Spahlinger recounts her experience:
In our project at Kenyon College, we worked with Prof.
Wade Powell to study gene expression in response to environmental toxins.
We sought to use microarrays to look at the differential gene expression
in Xenopus laevis (a frog species) tadpoles treated with the
environmental toxin 3,4,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Kenyon
College has great science facilities for a small liberal arts college,
and we were able to do all the animal studies and RNA preparation in
Powell's lab. For the array hybridizations, we collaborated with Sandra
Splinter BonDurant from the Gene Expression Center (GEC) at University
of Wisconsin, Madison. Lisa King and I had the opportunity to go to
Madison, Wisconsin to complete the project with Sandra’s help. We then
brought the data back to Kenyon for statistical analysis, with Prof.
Brian Jones of Kenyon's Mathematics Department.
We spent much of the spring and summer collecting samples for the microarrays.
Adult frogs were bred to obtain embryos, which were then dosed with
TCDD. Embryos were treated at two different life stages and the total
RNA was extracted. Each of the samples were cleaned and sent to Sandra
for quality analysis. Since all of our samples were of adequate purity,
we were able to go forward with the project. Throughout the period of
preparation, I remained in email contact with Sandra, who was able to
provide advice throughout the process.
Lisa and I arrived in Madison on Saturday afternoon, and had a day and
half to explore the city before we started in the lab. During that time,
we checked into our hotel, figured out the bus system, tried a couple
interesting restaurants, went for walks around Lake Monona, and listened
to some live music on the Terrace at the Wisconsin Union on one of the
lakes.
We met Sandra on Monday and she went through some microarray basics
with us: how they are made, what they are used for, and how they are
analyzed. We also met Wayne, who is a technician in the Gene Expression
Center. Sandra set up the first set of cRNA synthesis, labeling and
fragmentation reactions for microarray hybridization. Lisa and I watched
her set up these reactions and then set up the second half while Sandra
and Wayne were available for questions.
After the fragmentation reactions were completed, Wayne showed us how
to hybridize our samples to the array, and what to do with the chips
post-hybridization. He also gave us a tour of the Biotechnology Building.
We had the opportunity to talk to some of the people that worked in
laboratories in the building, and look at some of their newest equipment.
After much of the lab work was done, we met with Dr. Audrey Gauche,
who is another P.I. that works in the Gene Expression Center. She uses
spotted array frequently in her lab work, and talked about microarray
data analysis with us. We also met with Dr. Christina Kendziorski, who
is a professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics.
Both professors were very helpful, and said that they would be happy
to answer questions when we returned to Kenyon and began to analyze
our data.
Outside of the lab, Lisa and I were able to try a variety of ethnic
foods as well as lots Wisconsin ice cream. We went to look around the
medical school one afternoon after we finished in the lab, and on another
night, we went to a symphony concert on the Capital Square. Our last
night, we met with Kenyon Alums, Emmie Dengler (’05) and Trey Smith
(’04). We went out to dinner with Emmie, then the three of us met Trey
at the Wisconsin Union for a concert. Emmie is currently a graduate
student at Wisconsin, and Trey is working in a biomedical lab while
he applies to medical school. At the concert, we also met some of the
people that work in Emmie’s lab.
Overall, our experience at University of Wisconsin, Madison, was great.
We learned new lab techniques, and became more comfortable with microarray
technology and data analysis. We also got a taste of what it is like
to do research or go to school at a large, research-oriented university.
Both of us were grateful to have such a great opportunity.
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