Kendra Haver
Hunters Lane High School, Nashville, TN
Subjects taught:  Biology, AP Biology, Anatomy & Physiology

Intracellular Engineering Lab.  Dr. Rick Haselton, Dr. Patricia Russ, PhD and Elizabeth Vargis, graduate student

I participated in two research projects simultaneously. 

Dr. Russ’s project was developing an imaging protocol for looking at the degeneration of the vasculature of the eye in diabetic rat and mouse models.  In this project  I mostly assisted with the experiments and collected data.  An aspect of this research that was thought provoking was the issue of using live animals in research.  While this is a very controversial topic, it is easy to understand why lives animals are needed for specific aspects of research.

Collaborating with Ms. Vargis’ project, I was involved in running gel electrophoresis assays on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products that are being developed as a method to identify organisms with various mixed segments of DNA.  These segments will be attached to nanoparticles, such as gold beads, to be able to identify, for example, biohazardous bacteria in water supplies.  The gels I developed will be used to check the PCR identification system.

As a result of my research, I developed a curriculum of DNA fingerprinting, in which students will learn and model how PCR works.  They will also run actual DNA samples on gel electrophoresis to identify and individual to which the DNA belongs.  I believe this will provide them a more concrete understanding of how DNA profiling is used practically now, and how it can be used in the future.  I also hope to increase their awareness of scientific research and the scientific process through this curriculum.