Library Streaming Media: Grundset Lectures

This talk will be a discussion about the journey to becoming a veterinarian. It will cover the process of applying to veterinary school, possible career paths within veterinary medicine, and tips for succeeding while enrolled in a professional degree program.

A family physician's journey from Southern through medical school and into clinical practice.

Thesis and research students present their original research.

You know what you love, but can you make a living at it? When your dream is to have a job where you can swim with sharks every day, not only do people think you're crazy, but you too recognize the impracticality of such an aspiration. But, life sometimes plays out unexpectedly and dreams can suddenly become reality. In my 20+ years working in public aquaria, I've logged over 750 dives (most with sharks), opened the world's largest aquarium, conducted the first physicals on whale sharks, participated in coral restoration, discovered a new species of box jellyfish, and am currently collaborating with the Smithsonian and National Geographic. This presentation will revisit some of my journey's highlights and the lessons I've learned along the way.

Venomous animals often possess complex venom delivery systems that are designed to inject their toxic secretion into the tissue of prey and/or predators. Effectiveness of venom deployment depends on two critical factors: composition and quantity of venom delivered. To better understand the venoms of scorpions and how it is used, we conducted a series of behavioral and chemical studies to investigate the venoms of two North American species (the desert hairy and the dune scorpions) and one African species (the South African fattail scorpion). Venom is a complicated secretion and we have observed its' use to be more sophisticated and varied than previously thought.

In this presentation, Dr. Deurksen-Hughes will recount how her understanding regarding the connections between her faith and her passion for science has changed from her early childhood into a career as a professional cancer researcher.

Scripture lays out a clear case that Noah's Flood covered and destroyed the entire planet, wiping out all land-dwelling, air-breathing animals and people. While most paleontologists see the fossil record as a multi-billion-year sequence of life, there are many powerful evidences that fossils instead point to a recent, short-duration, world-destructive flood.

Plants are often overlooked as the less exciting eukaryotic cousins of animals. They are, in fact, fascinating examples of eukaryotic diversity as the plant kingdom includes many examples of biochemical pathways and anatomical structures not found in other forms of life. As a cell and molecular biologist, the biochemistry and physiology of plants have always provided an endless source of fascination. This presentation will give an overview of the use of model plant systems in several ongoing research projects being conducted by Southern Adventist University students. Projects include: (1) Characterizing he phytoremediation capabilities of Coriander sativum. (2) Quantitating the levels of berberine in over-the-counter herbal supplements. (3) Determining the best DNA preparation kit for extracting DNA from mature oak tree leaves for downstream sequencing applications. (4) Quantitation of the antibacterial affect of berberine from whole root extracts of Goldenseal.

Motile bacteria navigate their environment via chemotaxis systems. These systems consist of a sensor that communicates to the flagellar motor through a two-component signaling mechanism. Research in Vibrio cholera shows a unique sensor proten with two PAS Heme ending domains. Our research concentrates on understanding the role of the Che II operon in Vibrio cholera, Vibrio vulnificus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as elucidating the signaling mechanism of the Aer2 sensor.

I will be sharing stories about my path to medical school, what I wish I had known, and what has helped me the most along the way. I will then briefly discuss what you can be ding now to be ready for applications, the transition from undergrad into medical school, and what well-meant advice you can ignore. To make this the most helpful it can be, I expect people to come with questions.

Cells communicate with each other by sending and receiving signals. To regulate group size and coordinate activities, such as, cell proliferation, cells use rather complex signal vocabularies to communicate. We use a social amoeba as a model to understand the nature of these conversations.

In this lecture, Dr. Brian Dickinson will discuss his personal journey from Southern Adventist University (graduated '97) into his career as a small animal veterinarian. He will detail some of his obstacles, hardships, and successes in the pursuit of his dream.

Original title: Spiders on the Clock : Pushing the Limits of Circadian Biology. Circadian rhythms are endogenous oscillations, which become synchronized with the daily cycle regardless of external temperature. It is believed that these internal rhythms are advantageous, allowing organisms to anticipate regular changes in the environment: transition from day to night. Thus, there is a presumptive advantage to having an internal clock similar to a 24-hour day. However, we have discovered a species of spiders with internal clocks different from 24-hours, including species with the longest and shortest known circadian rhythms. This presentation will review what we know about spider circadian rhythms, and argue for spiders as a model into the fundamentals of chronobiology.

Already hailed as the greatest discovery of the century, CRISPR is a powerful biotechnology tool giving scientists unprecedented access to the genetic makeup of all living organisms. It originally evolved as an adaptive immune system in bacteria, but when artificially harnessed in the laboratory, CRISPR allows scientists to accurately and precisely edit genes almost as it using a word processor. The potential applications are exciting and widespread, but they also open an enormous range of bioethical questions regarding how and when the technology should be used. This presentation will explore how CRISPR was discovered and how it is already revolutionizing the field of biology.

Only a few Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, among the 700+ microbial species in the human mouth, are associated with periodontal diseases. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone pathogen and a major etiological agent in periodontal disease produces several virulence factors (e.g., capsule, adhesin, membrane vesicles, and hydrolytic enzymes) that can contribute to its pathogenicity. Overcoming oxidative stress is the key element in the survival of P. gingivalis in the inflammatory environment of the periodontal pocket. We will discuss the response and adaptation of P. gingivalis to environmental stress which now appear to utilize a coordinated strategy involving multiple mechanisms.

If some aspects of life are the result of deliberate intelligent design, and other aspects are the result of chance mutations and natural law, where it is reasonable to draw a border between the two? In this talk, I will try to show the limits of random Darwinian processes, and the depth of design of life.

There are over 53 million individuals in the United States that suffer from, or are at high risk of getting osteoporosis. With very few effective methods to treat this bone disorder, it is important to discover new therapeutics. One method to identify new treatments is to better understand the cells that build bone: osteoblasts. We have identified an epigenetic pathway in osteoblasts that regulates bone growth in mice. By better understanding how osteoblasts develop to build bone, we seek to identify strategies to more effectively treat bone loss disorders like osteoporosis.

The California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus) is a commonly-known echinoderm on the west coast of North America with a little-known seasonal cycle. In late fall, animals stop moving and experience complete degradation of their internal organs; they become little more than apparently dead bags of skin. Several weeks later, with no external signs of life, the internal organs regenerate and animals regain their activity. Dr. Nestler will describe current molecular, physiological, and ecological research he and his students are conducting on this bizarre phenomenon, and implications their findings may have for loss and regeneration of human internal organs.

Dr. Nelsen and Dr. Corbit will present their original research. Highlighting past and current projects including: spider venom, spider silk, animal behavior, rattlesnake bite epidemiology, rattlesnake ecology, and the impact of hiking trails on forest biodiversity.

GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid), is a non-protein amino acid that accumulates in response to many different types of stress. In order to better understand the different aspects of stress, Dr. Jose Barbosa presents how arabidopsis and yeast respond to different types of stress by studying GABA.

Dr. James Gulley (1987) got his start at SAU then trained at LLU, Emory and the NCI to become and internationally recognized cancer immunotherapy physician scientist. He will share some of his experiences with early successes, failure and how he learned from them. His clinical trials have led to approval of Avelumab (a cancer immunotherapy agent) and another clinical trial could lead to approval soon for a second immunotherapy. Dr. Gulley will explain how our incredibly versatile immune system works to fight cancer and will offer science bases advice on how to strengthen the immune system, which could prevent cancer or decrease cancer recurrence.

Autotomy is defined as the intentional sacrifice of a body part, and is usually done to avoid being eaten after an animal has been grabbed by a predator. This is obviously beneficial, since loosing a body part is better than losing your life! However, missing this body part may prove costly in the future. In this talk I examine leg autotomy in the wolf spider Pardosa valens from Arizona, and show how the loss of a leg can affect this spider's running speed on both its short-term and long-term survival.

Cnidarians do not have estrogen receptors. Endocrine disruption is suspected in cnidarians but no evidence has been clearly identified. This presentation will discuss how cnidarian endocrine disruption can be detected and quantified.

To survive in the periodontal pocket, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Filifactor alocis and other periodontal pathogens have developed mechanisms to scavenge nutrients and overcome their environment. Recent work demonstrates these activities are under the control of novel regulatory genes. We will highlight some of our observations that are consistent with the hypothesis that the virulence properties of the oral pathogens will enhance their ability to survive and persist in the periodontal pocket and play an important role in infection-induced periodontal disease. This information will provide important clues that will allow for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to aid in the control and prevention of periodontal diseases and other periodontal pathogen-associated diseases.

Where did dinosaurs live? How did they die? What happened to them? Why are the extinct? Dr. Snyder will cover these and other questions about dinosaurs based on the work he has done on a large dinosaur bonebed in Wyoming. SWAU and SAU work together allowing students to take a science class at the dig, and apply it to their science requirement. Did dinosaurs make it on the ark? Come and find out.

Jared Lewis reports on his research with Rachel Clark and Dr. Benjamin Thornton entitled "4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol Acute Toxicity to Daphnia and Its Effects on General Esterase and Glutathione S-Transferase Activity in Fathead Minnows", and Michael Baranda, Vanessa Gonslaves, Yalyn Labrador and McKenzie Martin report on their Arboretum Project research.

Pentidotea resecata is a large, green isopod which lives on eelgrass near Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory during the summer. My students and I have investigated whether, besides providing good camouflage, its green color may be due to chlorophyll and whether the animal may, therefore, be able to photosynthesize. Evidence suggest these animals do have chlorophyll and can perform photosynthesis. I will present evidence for whether or not this is an advantage for the animal; and will explore some of the potential negative consequences of having active photosynthesis. In addition, I will present data that help give us some insight into its life cycle.

Because of their toxins, rattlesnakes often inspire extreme emotions: fear and loathing, and intense fascination in others. Although many rattlesnakes are killed when encountered, they comprise an essential part of the natural environment and help to maintain balanced ecosystems. In doing so, nature's toolbox has carefully shaped their chemical weaponry to yield an extraordinary diversity of compounds that help them survive. This lecture will explore the remarkable nature of rattlesnake venom and the factors that influence its composition; the natural roles that venom serves and how the snakes actually deploy it (including fascinating videos); and the fascinating relationships between rattlesnakes and humans, including the role of venom in snakebite and in cures for human ailments.

Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) have a very broad distribution, readily use nest boxes, and are tolerant of human activity. As such, they have been frequent subjects of studies on foraging, reproduction, migration, and toxicology. Much of what we know, however, comes from the northeast; we know very little about their biology in other parts of their range. As a results of next boxes being put up in this area, Tree Swallows have increased rapidly, from 0 pairs in 2005, to 60 pairs currently. I have been studying this population since 2014, focusing on their reproduction, and am starting to expand into other parts of their biology. I will present results of my work and compare it with what is known about Tree Swallows in other parts of their range. NOTE--first 15 minutes of presentation are not available.

Eastern hellbenders are a giant salamander that relies on cool, well oxygenated rocky streams. They used to be widespread across the Tennessee, Ohio, Susquehanna and Ozark watersheds, but have since declined. We have been surveying in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee National Forest to help asses their status in the southern Appalachians. We have some healthy populations in our area, but even here hellbenders are threatened by stream disturbance and habitat fragmentation. We are now implementing a recovery action plan: translocations, captive breeding, disease monitoring, and habitat improvement.

Gives an overview of the work Garrison's lab group does in the area of Mygalomorph (tarantuala and trapdoor spider) systematics and evolution with a focus on my work in the genus Aptostichus. She discusses defining characteristics and natural history of mygalomorphs and their placement in the arachnid tree of life and share both challenges and developments in the are of spider systematics.

The idea that research is fundamental to natural resource management is one that can result in conflict because both community interests and government agencies may have very different priorities: income earning and complying with laws and conventions. For both private industry and governments, supporting decisions with research findings may not be considered important. In such cases, how can conservation researchers find ways to resolve conflicts among all interests? Professor Dunbar's recent experiences proved some practical steps for bringing the parties to the table so that conservation research can move forward for the benefit of all involved.

In southern California, rattlesnakes often come in conflict with humans when both species find themselves occupying the same areas. These conflicts not only pose medical risks to humans, but can also cause snakes to be displaced or killed: negatively impacting populations. This lecture will cover the epidemiology of venomous snakebite in southern California and how methods used to resolve human/rattlesnake conflict can impact rattlesnake behavior and the populations to which these snakes belong.

Understanding the feeding behavior is an essential element of effective conservation strategies. In this talk, he will explore the feeding ecology of the endangered Antillean manatees in a seasonally flooding forest, where they must deal with the boom and bust cycle of available food resources driven by water levels.

Cells communicate with each other by sending and receiving signals. To regulate group size and coordinate activities such as cell proliferation, cells use rather complex signal vocabularies to communicate. We use a social amoeba as a model to understand the nature of these conversations.

Covers issues germane to controlling plan invasions in north Florida, which is of interest to those in Tennessee as North Florida is a transition zone between Tennessee and south Florida--one of the most invaded regions worldwide. What problem do invasive species pose? What is the current state of knowledge on how ecosystems respond to herbicide treatments? Here, Jonathan will outline how ecological modeling and applied techniques can be brought to bear on plant invasions.

With over 22 years of experience, James Brantley discusses what it is like to work in the zoo industry. Zoos play a crucial role in conservation through their breeding and rehabilitation programs, and are often at the forefront of bridging the gap between urban communities and nature. Zoo careers offer exciting opportunities to engage the public, and teach the next generation the need to care for creation.

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in the past decade and are marketed as smoking cessatin aids. However, these products are not well regulated or researched. A number of toxic compounds have been discovered in the refill solutions: Nicotine and other tobacco alkaloids. This study uses tobacco alkaloids to test the effects of these chemicals on the growth of human cells in a culture system. Overall, this project illustrates the need for greater research on refill solutions, and the need for better labeling and regulation of refill solutions.

The concept of all life is in competition for survival in which only the most fit survive is central to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. This theme of struggle seems at odds with much of what is observed in nature and with Biblical themes of surrender and cooperation with God's will rather than rebellion against The Creator. While the Bible teaches creation has been marred by sin, is competition really the predominant theme of fallen creation? Or are enough echoes of the original "very god" creation left to encourage us to rethink the Darwinian view that all life is engaged in a struggle to the death?

Although the waters of Honduras host five of seven known species of sea turtles, there is historically a lack of research conducted on these species throughout the country. With Honduras having both Caribbean and Pacific coastal zones, a great opportunity exists to study sea turtle species. Dr. Dunbar will talk about how the Protective Turtle Ecology Center for Training, Outreach, and Research, Inc. (ProTECTOR) has hosted research, conservation, and education outreach on both coasts of Honduras over the past eight years. This brings to light new details of sea turtle biology and ecology in the region of Central America.

The California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus) is a commonly-known echinoderm on the west coast of North America with a little-known seasonal cycle. In late fall, animals stop moving and experience complete degradation of their internal organs; they become little more than apparently dead bags of skin. Several weeks later, the internal organs regenerate and animals regain their activity. Dr. Nestler will describe current molecular, physiological, and ecological research he and his students are conducting on this bizarre phenomenon, and implications their findings may have for loss and regeneration of human internal organs.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) has often been called "God's Gift to Mankind" due to its well known medicinal properties. However, over collection from the wild combined with habitat loss due to land development has placed the species in danger of extinction. Randy has spent the past two decades developing sustainable production techniques for the plant and is an internationally recognized authority regarding goldenseal. In this lecture he will discuss goldenseal's history, it's uses and abuses, future potential, ongoing efforts to domesticate the plant, as well as opportunities in natural products research.

Be a child again! Play in the dirt. Dig up stuff nobody else has ever seen. AND do it in the name of science. You can get 4 semester credits in science during the month of June digging dinosaur bones with people from around the world. No previous experience necessary. Bouncing pronghorns, diving eagles, and flowering cactus are only a few of the exciting things waiting for you.

Most of the molecular machines and structural components of a cell are proteins. The activities of these proteins are tightly regulated by modifications including proteolysis. To understand these regulatory events, we need to better understand the cellular and molecular biology of the many enzymes that perform these proteolytic modifications.

A get-your-boots-muddy, butt-in-the-saddle view from one whose regular day in the office has been traversing the 800 miles of trails in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park backcountry. Learn from wildlife encounters ways to guide you on your personal path of life. Lonnie Maize is Trail Crew Leader and Trails Supervisor, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee, North Carolina.

Venom in spiders has fascinated humankind from ancient times. However, research has primarily focused on the physiologic activity and biochemistry of venom. Spiders are a diverse group of organisms, with over 44,900 species, most of which possess venom and silk. Less than 100 species have had their venom studied. This presentation will present new research on the venom and silk use in the Western Black Widow spider Latrodectus hesperus.

Chestnut trees have been cultivated for thousands of years for their sweet, edible nuts, and were a staple of traditional cultures in East Asia, Europe, and eastern North America. Migrating peoples carried chestnuts as far as South America, Australia, New Zealand and the West Coast of North America. Chestnut flour was once a staple of Mediterranean cooking. Chestnut trees provided timbers, wicker, fuel, tannin, and even medicinal astringents from their leaves. Along with the grapevine and the olive tree, the European chestnut is one of the great pillars upon which Mediterranean civilization was built. Chinese and Japanese chestnut trees played similar roles in China, Korea and Japan.

Southern student research presentations for 2014.

John McCallum teaches classes in wilderness survival, primitive skills, bush craft and man tracking to groups and individuals. He is a certified Master Tracker from the Mountain Trackers Association. He will talk about use of wild animals and nature for orienteering, telling time, distance, danger warning signals and survival techniques to help you travel through the woods like a pro. Also basic gear and survival priorities will be discussed.

As a part of the Caribbean biodiversity hotspot, the Bahamas archipelago hosts substantial species richness. But like most archipelagos, human activities are rapidly and profoundly decimating many species and their habitats. Dr. Hayes will describe long-term studies of endangered birds and reptiles, illustrating the importance of taxonomic assessment, population estimation, habitat restoration, and local environmental education.

When Charles Darwin finished The Origin of Species, he thought that he had explained every clue, but one. Darwin knew that his theory did not explain the "Cambrian explosion," when many animals suddenly appeared in the fossil record without apparent ancestors in earlier layers of rock. In this presentation, Dr. Stephen Meyer tells of the mystery surrounding this explosion of animal life - a mystery that has only intensified. Meyer will show that the origin of biological information - stored in DNA - as well as other mysterious features of the Cambrian event, are best explained by intelligent design, rather than purely undirected evolutionary processes.

Botanical research is dependent on herbaria specimens. Basic floristic are important for studying biogeography, plant migrations, and science education among other reasons. Tennessee has three large herbaria, but there are 12 state collections. Recent advances in specimen imaging have begun unification of all Tennessee collections into a common Tennessee Herbarium Consortium Virtual Herbarium. Dr. Shaw will speak about several lines of research from floristics to the evolutionary rates of mutation in chloroplasts and show how herbaria are foundational to science.

Southern student research presentations for 2013.

When human nature meets mother nature.

Sea cucumbers (Phylum Echinodermata) are intruiging marine organisms because of their nutrient cycling, their defensive strategy of vomiting their internal organs at predators, and their respiratory habits. Dr. Nestler will share the findings of recent tropical and temperate marine research projects that have examined the ecological importance and behavioral effects of light on sea cucumbers in their natural environment , as well as the molecular basis of their light detection ability.

Training the cancer patients' immune system to fight cancer.

The Eocene Green River Formation Analogue

Southern student research presentations for 2011.

Trauma research in the 21st century is moving at an amazing pace using stem cells, tissue engineering, and gene therapy. Trauma patients of the future will experience significantly brighter outcomes due to these innovations. But how this research is financed is another issue altogether.

Tropical marine ecophysiology and coral reef biodiversity have taken Dr. Dunbar to many areas of the world. The latest exciting research of protecting sea turtles is presented.

John McCallum teaches classes in wilderness survival, primitive skills, bush craft and man tracking to groups and individuals. He is a certified Master Tracker from the Mountain Trackers Association. He talks about use of wild animals and nature for orienteering, telling time, distance, danger warning signals and survival techniques to help you travel through the woods like a pro. Also basic gear and survival priorities are discussed.

By using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Dr. Steen has used these tools to assist colleagues, graduate, and undergraduate students in a variety of ongoing research projects. Imaging nanoscale structures and learning how they function in living systems is an endless fascination.

In the huge diversity of the marine world, a vast number of relationships are yet not understood. Dr. Cowles discusses several instances of unexpectedly complex behaviors that his students have recently studied at Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory. An octopus is finicky in its diet for reasons that go far beyond simply obtaining enough food. Anemones lack brains but are able to manipulate the symbionts with which they live.

Crickets have become good models to study how neuronal circuits control behavior. These creatures have relatively simple nervous system, but yet exhibit rather comlex behaviors including recognition and localization. This presentation describes variation in the behavioral and neuronal response in female crickets.

Southern student research presentations for 2009.

Do FDA required clinical trials provide confidence in safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products? Evidence-based medicine has emerged as a new paradigm replacing the traditional approach. However, both patients and practitioners have raised serious objections about the process. Dr. Gates has worked in both the naturopathic and pharmaceutical industries and will provide a behind-the-scenes perspective and some interpretive strategies for the scientist.

The Hamilton County Water Quality Program, under federal and state permit provisions, conducts mapping, surveying, and water quality monitoring in various local watersheds. This lecture discusses water quality parameters and issues in the Wolftever Creek watershed, including water quality monitoring in the creek.

Sea cucumbers (Phylum Echinodermata) are intruiging marine organisms because of their nutrient cycling, their defensive strategy of vomiting their internal organs at predators, and their respiratory habits. Dr. Nestler will share the findings of recent tropical and temperate marine research projects that have examined the ecological importance and behavioral effects of light on sea cucumbers in their natural environment , as well as the molecular basis of their light detection ability.

While completing her Masters of Public Health, Amanda Gaspard, (Class ’06) works in a research laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She has developed an ELISA for detection of cysticercosis, a tropical disease affecting 50 million people worldwide. Also, she recently surveyed 373 college students about underage alcohol consumption for her thesis. She discusses the broad and diverse field of public health.

Crime Scene Investigation draws from many different disciplines to identify and analyze evidence. This lecture focuses on biological methods used in the investigation of violent crimes. Topics include blood stain pattern analysis, clandestine grave discovery, and post-mortem interval determination.

Knowledge has doubled in the last 20 years. Miniature devices that make a human hair appear enormous treat patients on a cellular level. This was not even imagined a decade ago. Recently a viable artificial heart was implanted and is working in humans. Kidney and liver tissues are created in the laboratory. Miraculous outcomes are now every day occurrences in operating rooms and emergency centers around the world. Where are we going from here?

Velcro, prosthetics, and selfl-cleaning paints are just three of the literally thousands of biology inspired inventions that are in current use with more being discovered every week. This presentation is a general update on biomimetics or bionics as it is sometimes called, touches on interesting current research findings, and concludes with a discussion of possible teleological implications for biologists.

Zebrafish have become a powerful model for studying early development in vertebrate species. Dr. Carver describes research using zebrafish to better understand developmental processes involved in bone and muscle formation.

Stromatolites are microbial build-ups that were known only as fossils until modern living analogs were reported in 1961 from Shark Bay, Australia. Since then, modern stromatolites have been described from numerous locations including Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Current studies provide a unique picture of ancient lake hydrodynamics and chemistry not previously understood and have motivated significant revisions in depositional models of this ancient lake system.

Southern student research presentations for 2008.

Everyone thinks within some worldview, based on assumptions. Those assumptions direct, or limit, one’s approach to research. A secular, naturalistic worldview can be a challenge because certain hypotheses contradict that worldview. Examples of how a well informed Christian worldview can lead to more productive research is given.

Therapeutic targets in cancer are defined on a molecular level. An overview of new research in a Phase One clinical trial in the treatment of cancer is presented.

Bacteria are used to living in a corporate setting. To survive in the dog-eat-dog world of a host, they must develop defensive strategies that will position them to take over the host corporation. Many of these defensive strategies involve secretion of proteins. Gram negative bacteria have six types of secretion systems that employ different mechanisms to push proteins outside of the cell. Dr. Ramsey discusses how Klebsiella pneumoniae utilizes secretion systems to colonize the lungs and cause pneumonia.

From DNA sequencing to captive propagation, conservation biologists must be versatile in the methods they use restore biodiversity. This talk discusses ongoing projects at the Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute, from Lake Sturgeon to Tangerine Darters.

Amphipod crustaceans comprising the Gammarus pecos species complex are endemic along the Pecos River of New Mexico and Texas. At least one entity in this complex is a federally listed endangered species, but identification and monitoring of these amphipods present some challenges due to their cryptic morphology. Data from Richard’s ongoing PhD research dealing with sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase I and 16S rRNA genes will likely merit separate species description and consideration for state and/or federal protection.

Dr. Shaw talks about his systematic study and challenges focusing on the phylogenetic and phylogeographic history of the genus Prunus.

Dr. Ross has continued researching about a group of extinct marine reptiles called mosasaurs. He is greatly interested in issues surrounding the creation-evolution controversy and the intersection of geology with the Biblical events of creation and Noah’s Flood.

There is a crisis facing elephants in captivity and in their home ranges. The goal of the directors and staff of The Elephant Sanctuary is to provide a haven for old, sick or needy elephants. The elephants live in a setting of green pastures, old-growth forests, spring-fed ponds and a heated barn for cold winter nights. In addition to the care of the animals, Carol and her staff work to provide education about the crisis facing these social, intelligent and endangered creatures.

The whale shark is the world’s largest fish, reaching lengths of up to 66 feet. The species of shark at the Georgia Aquarium, Rhincodon typus, is a gentle filter-feeding species. Found world-wide in tropical and subtropical waters, the whale shark is gray to brown in color with light yellow or white markings and a white belly. Ms. Janssen tells how the whale shark was acquired and transported from Taiwan to Atlanta.

Dictyostelium, a social amoeba, normally exists as solitary cells that proliferate by cell division while feeding on bacteria in soil and decaying leaves. When stressed by starvation, these amoebae stop dividing and enter a developmental program that results in the formation of a multicellular fruiting body.

Human-animal diseases are a major health concern even today. This lecture goes over some of the more common diseases that we can contract from our four-legged companions.

Differential patterns of gene expression, genomic instability and DNA methylation are used to examine typical and athypical mechanisms of controlled gene expression in development of the ear and colon cancer.

The genetic basis within the geographic variatins for C. durissus clade was determined, and the taxonomic implications for subspecies determinations will be discussed.

Plasticity occurs in even the simplest behaviors. With a variety of tools, neurobiologists can now ask questions about the mechanisms that underlie changes in the function neuronal circuits.

Bamboo is a renewable source of plant fiber that can be used for paper pulp, engineered wood products, biomass fuel, and food. West Wind Technology’s vision is to introduce the use of bamboo to Western countries as a viable substitute for wood.

In the Grand Canyon, the first layer deposited above the eroded Precambrian surface and the first layer containing undoubted metazoan fossils is the Cambrian Tapeats Sandstone. It is proposed that the Tapeats Sandstone was deposited in deep water in connection with tectonic (earth movement) processes and the associated collapse of a submarine shelf farther to the east.

You will be encouraged to explore the role that God has for Christians in caring for His creation. In this presentation you will be introduced to the different perspectives that Christians have in caring for God’s creation and learn about one person’s journey toward that goal. Come and be challenged to find the role that God has for you.

The Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute (TNARI) surveyed freshwater mollusks within the Upper Coosa River Basin (UCRB) from 1998 to 2003. Survey activities for these studies occurred primarily in Georgia, but also in Tennessee and Alabama. Qualitative sampling of freshwater mollusks was completed by wading and/or snorkeling for generally 30-60 minutes per site. In addition to original survey data collected, a large historical database was constructed from natural history museum records to evaluate changes in species richness and distribution over time across the UCRB.

The Eocene Green River Lake System (Green River Formation) portrays a variety of ecological and paleoenvironmental settings. We have reconstructed physical, chemical, and biological aspects of these lakes, and have mapped the extent and location of cyanobacterial reefs. Using "forensic" studies we have been able to reconstruct a fairly accurate picture of the details of these amazing lake systems.

The Tennessee River Gorge Trust has ensured that land bordering the Tennessee River from Chattanooga to Nickajack Lake will be preserved for the future. In addition, it also includes one of the most unique blue-ways in the area.

Most people think of "rain forests" when they hear the word "tropics." However, the tropics encompass a diversity of habitats, with an almost endless array of exciting organisms interacting in fascinating, sometimes bizarre, ways. Come and see iridescent butterflies, poisonous frogs, big snakes, unusual epiphytes and a whole buch of other neat organisms.

Wolftever Creek and Wilkerson Branch are two small creeks that border the SAU campus. Turtle population and behavior studies have been conducted for the last three years on these two creeks. Come and find out about the turtles that live so close to our campus.

Commonly prescribed compounds such as Lipitor and Prozac enter the water system and affect the aquatic life. The occurrence, fate and effects on aquatic invertebrates of these pharmaceutical drugs is presented. Other compounds and organisms that Dr. Richards has worked with in the past are also included in this presentation.