NSF Funds New Biology Microscopy Facility

Jean Hardwick with Kim Stallone '02. Photo by Bill Truslow

A research instrumentation grant from the National Science Foundation has been awarded to four faculty members in the Department of Biology. Jean Hardwick, Andrew Smith, Jason Hamilton, and Marc Servetnick had submitted a proposal to purchase two high-quality research microscopes and a digital imaging system to be used in a variety of research applications.

The proposal was developed in response to NSF's announcement last year of a new initiative to increase funding for research equipment at small institutions. Successful proposals needed to demonstrate both intellectual merit in the research areas and a broad impact on science education in general. Given our biology department's emphasis on involving all undergraduates in research, the NSF review panel felt that

Ithaca College has made a commendable and impressive commitment to fostering the integration of undergraduate education with research. The requirement that undergraduates participate for at least one semester in research, and the subsequent paper and presentation . . . demonstrate an outstanding allegiance to science training.

A total of 168 proposals from around the country were submitted to NSF for review, and about 45 percent of those were funded. Of these, 46 proposals were ranked "high" for funding, with the IC proposal falling into this group.

The new microscope facility allows a variety of optical analyses. Hardwick uses it in her studies of the nervous system. She and her lab students are working to understand how neurons communicate within the body. Scientists have discovered chemicals that can influence the activity of the nervous system, but they have not determined exactly where they are located or how they function. Using the microscope, Hardwick can visualize the location of the molecules and begin to develop a "picture" of where they are found; she can then relate that to the physiological effects observed in amphibians, such as mud puppies and axolotls. For example, one study in her lab is looking at the function of a specific neurotransmitter called PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide). This substance is found in a wide variety of animals, from frogs to humans. Currently, scientists do not have a complete understanding of the functions of this molecule in animals. Hardwick's study is examining its location in amphibians to determine where in the nervous system PACAP is found and how that correlates with functional studies.

Servetnick (right) uses the microscopy facility for his studies on the development of frog embryos. His lab is trying to understand the signals that pass between cells during embryonic growth, since these signals affect structural development. For these studies, Xenopus (frog) embryos are injected with messenger RNAs encoding various proteins. These proteins enhance or inhibit the signals sent between cells, and the researchers observe their effects on development. Microscopy is used to observe the embryos and to record any changes in structure seen during development. Future studies will use embryos that express fluorescent proteins (using jellyfish, which are naturally fluorescent) as markers to indicate when and where specific genes are activated during development.

Smith (left, with Tom Starz '04) studies biological adhesives and mucus. His laboratory focuses on a variety of animals that use mucus as a glue --- limpets, march snails, and the snails we eat as escargots. He and his students are examining how specific changes in biochemical structure affect the mechanics of the mucus. He hopes to characterize the components that allow the conversion of viscous, slippery mucus into a powerful adhesive glue. Such an adhesive might be used medically, especially for dentistry or surgery as an alternative to traditional stitches. This process can be further understood by using antibody staining of tissue sections to determine where in the organism these components are produced and whether different animals use the same biochemical components. The new NSF-funded equipment allows IC researchers to view the precise location, structure, and arrangement of the glands that secrete the adhesive protein.

Hamilton is investigating the effects on plants of being eaten by insects; the impacts of herbivory on leaf function are not always confined to the areas of missing and damaged tissue. Specifically, he is trying to identify a pattern in how the plant activates its defense mechanisms in response to insect feeding and then to correlate that pattern with the plant's patterns of photosynthesis activity. Understanding how plants respond to herbivory will help to better quantify productivity losses resulting from insects in natural and agricultural systems. Hamilton has long been interested in the effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels on plants, and in whether or not plants can act as a carbon sink to help offset emissions of greenhouse gases. The new facility will allow him to continue these studies on the specific responses of individual leaves to insect feeding and on how insect feeding affects plant carbon gain.

All of the faculty members who are using the new facility emphasize the importance of including undergraduates in their research programs. By maintaining active research programs with access to modern research equipment, the department is able to better prepare its majors for future careers in science. We welcome and applaud support from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, which help us make our students' educational experiences extraordinary.