER
Dr. Fischetti grew up in New York City, receiving his B.S. in
bacteriology from Wagner College in 1962 and his M.S. in
microbiology from Long Island University in 1967. He
received his Ph.D. in microbiology from New York University
in 1970. Dr. Fischetti came to Rockefeller as a postdoc in
1970 and became assistant professor in 1973, associate
professor in 1978 and professor in 1990. In 1987 Dr. Fischetti
received a 10-year National Institutes of Health MERIT
Award that was renewed in 1997.
USING WHAT PHAGE HAVE LEARNED TO
CONTROL GRAM-POSITIVE BACTERIA
ACE Presentation by Vincent A. Fischetti, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and
Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York,
NY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, 4:20 P.M.,
WAGNER COLLEGE, SPIRO HALL, ROOM 2
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
CARTOONS
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your contribution on
a level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and 500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files (high quality jpg
is the preferred file format) attached to the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of the month. Contributions received later may or may not be considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Gregory Balaes (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
PAGE 7
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, October 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Palestis, Brain
Fischetti, Vincent A.
Denisenko, Leonid
Fischetti, Vincent A.
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Biology staff and faculty news / Horst Onken -- Biology student news / Farha Rashid, Nidhi Khanna, and Gregory Balaes -- Research with mosquitoes and crabs / Horst Onken -- Biology club's first annual pig roast / Gregory Balaes -- Annual breast cancer walk / Farha Rashid and Nidhi Khanna -- Publications, professional meetings, alumni, and cartoons
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2010-10
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
7 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/428fd3ad558c798844e4874d2c4f8232.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=aGFkpAYcRj1%7ERsBOPpn47JFlx7z6XGcYGntnCVCcoQ-2XmHlvfJtKwYdk55aysfj9KU41iTrzNcpiVXci9K7SNOcomQ3pToM9-x-QFOFR8rRktyz-yDNKV273E35GJPj%7Ej4aeZ1JDdmcVDFVCL6wbVegr4JHwoEQY84eif5M9dKFVanPrzgHM82E4lZuXgeB1GDKV8cJEOgq0aPOdEEsugHkLcc1i0UD1eKfuL3yCnxPS5cJ9BZsg-OTvTVfo5zQa8fh%7EBoqCBv64gUTG-GzWJFFgY%7EU2WbC2qHQ%7EMRM%7EX35TMXKfigniPm1-byHgdPqGOWjePJnagoNdebnTvjYkg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
52cb3970399ac8562659ac6344457039
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2010, Issue Fall-01
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
For students and faculty, the summer break has been too short,
as usual. Administrators and other staff may have looked
forward to a more lively campus life. I am sure many
freshmen were excited to finally start their college career at
Wagner.
For those who make the LIMULUS the beginning of the new
academic year was very busy. Consequently, we took the
freedom to delay the review of the spring semester to the end
of September, instead of coming forward with this task
already a month earlier. I hope all of you enjoy the look back
to the spring, before we give you the news from this semester
in about a month from now.
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
DR. STEARNS DISCUSSES RESEARCH PROJECTS
Dr. Donald Stearns has spent
23 years of his professional
career serving as full-time
college professor. During the
week, students can find Dr.
Stearns working away in his
office until the late hours of
the night. He is a dedicated
and caring professor that is
currently working on two
important research projects.
Dr. Stearns is studying the
way organisms respond to
different light cues. He also
received a grant from the
National Science Foundation
to study the connection
between critical thinking and civic thinking (CT)2.
After receiving his B.A. in Biology from the Ivy League
institution Dartmouth College, Dr. Stearns attended the
University of New Hampshire and earned a Masters in
Zoology. Before pursuing a PhD in Zoology at Duke
University, he taught undergraduate students in Mexico at the
University of Baja California.
As a graduate student at Duke University, Dr. Stearns focused
on behavioral ecology, especially of marine organisms. He
developed an interest in the cyclic behaviors of nocturnal
September, 2010
migration. Dr. Stearns basically studied daily patterns of
marine organisms and wanted to know how light played a role
in effecting those behaviors. He proposed that organisms
behave differently under various light conditions. “Organisms
can see different light conditions that human beings are unable
to see, and this is quite fascinating to me,” he said.
The effects of light and behavior can help answer a lot of
important questions, such as what specific light cues can
trigger behavioral responses in the natural field. Currently Dr.
Stearns has five research students at Wagner that are working
in the photophysiology lab. In this dark room, the students are
able to control the color and brightness of light using special
filters. The students are using mosquitoes and observing how
the insects respond to different light cues. If the mosquitoes do
not respond to the light cues, then Dr. Stearns will conclude
that the insects did not see the light. He is observing the
organisms‟ behavior as a way to measure what the mosquitoes
can and cannot see.
In addition to conducting research in the laboratory, Dr.
Stearns has been working on a new project, CT 2. He has been
involved in the project with three other institutions. Dr.
Stearns wants to encourage students to have a heightened
sense of concern in their community, and believes that
students must use critical thinking in order to develop into
responsible citizens. Most colleges want students to volunteer
or participate in civic engagement. However, Dr. Stearns
stresses that volunteering is not the same as being a
responsible citizen.
“You can have a heart of gold and decide that you want to
donate to some charity. However, if you don‟t do your
research and use critical thinking, you may end up donating
money to an organization that uses those donations to pay high
salaries to the heads of that organization. As an individual,
you may think that you are helping improve conditions in your
society by donating to that organization, but you actually have
not used critical thinking correctly. People need to separate
facts from falsehoods to achieve a clearer understanding of
any situation,” he said.
In order to become a critical thinker that is engaged in his or
her community, an individual must recognize a problem in his
or her community. The critical thinker needs to not only show
a sense of concern for improving their community, but the
individual should devise a plan to improve the situation in
their community.
I would like to thank Dr. Stearns for taking the time to explain
his two research projects to me.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
HONORNG OUR ADJUNCTS
PROFESSOR BEECHER
love Wagner students and I enjoy coming to work every day. I
never felt like teaching was a job, but something that I really
enjoyed doing. It was such an incredible pleasure to teach at
Wagner and the Biology department is completely supportive.
Stephanie is such a great secretary and she is always so caring
and helpful. I loved teaching at Wagner and I hope to continue
teaching one day again in the future, “she said.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
Professor Beecher on her acceptance to the PhD program at
Washington State and I wish her the best of luck! I would also
like to thank Professor Beecher for taking the time out of her
busy schedule to conduct this interview.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
Professor Beecher (in the above photograph on the right with
her students in the Botanical Garden) began teaching at
Wagner in 2007. She received her Bachelor of Science in
Biology at Washington State University, which is located in
Pullman, Washington. She stayed at Washington State
University and obtained a Masters in Environmental Science
and Regional Planning.
While studying in graduate school, she became interested in
watersheds and sediment chemistry. She said, “Watersheds
can greatly help reduce the problems that the global
community faces with maintaining clean water supplies.”
Professor Beecher feels that it is vital to pay attention to
watersheds and sediment chemistry because all the materials
that people dump into the Earth eventually settles into lakes.
“Most of the pollution is concentrated in the bottom of lakes
and it is important that individuals take action and reduce
pollution,” she said.
Professor Beecher is a dedicated adjunct faculty member, and
teaches during the fall and spring semesters, and even during
summer sessions. She teaches several classes including
Human Biology, Environmental Biology, Environmental
Issues, and Forms and Functions (the lecture and lab sections
for all four classes).
In addition to her interests in sediment chemistry, she is
fascinated by photosynthesis and will be returning to
Washington State University in the fall to join the PhD
program in molecular plant science. The molecular plant
science program at this university is internationally known and
is one of the top programs in its field.
Professor Beecher really enjoyed teaching at Wagner, and will
miss all of her students and the wonderful faculty she was able
to work with. She likes to teach at Wagner because she is able
to help students as much as she can due to the small classes. “I
Dr. ROSENBERG
Professor
Rosenberg
began
teaching
at
Wagner about two years
ago. He is a Bronx
native and, where he
received a Bachelors in
History at Dartmouth
College. After college,
he went on to George
Washington University
to pursue a medical
degree. Dr. Rosenberg
returned to New York
to complete an internship at Mt. Sinai, and was a blood and
cancer specialist. He eventually moved to Massachusetts and
was a physician for 30 years of his professional career. In
addition to practicing medicine, he received a PhD in
Biophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
While in Cambridge, he served as a Biochemistry professor at
MIT and was a professor at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Rosenberg‟s research interests include molecular biology
and while he taught medicine at Harvard, he also ran
Harvard‟s molecular biology lab. When he studied medicine in
GWU, Dr. Rosenberg became interested in blood. “Blood is
very molecular, and when you study blood you can figure out
the precise causes of diseases. I have watched the hematology
discipline change and increase in power during my career,” he
stated.
In addition to Dr. Rosenberg‟s extensive work at Harvard, he
became actively involved in many social causes. He started
the first free medical clinic in Cambridge with a group of his
colleagues. After teaching at Harvard and MIT for eleven
years, he eventually retired. Dr. Rosenberg holds honor
doctorates from the University of Amsterdam and University
of Paris.
Dr. Rosenberg moved back to New York recently, and has
been teaching several laboratory sections at Wagner. He
teaches the Anatomy and Physiology labs, and will be
teaching the Cells, Genes, and Evolution lab next year. Dr.
Rosenberg enjoys teaching at Wagner and wants to help his
students to be able to think critically. “I want to help students
think through complicated problems and I feel that is
important to help train students to be good critical thinkers. I
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
want to students to relate the information they learned in lab to
real life situations,” he said.
In his classes, Dr. Rosenberg believes that it is necessary for
the instructor to cater to the students‟ interests. “Currently, I
have some students in my class interested in sports medicine. I
also have some nursing students as well. I try to engage the
students by adding sports medicine related questions in the
homework problems and I include clinical examples in my
lectures because it interests the nursing students. The students
often complain that my homework assignments are difficult,
and I give them hard questions in order for them to prepare for
the examinations. The difficult questions gets them thinking,
and this is the same way I taught my students at MIT,” he
added.
Dr. Rosenberg has an impressive list of accomplishments, and
many of his former students are leading successful lives as
professors all over the globe in academic institutions like
Harvard.
I would like to thank Dr. Rosenberg for taking the time to
speak with me, and it was such a privilege to learn more about
you.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
SPECIAL TOPIC
BIOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH FUND
In the summer of 2009, with the help and support of the
Department of Biological Sciences, the Administration and the
Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA), Dr. Ammini
Moorthy‟s hope to establish an Undergraduate Senior Thesis
Research Fund for the Biology/Microbiology Department
became a reality.
Currently all biology/microbiology majors participate in
undergraduate research under the supervision of a faculty
member as part of their graduation requirement. With the
assistance of Ms. Stephanie Rollizo (faculty secretary), Dr.
Moorthy worked with Ms. Kristen Koehler (OIA) to reach out
to our alumni for help in creating the fund to subsidize this
important part of the curriculum. The fund provides much
needed resources for our students to purchase materials for
their research projects.
The alumni who have already graciously donated are:
Robert Agnello, Danielle Cavallo, Robert Corry, James
D’Amico, Louis DeSantis, Letizia Hobbs, Louise Kaufman,
Stacy Kubikian, Christina Lamb, Christine MarroneMassaro, Robert Peterman, Michael Ponzo, and Carol
Russell.
With the approval of Dr. Brian Palestis (chair of biological
sciences) and Prof. Linda Raths (who maintains expense
records), several students have already benefited from this
fund. Their names and their research projects are:
Nicholas Lepore and Almir Spahiu (Advisor Kathy Bobbitt):
Chemical components and antimicrobial properties of mastic
Medije Mashkulli (Advisor Horst Onken): Set up of a yellow
fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) colony
Philip Kaplan, Glenn Muoio, Peter Pisano, Farha Rashid and
Lauren Raynor (Advisor Donald Stearns): Developmental
changes in larval photosensitivity of the yellow fever
mosquito (Aedes aegypti)
Kaitlin Eppinger (Advisor Brian Palestis): A banding study of
the common tern (Sterna hirundo)
Cassandra Bray (Advisor Brian Palestis): Escape response as a
behavioral assay of blindness in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Alex Moleson (Advisor Roy Mosher):
mutagenesis of green fluorescent protein
Site-directed
Roseanna Valant (Advisor Ammini Moorthy): Genotoxicity of
mitoxantrone in human cells
Felicia Giunta (Advisor Heather Cook): Effects of endocrine
disrupters on Drosophila development
Benjamin Serbiak (Advisor Ammini Moorthy): The efficacy
of sunscreen blockers in prevention of the effects ultraviolet
light in Vicia faba
Alexander Zilberman (Advisor Adam Houlihan): "Use of PCR
to validate culture-based detection of Salmonella from
waterfowl eggs in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Julianna Maniscalco (Advisor Horst Onken): Inhibition of
strong midgut alkalinization in larval yellow fever mosquitoes
(Aedes aegypti)
Thanks again to the alumni who contributed and made this
possible. Your generosity is already paying dividends. We
need more of you, our alumni, to step forward and contribute
whatever you can. During the summer of 2010, the alumni
will once again be approached to ask for their support.
Alumni who happen to read this article are encouraged to
proactively contribute. It is not often that one gets a chance to
make a donation and see its impact directly and promptly.
Contributed by Stephanie Rollizo, Dr. Moorthy, and Dr. Palestis.
CURRICULUM NEWS
NEW 5 YEAR B.S./M.S. MICROBIOLOGY PROGRAM
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Roy Mosher,
the director of the Microbiology Masters Program at Wagner.
Dr. Mosher teaches a number of courses at Wagner including
Biochemistry I and II, Medical and Public Health,
Microbiology,
Microbial
Genetic, Applied, Food, and
Industrial Microbiology, and
Pathogenic Fungi.
Wagner announced that the
Microbiology Program would
offer students a chance to obtain
a five-year B.S./M.S. beginning
in the Fall 2010 semester. The
new program is not offered in
any other college or university
in the Northeast. Associate
Provost Dr. Jeffrey Kraus spearheaded the idea for the new
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
program. Dr. Kraus is also head of all the graduate studies
programs at the college, and initially he asked Dr. Mosher if it
would be possible to develop a five-year B.S./M.S.
Microbiology graduate program at Wagner.
Dr. Mosher was a little reluctant at first because the
Microbiology Department was shorthanded and would not be
able to expand the program due to the limited faculty. Luckily,
Dr. Adam Houlihan joined the Wagner faculty recently, and
Dr. Mosher believed with Houlihan‟s help, the new program
would be more feasible.
After Dr. Kraus proposed the idea, Dr. Mosher needed to get
the program approved by the Biology Department and then by
the Academic Program Committee, which regulates academic
programs on campus. Dr. Mosher brought the idea to the New
York State Department of Education and they finally gave the
final approval for the program. The entire process took about a
year to complete from start to finish.
Earlier last fall, Dr. Mosher received exciting news from the
Department of Education that Wagner would be allowed to
offer this new program to students the following year.
According to Dr. Mosher, Professor Christopher Corbo, an
adjunct Biology professor at Wagner (‟06 B.S., ‟08 M.S.),
deserves a tremendous amount of credit in helping Dr. Mosher
obtain the proper certifications for the program. Additionally,
Dr. Kathleen Bobbit and Dr. Houlihan played an integral part
in developing the program, and Dr. Mosher could not have
completed this process without their assistance.
The new program offers students a chance to receive their
Masters degree quickly and this program is more research
oriented. “The current two-year Masters program allows
students to choose whether they would like to do a research
based or non-research based thesis. The Masters students
simply do not have enough time to sufficient research, and the
new program allows students to get a head start with their
research,” stated Dr. Mosher.
Students participating in the program will begin to conduct
research in the laboratory during their junior year. They will
be required to complete their senior RFT during the fall
semester of their senior year. This allows students to begin
their Masters research in the spring semester of their senior
year. The advantage of this program is that students can start a
research project as an undergraduate student and have the
opportunity to defend their thesis as a senior. Eventually, the
students can expand on their senior thesis project, and have the
opportunity to have an engaging and intensive research
experience. “Students completing their Masters in
Microbiology usually need time to do research, and by the
time they learn the necessary skills to do the research, it is
time for the students to graduate,” said Dr. Mosher. The new
program allows students to spend more time learning the
techniques in the lab, and hopefully the students will be able
to present their projects at major regional or national
conferences.
Currently, seven undergraduate students have officially
declared an interest in the program. The program allows
students to “exit” out of the program, and students can pursue
other graduate schools if they wish. Students hoping to go to
medical school or dental school can enroll in the five-year
program, but if they get accepted to either medical or dental
school, they can opt to “exit” out of the program. Basically,
the students can choose to obtain their B.S. in Microbiology,
and may opt out of pursuing the Masters in Microbiology in
order to attend another graduate school after they complete
their senior year at Wagner.
Dr. Mosher offered some important advice for students that
are interested in the program. “Anyone that wishes to
participate in the program should make the decision by their
sophomore year, however, it would be better if you decide
during your freshman year. New students and freshman should
try to get into Dr. Stearns‟ and Dr. Houlihan‟s Learning
Community: Bacteria, Human Health and Survival. This LC
allows students to complete their basic microbiology
requirements and it is important to get the introductory course
out of the way. Then, students will be able to fit their other
microbiology classes in the following semester, and it would
be optimal if students put this LC as their top choice, “ he
stated.
I would like to thank Dr. Mosher for taking the time out of his
busy schedule to complete this interview!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
AWARDS
BIOLOGY STUDENTS HONORED AT UNDERGRAUATE AWARDS
DINNER
The Undergraduate Awards Dinner was held on Friday April
30th. Many students from the department received honors and
recognition for their exceptional academic work. The awards
that students received are in italics. The students that
maintained a 4.0 GPA for the Spring 2009 and Fall 2010
semesters received a special plaque. The following students
were honorees at the dinner:
Violeta Capric (Biology/Anthropology Majors)- Academic
Excellence Award (4.0 g.p.a)** and the Robert D. Blomquist
Memorial Award in Biology
Terryn Marette (Biology Major)- Biological Science Award
Peter Pisano (Biology Major)- Academic Excellence Award
(4.0 g.p.a)**
Victor Stora (Biology/Chemistry Majors)- Academic
Excellence Award (4.0 g.p.a)
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Melanie Valencia Biology Minor)- Academic Excellence
Award (4.0 g.p.a); Diversity Action Council Award;
Community Service Award. (Biology Minor)
Lisa Duncan (Biopsychology Major)- Academic Excellence
Award (4.0 g.p.a)
Marlena Mason (Biology Major)- Academic Excellence Award
(4.0 g.p.a
Nidhi Khanna (Biology/Philosophy Majors)- Outstanding
Service in Communication Award
Congratulations to all the honorees!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna (with the help of Stephanie Rollizo)
SENIORS RECEIVE DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
Some seniors received special recognition for their
outstanding work in the biology department. Three seniors
received awards for presenting at a conference, and for their
high GPA. Congratulations to Yolana Fuks, Medije Mashkulli,
and Michael Stanton!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
GRADUATE STUDENTS AWARDS CEREMONY
During the first week of May, a few graduate students
received special recognition for their work in the
Microbiology department. Congratulations to all of the
winners!
Microbiology Award- Zulmarie Franco
Highest Academic Achievement-Kristin Belitz
Outstanding Academic Achievement-Janet Sum
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna (with the help of Stephanie Rollizo)
BIOLOGY STUDENTS INITIATED INTO ODK
The National Leadership Honor Society held its Spring
initiation for new members on Friday April 9th at 6pm.
Omicron Delta Kappa was founded in 1914 at Washington and
Lee University. This organization recognizes excellence in
academics and leadership of students at each of its
participating colleges.
Several students from the Biology Department were inducted
into ODK, as well as a faculty member from the department.
Congratulations to all the new members!
Anna Lysenko (Biopsychology Major), Violeta Capric
(Biology), Leandra Manfredi (Biopsychology), Aimee Marin
(Biopsychology), and Dr. Horst Onken (faculty initiate).
Limulus would also like to recognize the Biology students that
were inducted in the fall. I apologize for the late recognition!
Philip Kaplan (Biology Major, chemistry minor), Victor Stora
(Biology/Chemistry
Majors),
and
Nidhi
Khanna
(Biology/Philosophy Majors).
Several graduating seniors from the department have been
members of ODK. I would like to wish them the best of luck
in their future endeavors!
Yolana Fuks (Biology Major, Chemistry Minor), Shannon
O‟Neill (Biology Major), Anna Lysenko (Biopsychology
Major), Colleen Janson (Biology Minor), and Danielle
Sheehan (Biology Minor).
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
The Biology club held several meetings during this semester.
Members discussed a few important topics at the last meeting,
which was held on Monday, February 22nd. Please look below
for upcoming events.
• On-campus community service
◦
Once the weather begins to get better, the on-campus
community service will take place. Members will be
sitting at a table outside the Union. The Biology club
will be asking for donations (for a cause that is TBD).
Donors will receive “prizes” in exchange for their
contributions.
• Off-campus community service
◦
Members are looking into the possibility of
participating in the National Pillow Fight Day in the
city. The date is Saturday, April 3rd. This is the
Saturday before Easter Sunday. Please let email
Cassandra Bray if anyone is interested in participating
in this event. The pillow fight day works by asking the
participants to donate their pillows at the end of the
day. Any donated pillows are given to animal shelters
in the NY area to make beds for the animals.
• PR events to make the campus aware of the Biology Club
◦
Campus-wide trip to the Bodies: The Exhibition in
Manhattan
◦
Campus-wide trip to the National Museum of History
◦
Table at Wagnerstock (April 17th)
◦
Movie night
• Tie-dye of Biology Club t-shirts
• Members will be tie-dying our club t-shirts on Sunday,
April 11th at 11am on the oval (pending good weather).
Contributed by Cassandra Bray and Nidhi Khanna
The next Biology club meeting will held on Monday April
12th. The elections will take place and members will be voting
on the new Executive Board for next year.
Contributed Nidhi Khanna
The Biology Club completed their on-campus community
service in the last week of April. Members distributed free
condoms in the Union and collected donations to support
Community Health Action.
Elections were also held and the newly elected president is
Leonid Denisenko and the vice president is Caroline Mroz.
Current President, Cassie Bray had a few final words that she
would like to share: “Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone who
was an active member this past year. It felt great to know the
hard work and time I put into making the club better paid off.
I'll miss everyone next year, but be excited for Leonid to take
control. Awesome things will get done during his reign!
Have a great summer, everyone!”
-Cassie Bray
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna and Cassie Bray
TRI-BETA NEWS
Members of Tri-Beta met early this month. Professor Raths
serves as the faculty advisor for Tri-Beta and she suggested
that members participate in an upcoming conference at The
College of New Jersey. The conference will be held on
Saturday March 27th. Students may already have a poster
prepared at that time for the Eastern Colleges Science
Conference and should consider going to this conference as
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
well. The deadline for submitting abstracts electronically for
all oral and poster presentations is March 16th. March 21 st is
the deadline for registering online. ”Walk in” posters will be
allowed the day of the conference, and students have the
opportunity to register the day of the conference.
Contributed by Yolana Fuks, Professor Raths, and Nidhi Khanna
The Biological Honor Society will hold its initiation ceremony
for new members on Friday April 16 th in Gatehouse Lounge.
Members will be completing their off-campus community
service at the Rahway River in New Jersey on Saturday April
17th. Tri-Beta goes to the Rahway River annually during the
springtime to clean up the trash that is scattered around near
the river.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
NEW MEMBERS
Congratulations to the new members of Tri-Beta!
Daniel Fitzpatrick, Philip Kaplan, Terryn Marette, Aimee
Marin, Maleeha Memon, Caroline Mroz, Ashley Nati, Farha
Rashid, and Victor Stora.
ELECTIONS
Tri-Beta recently held elections for its new officers.
Congratulations to all! President: Medije Mashkulli, Vice
President: Violeta Capric, Secretary: Philip Kaplan, Treasurer:
Peter Pisano, and Historian: Farha Rashid.
GRADUATING SENIORS
The Limulus Staff would like to wish the seniors from TriBeta the best of luck in their future endeavors!
Graduating Seniors: Lauren Carasso, Samantha Cook, Jessica
Cozzolino (Secretary), Yolana Fuks (President), Colleen
Janson, Michele Marotto, Shannon O‟Neill (Historian),
Danielle Sheehan, Almir Spahiu , Ashley Stackpole, Michael
Stanton (Vice President), Salvatore Valenti, and Kayla Wong.
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE INITIATION
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
The Pre-Health Society held their first meeting of the semester
this month. The organization is planning to get involved in a
number of off-campus and on-campus community service
events. Members plan to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen on
Staten Island and will participate in the March of Dimes walk
that will be held in April.
In addition, students that are interested in getting clinical
experience are encouraged to volunteer at Staten Island
University Hospital. The hospital procedures and instructions
that volunteers must follow will be available to members on
the Moodle site. If students would like to volunteer at SIUH,
they
should
contact
Violeta
Capric
(violeta.capric@wagner.edu).
Members are invited to join the Pre-Health Society‟s
fundraising/community service committee. Please contact VP
of Medicine (President of MAPS), Melanie Valencia
(melanie.valencia@wagner.edu) for more information. The
committee will be planning a Salsa Night event to raise money
for the campus-wide Haiti relief efforts. The committee meets
at 4pm on Tuesdays.
Students interested in applying to Medical School should look
out for a presentation from Bryan Fleischman, the Associate
Director of Admissions of the American University of
Antigua-College of Medicine. The presentation will be held on
Tuesday April 20th at 4:00pm, room TBA. Students that
would like to learn more about AUA should visit the
university‟s website (http://www.auamed.org/).
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
Melanie Valencia is the vice-president of the Pre-Health
Society. She also serves as the president of the Minority
Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS). MAPS is a
subgroup of the Pre-Health Society. For the past few months,
Melanie has been working with a group of students in the Pre-
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Health Society to organize a „Salsa Night.‟ This event will be
held on Thursday, April 8th at 8pm in Gatehouse Lounge. An
instructor will be coming to teach all attendees a few salsa
steps. The cost of the event is $5 and all proceeds will be
going to the organization Knowledge is the Cure, which funds
projects in Kenya. The event was a huge success last semester,
and all Wagner students are encouraged to attend!
Students that are interested in applying for medical school
should look out for a presentation from Bryan Fleischman, the
Associate Director of Admissions of the American University
of Antigua-College of Medicine in April. The presentation
will be held on Tuesday April 20th at 4:00pm, room TBA. If
you would like to learn more about AUA, please visit the
website (http://www.auamed.org/).
In addition, students that would like to get more clinical
experience are encouraged to volunteer at Staten Island
University Hospital. The hospital procedures and instructions
that volunteers must follow will be available to members on
the Moodle site. If students would like to volunteer at SIUH,
they
should
contact
Violeta
Capric
(violeta.capric@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
ELECTIONS
The Pre-Health Society held its annual elections on Thursday,
April 29th. This was the first time the organization allowed
members that could not attend the elections to submit their
vote electronically by emailing their votes to the Secretary
(Nidhi Khanna). All the candidates were very well qualified
and ran a great race! Thanks to all who participated.
Congratulations to our new officers!
President: Felicia Giunta
VP of Medicine: Julianna Maniscalco
VP of Allied Health: Victor Stora
VP of Dental: Lisa Schneider
Secretary: Medije Mashkulli
Treasurer: John Geli
SGA Representative: Lisa Duncan
Current President Aimee Marin and Secretary Nidhi Khanna
decided to “retire” from the E-board of the Pre-Health Society,
and did not wish to run in the elections. Aimee wrote a final
farewell letter to members that I would like to share:
It has been an honor to serve in the office of president for the
PHS. We can be proud of our achievements and look forward
to even greater achievements in the future. Now is the time for
me to turn over the leadership as the club moves forward with
fresh ideas.
If anyone has any questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail
me. I will be working with the Colleges Against Cancer club
next semester, and I look forward to seeing familiar faces at
those meetings. Thank you once again,
Aimee Marin
Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone in the society for a great
year and for all of your hard work and participation in PHS. It
was an honor and such a pleasure to serve as PHS secretary
for the past year. I am sure Medije will go above and beyond
her duties as secretary next year, and I feel confident of her
abilities.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
OPPORTUNITIES
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr.
Onken
offers
research opportunities
for students in the frame
of a project in which he
collaborates with scientists from Washington
State University, the University of Idaho, and the University
of Alberta (Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the
National Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the
midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).
Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit
devastating diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue,
and are a major threat to the health of billions of people on our
planet. The principal investigators of this project address
larval mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to
fight these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic
habitat.
In collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. (Mt. Desert
Island Biological Laboratories, Maine), Brazil (University of
São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, University of Paraná in Curitiba)
and Canada (University of Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken
pursues research with Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory
capacities and mechanisms of crabs. Together with Dr.
Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor Beecher (Biology), an
ecophysiological study is in an early stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the spring of 2010 should contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Onken
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
Proficient student writers are invited to become assistant
editors for the newsletter of the Department of Biological
Sciences. If you are interested, please, contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
EXPERIENCES
DARWIN DAY BECOMES ANNUAL TRADITION
Last year, the Biology Department celebrated the 200th
birthday of Charles Darwin. This year, Professor Raths and
Secretary Stephanie Rollizo decided to hold a special lunch
again this year in honor of Darwin‟s birthday. Last year,
everyone had such a wonderful time at the event, and
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Professor Raths and Stephanie wanted to organize a
celebration again this year.
Professor Raths had a special Darwin Exhibit set up in one of
the laboratories. She did a marvelous job with the exhibit, and
included interesting facts about Charles Darwin.
Some interesting facts about Charles Darwin include:
Darwin was not comfortable being on ships. He suffered from
seasickness and did not spend that much time on the Beagle.
He did most of his research on land rather than on ship due to
his problem with seasickness.
His father was a physician wanted Darwin to attend medical
school. Darwin‟s father did not think highly of his son, and
pushed him to attend Edinburgh University to pursue a career
in medicine. Darwin did not want to become a doctor, and his
father said that he was “a disgrace to himself and his family.”
Charles Darwin‟s wife was very religious. When he was
younger, he studied the University of Cambridge. He was
interested in joining the clergy, but he later pursued other
interests. Eventually, Darwin made the transition from being
religious to becoming an agnostic.
On behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to thank Professor
Raths and Stephanie for organizing the event. This event could
not have been possible without all of their hard work and
contributions. I would also like to acknowledge anyone else
who made delicious treats for everyone else to enjoy.
Interesting
facts
were
compiled
from:
(http://www.livescience.com/history/090211-darwinfacts.html)
From Professor Raths’ Darwin Exhibit
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 8
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
WAGNER IN THE SNOW
PAGE 9
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
WAGNER AFTER THE STORM
In February, the college was hit by snow. On a number of days
classes had to be canceled. In the February newsletter I shared
some photographs of Wagner College in the snow. In March,
the college was hit by a major rain storm, and I share some
photographs of the damages on campus (see below). This
storm caused major damages in different states of the East
Coast. On Staten Island many trees were blown over and
thousands of houses were without power for up to some days.
Also our beautiful campus suffered, and public safety and
maintenance were extremely busy. A couple of trees crashed
and some windows broke.
Broken window in the Library.
A fallen tree blocking Campus Road.
Water damage at the Science Building.
Public Safety in action. A wind gust blew over a whole row of
pines behind the Science Building.
PAGE 10
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
variety of different habitat types in a small area, due to its
location at the borders of northern and southern vegetation and
of coastal and upland vegetation. Habitats include deciduous
forest, pine barren, cedar and hardwood swamps, and
saltmarsh.
One of the trees that was blown over on campus was a big, old
oak besides Lyle‟s House (see above). When it fell it barely
missed Lyle‟s House. Lyle Guttu‟s good spirits must have
protected his former home. On the initiative of our department
secretary, Stephanie Rollizo, the department got a slice of the
stem of the tree. It is now in a storage room of the department
and will dry over the summer.
Ben Serbiak and Lara Kirkbride tasting sassafras leaves.
The class walks on a boardwalk through the swampy section
of Cheesequake State Park.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
PEOPLE
LUESONI JOHNSON
VISITING RESEARCH STUDENT COLLABORATES
WITH DR. FULOP AND RECEIVES HONORS
After the summer it is planned to sand the surface of the stem
slice and to conserve it with varnish. The annual rings of the
tree can then be accurately counted. A rough estimate is that
the tree is between 150 and 200 years old. The stem slice can
then be used as an item to display American and Wagner
College history.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
FUN FIELD TRIP
These photos below are from a class field trip for BI 492
Ecological and Evolutionary Theory to two nearby locations
in New Jersey, Hutcheson Memorial Forest and Cheesequake
State Park. Hutcheson Memorial Forest is owned by Rutgers
University and is the sight of various field research projects,
including a long-term study of ecological succession. Students
were able to see a patch of old-growth forest, forests of known
age that developed from abandoned farm fields, a field kept in
an early successional stage, and evidence of the effects of deer
herbivory and invasive species. Cheesequake contains a wide
In November, the annual Biomedical Research Conference for
PAGE 11
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Minority Students was in Phoenix, Arizona. Biology students
attend this prestigious conference to present their research in
developmental biology. Luesoni Johnson, a sophomore from
Kingsborough Community College received honors for her
poster presentation that dealt with the effects of alcohol on
zebrafish embryos. Johnson has been working on this research
project with her advisor from Kingsborough, Dr. Kristen
Polizzotto and Dr. Fulop since the summer 2009. Recently, I
had the privilege to speak with both Dr. Polizzotto and
Luesoni about the research collaboration they have formed
with Wagner College.
Dr. Polizzotto described the different grants that are available
to students at Kingsborough Community College. The first
grant that the college offers is called the Bridges to the
Baccalaureate Program. This grant is funded by the National
Institute of Health (NIH) and is given to underrepresented
students. This program helps students attending community
colleges transition into a four-year college. The students work
with a four-year college (Medgar Evers College) and must
apply to this program. These individuals will then take a
research methods class and get assigned to work with a
mentor. Students have the opportunity to make connections
with mentors and complete research over the summer.
Eventually, these students will make posters and will be
required to present at three different noteworthy conferences.
Kingsborough offers a second grant to underrepresented
students. This grant is basically similar to the grant that is
funded by NIH, but students have the chance to collaborate
with mentors from different colleges. The grant is funded by
the New York State Education Department and is entitled
Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program. Luesoni
was the recipient of this grant and she became interested in
studying zebrafish. Dr. Polizzotto had zebrafish in her lab at
Kingsborough and searched for mentors at different colleges.
Kingsborough has a limited faculty and Dr. Fulop was eager to
serve as Luesoni‟s mentor.
Dr. Polizzotto was pleased with the way this research
collaboration with Dr. Fulop turned out. She stated, “ This
collaboration may be one of the most successful programs.
Luesoni had the opportunity to work with many Wagner
students and faculty. She was lucky enough to be supported by
such great faculty and was able to have a high quality research
experience.”
She added, “In Kingsborough, there are fewer opportunities
for students because the college has a low-budget. The
possibilities at Kingsborough are nothing like what Luesoni
did here, and she was able to have a real lab experience.”
Dr. Fulop was interested to help Luesoni and gave up his time
without expecting anything in return. Professors Raths and
Corbo and students Anna Lysenko and Zulmarie France
assisted Luesoni with her research.
Luesoni‟s research included using 40 zebrafish embryos. She
used three different concentrations of alcohol on the zebrafish
and the experiment lasted 14 days. She analyzed the physical
features of the zebrafish . She compared the features to
zebrafish with fetal alcohol syndrome. In her findings, she
discovered hormesis. Hormesis deals with biological effects
that result from low levels of toxins. The biological effects
appeared to be positive.
Dr. Polizzotto described the way hormesis works. “When you
have a low dosage of a toxin, you won‟t get a linear graph.
The toxin is expected to show steadily worse results in an
organism.”
She added, “Many people don‟t believe in hormesis, but many
pharmaceutical companies use hormesis to indicate how much
dosage doctors should give patients when dealing with
medications. Zebrafish serve as a good model and can provide
drug companies with more information when dealing with
different dosages.”
Luesoni felt that she had a very positive experience while
conducting research at Wagner. Anna Lysenko, a senior
Biopsychology major, served as Luesoni‟s student mentor.
Anna helped Luesoni with her research while Anna worked on
her own research as well. Zulmarie Franco, a recent graduate
of the Microbiology program, was also generous enough to
give up her time to help Luesoni with her research. Zulmarie
allowed Luesoni to shadow and assist her while she completed
her research for her thesis.
In addition to conducting research at Wagner, Luesoni was
able to make an important decision about her future. Prior to
studying zebrafish in the laboratory, Luesoni was not sure
what field she would like to pursue after she graduated from
college. After doing research at Wagner, she discovered that
she was especially interested in developmental biology and
neuroscience. Recently, Luesoni applied to Wagner as a
transfer student and is looking forward to join organizations
like the Biology Club.
I would like to thank Dr. Polizzotto and Luesoni for taking the
time out of their schedules to meet with me. I would also like
to congratulate Leusoni for all of the accolades she received
for her research project!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PUBLICATIONS
Jagadeshwaran, U., Onken, H., Hardy, M., Moffett, S. B. &
Moffett, D. F. (2010). Cellular mechanisms of acid secretion
in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti.
Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 295-300.
Moffett, D.F. and Onken, H. (2010). The Cellular Basis of
Extreme Alkali Secretion in Insects: A Tale of Two Tissues.
In: Epithelial Transport Physiology (ed. George A.
Gerencser), pp. 91-112 . Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press.
ISBN: 978-1-60327-228-5.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
EASTERN COLLEGES SCIENCE CONFERENCE
On Saturday April 24th, Pace University hosted the 64th
annual Eastern Colleges Science Conference. 209
undergraduate students participated in the meeting with 16
student presentations from Wagner for this prestigious event.
A handful of students represented the Biology Department in
the conference. Participants included: Yasemin Alev,Violeta
Capric,Leonid Denisenko,William Etts,Stefani Fanara,Yolana
PAGE 12
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Fuks,Felicia Giunta,Michael Gutkin,Philip Kaplan,Anna
Lysenko,Julianna
Maniscalco,Medije
Mashkulli,Glenn
Muoio,Peter
Pisano,Anthony
Rafetto,Lauren
Raynor,Benjamin
Serbiak,Michael
Stanton,Megan
Stolze,Melanie Valencia,Alexander Zilberman. During the
afternoon, attendees had the option to take a tour of Pace
University's beautiful Pleasantville, NY Campus. In addition,
attendees were able to watch the falcon show presented by the
university‟s very own falcon trainer. During dinner attendees
had the pleasure of listening to guest speakers. Dr. Deborah
Poe, an assistant Professor of English at Pace University. She
read from her collection Elements based on the Periodic Table.
Her writing has recently appeared in journals such as
Colorado Review, Sidebrow, and Ploughshares to name a few.
She is also fiction editor of the international online journal of
the arts, Drunken Boat. The second speaker was Dr. William
H. Schlesinger who is President of the Cary Institute of
Ecosystem Studies .He gave an interesting lecture about the
role of human population growth, resource demands and
technology in driving and potentially solving our trajectory of
environmental degradation. The students of the Department of
Biological Sciences contributed with platform presentations
and posters. See below for the titles and authors. Two platform
presentations won Excellence Awards. The Limulus Staff
would like to congratulate all of the participants and winners
for a job well done!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ANTHONY RAFETTO AS
RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD FOR BEST PLATFORM
PRESENTATION (CATEGORY: MATHEMATICS AND
ENGINEERING SCIENCES)
Anthony Rafetto. "U.S. population growth." Research under
the supervision of Dr. Otto Raths.
CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO MEGAN STOLZE AS
RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD FOR THE BEST
PLATFORM
PRESENTATION
(CATEGORY:
PSYCHOLOGY)
Megan Stolze. "The association between BMI, sweet
preference and drug use." Research under the supervision of
Dr. Laurence J. Nolan.
There were 14 additional poster and platform presentations by
students from Wagner College:
Benjamin Serbiak. "The efficacy of sunscreen blockers in
prevention of the clastogenic effects of long wave and short
wave ultraviolet light in Vicia faba." (platform). Research
under the supervision of Dr. Ammini Moorthy.
Stefani Fanara and Megan Stolze. "Television viewing and
food intake: Is physical fitness a factor?" (platform). Research
under the supervision of Dr. Laurence J. Nolan.
Michael Stanton. "Behavioral responses of common tern
chicks to feather sampling." (platform). Research under the
supervision of Dr. Brian Palestis.
Leonid Denisenko. "U.S. population studies." (platform)
Research under the supervision of Dr. Otto Raths.
Melanie Valencia, Violeta Capric, William Etts and
Yolana Fuks. "Electrophysiology of the isolated and perfused
midgut of adult yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti): First
results." (poster). Research under the supervision of Dr. Horst
Onken, with co-authors S.B. Moffett and D.F. Moffett of
Washington State University.
Michael C. Gutkin. "Detection of proliferating cells in
surviving organotypic culture of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)
optic tectum." (poster). Research under the supervision of
Prof. Christopher Corbo, Dr. Zoltan Fulop and Prof. Linda
Raths.
Anna Lysenko and Yasemin Alev. "Scanning electron
microscopic imaging of the developing neuromasts of the
lateral line system in 7 day old zebrafish embryos." (poster).
Research under the supervision of Prof. Christopher Corbo,
Dr. Zoltan Fulop and Prof. Linda Raths, with co-author
Luesoni Johnson of Kingsboro Community College.
Anna Lysenko. "Effects of alcohol show hormetic
characteristics on development of zebrafish embryos."
(poster). Research under the supervision of Prof. Christopher
Corbo, Dr. Zoltan Fulop and Prof. Linda Raths, with lead
author Luesoni Johnson of Kingsboro Community College.
Alexander Zilberman. "Use of an InvA-specific PCR primer
set to validate culture-based detection of Salmonella from
waterfowl eggs in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens,
New York." (poster). Research under the supervision of Dr.
Adam J. Houlihan, with co-author Jessica Browning of the
U.S. National Park Service.
Medije Mashkulli. "Set up of a yellow fever mosquito (Aedes
aegypti) colony." (poster). Research under the supervision of
Dr. Horst Onken, with co-authors S.B. Moffett and D.F.
Moffett of Washington State University.
Julianna Maniscalco. "Inhibition of strong midgut
alkalinization in larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes
aegypti) with HEPES buffer." (poster). Research under the
supervision of Dr. Horst Onken, with co-authors S.B. Moffett
and D.F. Moffett of Washington State University.
Yolana Fuks. "Increased expression of mitochondrial
glutathione peroxidase 4 and superoxide dismutase 2 reduces
cone cell death in retinitis pigmentosa." (poster). Research
under the supervision of Lili Lu and Peter A. Campochiaro of
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Felicia Guinta, Bethny Brown and Alexandra Videll.
"Analyzing the effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals on
Drosophila development." (poster). Research under the
supervision of Dr. Heather A. Cook.
Peter Pisano, Lauren Raynor, Philip Kaplan and Glenn
Muoio. "Developmental changes in larval photosensitivity of
the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti." (poster). Research
under the supervision of Dr. Donald E. Stearns.
Some photographs from the event:
PAGE 13
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Contributed by Farha Rashid
HORMESIS RESEARCH FEATURED IN DOSERESPONSE CONFERENCE
Five representatives from Wagner College participated in the
annual meeting of the International Dose-Response Society at
the University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA, 27-28 April,
2010): Dr. Zoltan Fulop, Dr. Brian Palestis, Anna Lysenko
(senior Psychology major), Anastasia Kurta (Biopsychology,
Class of 2007), and Luesoni Johnson. Luesoni is currently a
student at Kingsborough Community College who is working
in Dr. Fulop‟s lab and is transferring in to Wagner.
The major focus of the conference was hormesis, a
phenomenon where a substance with inhibitory effects at high
doses has the opposite effects at low doses. For example,
alcohol is classified as a depressant but often has stimulatory
effects at low doses. Hormesis is much more common than
most biologists realize, and is characterized by an inverted Ushaped or J-shaped dose-response curve, rather than fitting the
standard linear or threshold model.
Hormesis has also been the subject of research in the
Department of Biological Sciences for several years (see the
Sept 2008 issue of Limulus for a summary of the “Hormesis
Project”). Much of this work has been funded by an
anonymous donor. In Fall 2009, Dr. Ed Calabrese, the leading
authority on hormesis, spoke at Wagner College (see the
Nov/Dec 2009 issue of Limulus) and invited us to attend the
conference.
Luesoni and Anna gave a poster presentation on work they
have done with Dr. Fulop using zebrafish as a model for fetal
alcohol syndrome, and Dr. Palestis presented a poster
summarizing the work his students have done on the effects of
alcohol on the behavior of adult zebrafish. Dr. Palestis also
served as chair of the session on toxicology and risk
assessment. In addition, a paper written by Anastasia Kurta
and Dr. Palestis was recently accepted for publication by the
society‟s journal, Dose-Response. The reference for this paper
and for the two poster presentations are given below:
PAGE 14
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Kurta, A. and B.G. Palestis. (2010, in press). Effects of
ethanol on shoaling behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio). DoseResponse.
Johnson, L.D., A. Lysenko, C. Corbo, L. Raths, B. Palestis,
and Z. Fulop. 2010. Alcohol shows hormetic characteristics on
development of zebrafish embryos. Annual Meeting of the
International Dose-Response Society. Amherst, MA. 27-28
April.
Palestis, B.G. 2010. Effects of ethanol on the behavior of
zebrafish (Danio rerio). Annual Meeting of the International
Dose-Response Society. Amherst, MA. 27-28 April.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
MICROBIOLOGY GRADUATE PRESENTS AT
PRESTIGIOUS CONFERENCE
Recently, Zulmarie Franco presented her research at a
conference at Harvard Medical School in February. She is the
first Wagner student that was ever selected to present at this
conference. I would like to thank Zulmarie for taking the time
to help me with this interview.
Q: What was your research?
A: My research was entitled Morphophysiological
Characterization of Peripheral Blood of Adult Zebrafish
(Danio rerio). This research was performed to aid in the study
of degenerative and regenerative processes that take place in
the injured zebrafish brain, main focus of study in Dr. Fulop's
lab. Information such as the ultrastructural features and the
basic characterization of the blood cells was necessary to
understand these processes and to be able to record the
activities of white blood cells in brain injuries. So I collected
the blood from the heart of a mature zebrafish and with it I
prepared blood smears, which I stained to be able to
differentiate among the different white blood cells in the light
microscope. Also I characterized the cells using the
transmission electron microscope and from the scanning
electron microscope I was able to obtain information on the
physiological activities of the cell. I performed other tests but
these were the most significant ones.
Q: What was the conference like?
A: It was a great experience. Its main focus was on
Biomedical careers and research projects. The speakers were
very motivating; besides talking about their current research
they would start by telling their stories of how they were able
to get to where they are right now. They were mostly
minorities so they talk about all the obstacles they had to
overcome to be were they are right now. Particularly there was
one speaker that I found his story very impressing and
motivating, his name is Dr. Alfredo Quinones Hinojosa, he is
a Neurosurgeon at John Hopkins and performs research on the
role of stem cells in the origin of brain tumors and the
potential role stem cells can play in fighting brain cancer and
regaining neurological function. His story was very
impressing because he talked about how he started working in
the fields when he came to the states and after years of hard
work he decided to go to school and after overcoming all the
obstacles he became a well known doctor conducting a very
promising research
Q: Was the conference overall a good experience? How does
it feel to be the first student from Wagner to attend the
conference?
A: There were around 300 poster presentations of students
from bachelor's degree level up to MD/PhD, so it was very
competitive. You would have two hours to stand by your
poster and talk to the judges and anyone else who would go by
your poster, about the research. But the posters were set up
early in the morning for exhibit while the students were
participating in the conferences. Amazing research projects
were being presented. For me the experience of just being
selected to present my research there made me feel really
proud and thankful for all the opportunities I had at Wagner
and for the great people that helped me all the way (Dr. Fulop,
Chris and my family back in Puerto Rico). I can say that all
the hard work was definitely worth it.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
ALUMNI
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
CARTOONS
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
PAGE 15
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
SENIORS IN THE RFT MAJORING IN BIOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, OR BIOPSYCHOLOGY
In the front from left to right: Janine Bright, Kristyn Beyar, Cassandra Bray, Jessica Cozzolino, Medije Mashkulli,
Nicholas Lepore, Yolana Fuks. In the back from left to right: Dina Benedetto, Lara Kirkbride, Rachel Delp, Michael
Gutkin, Benjamin Serbiak, Michael Stanton, Almir Spahiu, Sarmed Owaid.
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your contribution on
a level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and 500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files (high quality jpg
is the preferred file format) attached to the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of the month. Contributions received later may or may not be considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
PAGE 16
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, September 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Stearns, Donald
Beecher, Sierra D.
Rosenberg, Robert D.
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Biology staff and faculty news / Nidhi Khanna -- Special topic / Stephanie Rollizo, Ammini Moorthy, and Brian Palestis -- Curriculum news / Nidhi Khanna -- Biology student news / Nidhi Khanna and Stephanie Rollizo -- Biology club news, Tri-beta news, and Pre-health society / Nidhi Khanna -- Opportunities / Horst Onken -- Experiences / Nidhi Khanna -- People / Nidhi Khanna -- Publications, professional meetings -- Alumni and cartoons
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2010-09
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
16 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/8c0e4fbb3de2edb9b10e92b4e68b42d1.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=ebfPSEAVvwRy9s%7EqOcieAhvnCtKxrutCdsZ1PClONMIw217pRLBe0CF2-wDDfyeOjveX3jJtsZvSmdGhDfsoTns6VU7C8pTFxNhnDRsTkB8cBlUjAbnJ4qaiVPYA1qpemSpycECV97I72AgKaTgIzm-C5OKiBKrqJZjyLpQQ2mATp%7EqhBg2UtFONbG9fZft7f3CUnnNMO4Mwxp4iQJg%7EKHVa75iYL62c1gw79FDMb5EQpIyHPxd%7Ekg4s2vkW4zHhC3KxgghHNnz797WsmTTvwLj6%7EhcWvWikFjaV27OXaZ7GxBobpIqIZfQEmKs2O-UYTW20sGDj4KTtjYJd63WioQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
603ef15d0428509ec44ab8a91a8247e0
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2010, Issue Spring-04
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
This Limulus is coming again a little later. Like already at the
end of the fall semester when we sent out a
November/December issue, we are now presenting to you
another two months issue: April/May. With the flood of work
at the end of semesters, this procedure is much more
convenient for us.
I would also loke to announce that we have another new
student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid is a Biology major and
April/May, 2010
she straight away contributed an article. On pages 6 and 7,
Farha reports about the Eastern Colleges Science Conference.
Apart of other reports from conferences we have more
interesting news from the department. Of course, at this time
there is a lot of focus on our seniors (see below).
I wish everybody a great summer!
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
SENIORS IN THE RFT MAJORING IN BIOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, OR BIOPSYCHOLOGY
In the front from left to right: Janine Bright, Kristyn Beyar, Cassandra Bray, Jessica Cozzolino, Medije Mashkulli,
Nicholas Lepore, Yolana Fuks. In the back from left to right: Dina Benedetto, Lara Kirkbride, Rachel Delp, Michael
Gutkin, Benjamin Serbiak, Michael Stanton, Almir Spahiu, Sarmed Owaid.
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
SPECIAL TOPIC
BIOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH FUND
In the summer of 2009, with the help and support of the
Department of Biological Sciences, the Administration and the
Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA), Dr. Ammini
Moorthy’s hope to establish an Undergraduate Senior Thesis
Research Fund for the Biology/Microbiology Department
became a reality.
Currently all biology/microbiology majors participate in
undergraduate research under the supervision of a faculty
member as part of their graduation requirement. With the
assistance of Ms. Stephanie Rollizo (faculty secretary), Dr.
Moorthy worked with Ms. Kristen Koehler (OIA) to reach out
to our alumni for help in creating the fund to subsidize this
important part of the curriculum. The fund provides much
needed resources for our students to purchase materials for
their research projects.
The alumni who have already graciously donated are:
Robert Agnello, Danielle Cavallo, Robert Corry, James
D’Amico, Louis DeSantis, Letizia Hobbs, Louise Kaufman,
Stacy Kubikian, Christina Lamb, Christine MarroneMassaro, Robert Peterman, Michael Ponzo, and Carol
Russell.
With the approval of Dr. Brian Palestis (chair of biological
sciences) and Prof. Linda Raths (who maintains expense
records), several students have already benefited from this
fund. Their names and their research projects are:
Nicholas Lepore and Almir Spahiu (Advisor Kathy Bobbitt):
Chemical components and antimicrobial properties of mastic
Medije Mashkulli (Advisor Horst Onken): Set up of a yellow
fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) colony
Philip Kaplan, Glenn Muoio, Peter Pisano, Farha Rashid and
Lauren Raynor (Advisor Donald Stearns): Developmental
changes in larval photosensitivity of the yellow fever
mosquito (Aedes aegypti)
Kaitlin Eppinger (Advisor Brian Palestis): A banding study of
the common tern (Sterna hirundo)
Cassandra Bray (Advisor Brian Palestis): Escape response as a
behavioral assay of blindness in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Alex Moleson (Advisor Roy Mosher):
mutagenesis of green fluorescent protein
Site-directed
Roseanna Valant (Advisor Ammini Moorthy): Genotoxicity of
mitoxantrone in human cells
Felicia Giunta (Advisor Heather Cook): Effects of endocrine
disrupters on Drosophila development
Benjamin Serbiak (Advisor Ammini Moorthy): The efficacy
of sunscreen blockers in prevention of the effects ultraviolet
light in Vicia faba
Alexander Zilberman (Advisor Adam Houlihan): "Use of PCR
to validate culture-based detection of Salmonella from
waterfowl eggs in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Julianna Maniscalco (Advisor Horst Onken): Inhibition of
strong midgut alkalinization in larval yellow fever mosquitoes
(Aedes aegypti)
Thanks again to the alumni who contributed and made this
possible. Your generosity is already paying dividends. We
need more of you, our alumni, to step forward and contribute
whatever you can. During the summer of 2010, the alumni
will once again be approached to ask for their support.
Alumni who happen to read this article are encouraged to
proactively contribute. It is not often that one gets a chance to
make a donation and see its impact directly and promptly.
Contributed by Stephanie Rollizo, Dr. Moorthy, and Dr. Palestis.
CURRICULUM NEWS
2010 Summer courses and intended audience:
BI 110/110L Environmental Biology. Session A (Nonscience majors and Environmental Studies minors)
BI 120 Human Biology. Runs May 17-May 28 (Non-science
majors)
BI 209/209L Human Anatomy and Physiology I. Session A
(Nursing and Physician Assistant majors)
BI 210/210L Human Anatomy and Physiology II. Session B
(Nursing and Physician Assistant majors)
BI/MI 213/213L Cells, Genes, and Evolution. Session B
(Biology and Microbiology majors, Pre-health students)
BI 335/335L Natural History of the Mid-Atlantic States.
Runs May 17-May 28 (Biology majors and Environmental
Studies minors)
BI/MI 400E Experiential Component of the Senior RFT.
Session A (Biology and Microbiology majors)
MI 109 Plagues, Outbreaks and Biological Warfare.
Session B (Non-science majors)
MI 200/200L Microbiology. Session A (Microbiology,
Nursing, and Physician Assistant majors)
MI/BI 517/517L Electron Microscopy. Session A
(Microbiology and Biology majors and Microbiology graduate
students)
MI 615/615L Electron Microscopy. Session A
(Microbiology graduate students)
MI 797, 798, 799 Research. Session A (Microbiology
graduate students)
WAGNER ANNOUNCES NEW 5 YEAR B.S./M.S.
MICROBIOLOGY PROGRAM
Recently, I had the opportunity
to speak with Dr. Roy Mosher,
the director of the Microbiology
Masters Program at Wagner. Dr.
Mosher teaches a number of
courses at Wagner including
Biochemistry I and II, Medical
and
Public
Health,
Microbiology,
Microbial
Genetic, Applied, Food, and
Industrial Microbiology, and
Pathogenic Fungi.
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Wagner announced that the Microbiology Program would
offer students a chance to obtain a five-year B.S./M.S.
beginning in the Fall 2010 semester. The new program is not
offered in any other college or university in the Northeast.
Associate Provost Dr. Jeffrey Kraus spearheaded the idea for
the new program. Dr. Kraus is also head of all the graduate
studies programs at the college, and initially he asked Dr.
Mosher if it would be possible to develop a five-year
B.S./M.S. Microbiology graduate program at Wagner.
Dr. Mosher was a little reluctant at first because the
Microbiology Department was shorthanded and would not be
able to expand the program due to the limited faculty. Luckily,
Dr. Adam Houlihan joined the Wagner faculty recently, and
Dr. Mosher believed with Houlihan’s help, the new program
would be more feasible.
After Dr. Kraus proposed the idea, Dr. Mosher needed to get
the program approved by the Biology Department and then by
the Academic Program Committee, which regulates academic
programs on campus. Dr. Mosher brought the idea to the New
York State Department of Education and they finally gave the
final approval for the program. The entire process took about a
year to complete from start to finish.
Earlier last fall, Dr. Mosher received exciting news from the
Department of Education that Wagner would be allowed to
offer this new program to students the following year.
According to Dr. Mosher, Professor Christopher Corbo, an
adjunct Biology professor at Wagner (’06 B.S., ’08 M.S.),
deserves a tremendous amount of credit in helping Dr. Mosher
obtain the proper certifications for the program. Additionally,
Dr. Kathleen Bobbit and Dr. Houlihan played an integral part
in developing the program, and Dr. Mosher could not have
completed this process without their assistance.
The new program offers students a chance to receive their
Masters degree quickly and this program is more research
oriented. “The current two-year Masters program allows
students to choose whether they would like to do a research
based or non-research based thesis. The Masters students
simply do not have enough time to sufficient research, and the
new program allows students to get a head start with their
research,” stated Dr. Mosher.
Students participating in the program will begin to conduct
research in the laboratory during their junior year. They will
be required to complete their senior RFT during the fall
semester of their senior year. This allows students to begin
their Masters research in the spring semester of their senior
year. The advantage of this program is that students can start a
research project as an undergraduate student and have the
opportunity to defend their thesis as a senior. Eventually, the
students can expand on their senior thesis project, and have the
opportunity to have an engaging and intensive research
experience. “Students completing their Masters in
Microbiology usually need time to do research, and by the
time they learn the necessary skills to do the research, it is
time for the students to graduate,” said Dr. Mosher. The new
program allows students to spend more time learning the
techniques in the lab, and hopefully the students will be able
to present their projects at major regional or national
conferences.
Currently, seven undergraduate students have officially
declared an interest in the program. The program allows
students to “exit” out of the program, and students can pursue
other graduate schools if they wish. Students hoping to go to
medical school or dental school can enroll in the five-year
program, but if they get accepted to either medical or dental
school, they can opt to “exit” out of the program. Basically,
the students can choose to obtain their B.S. in Microbiology,
and may opt out of pursuing the Masters in Microbiology in
order to attend another graduate school after they complete
their senior year at Wagner.
Dr. Mosher offered some important advice for students that
are interested in the program. “Anyone that wishes to
participate in the program should make the decision by their
sophomore year, however, it would be better if you decide
during your freshman year. New students and freshman should
try to get into Dr. Stearns’ and Dr. Houlihan’s Learning
Community: Bacteria, Human Health and Survival. This LC
allows students to complete their basic microbiology
requirements and it is important to get the introductory course
out of the way. Then, students will be able to fit their other
microbiology classes in the following semester, and it would
be optimal if students put this LC as their top choice, “ he
stated.
I would like to thank Dr. Mosher for taking the time out of his
busy schedule to complete this interview!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
BIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS
AWARDS
BIOLOGY STUDENTS HONORED AT UNDERGRAUATE AWARDS
DINNER
The Undergraduate Awards Dinner was held on Friday April
30th. Many students from the department received honors and
recognition for their exceptional academic work. The awards
that students received are in italics. The students that
maintained a 4.0 GPA for the Spring 2009 and Fall 2010
semesters received a special plaque. The following students
were honorees at the dinner:
Violeta Capric (Biology/Anthropology Majors)- Academic
Excellence Award (4.0 g.p.a)** and the Robert D. Blomquist
Memorial Award in Biology
Terryn Marette (Biology Major)- Biological Science Award
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Peter Pisano (Biology Major)- Academic Excellence Award
(4.0 g.p.a)**
Victor Stora (Biology/Chemistry Majors)- Academic
Excellence Award (4.0 g.p.a)
Melanie Valencia Biology Minor)- Academic Excellence
Award (4.0 g.p.a); Diversity Action Council Award;
Community Service Award. (Biology Minor)
Lisa Duncan (Biopsychology Major)- Academic Excellence
Award (4.0 g.p.a)
Marlena Mason (Biology Major)- Academic Excellence Award
(4.0 g.p.a
Nidhi Khanna (Biology/Philosophy Majors)- Outstanding
Service in Communication Award
Congratulations to all the honorees!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna (with the help of Stephanie Rollizo)
SENIORS RECEIVE DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
Some seniors received special recognition for their
outstanding work in the biology department. Three seniors
received awards for presenting at a conference, and for their
high GPA. Congratulations to Yolana Fuks, Medije Mashkulli,
and Michael Stanton!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
GRADUATE STUDENTS AWARDS CEREMONY
During the first week of May, a few graduate students
received special recognition for their work in the
Microbiology department. Congratulations to all of the
winners!
Microbiology Award- Zulmarie Franco
Highest Academic Achievement-Kristin Belitz
Outstanding Academic Achievement-Janet Sum
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna (with the help of Stephanie Rollizo)
BIOLOGY STUDENTS INITIATED INTO ODK
The National Leadership Honor Society held its Spring
initiation for new members on Friday April 9th at 6pm.
Omicron Delta Kappa was founded in 1914 at Washington and
Lee University. This organization recognizes excellence in
academics and leadership of students at each of its
participating colleges.
Several students from the Biology Department were inducted
into ODK, as well as a faculty member from the department.
Congratulations to all the new members!
Anna Lysenko (Biopsychology Major), Violeta Capric
(Biology), Leandra Manfredi (Biopsychology), Aimee Marin
(Biopsychology), and Dr. Horst Onken (faculty initiate).
Limulus would also like to recognize the Biology students that
were inducted in the fall. I apologize for the late recognition!
Philip Kaplan (Biology Major, chemistry minor), Victor Stora
(Biology/Chemistry
Majors),
and
Nidhi
Khanna
(Biology/Philosophy Majors).
Several graduating seniors from the department have been
members of ODK. I would like to wish them the best of luck
in their future endeavors!
Yolana Fuks (Biology Major, Chemistry Minor), Shannon
O’Neill (Biology Major), Anna Lysenko (Biopsychology
Major), Colleen Janson (Biology Minor), and Danielle
Sheehan (Biology Minor).
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
The Biology Club completed their on-campus community
service in the last week of April. Members distributed free
condoms in the Union and collected donations to support
Community Health Action.
Elections were also held and the newly elected president is
Leonid Denisenko and the vice president is Caroline Mroz.
Current President, Cassie Bray had a few final words that she
would like to share: “Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone who
was an active member this past year. It felt great to know the
hard work and time I put into making the club better paid off.
I'll miss everyone next year, but be excited for Leonid to take
control. Awesome things will get done during his reign!
Have a great summer, everyone!”
-Cassie Bray
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna and Cassie Bray
TRI-BETA NEWS
NEW MEMBERS
Congratulations to the new members of Tri-Beta!
Daniel Fitzpatrick, Philip Kaplan, Terryn Marette, Aimee
Marin, Maleeha Memon, Caroline Mroz, Ashley Nati, Farha
Rashid, and Victor Stora.
ELECTIONS
Tri-Beta recently held elections for its new officers.
Congratulations to all! President: Medije Mashkulli, Vice
President: Violeta Capric, Secretary: Philip Kaplan, Treasurer:
Peter Pisano, and Historian: Farha Rashid.
GRADUATING SENIORS
The Limulus Staff would like to wish the seniors from TriBeta the best of luck in their future endeavors!
Graduating Seniors: Lauren Carasso, Samantha Cook, Jessica
Cozzolino (Secretary), Yolana Fuks (President), Colleen
Janson, Michele Marotto, Shannon O’Neill (Historian),
Danielle Sheehan, Almir Spahiu , Ashley Stackpole, Michael
Stanton (Vice President), Salvatore Valenti, and Kayla Wong.
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE INITIATION
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Secretary: Medije Mashkulli
Treasurer: John Geli
SGA Representative: Lisa Duncan
Current President Aimee Marin and Secretary Nidhi Khanna
decided to “retire” from the E-board of the Pre-Health Society,
and did not wish to run in the elections. Aimee wrote a final
farewell letter to members that I would like to share:
It has been an honor to serve in the office of president for the
PHS. We can be proud of our achievements and look forward
to even greater achievements in the future. Now is the time for
me to turn over the leadership as the club moves forward with
fresh ideas.
If anyone has any questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail
me. I will be working with the Colleges Against Cancer club
next semester, and I look forward to seeing familiar faces at
those meetings. Thank you once again,
Aimee Marin
Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone in the society for a great
year and for all of your hard work and participation in PHS. It
was an honor and such a pleasure to serve as PHS secretary
for the past year. I am sure Medije will go above and beyond
her duties as secretary next year, and I feel confident of her
abilities.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
EXPERIENCES
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
FUN FIELD TRIP
These photos below are from a class field trip for BI 492
Ecological and Evolutionary Theory to two nearby locations
in New Jersey, Hutcheson Memorial Forest and Cheesequake
State Park. Hutcheson Memorial Forest is owned by Rutgers
University and is the sight of various field research projects,
including a long-term study of ecological succession. Students
were able to see a patch of old-growth forest, forests of known
age that developed from abandoned farm fields, a field kept in
an early successional stage, and evidence of the effects of deer
herbivory and invasive species. Cheesequake contains a wide
variety of different habitat types in a small area, due to its
location at the borders of northern and southern vegetation and
of coastal and upland vegetation. Habitats include deciduous
forest, pine barren, cedar and hardwood swamps, and
saltmarsh.
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
ELECTIONS
The Pre-Health Society held its annual elections on Thursday,
April 29th. This was the first time the organization allowed
members that could not attend the elections to submit their
vote electronically by emailing their votes to the Secretary
(Nidhi Khanna). All the candidates were very well qualified
and ran a great race! Thanks to all who participated.
Congratulations to our new officers!
President: Felicia Giunta
VP of Medicine: Julianna Maniscalco
VP of Allied Health: Victor Stora
VP of Dental: Lisa Schneider
Ben Serbiak and Lara Kirkbride tasting sassafras leaves.
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
environmental degradation. The students of the Department of
Biological Sciences contributed with platform presentations
and posters. See below for the titles and authors. Two platform
presentations won Excellence Awards. The Limulus Staff
would like to congratulate all of the participants and winners
for a job well done!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ANTHONY RAFETTO AS
RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD FOR BEST PLATFORM
PRESENTATION (CATEGORY: MATHEMATICS AND
ENGINEERING SCIENCES)
Anthony Rafetto. "U.S. population growth." Research under
the supervision of Dr. Otto Raths.
The class walks on a boardwalk through the swampy section
of Cheesequake State Park.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
PUBLICATIONS
Jagadeshwaran, U., Onken, H., Hardy, M., Moffett, S. B. &
Moffett, D. F. (2010). Cellular mechanisms of acid secretion
in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti.
Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 295-300.
Moffett, D.F. and Onken, H. (2010). The Cellular Basis of
Extreme Alkali Secretion in Insects: A Tale of Two Tissues.
In: Epithelial Transport Physiology (ed. George A.
Gerencser), pp. 91-112 . Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press.
ISBN: 978-1-60327-228-5.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
EASTERN COLLEGES SCIENCE CONFERENCE
On Saturday April 24th, Pace University hosted the 64th
annual Eastern Colleges Science Conference. 209
undergraduate students participated in the meeting with 16
student presentations from Wagner for this prestigious event.
A handful of students represented the Biology Department in
the conference. Participants included: Yasemin Alev,Violeta
Capric,Leonid Denisenko,William Etts,Stefani Fanara,Yolana
Fuks,Felicia Giunta,Michael Gutkin,Philip Kaplan,Anna
Lysenko,Julianna
Maniscalco,Medije
Mashkulli,Glenn
Muoio,Peter
Pisano,Anthony
Rafetto,Lauren
Raynor,Benjamin
Serbiak,Michael
Stanton,Megan
Stolze,Melanie Valencia,Alexander Zilberman. During the
afternoon, attendees had the option to take a tour of Pace
University's beautiful Pleasantville, NY Campus. In addition,
attendees were able to watch the falcon show presented by the
university’s very own falcon trainer. During dinner attendees
had the pleasure of listening to guest speakers. Dr. Deborah
Poe, an assistant Professor of English at Pace University. She
read from her collection Elements based on the Periodic Table.
Her writing has recently appeared in journals such as
Colorado Review, Sidebrow, and Ploughshares to name a few.
She is also fiction editor of the international online journal of
the arts, Drunken Boat. The second speaker was Dr. William
H. Schlesinger who is President of the Cary Institute of
Ecosystem Studies .He gave an interesting lecture about the
role of human population growth, resource demands and
technology in driving and potentially solving our trajectory of
CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO MEGAN STOLZE AS
RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD FOR THE BEST
PLATFORM
PRESENTATION
(CATEGORY:
PSYCHOLOGY)
Megan Stolze. "The association between BMI, sweet
preference and drug use." Research under the supervision of
Dr. Laurence J. Nolan.
There were 14 additional poster and platform presentations by
students from Wagner College:
Benjamin Serbiak. "The efficacy of sunscreen blockers in
prevention of the clastogenic effects of long wave and short
wave ultraviolet light in Vicia faba." (platform). Research
under the supervision of Dr. Ammini Moorthy.
Stefani Fanara and Megan Stolze. "Television viewing and
food intake: Is physical fitness a factor?" (platform). Research
under the supervision of Dr. Laurence J. Nolan.
Michael Stanton. "Behavioral responses of common tern
chicks to feather sampling." (platform). Research under the
supervision of Dr. Brian Palestis.
Leonid Denisenko. "U.S. population studies." (platform)
Research under the supervision of Dr. Otto Raths.
Melanie Valencia, Violeta Capric, William Etts and
Yolana Fuks. "Electrophysiology of the isolated and perfused
midgut of adult yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti): First
results." (poster). Research under the supervision of Dr. Horst
Onken, with co-authors S.B. Moffett and D.F. Moffett of
Washington State University.
Michael C. Gutkin. "Detection of proliferating cells in
surviving organotypic culture of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)
optic tectum." (poster). Research under the supervision of
Prof. Christopher Corbo, Dr. Zoltan Fulop and Prof. Linda
Raths.
Anna Lysenko and Yasemin Alev. "Scanning electron
microscopic imaging of the developing neuromasts of the
lateral line system in 7 day old zebrafish embryos." (poster).
Research under the supervision of Prof. Christopher Corbo,
Dr. Zoltan Fulop and Prof. Linda Raths, with co-author
Luesoni Johnson of Kingsboro Community College.
Anna Lysenko. "Effects of alcohol show hormetic
characteristics on development of zebrafish embryos."
(poster). Research under the supervision of Prof. Christopher
Corbo, Dr. Zoltan Fulop and Prof. Linda Raths, with lead
author Luesoni Johnson of Kingsboro Community College.
Alexander Zilberman. "Use of an InvA-specific PCR primer
set to validate culture-based detection of Salmonella from
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
waterfowl eggs in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens,
New York." (poster). Research under the supervision of Dr.
Adam J. Houlihan, with co-author Jessica Browning of the
U.S. National Park Service.
Medije Mashkulli. "Set up of a yellow fever mosquito (Aedes
aegypti) colony." (poster). Research under the supervision of
Dr. Horst Onken, with co-authors S.B. Moffett and D.F.
Moffett of Washington State University.
Julianna Maniscalco. "Inhibition of strong midgut
alkalinization in larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes
aegypti) with HEPES buffer." (poster). Research under the
supervision of Dr. Horst Onken, with co-authors S.B. Moffett
and D.F. Moffett of Washington State University.
Yolana Fuks. "Increased expression of mitochondrial
glutathione peroxidase 4 and superoxide dismutase 2 reduces
cone cell death in retinitis pigmentosa." (poster). Research
under the supervision of Lili Lu and Peter A. Campochiaro of
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Felicia Guinta, Bethny Brown and Alexandra Videll.
"Analyzing the effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals on
Drosophila development." (poster). Research under the
supervision of Dr. Heather A. Cook.
Peter Pisano, Lauren Raynor, Philip Kaplan and Glenn
Muoio. "Developmental changes in larval photosensitivity of
the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti." (poster). Research
under the supervision of Dr. Donald E. Stearns.
Some photographs from the event:
Contributed by Farha Rashid
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
HORMESIS RESEARCH FEATURED IN DOSERESPONSE CONFERENCE
Five representatives from Wagner College participated in the
annual meeting of the International Dose-Response Society at
the University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA, 27-28 April,
2010): Dr. Zoltan Fulop, Dr. Brian Palestis, Anna Lysenko
(senior Psychology major), Anastasia Kurta (Biopsychology,
Class of 2007), and Luesoni Johnson. Luesoni is currently a
student at Kingsborough Community College who is working
in Dr. Fulop’s lab and is transferring in to Wagner.
The major focus of the conference was hormesis, a
phenomenon where a substance with inhibitory effects at high
doses has the opposite effects at low doses. For example,
alcohol is classified as a depressant but often has stimulatory
effects at low doses. Hormesis is much more common than
most biologists realize, and is characterized by an inverted Ushaped or J-shaped dose-response curve, rather than fitting the
standard linear or threshold model.
Hormesis has also been the subject of research in the
Department of Biological Sciences for several years (see the
Sept 2008 issue of Limulus for a summary of the “Hormesis
Project”). Much of this work has been funded by an
anonymous donor. In Fall 2009, Dr. Ed Calabrese, the leading
authority on hormesis, spoke at Wagner College (see the
Nov/Dec 2009 issue of Limulus) and invited us to attend the
conference.
Luesoni and Anna gave a poster presentation on work they
have done with Dr. Fulop using zebrafish as a model for fetal
alcohol syndrome, and Dr. Palestis presented a poster
summarizing the work his students have done on the effects of
alcohol on the behavior of adult zebrafish. Dr. Palestis also
served as chair of the session on toxicology and risk
assessment. In addition, a paper written by Anastasia Kurta
and Dr. Palestis was recently accepted for publication by the
society’s journal, Dose-Response. The reference for this paper
and for the two poster presentations are given below:
Kurta, A. and B.G. Palestis. (2010, in press). Effects of
ethanol on shoaling behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio). DoseResponse.
Johnson, L.D., A. Lysenko, C. Corbo, L. Raths, B. Palestis,
and Z. Fulop. 2010. Alcohol shows hormetic characteristics on
development of zebrafish embryos. Annual Meeting of the
International Dose-Response Society. Amherst, MA. 27-28
April.
Palestis, B.G. 2010. Effects of ethanol on the behavior of
zebrafish (Danio rerio). Annual Meeting of the International
Dose-Response Society. Amherst, MA. 27-28 April.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
MICROBIOLOGY GRADUATE PRESENTS AT
PRESTIGIOUS CONFERENCE
Recently, Zulmarie Franco presented her research at a
conference at Harvard Medical School in February. She is the
first Wagner student that was ever selected to present at this
conference. I would like to thank Zulmarie for taking the time
to help me with this interview.
Q: What was your research?
A: My research was entitled Morphophysiological
Characterization of Peripheral Blood of Adult Zebrafish
(Danio rerio). This research was performed to aid in the study
of degenerative and regenerative processes that take place in
the injured zebrafish brain, main focus of study in Dr. Fulop's
lab. Information such as the ultrastructural features and the
basic characterization of the blood cells was necessary to
understand these processes and to be able to record the
activities of white blood cells in brain injuries. So I collected
the blood from the heart of a mature zebrafish and with it I
prepared blood smears, which I stained to be able to
differentiate among the different white blood cells in the light
microscope. Also I characterized the cells using the
transmission electron microscope and from the scanning
electron microscope I was able to obtain information on the
physiological activities of the cell. I performed other tests but
these were the most significant ones.
Q: What was the conference like?
A: It was a great experience. Its main focus was on
Biomedical careers and research projects. The speakers were
very motivating; besides talking about their current research
they would start by telling their stories of how they were able
to get to where they are right now. They were mostly
minorities so they talk about all the obstacles they had to
overcome to be were they are right now. Particularly there was
one speaker that I found his story very impressing and
motivating, his name is Dr. Alfredo Quinones Hinojosa, he is
a Neurosurgeon at John Hopkins and performs research on the
role of stem cells in the origin of brain tumors and the
potential role stem cells can play in fighting brain cancer and
regaining neurological function. His story was very
impressing because he talked about how he started working in
the fields when he came to the states and after years of hard
work he decided to go to school and after overcoming all the
obstacles he became a well known doctor conducting a very
promising research
Q: Was the conference overall a good experience? How does
it feel to be the first student from Wagner to attend the
conference?
A: There were around 300 poster presentations of students
from bachelor's degree level up to MD/PhD, so it was very
competitive. You would have two hours to stand by your
poster and talk to the judges and anyone else who would go by
your poster, about the research. But the posters were set up
early in the morning for exhibit while the students were
participating in the conferences. Amazing research projects
were being presented. For me the experience of just being
selected to present my research there made me feel really
proud and thankful for all the opportunities I had at Wagner
and for the great people that helped me all the way (Dr. Fulop,
Chris and my family back in Puerto Rico). I can say that all
the hard work was definitely worth it.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 8
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
ALUMNI
Dear Alumni,
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all
readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your
contribution on a level that everybody can understand.
CARTOON
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and
500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to
horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are
very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files
(high quality jpg is the preferred file format) attached to
the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be
minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your
contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of
the month. Contributions received later may or may not be
considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution
or post an immediate response.
Cartoon from graduationcards.blogspot.com
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other
sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's
identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be
refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Farha Rashid (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Joanna Kielkucki (English)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
PAGE 9
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, April-May 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Kirkbride, Lara A.
Serbiak, Benjamin P.
Franco, Zulmarie
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Special topic : biology and microbiology research fund / Stephanie Rollizo, Ammini Moorthy, and Palestis, Brian -- Curriculum news : Wagner announces new 5 year B.S. / M.S. microbiology program / Nidhi Khanna -- Biology students honored at undergraduate awards dinner / Nidhi Khanna and Stephanie Rollizo -- Biology students initiated into ODK / Nidhi Khanna -- Biology club news, Tri-beta news and Pre-health society news / Nidhi Khanna -- Experiecnes / Brian Palestis -- Publications, Professional meetings / Rashid, Farha -- Hormesis research featured in dose-response conference / Brian Palestis -- Microbiology graduate presents at prestigious conference / Nidhi Khanna -- Alumni and cartoon
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2010-04
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
9 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/2d2174eab2fe35619c7d41c9f2983f35.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=ZKMNQtygebvE%7ExSGkhPedpEOhEe4FWReCQQFvvzaCYEDQ9z0tX7MPDNSB2p5KjUfs42q2ajkY63BSkcCK6wdre8tgTLQYrm1UMs%7E7j9-p-bmLiU67VBzYqrpq5kB73XtqiIB2gIyCZXS-VouIgUcMnyFasv9vQp6o769HgJ0Kd3ArYcNKFQHDFSsExD4WDt4Re6-nJU4Z3S2z67PYndChYfjbzoyyTyXpN-g4JUOP%7EEBmqvmiQs9h5lorTsVczXX93uwRHDNa0ZiGYh0%7E9yuH3PcIAtB%7Exj91hfjT0ncwhCMmXx2e%7ET9iiF1hTJGkePfYSdBOo7-oLIY8-GPa76w8w__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
02fe8e34e3b56b3b60234c01c21719f4
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2010, Issue Spring-03
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The March newsletter comes a little late. I am sorry, if you
had to wait some more days. This month‟s LIMULUS gets
back to our adjunct professor series: A late “Welcome” to Dr.
Rosenberg and a “Good Luck” to Professor Beecher, who
joins a PhD program at Washington State University. I
advertise again for our summer courses, and Dr. Palestis joins
me, describing his summer course and inserting photographs
to give you an impression how much fun it is to take “Natural
History of the Mid-Atlantic States” or one of the other
summer courses offered by the department (see page 2 and 3).
There are news from the Bio Club, Tri Beta and the Pre-health
Society. Don‟t miss to at least fly your eyes over the
Opportunities and Experiences.
I wish everybody a great spring!
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
HONORNG OUR ADJUNCTS
PROFESSOR BEECHER
March, 2010
Professor Beecher (in the above photograph on the right with
her students in the Botanical Garden) began teaching at
Wagner in 2007. She received her Bachelor of Science in
Biology at Washington State University, which is located in
Pullman, Washington. She stayed at Washington State
University and obtained a Masters in Environmental Science
and Regional Planning.
While studying in graduate school, she became interested in
watersheds and sediment chemistry. She said, “Watersheds
can greatly help reduce the problems that the global
community faces with maintaining clean water supplies.”
Professor Beecher feels that it is vital to pay attention to
watersheds and sediment chemistry because all the materials
that people dump into the Earth eventually settles into lakes.
“Most of the pollution is concentrated in the bottom of lakes
and it is important that individuals take action and reduce
pollution,” she said.
Professor Beecher is a dedicated adjunct faculty member, and
teaches during the fall and spring semesters, and even during
summer sessions. She teaches several classes including
Human Biology, Environmental Biology, Environmental
Issues, and Forms and Functions (the lecture and lab sections
for all four classes).
In addition to her interests in sediment chemistry, she is
fascinated by photosynthesis and will be returning to
Washington State University in the fall to join the PhD
program in molecular plant science. The molecular plant
science program at this university is internationally known and
is one of the top programs in its field.
Professor Beecher really enjoyed teaching at Wagner, and will
miss all of her students and the wonderful faculty she was able
to work with. She likes to teach at Wagner because she is able
to help students as much as she can due to the small classes. “I
love Wagner students and I enjoy coming to work every day. I
never felt like teaching was a job, but something that I really
enjoyed doing. It was such an incredible pleasure to teach at
Wagner and the Biology department is completely supportive.
Stephanie is such a great secretary and she is always so caring
and helpful. I loved teaching at Wagner and I hope to continue
teaching one day again in the future, “she said.
On the behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to congratulate
Professor Beecher on her acceptance to the PhD program at
Washington State and I wish her the best of luck! I would also
like to thank Professor Beecher for taking the time out of her
busy schedule to conduct this interview.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Dr. ROSENBERG
Professor
Rosenberg
began
teaching
at
Wagner about two years
ago. He is a Bronx
native and, where he
received a Bachelors in
History at Dartmouth
College. After college,
he went on to George
Washington University
to pursue a medical
degree. Dr. Rosenberg
returned to New York
to complete an internship at Mt. Sinai, and was a blood and
cancer specialist. He eventually moved to Massachusetts and
was a physician for 30 years of his professional career. In
addition to practicing medicine, he received a PhD in
Biophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
While in Cambridge, he served as a Biochemistry professor at
MIT and was a professor at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Rosenberg‟s research interests include molecular biology
and while he taught medicine at Harvard, he also ran
Harvard‟s molecular biology lab. When he studied medicine in
GWU, Dr. Rosenberg became interested in blood. “Blood is
very molecular, and when you study blood you can figure out
the precise causes of diseases. I have watched the hematology
discipline change and increase in power during my career,” he
stated.
In addition to Dr. Rosenberg‟s extensive work at Harvard, he
became actively involved in many social causes. He started
the first free medical clinic in Cambridge with a group of his
colleagues. After teaching at Harvard and MIT for eleven
years, he eventually retired. Dr. Rosenberg holds honor
doctorates from the University of Amsterdam and University
of Paris.
Dr. Rosenberg moved back to New York recently, and has
been teaching several laboratory sections at Wagner. He
teaches the Anatomy and Physiology labs, and will be
teaching the Cells, Genes, and Evolution lab next year. Dr.
Rosenberg enjoys teaching at Wagner and wants to help his
students to be able to think critically. “I want to help students
think through complicated problems and I feel that is
important to help train students to be good critical thinkers. I
want to students to relate the information they learned in lab to
real life situations,” he said.
In his classes, Dr. Rosenberg believes that it is necessary for
the instructor to cater to the students‟ interests. “Currently, I
have some students in my class interested in sports medicine. I
also have some nursing students as well. I try to engage the
students by adding sports medicine related questions in the
homework problems and I include clinical examples in my
lectures because it interests the nursing students. The students
often complain that my homework assignments are difficult,
and I give them hard questions in order for them to prepare for
the examinations. The difficult questions gets them thinking,
and this is the same way I taught my students at MIT,” he
added.
Dr. Rosenberg has an impressive list of accomplishments, and
many of his former students are leading successful lives as
professors all over the globe in academic institutions like
Harvard.
I would like to thank Dr. Rosenberg for taking the time to
speak with me, and it was such a privilege to learn more about
you.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
CURRICULUM NEWS
2010 Summer courses and intended audience:
BI 110/110L Environmental Biology. Session A (Nonscience majors and Environmental Studies minors)
BI 120 Human Biology. Runs May 17-May 28 (Non-science
majors)
BI 209/209L Human Anatomy and Physiology I. Session A
(Nursing and Physician Assistant majors)
BI 210/210L Human Anatomy and Physiology II. Session B
(Nursing and Physician Assistant majors)
BI/MI 213/213L Cells, Genes, and Evolution. Session B
(Biology and Microbiology majors, Pre-health students)
BI 335/335L Natural History of the Mid-Atlantic States.
Runs May 17-May 28 (Biology majors and Environmental
Studies minors)
BI/MI 400E Experiential Component of the Senior RFT.
Session A (Biology and Microbiology majors)
MI 109 Plagues, Outbreaks and Biological Warfare.
Session B (Non-science majors)
MI 200/200L Microbiology. Session A (Microbiology,
Nursing, and Physician Assistant majors)
MI/BI 517/517L Electron Microscopy. Session A
(Microbiology and Biology majors and Microbiology graduate
students)
MI 615/615L Electron Microscopy. Session A
(Microbiology graduate students)
MI 797, 798, 799 Research. Session A (Microbiology
graduate students)
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
The next Biology club meeting will held on Monday April
12th. The elections will take place and members will be voting
on the new Executive Board for next year.
Contributed Nidhi Khanna
TRI-BETA NEWS
The Biological Honor Society will hold its initiation ceremony
for new members on Friday April 16th in Gatehouse Lounge.
Members will be completing their off-campus community
service at the Rahway River in New Jersey on Saturday April
17th. Tri-Beta goes to the Rahway River annually during the
springtime to clean up the trash that is scattered around near
the river.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
Melanie Valencia is the vice-president of the Pre-Health
Society. She also serves as the president of the Minority
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS). MAPS is a
subgroup of the Pre-Health Society. For the past few months,
Melanie has been working with a group of students in the PreHealth Society to organize a „Salsa Night.‟ This event will be
held on Thursday, April 8th at 8pm in Gatehouse Lounge. An
instructor will be coming to teach all attendees a few salsa
steps. The cost of the event is $5 and all proceeds will be
going to the organization Knowledge is the Cure, which funds
projects in Kenya. The event was a huge success last semester,
and all Wagner students are encouraged to attend!
Students that are interested in applying for medical school
should look out for a presentation from Bryan Fleischman, the
Associate Director of Admissions of the American University
of Antigua-College of Medicine in April. The presentation
will be held on Tuesday April 20th at 4:00pm, room TBA. If
you would like to learn more about AUA, please visit the
website (http://www.auamed.org/).
In addition, students that would like to get more clinical
experience are encouraged to volunteer at Staten Island
University Hospital. The hospital procedures and instructions
that volunteers must follow will be available to members on
the Moodle site. If students would like to volunteer at SIUH,
they
should
contact
Violeta
Capric
(violeta.capric@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
and are a major threat to the health of billions of people on our
planet. The principal investigators of this project address
larval mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to
fight these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic
habitat.
In collaboration
with colleagues
from the U.S.
(Mt. Desert Island
Biological Labs,
Maine),
Brazil
(University of São
Paulo in Ribeirão
Preto, University
of Paraná in Curitiba) and Canada (University of Manitoba in
Winnipeg) Dr. Onken pursues research with Crustacea related
to the osmoregulatory capacities and mechanisms of crabs.
Together with Dr. Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor
Beecher (Biology), an ecophysiological study is in an early
stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Greetings Everyone,
I am Nidhi Khanna and I am currently a junior. I am working
with this non-profit organization called Planting Peace.
Planting Peace has many sub-organizations including one
called The Clean World Movement. The Clean World
Movement is trying to encourage more individuals around the
world to recycle and to take better care of the planet. I am
working with The Clean World Movement as the
environmental director in my community. I am organizing
some clean-ups in Staten Island during the semester. If
anybody is interested in helping out, please feel free to contact
me at nidhi.khanna@wagner.edu. Thanks for your interest and
I look forward hearing from you! If you would like more
information about the organization I am working with, please
visit: http://www.plantingpeace.org/.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr.
Onken
offers
research opportunities
for students in the frame
of a project in which he
collaborates with scientists from Washington
State University, the University of Idaho, and the University
of Alberta (Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the
National Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the
midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).
Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit
devastating diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue,
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the spring of 2010 should contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Onken
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
Proficient student writers are invited to become assistant
editors for the newsletter of the Department of Biological
Sciences. If you are interested, please, contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Onken
EXPERIENCES
DO NOT MISS THIS EXPERIENCE
Summer Field Course: BI 335 Natural History of the MidAtlantic States
This course, taught by Dr. Palestis, runs for two weeks (May
17-28) after the end of the Spring semester and before the start
of the main summer session. It can be used as an elective for
the Biology major and minor and for the Environmental
Studies minor. The course is a great opportunity to experience
nature, as it is almost entirely field-trip based.
Trips include several nearby locations such as the New Jersey
Pine Barrens, Jamaica Bay, and the Great Swamp. There will
also be two overnight trips, to witness the horseshoe crab
spawning/shorebird migration spectacle on Delaware Bay and
to hunt for marine fossils in the Pocono Mountains. Students
will learn about the organisms, ecology, and geology of a wide
variety of habitat types, and will also learn basic methodology
for field research.
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Students in BI335 from Summer 2007 in front of a cranberry
bog at Double Trouble State Park in Ocean County, NJ.
Students from left to right are Shannon O‟Neill, Amanda
Rollizo, Jusuf Husic, and Frankie Costanza. Photo by Dr.
Palestis.
A fallen tree blocking Campus Road.
Public Safety in action. A wind gust blew over a whole row of
pines behind the Science Building.
Shorebirds feeding on horseshoe crab eggs at Reeds Beach on
Delaware Bay in Cape May County, NJ. Most of the birds in
this photo are ruddy turnstones. The endangered red knot and
more than one species of sandpiper are also visible. Photo by
Dr. Palestis.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
WAGNER AFTER THE STORM
In February, the college was hit by snow. On a number of days
classes had to be canceled. In the February newsletter I shared
some photographs of Wagner College in the snow. In March,
the college was hit by a major rain storm, and I share some
photographs of the damages on campus (see below). This
storm caused major damages in different states of the East
Coast. On Staten Island many trees were blown over and
thousands of houses were without power for up to some days.
Also our beautiful campus suffered, and public safety and
maintenance were extremely busy. A couple of trees crashed
and some windows broke.
Broken window in the Library.
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Water damage at the Science Building.
After the summer it is planned to sand the surface of the stem
slice and to conserve it with varnish. The annual rings of the
tree can then be accurately counted. A rough estimate is that
the tree is between 150 and 200 years old. The stem slice can
then be used as an item to display American and Wagner
College history.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
PUBLICATIONS
Jagadeshwaran, U., Onken, H., Hardy, M., Moffett, S. B. &
Moffett, D. F. (2010). Cellular mechanisms of acid secretion
in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti.
Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 295-300.
Moffett, D.F. and Onken, H. (2010). The Cellular Basis of
Extreme Alkali Secretion in Insects: A Tale of Two Tissues.
In: Epithelial Transport Physiology (ed. George A.
Gerencser), pp. 91-112 . Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press.
ISBN: 978-1-60327-228-5.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
EASTERN COLLEGES SCIENCE CONFERENCE
At the end of the April the Eastern Colleges Science
Conference is held at Pace University. Everybody who
registered a contribution should get ready with the
presentation. If you have any further questions do not hesitate
to contact Wagner College coordinator for the ECSC, Dr.
Adam Houlihan (adam.houlihan@wagner.edu).
ALUMNI
Dear Alumni,
One of the trees that was blown over on campus was a big, old
oak besides Lyle‟s House (see above). When it fell it barely
missed Lyle‟s House. Lyle Guttu‟s good spirits must have
protected his former home. On the initiative of our department
secretary, Stephanie Rollizo, the department got a slice of the
stem of the tree. It is now in a storage room of the department
and will dry over the summer.
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
CARTOON
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all
readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your
contribution on a level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and
500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to
horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are
very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files
(high quality jpg is the preferred file format) attached to
the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be
minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your
contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of
the month. Contributions received later may or may not be
considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution
or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other
sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's
identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be
refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Joanna Kielkucki (English)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
PAGE 6
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, March 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Beecher, Sierra D.
Rosenberg, Robert D.
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Biology staff and faculty news / Nidhi Khanna -- Curriculum news -- Biology club news, Tri-beta news, and Pre-health society / Nidhi Khanna -- Opportunites / Nidhi Khanna and Horst Onken -- Experiences / Brian Palestis -- Publications, professional meetings, alumni, and cartoon
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2010-03
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
6 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/0ca88e1dd07bd7d4ba60d7fcd3896dbc.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=EYuGnYUg8cO9hbzhZq%7EQUIRR0eEKa8aNhl3f%7ELSlAC3ouX-r-heccWMADQlofLiPaE6BnfUSi5NvAi3c7nhZVSZecvuULJk3r-jHZfXJaXnSmK1iYnrRvHNNhp0pW4BtCtNt0WI7ij9lBRuDkoT7OPf13czo%7ErRl4sez12B0ZNAMuVcCDt20HDvPv%7ETk-HoZ4J%7EWAEzhuA-SM3Dh3knoNCWN9H5k%7EgPiYrL1WHsv4OONSlhY-oooWbnT0R8rAO7lW6xPWCVJDjaUHJq0kzyN7bffuTXn228g3Tr1jy%7ESDoCZPg9cHx-FxyoE%7EdxB4a%7ECutbBOugJtA%7EaPPw8oclH5g__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
0d523f0319f9944145c0dbcd6b73f2c8
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2010, Issue Spring-02
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The February newsletter looks back onto a month with
relatively few classes, but with many snow days. Nevertheless,
some vibrant things are always going on in our department.
We celebrated Darwin Day and enjoyed the related exhibition
set up by Professor Raths. Especially highlighted are two
people in the current issue: Dr. Stearns (see below) and
Luesoni Johnson, a visiting research student from
Kingsborough Community College (see page 6).
The summer course offerings are reprinted on page 2, and you
can meet our new student assistant editor, Joanna Kielkucki,
on page 3.
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
DR. STEARNS DISCUSSES RESEARCH PROJECTS
Dr. Donald Stearns has
spent 23 years of his
professional career serving
as
full-time
college
professor. During the week,
students can find Dr. Stearns
working away in his office
until the late hours of the
night. He is a dedicated and
caring professor that is
currently working on two
important research projects.
Dr. Stearns is studying the
way organisms respond to
different light cues. He also
received a grant from the
National Science Foundation
to study the connection between critical thinking and civic
thinking (CT)2.
After receiving his B.A. in Biology from the Ivy League
institution Dartmouth College, Dr. Stearns attended the
University of New Hampshire and earned a Masters in
Zoology. Before pursuing a PhD in Zoology at Duke
University, he taught undergraduate students in Mexico at the
University of Baja California.
As a graduate student at Duke University, Dr. Stearns focused
on behavioral ecology, especially of marine organisms. He
developed an interest in the cyclic behaviors of nocturnal
February, 2010
migration. Dr. Stearns basically studied daily patterns of
marine organisms and wanted to know how light played a role
in effecting those behaviors. He proposed that organisms
behave differently under various light conditions. “Organisms
can see different light conditions that human beings are unable
to see, and this is quite fascinating to me,” he said.
The effects of light and behavior can help answer a lot of
important questions, such as what specific light cues can
trigger behavioral responses in the natural field. Currently Dr.
Stearns has five research students at Wagner that are working
in the photophysiology lab. In this dark room, the students are
able to control the color and brightness of light using special
filters. The students are using mosquitoes and observing how
the insects respond to different light cues. If the mosquitoes do
not respond to the light cues, then Dr. Stearns will conclude
that the insects did not see the light. He is observing the
organisms’ behavior as a way to measure what the mosquitoes
can and cannot see.
In addition to conducting research in the laboratory, Dr.
Stearns has been working on a new project, CT 2. He has been
involved in the project with three other institutions. Dr.
Stearns wants to encourage students to have a heightened
sense of concern in their community, and believes that
students must use critical thinking in order to develop into
responsible citizens. Most colleges want students to volunteer
or participate in civic engagement. However, Dr. Stearns
stresses that volunteering is not the same as being a
responsible citizen.
“You can have a heart of gold and decide that you want to
donate to some charity. However, if you don’t do your
research and use critical thinking, you may end up donating
money to an organization that uses those donations to pay high
salaries to the heads of that organization. As an individual,
you may think that you are helping improve conditions in your
society by donating to that organization, but you actually have
not used critical thinking correctly. People need to separate
facts from falsehoods to achieve a clearer understanding of
any situation,” he said.
In order to become a critical thinker that is engaged in his or
her community, an individual must recognize a problem in his
or her community. The critical thinker needs to not only show
a sense of concern for improving their community, but the
individual should devise a plan to improve the situation in
their community.
I would like to thank Dr. Stearns for taking the time to explain
his two research projects to me.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
CURRICULUM NEWS
2010 Summer courses and intended audience:
BI 110/110L Environmental Biology. Session A (Nonscience majors and Environmental Studies minors)
BI 120 Human Biology. Runs May 17-May 28 (Non-science
majors)
BI 209/209L Human Anatomy and Physiology I. Session A
(Nursing and Physician Assistant majors)
BI 210/210L Human Anatomy and Physiology II. Session B
(Nursing and Physician Assistant majors)
BI/MI 213/213L Cells, Genes, and Evolution. Session B
(Biology and Microbiology majors, Pre-health students)
BI 335/335L Natural History of the Mid-Atlantic States.
Runs May 17-May 28 (Biology majors and Environmental
Studies minors)
BI/MI 400E Experiential Component of the Senior RFT.
Session A (Biology and Microbiology majors)
MI 109 Plagues, Outbreaks and Biological Warfare.
Session B (Non-science majors)
MI 200/200L Microbiology. Session A (Microbiology,
Nursing, and Physician Assistant majors)
MI/BI 517/517L Electron Microscopy. Session A
(Microbiology and Biology majors and Microbiology graduate
students)
MI 615/615L Electron Microscopy. Session A
(Microbiology graduate students)
MI 797, 798, 799 Research. Session A (Microbiology
graduate students)
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
The Biology club held several meetings during this semester.
Members discussed a few important topics at the last meeting,
which was held on Monday, February 22 nd. Please look below
for upcoming events.
• On-campus community service
◦
Once the weather begins to get better, the on-campus
community service will take place. Members will be
sitting at a table outside the Union. The Biology club
will be asking for donations (for a cause that is TBD).
Donors will receive “prizes” in exchange for their
contributions.
• Off-campus community service
◦
Members are looking into the possibility of
participating in the National Pillow Fight Day in the
city. The date is Saturday, April 3rd. This is the
Saturday before Easter Sunday. Please let email
Cassandra Bray if anyone is interested in participating
in this event. The pillow fight day works by asking the
participants to donate their pillows at the end of the
day. Any donated pillows are given to animal shelters
in the NY area to make beds for the animals.
• PR events to make the campus aware of the Biology Club
◦
Campus-wide trip to the Bodies: The Exhibition in
Manhattan
◦
Campus-wide trip to the National Museum of History
◦
Table at Wagnerstock (April 17th)
◦
Movie night
• Tie-dye of Biology Club t-shirts
• Members will be tie-dying our club t-shirts on Sunday,
April 11th at 11am on the oval (pending good weather).
Contributed by Cassandra Bray and Nidhi Khanna
TRI-BETA NEWS
Members of Tri-Beta met early this month. Professor Raths
serves as the faculty advisor for Tri-Beta and she suggested
that members participate in an upcoming conference at The
College of New Jersey. The conference will be held on
Saturday March 27th. Students may already have a poster
prepared at that time for the Eastern Colleges Science
Conference and should consider going to this conference as
well. The deadline for submitting abstracts electronically for
all oral and poster presentations is March 16th. March 21 st is
the deadline for registering online. ”Walk in” posters will be
allowed the day of the conference, and students have the
opportunity to register the day of the conference.
Contributed by Yolana Fuks, Professor Raths, and Nidhi Khanna
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
The Pre-Health Society held their first meeting of the semester
this month. The organization is planning to get involved in a
number of off-campus and on-campus community service
events. Members plan to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen on
Staten Island and will participate in the March of Dimes walk
that will be held in April.
In addition, students that are interested in getting clinical
experience are encouraged to volunteer at Staten Island
University Hospital. The hospital procedures and instructions
that volunteers must follow will be available to members on
the Moodle site. If students would like to volunteer at SIUH,
they
should
contact
Violeta
Capric
(violeta.capric@wagner.edu).
Members are invited to join the Pre-Health Society’s
fundraising/community service committee. Please contact VP
of Medicine (President of MAPS), Melanie Valencia
(melanie.valencia@wagner.edu) for more information. The
committee will be planning a Salsa Night event to raise money
for the campus-wide Haiti relief efforts. The committee meets
at 4pm on Tuesdays.
Students interested in applying to Medical School should look
out for a presentation from Bryan Fleischman, the Associate
Director of Admissions of the American University of
Antigua-College of Medicine. The presentation will be held on
Tuesday April 20th at 4:00pm, room TBA. Students that
would like to learn more about AUA should visit the
university’s website (http://www.auamed.org/).
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Greetings Everyone,
I am Nidhi Khanna and I am currently a junior. I am working
with this non-profit organization called Planting Peace.
Planting Peace has many sub-organizations including one
called The Clean World Movement. The Clean World
Movement is trying to encourage more individuals around the
world to recycle and to take better care of the planet. I am
working with The Clean World Movement as the
environmental director in my community. I am organizing
some clean-ups in Staten Island during the semester. If
anybody is interested in helping out, please feel free to contact
me at nidhi.khanna@wagner.edu. Thanks for your interest and
I look forward hearing from you! If you would like more
information about the organization I am working with, please
visit: http://www.plantingpeace.org/.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr.
Onken
offers
research opportunities
for students in the frame
of a project in which he
collaborates with scientists from Washington
State University, the University of Idaho, and the University
of Alberta (Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the
National Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the
midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).
Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit
devastating diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue,
and are a major threat to the health of billions of people on our
planet. The principal investigators of this project address
larval mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to
fight these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic
habitat.
In collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. (Mt. Desert
Island Biological Laboratories, Maine), Brazil (University of
São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, University of Paraná in Curitiba)
and Canada (University of Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken
pursues research with Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory
capacities and mechanisms of crabs. Together with Dr.
Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor Beecher (Biology), an
ecophysiological study is in an early stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
Proficient student writers are invited to become assistant
editors for the newsletter of the Department of Biological
Sciences. If you are interested, please, contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
JOANNA KIELKUCKI
Joanna is our second student
assistant editor. Joanna is 19
years old, majors in English,
minors in Gender Studies, and
concentrates on PreMed.
Joanna lists numerous special
interests in her portfolio:
1) Judo athlete for 6 years - 2007
National
Champion
Gold
Medalist, 2008 Olympic Trials
Participant.
2) Musician - saxophone, flute,
clarinet- attended LaGuardia
High School with a major in
Music.
3) Psychiatry dealing with adolescent/adult substance abuse
and violence (what I anticipate to be in the future)
4) Haitian/Caribbean-American literature - Edwidge Danticat's
"Breath, Eyes, Memory" and "Krik Krak" (favorite author and
texts).
5) Biking and running
6) Traveling and learning about world culture, mostly dealing
with gender equality and health care. Learning about my
Polish culture ( both of my parents are from Poland and Polish
was my first language).
Joanna is a member of the Pre-Health Society, Habitat for
Humanity, the Honors Program, the Jazz Ensemble, the PreHealth Program, and Joanna is a Chemistry Lab Assistant. Off
campus, Joanna is in the Columbia University College of
Physicians & Surgeons NERA Med-Prep Program (3-year
summer program), she is a NY DOJO - judo athlete, she
participates in the CAMBA Ramp-Up Mentoring Program
(P.S.92), and is active in the Maimonides Medical CenterKids Weight Down Program.
Welcome to the team, Joanna!
Contributed by Dr. Onken
Contributed by Dr. Onken
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the spring of 2010 should contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Onken
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
EXPERIENCES
DARWIN DAY BECOMES ANNUAL TRADITION
Last year, the Biology Department celebrated the 200th
birthday of Charles Darwin. This year, Professor Raths and
Secretary Stephanie Rollizo decided to hold a special lunch
again this year in honor of Darwin’s birthday. Last year,
everyone had such a wonderful time at the event, and
Professor Raths and Stephanie wanted to organize a
celebration again this year.
Professor Raths had a special Darwin Exhibit set up in one of
the laboratories. She did a marvelous job with the exhibit, and
included interesting facts about Charles Darwin.
Some interesting facts about Charles Darwin include:
Darwin was not comfortable being on ships. He suffered from
seasickness and did not spend that much time on the Beagle.
He did most of his research on land rather than on ship due to
his problem with seasickness.
His father was a physician wanted Darwin to attend medical
school. Darwin’s father did not think highly of his son, and
pushed him to attend Edinburgh University to pursue a career
in medicine. Darwin did not want to become a doctor, and his
father said that he was “a disgrace to himself and his family.”
Charles Darwin’s wife was very religious. When he was
younger, he studied the University of Cambridge. He was
interested in joining the clergy, but he later pursued other
interests. Eventually, Darwin made the transition from being
religious to becoming an agnostic.
On behalf of the Limulus staff, I would like to thank Professor
Raths and Stephanie for organizing the event. This event could
not have been possible without all of their hard work and
contributions. I would also like to acknowledge anyone else
who made delicious treats for everyone else to enjoy.
Interesting
facts
were
compiled
from:
(http://www.livescience.com/history/090211-darwinfacts.html)
From Professor Raths’ Darwin Exhibit
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
WAGNER IN THE SNOW
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PEOPLE
LUESONI JOHNSON
VISITING RESEARCH STUDENT COLLABORATES
WITH DR. FULOP AND RECEIVES HONORS
In November, the annual Biomedical Research Conference for
Minority Students was in Phoenix, Arizona. Biology students
attend this prestigious conference to present their research in
developmental biology. Luesoni Johnson, a sophomore from
Kingsborough Community College received honors for her
poster presentation that dealt with the effects of alcohol on
zebrafish embryos. Johnson has been working on this research
project with her advisor from Kingsborough, Dr. Kristen
Polizzotto and Dr. Fulop since the summer 2009. Recently, I
had the privilege to speak with both Dr. Polizzotto and
Luesoni about the research collaboration they have formed
with Wagner College.
Dr. Polizzotto described the different grants that are available
to students at Kingsborough Community College. The first
grant that the college offers is called the Bridges to the
Baccalaureate Program. This grant is funded by the National
Institute of Health (NIH) and is given to underrepresented
students. This program helps students attending community
colleges transition into a four-year college. The students work
with a four-year college (Medgar Evers College) and must
apply to this program. These individuals will then take a
research methods class and get assigned to work with a
mentor. Students have the opportunity to make connections
with mentors and complete research over the summer.
Eventually, these students will make posters and will be
required to present at three different noteworthy conferences.
Kingsborough offers a second grant to underrepresented
students. This grant is basically similar to the grant that is
funded by NIH, but students have the chance to collaborate
with mentors from different colleges. The grant is funded by
the New York State Education Department and is entitled
Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program. Luesoni
was the recipient of this grant and she became interested in
studying zebrafish. Dr. Polizzotto had zebrafish in her lab at
Kingsborough and searched for mentors at different colleges.
Kingsborough has a limited faculty and Dr. Fulop was eager to
serve as Luesoni’s mentor.
Dr. Polizzotto was pleased with the way this research
collaboration with Dr. Fulop turned out. She stated, “ This
collaboration may be one of the most successful programs.
Luesoni had the opportunity to work with many Wagner
students and faculty. She was lucky enough to be supported by
such great faculty and was able to have a high quality research
experience.”
She added, “In Kingsborough, there are fewer opportunities
for students because the college has a low-budget. The
possibilities at Kingsborough are nothing like what Luesoni
did here, and she was able to have a real lab experience.”
Dr. Fulop was interested to help Luesoni and gave up his time
without expecting anything in return. Professors Raths and
Corbo and students Anna Lysenko and Zulmarie France
assisted Luesoni with her research.
Luesoni’s research included using 40 zebrafish embryos. She
used three different concentrations of alcohol on the zebrafish
and the experiment lasted 14 days. She analyzed the physical
features of the zebrafish . She compared the features to
zebrafish with fetal alcohol syndrome. In her findings, she
discovered hormesis. Hormesis deals with biological effects
that result from low levels of toxins. The biological effects
appeared to be positive.
Dr. Polizzotto described the way hormesis works. “When you
have a low dosage of a toxin, you won’t get a linear graph.
The toxin is expected to show steadily worse results in an
organism.”
She added, “Many people don’t believe in hormesis, but many
pharmaceutical companies use hormesis to indicate how much
dosage doctors should give patients when dealing with
medications. Zebrafish serve as a good model and can provide
drug companies with more information when dealing with
different dosages.”
Luesoni felt that she had a very positive experience while
conducting research at Wagner. Anna Lysenko, a senior
Biopsychology major, served as Luesoni’s student mentor.
Anna helped Luesoni with her research while Anna worked on
her own research as well. Zulmarie Franco, a recent graduate
of the Microbiology program, was also generous enough to
give up her time to help Luesoni with her research. Zulmarie
allowed Luesoni to shadow and assist her while she completed
her research for her thesis.
In addition to conducting research at Wagner, Luesoni was
able to make an important decision about her future. Prior to
studying zebrafish in the laboratory, Luesoni was not sure
what field she would like to pursue after she graduated from
college. After doing research at Wagner, she discovered that
she was especially interested in developmental biology and
neuroscience. Recently, Luesoni applied to Wagner as a
transfer student and is looking forward to join organizations
like the Biology Club.
I would like to thank Dr. Polizzotto and Luesoni for taking the
time out of their schedules to meet with me. I would also like
to congratulate Leusoni for all of the accolades she received
for her research project!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PUBLICATIONS
CARTOON
Jagadeshwaran, U., Onken, H., Hardy, M., Moffett, S. B. &
Moffett, D. F. (2010). Cellular mechanisms of acid secretion
in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti.
Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 295-300.
Moffett, D.F. and Onken, H. (2010). The Cellular Basis of
Extreme Alkali Secretion in Insects: A Tale of Two Tissues.
In: Epithelial Transport Physiology (ed. George A.
Gerencser), pp. 91-112 . Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press.
ISBN: 978-1-60327-228-5.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
EASTERN COLLEGES SCIENCE CONFERENCE
Get ready for the abstract submission deadline for ECSC. We
reprint here a recent e-mail from the Wagner College
coordinator for the ECSC, Dr. Adam Houlihan:
Dear colleagues,
I would like to remind you that the 2010 Eastern Colleges
Science Conference will take place on Saturday, April 24 at
Pace University's Pleasantville, NY campus.
This conference provides a forum for undergraduates from 2030 colleges and universities to present their empirical research
in the natural, health, and social sciences. Please see the
current ECSC web site for registration information and
presentation guidelines. A schedule of events is also available
on the website.
The deadline for online registration is noon on Tuesday,
March 30.
The deadline for online abstract submission for student poster
and platform presentations has been extended to noon on
Monday, March 15.
Individuals must register and submit abstracts via the
conference website. Instructions for the submission of fulllength student manuscripts is also available on the conference
website.
Please let me know if you, or your students, will require
transportation to the conference.
Thanks,
Adam J. Houlihan
Assistant Professor of Microbiology
Wagner College
Office phone: (718) 390-3385
Full
URL
for
the
2010
ECSC
conference:
http://www.pace.edu/pace/dyson/academic-departments-andprograms/biology-and-health-sciences/events-andannouncements/ecsc2010/
ALUMNI
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all
readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your
contribution on a level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and
500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to
horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are
very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files
(high quality jpg is the preferred file format) attached to
the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be
minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your
contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of
the month. Contributions received later may or may not be
considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution
or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other
sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's
identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be
refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology)
Student Assistant Editor: Joanna Kielkucki (English)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
PAGE 8
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, February 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Stearns, Donald
Kielkucki, Joanna M.
Raths, Linda
Johnson, Luesoni D.
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Biology staff and faculty news / Nidhi Khanna -- Curriculum news -- Biology club news / Cassandra Bray and Nidhi Khanna -- Tri-beta news / Yolanda Fuks, Linda Raths, and Nidhi Khanna -- Pre-health society / Nidhi Khanna -- Opportunities / Nidhi Khanna and Horst Onken -- Experiences / Nidhi Khanna -- People / Nidhi Khanna -- Publications, professional meetings, cartoon, and alumni
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2010-02
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this work. It is provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only. Commercial use or distribution is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
8 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
newsletters
-
https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/1909/archive/files/fa96193f043a0de50b47c151f08b00c0.pdf?Expires=1712793600&Signature=U%7E2bJT65Csi0ZGKOwMc-jVCJ7RPGegb6LojqrJ34ZP35AJhDhkP7HH7F49WDzAMxKcV3weCccm7LzPn0xSz%7Ex2DHsRfW-ArfwtK7u3NfjJd0wP4lkhbGTdNV1s0N%7EiS4wtGFc5Yz88PfH3e8bxE7kTzX5uFEB9WTsnkc4pG%7Err0-LBHh9O4fbI-LmxKMJbHtnQgRo4u0q9TlDZs1V1wMWHpcAKYaXkpMiYw9RDmEh%7ErH4%7Ec8%7EoRpqQpM90z-aAXKD3L169jLwXkhnrPG1OzaDTMQ1ez%7EE--EhcFgVsQQl0ArAr90gmGttR0wuWfdCZObGF18vLX4t2Dqkxp8YcbG3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM
14bb440c518bf3dade2c1c7846c9e73e
PDF Text
Text
Limulus
NEWSLETTER
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Volume 2010, Issue Spring-01
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome back and all the best wishes for 2010! As always in
the beginning of a semester, also the January Limulus is a
magazine-style newsletter that summarizes the last semester.
Here we reprint the major parts of the issues from September,
October, November and December. Everybody can use this
newsletter to refresh memories, and transfer students and other
newcomers can get an impression about what is going on in
the Department of Biological Sciences at Wagner College.
There is one new piece of information to which I want to draw
your special attention: See our summer course offerings on
page 2!
Dr. Horst Onken
The Editor
BIOLOGY STAFF AND FACULTY NEWS
GREENHOUSE AND GARDEN
At the last department meeting, Dr. Onken was elected to be
the coordinator for greenhouse and garden. The greenhouse
will be restructured to house a plant diversity exhibition. Apart
of the exhibition, bench space is offered for classes held in the
Department of Biological Sciences. Forms and Functions of
Life (BI 217) will study the influence of plant hormones in
spring 2010. Microbial Ecology (MI 523) will investigate
plant-microbe symbiosis and phytopathogenesis. Depending
on the remaining space, students who want to do their
Experiential Component of the Senior RFT may reserve space
for their research project through Dr. Onken. Any students
from outside the department who want to use the greenhouse
or to participate in the greenhouse maintenance should contact
Dr. Onken.
Most of the planters in the garden besides the powerhouse
have been cleared for winter. Some work still remains to be
done and students are welcome to participate in these efforts.
For spring 2010, it is planned to convert the planters in a
theme garden that could be used for classes in the fall.
Contributed by Dr. Onken.
BIOLOGY PROFESSORS RECEIVE HONORS AT
FACULTY AWARD DINNER
The faculty awards dinner took place on Tuesday, November
17th. The Biology Department‘s very own Dr. Onken and Dr.
Cook were both honored at this dinner.
Dr. Onken was awarded the Faculty Award for Exceptional
Performance in the Area of Scholarship. Dr. Onken began
January, 2010
teaching at Wagner only three years ago,
but has made tremendous contributions to
the Biology Department, particularly by
expanding research opportunities for
undergraduate students. Dr. Onken
research deals with mosquitoes, and he has
been published in six times in scientific
journals while at Wagner. Dr. Onken has
inspired students and faculty to realize that
research in an important part of the learning process, and his
accomplishments have helped the Biology Department grow.
Dr. Cook was awarded the Teaching
with Technology Award. Dr. Cook
incorporates a variety of technological
resources into the majority of the
courses that she teaches. In today‘s
world, students need to be better
acquainted with technology in order to
compete with others, and Dr. Cook
continues to prepare her students for the
rapidly changing and technological advance world. Many of
the assignments and learning tools that she uses are
technology based, and she has even made use of new and
improved technology in her molecular cell research.
Congratulations Dr. Onken and Dr. Cook!
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna (information, including photographs, was
compiled from the Wagner Website)
BIOLOGY LC RECIEVES SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Dr. Stearns and Dr. Houlihan are teaching an LC together
called ―Bacteria, Human Health, and Survival.‖ In accordance
to the Wagner Plan, students in learning community must
complete an experiential component, which requires students
to complete 30 hours of community service. Students in Dr.
Stearns and Dr. Houlihan‘s LC have been teaching middleschool students in local schools about bacteria and hygiene.
Wagner students made presentations to the middle-school
students about ―good and bad bacteria‖ and also told the
youngsters about the importance of maintaining good hygiene.
The LC was recently featured in an article in the Staten Island
Advance. To view the article, please visit the following link:
http://www.wagner.edu/news/sites/wagner.edu.news/files/091
125%20Advance%20%28Diane%20Lore%29%2C%20Outrea
ch%20by%20college%20students%20%28WEB%29.jpg. The
information for this article was provided from the Staten
Island Advance.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 1
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
CURRICULUM NEWS
2010 Summer courses and intended audience:
BI 110/110L Environmental Biology. Session A (Nonscience majors and Environmental Studies minors)
BI 120 Human Biology. Runs May 17-May 28 (Non-science
majors)
BI 209/209L Human Anatomy and Physiology I. Session A
(Nursing and Physician Assistant majors)
BI 210/210L Human Anatomy and Physiology II. Session B
(Nursing and Physician Assistant majors)
BI/MI 213/213L Cells, Genes, and Evolution. Session B
(Biology and Microbiology majors, Pre-health students)
BI 335/335L Natural History of the Mid-Atlantic States.
Runs May 17-May 28 (Biology majors and Environmental
Studies minors)
BI/MI 400E Experiential Component of the Senior RFT.
Session A (Biology and Microbiology majors)
MI 109 Plagues, Outbreaks and Biological Warfare.
Session B (Non-science majors)
MI 200/200L Microbiology. Session A (Microbiology,
Nursing, and Physician Assistant majors)
MI/BI 517/517L Electron Microscopy. Session A
(Microbiology and Biology majors and Microbiology graduate
students)
MI 615/615L Electron Microscopy. Session A
(Microbiology graduate students)
MI 797, 798, 799 Research. Session A (Microbiology
graduate students)
BIOLOGY CLUB NEWS
The Biology Club had a successful first meeting. The next
meeting will be held on MONDAY OCTOBER 5TH at 9pm,
location TBD. Individuals who wish to be part of the Biology
Club should contact the president of the Biology Club Cassie
Bray. (Cassandra.bray@wagner.edu)
If current members are unable to attend the next meeting, they
must contact the secretary of the Biology Club Melissa
Alvarez. (Melissa.alvarez@wagner.edu) If students fail to
contact Melissa about their absence, they will no longer be
listed as members of the Biology Club. The club discussed
several important things at the meeting.
The club plans to complete their off-campus community
service event at the reservoir located on Arthur Kill Road.
Members will clean up trash at the reservoir on either a
Sunday morning or afternoon. This event will take place in
November. Details to be followed shortly.
For the next meeting, Cassie is encouraging members to
suggest a good on-campus community service opportunity. At
the last meeting, members were also considering buying club
t-shirts. Cassie would like members to think of creative ideas
to bring to the next meeting as well.
On Sunday, October 18th(tentatively) the Biology Club will
hold an event at the Bodies Exhibit on the South Street
Seaport. This is a campus-wide event and all are invited to
attend, but you must act fast! Only 25 seats are available and
the part of the ticket will be covered for by the Biology club‘s
SGA budget.
The Biology Club is thinking about having movie nights on
campus. At the next meeting, members will discuss further
details. Members will address more issues, but these four
issues are currently the highest priority.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna (information was complied with the help of
Cassie Bray and Melissa Alvarez)
The Biology Club had a meeting on October 19 th, and
discussed a variety of issues. Members of the Biology Club
participated in the annual Breast Cancer Walk that takes place
in Clove Lakes Park. The club will be doing their on-campus
community service event on Tuesday November 10 th. The
event is intended to raise awareness about animal cruelty.
Members of the club will display a poster about animal cruelty
in the union that day during lunchtime. Donations that go
towards raising awareness about animal cruelty will be
collected during lunchtime as well. The club will host a
showing of an Animal Planet movie that all members of the
Wagner community are invited to attend. The film will be
shown at 8pm on November 10th, with location TBD.
The Bodies Exhibit trip at the South Street Seaport will take
place on November 22nd. All Wagner students are welcomed
to attend. Participants should be advised to meet everyone at
the 10:40am shuttle. Fliers will be distributed in the following
weeks and there will be a sign up sheet as well. Only 25
participants may attend, and several members of the club are
already planning to attend, so act fast!
The next meeting will be on Monday, November 2 nd at 9pm in
the lobby of the 4th floor in Haborview Hall. Please contact the
Biology
Club
president
Cassandra
Bray
(Cassandra.bray@wagner.edu) if you have any questions.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna and Cassandra Bray
Biology Club sponsored a table in the Union raising awareness
about animal cruelty on November 17th. Biology Club
members encouraged people from the Wagner community to
donate money to that would help save animals from abusive
owners. Members also gave out free bags of candy that
included startling facts about animal cruelty.
Victor Stora, Jessica Cozzolino, and Michael Migliorini help
out at the Animal Cruelty table.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 2
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
TRI-BETA NEWS
Welcome new members and welcome back returning
members of Tri Beta!
My name is Jessica Cozzolino and I am the secretary of Tri
Beta this year. I will be sending everybody the minutes after
each meeting and will keep you all updated with any Tri
Beta activities.
For our off-campus community service activity we will be
participating in the Breast Cancer Walk taking place on
Sunday, October 18, 2009 at Cloves Lakes Park (1150 Clove
Road, Staten Island, NY.) If you will be participating in this
event please email the president of Tri Beta Yolana Fuks @
Yolana.Fuks@wagner.edu
We were also considering getting team Tee shirts for this
event. So if you are interested or have any ideas you can
email Yolana.
For our on campus community service, we will be
participating in the Haunted Hallways event. In this event
we get our own room in main hall and we decorate the
classroom for Halloween. Children from around the area will
come to Wagner College to see our displays. We are not sure
of the exact date for this yet (most likely the weekend before
Halloween), but I will keep everyone updated. We can also
dress up for this event according to our room theme.
Our next meeting will take place one day in the week prior to
the Breast Cancer Walk on October 18, 2009.
Feel free to E-Mail me with any questions.
Have a great day and see you all at the next meeting =)
Contributed Jessica Cozzolino
Tri-Beta held their last meeting on Monday October 14th.
Members completed their off-campus community service by
participating in the Breast Cancer Walk that took place in
Clove Lakes Park. Despite the gusty winds, and treacherous
rain, many members of Tri-Beta went to the Breast Cancer
Walk to support a good cause.
Tri-Beta also completed their on-campus community service
for this semester. Members dressed up in Halloween costumes
and participated in the Haunted Hallways event on Sunday
October 25th. Haunted Hallways is an event that is open to the
public (people outside of the Wagner community) and takes
place annually. The Marketing Club sponsors the event, and
various clubs and organizations are allowed to rent a room in
Main Hall. Each club is permitted to decorate their rooms and
participants are encouraged to dress up in Halloween
costumes. Children from all over Staten Island come to Main
Hall and go ―trick or treating‖ in all of the rooms, and Wagner
students give them candy along with a good scare.
Members of Tri-Beta decided to have a ―Mad Scientist‖ theme
for their room. Students used skeletons and a variety of organs
from the Biology laboratories. The event was an overall
success.
break is approaching, and they are looking forward to a new
semester filled with more fun activities and community
service!
Contributed by Yolana Fuks
Pictures from Haunted Hallways contributed by Yolana Fuks:
Pictures from Breast Cancer Walk contributed by Shannon
O‘Neill:
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
The members of Tri-Beta have been extremely busy towards
the end of this semester. They completed their on and offcampus community service, and pictures from both of these
events are featured below. Everyone is excited that winter
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 3
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY
The Pre-Health Society participated in two on-campus
community service events this past month. Members took part
in the letter writing campaign that thanked soldiers for the
sacrifices that they were making overseas. Members also
participated in the Up ‗Til Dawn event that occurred on
November 18th. Up ‗Til Dawn is also a letter writing campaign
that helps raise money for St. Jude‘s Research Hospital. The
Pre-Health Society had a great turn out for both of these
events!
Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of parasites, transmit
devastating diseases like malaria, yellow fever and dengue,
and are a major threat to the health of billions of people on our
planet. The principal investigators of this project address
larval mosquitoes, because it appears more straightforward to
fight these vectors as long as they are confined in an aquatic
habitat.
In collaboration with colleagues from the U.S. (Mt. Desert
Island Biological Laboratories, Maine), Brazil (University of
São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, University of Paraná in Curitiba)
and Canada (University of Manitoba in Winnipeg) Dr. Onken
pursues research with Crustacea related to the osmoregulatory
capacities and mechanisms of crabs. Together with Dr.
Alauddin (Chemistry) and Professor Beecher (Biology), an
ecophysiological study is in an early stage of planning.
Dr. Onken can offer research opportunities for two to three
students. If interested contact Dr. Onken in his office (Megerle
Science Hall Room 411), lab (Megerle Science Hall Room
406) or via e-mail (horst.onken@wagner.edu) or phone 4204211.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Victor Stora (Pre-Health Society Treasurer) and Jessica
Cozzolino (Pre-Health Society‘s Pre-Veterinary VP) write
letters at Up ‗Til Dawn.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Greetings Everyone,
I am Nidhi Khanna and I am currently a junior. I am working
with this non-profit organization called Planting Peace.
Planting Peace has many sub-organizations including one
called The Clean World Movement. The Clean World
Movement is trying to encourage more individuals around the
world to recycle and to take better care of the planet. I am
working with The Clean World Movement as the
environmental director in my community. I am organizing
some clean-ups in Staten Island during the semester. If
anybody is interested in helping out, please feel free to contact
me at nidhi.khanna@wagner.edu. Thanks for your interest and
I look forward hearing from you! If you would like more
information about the organization I am working with, please
visit: http://www.plantingpeace.org/.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
RESEARCH WITH MOSQUITOES AND CRABS
Dr.
Onken
offers
research opportunities
for students in the frame
of a project in which he
collaborates with scientists from Washington
State University, the University of Idaho, and the University
of Alberta (Edmonton, CA). The project is funded by the
National Institute of Health and studies the physiology of the
midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti).
Greetings Everyone,
I am Nidhi Khanna and I am currently a junior. I am working
with this non-profit organization called Planting Peace.
Planting Peace has many sub-organizations including one
called The Clean World Movement. The Clean World
Movement is trying to encourage more individuals around the
world to recycle and to take better care of the planet. I am
working with The Clean World Movement as the
environmental director in my community. I am organizing
some clean-ups in Staten Island during the semester. If
anybody is interested in helping out, please feel free to contact
me at nidhi.khanna@wagner.edu. Thanks for your interest and
I look forward hearing from you! If you would like more
information about the organization I am working with, please
visit: http://www.plantingpeace.org/.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
IT‘S SO EASY
I recently attended the talk given at Wagner by the
Environmental Author, Robert K. Musil. In his talk, he
encouraged students who are concerned about environmental
issues to try to engage with policy makers. I want to share a
way to do that that I have discovered that takes very close to
zero effort. There are several organizations like the Sierra
Club, The National Wildlife Federation, the Nature
Conservancy, and the League of Conservation Voters. They
research and follow environmental legislative activity very
closely, and advocate strongly for environmental conservation.
If you get on their e-mailing lists, they will contact you
whenever important environmental legislation is coming
before the house or senate. They usually have a form letter
that encourages the relevant decision-makers to vote for or
against a bill and explains their reasoning. You can modify
these letters, and sign by using a password. They know which
decision-makers to send the letters to by your zip-code.
PAGE 4
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Sometimes you get some e-mail from them asking for
donations, etc., which, as a ―starving college student‖, you
don‘t have to feel guilty about ignoring for now. You can tell
that the letters really go to the politicians, because they almost
always reply. Here is a link you can follow to sign up for the
League of Conservation Voters:
https://admin3.getactive.com/lcv/join.html
BE A LIMULUS ASISTANT EDITOR
Proficient student writers are invited to become assistant
editors for the newsletter of the Department of Biological
Sciences. If you are interested, please, contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
day, I was an assistant guide
on a 22 kilometer hike to the
Walcott Quarry in Yoho
National Park, where I was
able to examine various
invertebrate fossils dating
back over 530 million years
ago.
The rock formations in the
Burgess Shale provide us with a "time machine", taking us
back through the evolution of life on the Earth. Could the
strange creatures found in
these rock formations
have, in a similar fashion,
also evolved on other
worlds within our solar
system? Could they have
traversed the vacuum of
space
and
possibly
"seeded" our planet back
in time? The plethora of lifeforms seen at this world famous
site and the famous book, "A Wonderful Life" written by
Stephen Jay Gould, clearly
proves that Darwin's theory
of Natural Selection is a valid
explanation of evolution.
Although the hike up to the
walcott Quarry was very
strenuous, it was the most
amazing experience of my
life.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
Contributed by Harold Kozak
Contributed by Professor Beecher
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Scholarship opportunities for sophomores and juniors are
available from the Morris K. Udall Foundation
(www.udall.gov) for the following categories:
1.) Students committed to an environmental career
2) Native American/Alaskan Native students interested in
Native health care or tribal public policy
The scholarship is for $5000 and includes a mandatory 4-day
conference in August. Honorary Mention awards are for $350.
Any students interested in applying should contact Brian
Palestis (bpalesti@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
WORK IN THE GARDEN
Students interested in collaborating in the greenhouse and/or
garden during the spring of 2010 should contact Dr. Onken
(horst.onken@wagner.edu).
Contributed by Dr. Onken
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Greetings Everyone,
I am Nidhi Khanna and I am currently a junior. I am working
with this non-profit organization called Planting Peace.
Planting Peace has many sub-organizations including one
called The Clean World Movement. The Clean World
Movement is trying to encourage more individuals around the
world to recycle and to take better care of the planet. I am
working with The Clean World Movement as the
environmental director in my community. I am organizing
some clean-ups in Staten Island during the semester. If
anybody is interested in helping out, please feel free to contact
me at nidhi.khanna@wagner.edu. Thanks for your interest and
I look forward hearing from you! If you would like more
information about the organization I am working with, please
visit: http://www.plantingpeace.org/.
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
EXPERIENCES
VISIT TO THE BURGESS SHALE
This past July, I gave a lecture entitled, "Aliens in Rocks" at
the Geoscience Foundation in Field, British Columbia,
Canada. I gave it as a part of my assignments as a Solar
System Ambassador for NASA/JPL. In addition, the following
OPOSSUM
On a very wet morning in June,
what appeared to be a child‘s toy
lay in a puddle on the steps
behind the Megerle Science
Building. On closer inspection, I
realized something was alive and
moving! With the rain coming
down, I wrapped a tiny creature
in tissue and brought it upstairs
to my office in Biological
Sciences. The heat from my
hands had an immediate effect
on the baby animal, which was
still unidentifed. Using the
internet, I realized it was a very
small opposum, and as some time passed, it began to open its
eyes and its shivvering stopped.
As the possum gained strength, it made a ―hissing‖ sound, to
perhaps communicate hunger. It licked little drops of water,
and became quite active, crawling around in my hands. Using
a heating lamp, I made a little spot for it to sleep while I
worked. Later that day, I was able to contact the closest
wildlife animal rescue group which was located in New
Jersey. (The only wildlife rescue group in New York City is in
PAGE 5
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
the Bronx, since the Staten Island wildlife facility closed over
a year ago.). A wildlife rehabilitator named ―Meg,‖ told me
she could take the stranded baby the next evening, which
meant I was having a visitor that evening at home. Since
possums are nocternal, I spent most of the night awake,
feeding droplets of pedialyte (an electrolyte enriched water) to
the baby animal. The next day the possum was in rather good
health, sleeping soundly. That evening we drove to Meg‘s
facility in New Jersey, and signed a New Jersey Fish and
Wildlife document handing the little female over to the
professionals. It turned out an odd looking circle on her
abdomen was the beginning of a pouch, since possums are
marsupials.
This week we received good news. Our little rescued Staten
Island marsupial grew up among other orphaned opossums
and was just released into the wild! In just three months, her
wild life was given back to her to enjoy. Good luck, little one!
Contributed by Stephanie Rollizo
BI 217 CLASS VISITS SNUG HARBOR BOTANICAL
GARDEN
Earlier this month, Professor Beecher took her Forms and
Functions class to visit the Snug Harbor Botanical Garden.
Fifteen enthusiastic students traveled with Professor Beecher
and Graduate Assistant Zulmarie Franco to the Botanical
Garden on a pleasant Wednesday afternoon.
Professor Beecher was teaching her class about photosynthesis
and about plant forms and functions. The students were able to
see an assortment of different plants at the Botanical Garden.
As a current student in Forms and Functions, I learned from
Professor Beecher that there are over 300,000 species of
plants, and all plants are differing in their size and shape.
In many plant species, photosynthesis occurs in the leaves and
students were able to see all kinds of leaves in a wide-ranging
of plants species. The trip was an overall fun experience and
allowed students to relate the knowledge they learned in class
to the ―real world.‖ As a class, we were also supporting a
local attraction that more Staten Island residents should
appreciate. The Botanical Garden was established in 1977. For
more information on the Botanical Garden, please visit
(http://www.snug-harbor.org/horticulture.html).
PAGE 6
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
project can donate money directly to the zoo. The zoo also
offers opportunities to the public to volunteer and adopt
animals. This month, the zoo is hosting a few events including
a ―Charles Dickens‖ themed event that includes caroling and
lighting of the Christmas Tree. Another scheduled event
includes a holiday breakfast with a visit from another animal
that will make an appearance at the zoo, a reindeer. For more
information
about
the
zoo,
please
visit
www.statenislandzoo.org.
A selection of photographs:
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
TRIP TO STATEN ISLAND ZOO
This semester, I am taking Forms and Functions with
Professor Beecher. For one of our assignments, the class was
asked to visit the Staten Island Zoo. Despite being a Staten
Island native, I must admit that this was the first time I
actually paid a visit to the zoo that literally minutes away from
my home.
For my assignment, I was required to pick an animal that I
found interesting and research about its biology and create a
fact sheet. Even though I was supposed to write about one
animal at the zoo, I was eager to observe the large variety of
species in the zoo‘s botanical garden. At the zoo, visitors can
learn about amphibians, birds, reptiles, fish, and other
mammals. In 1936, the zoo was opened and it was actually the
only zoo in the entire world to have 32 rattlesnakes. Even
today, the zoo has an extensive collection of rattlesnakes and
other snakes including Anacondas. Another interesting fact
about the Staten Island Zoo is that it was the first American
zoo to employ a female veterinarian to serve as the zoo‘s
doctor.
The zoo‘s mission is to educate visitors about the importance
of animals and to appreciate the existence of the wide-range of
animals that nature has to offer. The zoo is currently
constructing a few new attractions including a Leopard
exhibit, Red Panda Exhibit, and a carousel for children to
enjoy. Many activities at the zoo are centered around children,
but adults and individuals of all ages can visit the zoo and
learn something new! The zoo also started a Meerkat Project
that is focused on renovating the homes of the meerkats that
inhabit the zoo. People that are interested in supporting this
PAGE 7
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
change, and human involvement. Human activity has
destroyed frog habitats and humans have polluted the areas
that are inhabited by frogs.
The Museum of Natural History is a great place to visit,
especially when you are trying to think of something fun to do
in New York City. The museum always has new and
interesting exhibits that are not only educational but fun to
visit as well. During my visit, I took some pictures, and I hope
you like them! For more information on the museum, please
visit http://www.amnh.org/.
Some more photographs:
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
VISIT TO THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Recently, I paid a
visit to the Museum
of Natural History to
do an assignment for
Professor Beecher‘s
Forms and Functions
Class. I have visited
the museum several
times, but I learn
something
new
during every visit. While at the museum, I wandered into the
Primates, Dinosaurs, and Reptile and Amphibians exhibit.
Currently, the museum has a few new exhibits that seem very
interesting and educational. The Spider Silk exhibit includes
an elaborate silk textile that was created by over one million
spiders! The spiders spun the silk for four years, and about 80
people in Madagascar collected the millions of spiders to
make this textile. Men and women wove the silk after the
spiders produced this extremely soft and strong silk. Every
thread in the textile actually represents 96 strands of spider
silk! Currently, the Museum of Natural History is the only
place in the world that has a textile of the woven spider silk.
Another great new exhibit is Frogs: A Chorus of Colors. This
exhibit will be open until January 3rd. The museum has an
extensive exhibit of various frog species including Fire-bellied
toads, Waxy Monkey Frogs, and the Blue Dart Poison Frog.
The exhibit provides visitors with a lot of fun facts about
frogs. It is definitely a treat to see a variety of frog species and
the different colors that each species comes in. Many frog
species are getting smaller and this is primarily due to climate
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 8
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PARTICPATION IN BLIND TASTE TEST
Professor Beecher‘s Environmental Biology class has been
discussing several important environmental issues that affect
the global community. Recently, the class started to do some
research on various types of labels, like free trade, rainforest
alliance, shade grown, and recycling. Some students gave
individual presentations on specific labels and their meanings.
Free trade products are basically sold directly from the vender
to the consumer. The government or other ―middlemen‖ do
not have any involvement with the buying and selling of the
products. Products that have a rainforest alliance label are
deemed acceptable by this non-governmental organization. In
order to be rainforest alliance certified, farming methods that
are harmful to ecosystems cannot be used, and workers
growing the crops must be treated fairly, and their lives should
not be in danger. Farha Rashid (a student in the class) did a
presentation on Fair Trade products. She discovered that
farmers who produce these products are paid a fair price and
fair trade ensures that forced child labor is not used in the
production.
Shade grown coffee is basically grown under a number of
trees. The coffee is grown under the shade, and this is
beneficial to the environment. When coffee is grown under the
sun, many farmers use hazardous insecticides and chemicals.
Recycling labels are identifiable by almost everyone, and
these labels have been encouraging the public to reduce and
reuse recyclable materials.
Several other students gave presentations on labels. Tyler
discussed on Certified Naturally Grown labels. These labels
are geared towards small local farmers and focus on farm-tomarket values. Lawrence researched Pure Fun Organic Candy
and realized that this kind of label ensures that workers are
treated nicely, and organic products are used in manufacturing
processes. Lynette, Peter, Jim, and Ayn worked together and
learned about USDA Organic labels. In order for foods to
obtain this label, the food must be produced in an
environmentally sustainable manner. Hormones and relatively
few pesticides are utilized.
After each student in the class researched a specific label, they
shared their findings with the rest of the class. Students
learned how farmers get certified for certain labels. Professor
Beecher conducted a blind taste test, and she had students try
to detect the difference between organic shade coffee and
Dunkin Donuts coffee. Students were blindfolded, drank each
kind of coffee, and then revealed to the class which coffee
they preferred. Emily Pierce liked the shade coffee, Pete
Westwood liked the Dunkin Donuts coffee, and James Lee
was unable to detect any difference between the two coffee
types. The class enjoyed drinking coffee during the rest of the
class, and then spoke about different kinds of renewable
energy technologies like wind, photovoltaics, and hydrogen
fuel cells. To learn more about these labels, please visit the
following websites:
http://www.naturallygrown.org/
http://www.organiccandy.com/
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STE
LDEV3004446&acct=nopgeninfo
http://www.transfairusa.org/
Contributed by Professor Beecher, The Environmental Biology Class, and
Nidhi Khanna
EDWARD CALBRESE ABOUT HORMESIS
On a cold November night, Edward
Calabrese, professor of toxicology
and environmental science at the
University of Massachusetts, came
to inform students about the
importance
of
the
leading
proponent of hormesis. Calabrese
has published many papers on this
topic, including several major
review papers summarizing a large
number of studies that have shown hormesis (where a
substance that is inhibitory at high doses can be stimulatory at
low doses).
Coincidently, this phenomenon has been the basis of many
research projects at Wagner. A professor of Anatomy &
Physiology, Dr.Fulop, along with his students have performed
experiments on the effects of alcohol on zebrafish. Another
professor in the biology department at Wagner College, Dr.
Moorthy, has had students examine the effects of lithium
chloride on zebrafish embryos and alcohol on Drosophila.
Dr. Calabrese explained this to us as ―a response phenomenon
characterized by a low dose stimulation and a high dose of
inhibition.‖ Early in his speech, it was stressed to us that the
beneficial/harmfulness of hormesis should not be included into
the definition. Basically, hormesis is the idea that a toxin will
have an opposite effect in small doses as in large doses.
Hormesis is a generalized phenomenon: independent of
model, endpoint and agent.
When applying the phenomenon of hormesis, two possible
responses that could be graphed are: J–shaped or inverted Ushaped. One area of study with hormesis is aging. Survival
capacity depends on homeostatic ability and was studied with
mild stressors. These mild stressors were shown to have anti
aging effects. Mild stressors included heat shock, irradiation,
hyper gravity and food restrictions.
―The reasons for this reluctance to change are complex but can
be traced in large part to the fact that toxicology has been,
primarily, an applied discipline with the creditable goal of
protecting health. Faced with a huge number of compounds to
be tested, toxicologists therefore streamlined their processes to
reduce the number of animals used per dose and the number of
doses per experiment‖ stated Dr. Calabrese, in his effort to
explain why hormesis was overlooked by toxology.
After grasping a greater knowledge on this topic, it still leaves
the lingering question: why is the phenomenon of hormesis
important? To Dr. Calabrese he stresses that it will change
how radiation health experts, chemical toxologists,
pharmacologists, high risk assessors, and physicians do their
job. By applying this new way of thinking and approach to
toxology, it may open new doors to many professions.
Ultimately, the decision of if you would like to believe in
hormesis is up to you.
Contributed by Lynsey Brandwein and Julianna Maniscalco
PAGE 9
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PEOPLE
NORMAN BORLAUG
The Father of Green Revolution
―Reach for the stars. Although you will never touch them, you
may get a little stardust on your hands‖
Norman Borlaug who
died on Sept.12, 2009
at the age of 95 was
the father of the
Green
Revolution.
His work that led to
the production of disease-resistant wheat
varieties is credited
with saving as many
as a billion people
from starvation world
wide and ushering in
the Green Revolution. He brought new
agricultural
techniques, new highyielding seeds, and
modern technology to the poor farmers in underdeveloped and
developing countries and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
for this. He is one of only five individuals to receive the
Congressional Gold medal, the president‘s Medal of Freedom
and the Nobel Peace Prize. The others in this distinguished
category are Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther
King Jr, and Elie Wiesel.
Born of Norwegian descent, Dr. Borlaug was raised in Cresco,
a small farming community in northeast Iowa. His outstanding
contribution and his greatest achievement has been his
unending struggle to integrate the various streams of
agricultural research into viable technologies and to convince
political leaders to bring these advances to bear fruits for the
less fortunate among us. He got a degree in forestry from the
University of Minnesota and worked for the forest service for
sometime. Later he came back to University of Minnesota and
obtained his doctorate in plant pathology. In 1944, he
participated in the Rockefeller Foundation‘s pioneering
technical assistance program to Mexico. Part Scientist, part
humanitarian, he realized that improved crop varieties are
essential to solving world hunger. ―Norman Borlaug saved
more lives than any man in human history. His heart was as
big as his brilliant mind but it was his passion and compassion
that moved the world‖ said Josette Sheeran, executive director
of the UN world Food Program.
Borlaug strongly believed that we need to employ technology
and science to increase the food production to feed the hungry
planet. He also recognized that the food production is
seriously affected by diseases, global warming, a lack of
agricultural infrastructure, absence of technology and [poor]
government support. The world-wide financial melt down is
also contributing to reduced funding and support for poor
countries.
When Borlaug was born 95 years ago the world population
was less than 1.5 billion, as opposed to the current figure of
seven billion. As the population grows, we humans are faced
with a choice: convert wilderness areas to farmlands or get
existing farmlands to yield more. Either choice has serious
consequences, the latter will reduce biodiversity but the
former will have more devastating impact, as wilderness is a
much needed habitat for wild life. Much as human existence is
based on agricultural practices, it in essence an ―unnatural
practice‖, according to Borlaug, and its prime goal is to create
food that we humans can eat in plenty. Humans have become
very insensitive to the issues of Biodiversity and the plight of
all creatures in this planet. Asked what the future holds
Borlaug thinks that Genetically modified crops (GM crops)
has the potential to become part of the solution , if we go in
that direction with caution. Sustained global food security is
essential for the survival of our species. Needless to say that
we also need to make sure that this planet of ours with all its
biodiversity also survives.
Contributed by Dr. Moorthy
OPINION
NEW BROOMS CLEAN WELL!
The above German proverb is often continued with ―…, but
old brooms know the corners.‖ It means that new things may
look good on the first glimpse, but old things can still be better
on the second look. I would like to apply the long version to
the new website of the college.
What a beautiful homepage we got. The slide show is very
attractive, no doubt. However, in my opinion the entire rest of
the new web design is a failure that generated and continues to
generate a lot of work for IT and volunteers, like me, who
spent extra time to update and improve parts of the website.
What had been wrong with the old website of the college? It
had a beautiful design. It was well structured. It was easy to
navigate through the pages, because of the drop down menu
on the homepage. One click, mailport. One click, registrar.
One click, … When navigating through our web pages, 80
percent of each upcoming screen was new, editable
information. Apart of the slim bar at the top that identified the
college, the general background was a shiny white: Easy to
insert figures and photographs, no need to reconfigure the
figure background. This supported volunteers to work on
pages. Also the older version of drupal, our online html editor,
was satisfying. I had just accustomed to use it. Admitted, the
homepage had no slide show.
What is wrong with the new design? The structure of the
website is basically unchanged, which is good. However, the
drop down menu on the homepage is missing. Two clicks,
mailport. Two clicks, registrar. Two clicks, … Even worse,
the upper half of each and every upcoming screen is covered
with a large top menu bar, showing four students strolling
along the clock on Trautman Square, and a huge primary
headline. This design moves the editable information on each
page down: Scroll, scroll, scroll, … The background of the
editable space is a light beige. Figures with white background,
meant to be transparent, must be reformatted. The new drupal
PAGE 10
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
evidently does not allow to use the three frame design pattern
that some old department and faculty pages had, and IT had a
hard time to wiggle them through the conversion.
True, we accustom fast. We are using our website daily, and
ultimately we will just adapt to click and scroll faster.
However, we are not the only users of our website. We have
visitors who may come only once to see whether Wagner
College is the right place for them. Our website is like our
business card. It should be graphically attractive, of course.
However, the information should be easily accessible. Even
without the slide show the old website very well satisfied both
purposes. Yes, I agree, the slide show is beautiful and may
lure visitors in for more information. Click, and four students
and the clock on Trautman Square greet. What a nice view,
how attractive. Click, and four students and the clock on
Trautman Square greet. Click, and four students and the clock
on Trautman Square greet. When coming up again and again
and again, this graphical component of our website is
evidently too large and may be seen as a hurdle to reach the
information visitors are looking for. Click, click, click. Scroll,
scroll, scroll. I just hope our visitors do not x us out.
I have been making websites since 15 years. I had to learn
numerous html editors, and I had a lot of trials and errors until
I got results that halfway satisfied me. I browsed through the
web a lot. How do others do it? In the last academic year, I
spent many hours to improve the web pages of the department,
inserting pages of our facilities like greenhouse and
collections. I set up a very informative faculty page,
highlighting my teaching, my research, my students, … I had
pages with recommendations about mosquito prevention and
protection, and I had started a project that displays the
―Woody plants of Wagner College‖. All this work, of course
formatted for the old web design, was destroyed, mainly
because of the overlarge bar with the four students and the
clock on Trautman square that appears now on every single
page of the college website. Moreover, I do not yet know how
to make web pages attractive, if the first 50% of each page is
static. On top, I have again to learn a new version of an html
editor. I am annoyed by the way how this was introduced, and
I am discouraged to continue my voluntary efforts.
It would have been so easy to just place a slide show on the
home page and leave the rest as it was.
Contributed by Dr. Onken
The Nobel Prize was established from the will and estate of
Swedish chemist and inventor of the high explosive dynamite
Alfred Nobel in 1895. Originally the prize money was to be
shared by the ones chosen from the fields of Physics,
Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace.
The first set of Nobel Prizes in these categories was given in
1901. The Nobel Prize in Economics was added to the list in
1969. The front side of the three "Swedish" medals (Physics
and Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature) is the
same, featuring a portrait of Alfred Nobel and the years of his
birth and death in Latin; the Economics and Peace Prizes have
a different design. Up to 1980 the "Swedish" medals, each
weighing approximately 200 g and with a diameter of 66 mm,
were made of 23-karat gold. Since then they have been made
of 18-karat green gold plated with 24-karat gold. To date more
than 800 men and 40 women have been the recipients of this
prestigious award. Of all the women who have won the Nobel,
Marie Curie and Barbara McClintock have been exceptional in
that Marie Curie has been honored twice, in 1903 with a
Nobel in Physics and in 1911 with a Nobel in Chemistry.
Barbara McClintock was the only woman in science to win
this prize solo. This year has been exceptional in that five
women have won the coveted price in Physiology or
Medicine, Chemistry, Literature and Economics. That is a
total of four fields out of six, which is quite remarkable.
Only 10 women compared to more than 500 recipients have
won the Nobel Prize in the sciences. The fact that Nobels are
given almost exclusively to academic researchers means that
universities also share some responsibilities for this
remarkable disparity. In the early days of the Nobel, laws and
parental oppositions prevented many women from entering
universities. In the United States women could get a university
education, but no job. Until the 1970s, many leading research
universities and technological institutes were only for men. To
teach in women‘s colleges and coeducational universities
American women were expected to stay single. Barbara
McClintock, the Nobel Prize winning geneticist was a few
years from membership in the National Academy of the
Sciences when her boss at the University of Missouri
threatened her in 1936 saying, ―If you ever marry, you will be
fired.‖ McClintock stomped out planning to become a weather
forecaster, until she found a job in a private college (from
―Feeling for an Organism‖ biography of McClintock). Even
today women scientists find it very hard to get that final
promotion to a ―FULL PROFESSOR‖ in American Academia.
In 1971 a law was passed requiring universities to hire women
into their faculties or risk losing federal dollars. Dr. MaryLou Pardue, who now holds a chair in Microbiology and is a
member of the National Academy of Sciences, says this in
recounting the story of her hiring. ―When I applied for a
position at MIT, MIT‘s response was ‗Thank you for your
letter. We have had hundreds of responses to our ad‘.‖ Women
scientists even today face subtle discrimination.
Communications can be complicated. As Pardue puts it, ―you
can‘t go up to a man at a meeting and say ‗let us have a drink,
and I will tell you about my science‘ without getting more
than you bargained for.‖ It is those honest sincere networking
connections that men are privileged to that women hope and
wish for but never get.
Being a full professor in a small Liberal Arts College in the
field of Genetics, I have pondered over this question and here
are my thoughts. I am the only female fulltime professor in the
sciences in the college that I teach. ―X‖ is the symbol for the
unknown and we women have two of those Xs where as the
men have only one. I wonder whether that has anything to do
with it. From a genetics point of view that cannot be true,
PAGE 11
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
because I know that we have more genes on two of our X
chromosomes than the men with an X and Y. The Y
chromosome is such a small chromosome compared to the X
and there are only very few genes on the Y. We know women
in general live longer and are better multi taskers compared to
men. So why is it that there is such a tremendous discrepancy?
Only thing I can think of is that, societal, economical and
other reasons contribute to this problem. It is very refreshing
to see that these stereotyping and taboos are slowly melting
away. This year has been a remarkable year for women in
terms of winning the Nobel Prize and I want to applaud these
winners.
Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn,
Morris Herztein Profes-sor
of Biology and Physiology
in the Department of
Biochem-istry
and
Biophysics at the University
of California is a leader in
the area of telomere,
telomerase research. Dr.
Carol Greider, the co-winner of this award is a Professor at
Johns Hopkins. The molecular nature of telomeres, the end of
eukaryotic chromosomes that serve as protective caps essential
for preserving the genetic information, and the
ribonucleoprotein enzyme, telomerase and the roles they play
in aging and development of cancer was the riddle that these
scientists have been working on for the last several years.
Dr. Ada E. Yonath won the Nobel
Prize along with two other
scientists for her work on
Ribosomes, the cell‘s most
multifaceted machine, at the
molecular level. She is a
distinguished scientist from the
Weizmann Institute of Science,
Rehovot, Israel.
Ribosomes,
found in the cytoplasm of the cell
are involved in protein synthesis.
Proteins and enzymes are made
based on the blue print information
carried in the DNA. Proteins and enzymes in turn control the
chemistry of all living organisms. As Ribosomes are crucial to
life they are also target for new antibiotics. An understanding
of the innermost working of the Ribosomes is important for
the scientific understanding of life. This knowledge can be put
to practical and immediate use, since many of today‘s
antibiotics cure various diseases by blocking the function of
bacterial Ribosomes.
Herta Muller, winner of the Nobel
Prize in literature was born in the
German-speaking
town
of
Nitzkydorfmin Banat, Romania.
Muller made her debut with a
collection
of
short
stories,
―Niederungen,‖ which was censored
in Romania. She published the
uncensored version in Germany. The
same year she also published ―Druckender Tango‖ in
Romania. In these two works Muller depicts life in a small
German speaking village, and the corruption, intolerance and
repression to be found there.
Elinor Ostrom became the first
woman to win a Nobel Prize in
Economics along with fellow
American Oliver Williamson for
analyzing economic governance:
the rules by which people
exercise authority in companies
and economic systems. Ostrom is
a political scientist at Indiana
University who showed how
common resources like forests,
fisheries, oil fields and grazing
lands
can
be
managed
successfully by the people who
use them rather than by the government or private companies.
What 2009 has proved to us all is that given enough
encouragement and equal chances, women can be just as
successful as men. Stereotyping individuals and excluding
opportunities for success to any group based on gender, race
or other criteria should be a thing of the past.
Contributed by Dr. Moorthy
PUBLICATIONS
Etinger Etinger, A., Lebron, J. & Palestis, B. J.. (2009, in
press). Sex-assortative shoaling in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Bios.
Izeirovski, S., Moffett, S. B., Moffett, D. F. & Onken, H.
(2009). The anterior midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes
(Aedes aegypti): Effects of nutrients on the transepithelial
voltage and strong luminal alkalinization. Wagner College
Forum for Undergraduate Research.
Izeirovski, S., Moffett, S. B., Moffett, D. F. & Onken, H.
(2009). The anterior midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes
(Aedes aegypti): effects of amino acids, dicarboxylic acids,
and glucose on the transepithelial voltage and strong luminal
alkalinization. Journal of Experimental Zoology 311A: 719726.
Jagadeshwaran, U., Onken, H., Hardy, M., Moffett, S. B. &
Moffett, D. F. (2009). Cellular mechanisms of acid secretion
in the posterior midgut of the larval mosquito Aedes aegypti.
Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 295-300.
Lamb, C. M., Moorthy, A. S., Corbo, C.P. & Fulop, Z. L.
(2009). Teratogenic effects of lithium chloride on eye
development in early embryogenesis of Zebrafish (Danio
rerio). In Vivo 31(1): 24-31.
Moffett, D.F. and Onken, H. (2009, in press). The Cellular
Basis of Extreme Alkali Secretion in Insects: A Tale of Two
Tissues. In: Epithelial Transport Physiology (ed. George A.
Gerencser). Totowa, New Jersey: Humana Press.
PAGE 12
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Onken, H., & Moffett, D. F. (2009). Revisiting the cellular
mechanisms of strong luminal alkalinization in the anterior
midgut of larval mosquitoes. Journal of Experimental Biology.
212: 373-377.
Onken, H., Patel, M., Javoroncov, M., Izeirovski, S.,
Moffett, S.B. & Moffett, D.F. (2009). Strong alkalinization in
the anterior midgut of larval yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes
aegypti): Involvement of luminal Na +/K+-ATPase. Journal of
Experimental Zoology. 311A: 155-161.
Palestis, B.G. (2009). Fluctuating asymmetry in common tern
chicks varies with hatching order and clutch size. The Auk
126: 815-822.
Palestis, B.G. (2009). Use of artificial eelgrass mats by
saltmarsh-nesting common terns (Sterna hirundo). In Vivo
30(3): 11-16.
Trivers, R., B.G. Palestis & D. Zaatari. (2009). The Anatomy
of a Fraud: Symmetry and Dance. TPZ Publishers. Antioch,
CA.
Zaatari, D., Palestis, B.G. & Trivers, R. (2009). Fluctuating
asymmetry of responders affects offers in the Ultimatum
Game oppositely according to attractiveness or need as
perceived by proposers. Ethology115: 627-632.
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
MACUB CONFERENCE COMING UP
DATE: September 28, 2009
FROM: Donald Stearns, Megerle II Professor of Biology,
Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
REGARDING: 42nd Annual Metropolitan Association of
College and University Biologists (MACUB) Conference,
Kingsborough Community College, Saturday, October 24,
2009
Every year, the Metropolitan Association of College and
University Biologists holds a fall meeting on a Saturday, for
students and faculty interested in the biological sciences. This
fall, the meeting will take place at Kingsborough Community
College, Saturday, October 24th. Registration, continental
breakfast, and exhibitor displays occur from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.,
followed by a general welcome. This year‘s morning keynote
address (9:15 – 10:15 a.m.) is titled Pandemic Flu and
Emerging Infectious Diseases, given by Debra E. Berg, M.D.,
Medical director for the Healthcare Emergency Preparedness
Program, Bureau of Communicable Diseases for the New
York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. After
this presentation, there will be exhibitor displays, poster
presentations, member presentations, and concurrent
workshops (11:15-12:30 p.m.), followed by a luncheon. This
year‘s afternoon keynote address (12:30-1:30 p.m.) is titled
Catching Fire: How Cooking Made us Human, given by
Richard Wrangham, Ph.D., Ruth Moore Professor of
Biological Anthropology at Harvard University. After this
presentation, there will be more poster presentations and
exhibitor displays (1:30-3:00 p.m.), followed by poster awards
and an ice cream social (3:00-4:00 p.m.).
Students, faculty, and alumni: You are cordially invited to
attend this event. For current students and faculty, your costs
are covered by the Department of Biological Sciences,
Wagner College. For others, the cost ranges from $35 to $55,
depending on your position and timing of registration
payment.
For more information (including van
transportation), please contact Ms. Stephanie Rollizo, Faculty
Secretary, Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner
College, at (718) 390-3103 or Stephanie.rollizo@wagner.edu.
Contributed by Dr. Stearns
MACUB CONFERENCE
On a rainy Saturday morning, a handful of Biology students
and faculty traveled to Kingsborough Community College
where the annual Metropolitan Association of College and
University Biologists Conference was held.
The conference began with a keynote address made by Debra
E. Berg, M.D. Dr. Berg is in charge of the Healthcare
Emergency Preparedness Program in the Bureau of
Communicable Diseases for the New York City Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene. Dr. Berg gave a lecture that
focused on both the seasonal flu and swine flu. She
encouraged the audience to get vaccinated for both the
seasonal flu and swine flu. Both vaccinations are available to
the public now, and are also made with eggs. She advised
individuals that may be allergic to eggs to seek professional
consultation before receiving either vaccination. For more
information
about
swine
flu,
please
visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_q
a_pub.htm.
Another keynote speaker at the conference, Dr. Richard
Wrangham (Professor of Biological Anthropology at Harvard
University), gave a lecture about his research focusing on how
cooking has helped human beings evolve as a species. Dr.
Wrangham claims that many primates devout most of their
energy during the day just chewing up their food. According
to Wrangham, cooking raw food enables humans to eat rather
quickly and devout their time to other activities. Dr.
Wrangham suggests that it is much easier to digest cooked
food, and cooking is not only a social practice, but an
important part of human evolution. For more information
about
this
speaker
please
visit:
http://www.harvardscience.harvard.edu/culturesociety/articles/invention-cooking-drove-evolution-humanspecies-new-book-argues.
Wagner Professors, Dr. Stearns and Dr. Mosher gave a
presentation together at a MACUB workshop. Dr. Stearns and
Dr. Mosher spoke about the assessment program that Biology
Department introduced in 2003. Senior Biology and
Microbiology majors are evaluated in their final year at
Wagner. Students take an assessment test and the faculty
reviews these tests to see if students have an exceptional
understanding of the material that students learn during their
undergraduate careers. The results of these tests do not affect a
student‘s overall grades.
Biology undergraduate students and Microbiology graduate
students gave poster presentations of their research at the
PAGE 13
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
conference. Senior Michael Gutkin (Biology Major) received
acknowledgment at the conference. Gutkin was awarded best
presentation for his paper that was titled, ―Scanning Electron
Microscopic Characterization of Structural Reorganization of
the Adult Zebrafish Optic Tectum in Organotypic Culture.‖
Professor Corbo, Dr. Fulop, and Professor Raths all advised
Gutkin with his research. The Limulus staff would like to
congratulate Mike and all of the other Wagner students who
participated in this prestigious conference.
Ten other students gave presentations. The names of the
students and the titles of their research are below:
Yolana Fuks (senior biology major, chemistry minor) and
Melanie Valencia (sophomore): “Electrophysiology of the
Isolated and Perfused Midgut of Adult Yellow Fever
Mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti): First Results.” Research under
the supervision of Dr. Horst Onken, with co-authors from
Washington State.
Lynsey Brandwein (junior psychology major, biology minor),
Julianna Maniscalco (junior biology major) and Medije
Mashkulli (junior biology major): ―Inhibition of Strong
Midgut Alkalinization in Larval Yellow Fever Mosquitoes
(Aedes aegypti) with HEPES Buffer.” Research under the
supervision of Dr. Horst Onken, with co-authors from
Washington State.
Anna Lysenko (junior psychology major, biology minor) coauthored on paper presented by Kingsborough student Luesoni
Johnson: ―Use of Zebrafish Embryos in Undergraduate
Education: Teaching Science and Scientific Research in an
Easy Way.‖ Research under the supervision of Prof.
Christopher Corbo, Dr. Zoltan Fulop and Prof. Linda Raths of
Wagner College, and Kristin Polizzotto of Kingsborough
Community College.
Jessica Browning (graduate student in microbiology):
―Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella Contamination of Mute
Swan (Cygnus olor) Eggs in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife
Refuge, Brooklyn and Queens, N.Y.” Research under the
supervision of Dr. Adam Houlihan
Zulmarie Franco (graduate student in microbiology) and
Marlene Streisinger (senior nursing major): ―Ultrastructural
Characterization of Formed Elements in Peripheral Blood
of Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio).‖ Research under the
supervision of Prof. Christopher Corbo, Dr. Zoltan Fulop and
Prof. Linda Raths
Contributed by Nidhi Khanna
PAGE 14
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
―SEAHAWKS‖ PARTICIPATE IN WATERBIRDS
CONFERENCE
The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Waterbird Society, a scientific
organization dedicated to the study of marine and aquatic birds
(http://www.waterbirds.org/), took place in Cape May, NJ,
from November 4 through November 7. I attend this meeting
in most years to present my research on the behavior and
ecology of terns. The conference usually takes place in a good
location to see birds and Cape May is certainly no exception.
Although I enjoy the opportunity to travel to far away places
(recent meetings have been in Barcelona and South Padre
Island, Texas), the nearby location had the advantage that
Wagner College was well-represented at the meeting.
I presented a paper on
fluctuating asymmetry in
common
tern
chicks.
Fluctuating asymmetry is a
measure
of
small
deviations from perfect
bilateral symmetry and can
be used as a measure of
stress during development
or of ―good genes‖.
Microbiology
Masters
student Jusuf Husic gave a
poster presentation on his
work characterizing ectoparasites on tern feathers (feather lice) and testing for the
presence of pathogenic bacteria in tern chicks (so far he has
found none). Coauthors on his
paper include Microbiology
professors Roy Mosher and
Adam Houlihan and myself.
Two undergraduate Biopsychology majors, Maleeha
Memon and Ashley Nati, also
attended part of the meeting.
Ashley and Maleeha will be
working in the field with me
in the future, and they were
able not only to learn about
waterbirds but also to see
what a scientific meeting is
like.
Presentations by Wagner College authors are listed below:
Husic, J., R. Mosher, A. Houlihan, and B. Palestis. 2009.
Evaluation for carriage of parasites and pathogens in common
tern (Sterna hirundo) chicks. Presented at the Meeting of the
Waterbird Society, 4-7 November, Cape May, NJ.
Palestis, B. 2009. Fluctuating asymmetry in common tern
chicks varies with hatching order and clutch size. Presented at
the Meeting of the Waterbird Society, 4-7 November, Cape
May, NJ.
Ashley Nati and Maleeha Memon took these photos at Cape
May Point State Park from the site of the Cape May Bird
Observatory‘s hawk watch platform.
Contributed by Dr. Palestis
ALUMNI
A response to the August Newsletter:
Subject: Thank you for the August newsletter
Dear Dr. Onken;
I wish to thank you for your recent copy of the Department of
Biological Sciences August Newsletter. I am a member of
the "Class of 1977". I enjoyed my time at Wagner and
especially the guidance I received from Dr. Yarns (what an
amazing individual) who always told me to pursue my dreams
and ignor the obstacles which may arise. He was an individual
who could easily step out of his role as professor and into his
role as your friend and advisor. I took his advice and 2 years
after graduation I earned a degree as a Physician Assistant (I
guess Dr. Yarns was right about ignoring obstacles) and then
onto a degree as a Podiatrist. While at Wagner I was never an
"A" student but what I lacked in GPA I more than made up in
determination and drive. I took the advice of Dr. Yarns and
placed my focus on the goal. I am sure there are many students
like myself who at times find course work demanding and
difficult (How I remember, painfully, Organic Chemistry and
Dr. Shultz) but I am proof that hard work and a clear focus on
your goals can overcome any obstacle. There were days I
would walk, well actually run, out of an especially difficult
Organic Chem class, head on over to the "Hawks Nest" have a
cup of coffee and Dr. Yarns would come by and sit down and
proceed to tell me stories of his life, and some of these stories
were truly amazing. This is what made the man special, he
always had time for his students, he knew just what to say but
more importantly he knew when to listen. He was always there
throughout my entire stay at Wagner. I could pop into his
office anytime and he would always greet me with a smile and
a warm greeting. He was truly my friend.
PAGE 15
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
I have a son, Nicholas, who graduated from Wagner College
"Class of 2009" and is now a Graduate Student on campus. I
hope he finds his own Dr. Yarns while at Wagner.
If there is anything I can ever do to assist you please do not
hesitate to call on me. I will be more than happy to assist with
academic advisement or any other project you request.
Tony Garofalo
Class of 1977
From the Yearbook of 1977:
Tony Garofalo in 1977
RECOMMENDATIONS
Dr. STEARNS RECOMMENDS PROJECT VOTE SMART
www.votesmart.org
If you seriously wish to become reliably informed as a voter
regarding the positions of any U.S. candidate or elected
official on practically any issue, I recommend
www.votesmart.org. This web site is maintained in a fair,
impartial manner by individuals representing all political
persuasions. The web site is designed to educate—not
persuade—the voter, ―exposing the facts on over 40,000
candidates and elected officials‖ (p. 5, Project Vote Smart‘s
2008 Voter’s Self-Defense Manual). In an age where
politicians are advertised to the public like consumer products,
where most media outlets have replaced serious and
thoughtful comparisons with sensationalized fluff, where bias
is evident in newspaper editorials and most other web sites,
where very few journalists provide deep comparisons, where
television and radio programs often substitute heated opinion
for fact, and where debates have morphed into venues where
positions are promoted rather than debated, this web site is
refreshingly informative. Using www.votesmart.org, you can
identify the three congressional members who represent you
on Capitol Hill (the two senators who represent your state and
the member of the House of Representatives who represents
the district where you live). For each politician, the web site
provides the individual‘s voting record, background, positions
on different issues, speeches and public statements, campaign
contributions, endorsements, and interest group ratings, among
other things.
Biology Faculty in 1977
Standing: Walter Kanzler, Ralph Priddy, Anette Ruark,
Charles Kiley. Kneeling: Dale Yarns, John Frohlin, Murvel
Annan
Dear Alumni,
If you are interested in contributing to our newsletter, you
are very welcome to do so. Contact Dr. Onken by e-mail
(horst.onken@wagner.edu)
with
your
submission,
comment, ideas or questions! We are excited to hear about
where you are, how and what you do!
PAGE 16
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
PUZZLES, JOKES, QUOTES, CARTOONS
CARTOONS:
"Come on frog, jump!". But to no avail. The biologist finally
writes in his book: 'Frog with no legs - goes deaf'.
From: mwriggle#NoSpam.uoguelph.ca (Michael Wriggles-worth) posted at:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jcdverha/scijokes/
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
A biology professor was addressing his class, wanting to see if
they'd read the assigned text.
Professor: Miss Smith, please stand. What part of the human
body increases ten times when excited?
Miss Smith blushes and hesitates and giggles.
Professor: Miss Smith, please sit down. Miss Jones, please
stand and tell me if you know what part of the human body
increases ten times when excited.
Miss Jones: Yes, Professor. It's the pupil of the eye.
Professor: Very good. Thank you Miss Jones, you may sit
down. Miss Smith, will you please stand again. I have three
things to say to you.
1. You have not done your homework.
2. You have a very dirty mind.
3. You're in for a big disappointment.
QUOTES:
―We know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so
much, and still more astonishing that so little knowledge can
give us so much power.‖ Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English
philosopher, mathematician.
―If your experiment needs statistics, then you ought to have
done a better experiment.‖ Ernest Rutherford (1st Baron Rutherford of
Nelson) (1871- 1937) English physicist, born in New Zealand. Nobel prize for
chemistry 1908.
―No effect that requires more than 10 percent accuracy in
measurement is worth investigating.‖ Walther Nernst (1864-1941)
German physicist, chemist. Nobel prize, 1920.
―Basic research is what I am doing when I don't know what I
am doing.‖ Werner Von Braun (1912-1977) German rocket engineer, in U.
S. after 1945.
Cartoon from www.lab-initio.com
―Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent
perspiration. ― Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) U. S. inventor.
JOKE:
There was this biologist who was doing some experiments
with frogs. He was measuring just how far frogs could jump.
So he puts a frog on a line and says "Jump frog, jump!" The
frog jumps 2 feet. He writes in his lab book: 'Frog with 4 legs
- jumps 2 feet'.
Next he chops off one of the legs and repeats the experiment.
"Jump frog jump!" he says. The frog manages to jump 1.5
feet. So he writes in his lab book: 'Frog with 3 legs - jumps 1.5
feet'.
He chops off another and the frog only jumps 1 foot. He writes
in his book: 'Frog with 2 legs jumps 1 foot'.
He continues and removes yet another leg. " Jump frog jump!"
and the frog somehow jumps a half of a foot. So he writes in
his lab book again: 'Frog with one leg - jumps 0.5 feet'.
Finally he chops off the last leg. He puts the frog on the line
and tells it to jump. "Jump frog, jump!" The frog doesn't
move. "Jump frog, jump!!!" Again the frog stays on the line.
Quotes from: http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/sciquote.htm
POETRY:
From: news:bionet.microbiology --by someone signing as Yersinia
A Mad Scientist Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas and all thru my house,
Not a specimen was stirring, not even a louse.
The test tubes were capped and the rat cages closed,
The mold cultures fuzzy, the mice in repose.
The oven kept warm the ebola and pox,
I still need to locate my husband's clean socks...
But that has to wait till tomorrow, I know;
My buggies still need that much more time to grow.
When from the kitchen came a massive explosion,
I leapt from my bed in perpetual motion.
Grabbing my lab coat I pulled on my pants,
PAGE 17
�The Newsletter of the Department of Biological Sciences, Wagner College
Struggling into them a sick sort of dance.
With fury and haste I put on a shirt,
Running out of the bedroom on feet black with dirt.
Buttoning my lab coat and donning a mask,
I ran into the kitchen holding an Erlenmeyer flask.
I nearly passed out when the man who I saw,
dressed in containment gear sealed without flaw,
Held high a huge sack with his arm stiff and straight,
I could tell he must have a hard time with his weight.
Through the mike from his suit he said without pause,
"Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas, I'm Hanta Claus!"
Over his shoulder he hefted the sack,
We walked into the living room, I offered a snack.
He took it and smiled, placed the sack by my bench,
Instantly I noticed the Clostridium stench.
Brimming with joy, I cried out with glee,
"Did you bring all of these germies for me?"
"Oh yes," said Hanta, "I must show propriety;
By bringing you microbes, I'm saving society.
"You are the only one who loves these diseases.
Therefore I'm glad to oblige who it pleases."
Delirious with excitement I sat by his side
While he gave me a year's stock of microscope slides,
And pasteur pipettes, drug resistant bacteria,
Such as staph, strep and cultures from the genus Neisseria.
The gleam in my eyes caused the house to be lit,
The moment he gave me a gram-staining kit,
Clostridium tetani, perfringens and sporogenes,
Salmonella typhi and Streptococcus pyogenes!
Plus viruses known to produce hepatitis,
Herpes, and rabies, yellow fever and meningitis!
But that was not all, he had parasites too,
Plasmodia, trypanosomes and schistosomes true!
Tapeworms and roundworms, plague-carrying fleas.
How sincerely generous, Hanta did aim to please!
At long last he said he must now go away,
His sled was experiencing radioactive decay.
"Thanks for the presents," I said, shaking his hand,
"They'll keep me off the streets, you understand."
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Authors in all sections should keep in mind that not all
readers are specialized in their area of interest. Keep your
contribution on a level that everybody can understand.
Contributions may vary in length between about 50 and
500 words and must be submitted by e-mail to
horst.onken@wagner.edu.
Photographs or other images that accompany an article are
very welcome, but must be submitted as separate files
(high quality jpg is the preferred file format) attached to
the e-mail. Be aware that photographs/images may be
minimized in size.
Indicate the section of the newsletter where you want your
contribution to appear.
The deadline for submission of a contribution is the 20th of
the month. Contributions received later may or may not be
considered.
The editor reserves his right to edit your contribution
or post an immediate response.
Editing may involve to publish contributions in other
sections as indicated by the author.
All contributions will clearly indicate the author's
identity.
All contributions are reviewed and publication may be
refused by the editor.
The Editorial Board:
Editor: Dr. Horst Onken, Associate Professor
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Rollizo, Dept. Secretary
Student Assistant Editor: Nidhi Khanna (Biology major)
Student Assistant Editor: WANTED!
Hanta Claus smiled and bid me goodnight,
Shouting "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good blight!"
PAGE 18
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus: The Newsletter of the Wagner College Biological Sciences Department
Description
An account of the resource
The Department of Biological Sciences circulates a newsletter that will be updated monthly, culminating in two special issues per year (January and September). The January edition reviews the fall semester and the September edition reviews the spring semester and summer events. The name of the newsletter is LIMULUS and it is made available as pdf files.
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Limulus Newsletter, January 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Onken, Horst
Cook, Heather
Stearns, Donald
Houlihan, Adam
Stora, Victor J.
Cozzolino, Jessica
Migliorini, Michael
Kanzler, Walter
Priddy, Ralph
Ruark, Anette
Kiley, Charles
Yarns, Dale
Frohlin, John
Annan, Murvel
Electronic newsletters
Table Of Contents
A list of subunits of the resource.
Letter from the editor / Horst Onken -- Biology staff and faculty news / Horst Onken and Nidhi Khanna -- Curriculum news -- Biology club news / Nidhi Khanna, Cassandra Bray, and Melissa Alvarez -- Tri-beta news / Jessica Cozzolino, Yolana Fuks, Shannon O‘Neill, and Nidhi Khanna -- Pre-health society / Nidhi Khanna -- Opportunities / Nidhi Khanna and Horst Onken -- Experiences / Harold Kozak, Stephanie Rollizo, and Nidhi Khanna -- People -- Opinion / Ammini Moorthy -- Publication -- Professional meetings -- Alumni -- Recommendations -- Puzzles, jokes, quotes, and cartoons
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wagner College, Department of Biological Sciences
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Wagner College
Date Issued
Date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the resource.
2010-01
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Garofalo, Anthony (Tony)
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Provided by Wagner College for scholarly or research purposes only.
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Wagner College Digital Collections
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
application/pdf
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
18 leaves
Language
A language of the resource
en
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
newsletters
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Staten Island (New York, N.Y.)