Biology Projects For Class 9

[Samantha Figueredo]

WhenI was 6 years old, my grandma gave me an ant vacuum. While she thought my hobbies strange, she appreciated that I would pick the hornworms off her tomato plants. I feel at ease in the natural world, with its complex clarity. Processes function in fixed ways (of course, with documented and studied exceptions), behaviors are triggered to produce expected results, and yet we can still manipulate all of that. Studying biology has always seemed to me a living pursuit in and of itself. The field is constantly growing and expanding, morphing itself as new discoveries are being made. Coming to Pomona my freshman year and learning of all the courses and opportunities in the department, I knew it was the right choice for me.

In my high school courses, I did not have access to materials for experiments. In the biology major at Pomona, I have been able to design and carry out multiple experiments from start to finish. While that was intimidating, the professors in the department were all so supportive and zealous in their field that confidence and passion rubbed off quickly. You are able to choose courses that cater to your interests, so I am more ecology based. My upper division courses have never had more that 12 students, with one course only having two other students, still being taught directly by a professor. Instruction is led as a discussion, and the professors are all welcoming and approachable, in and out of class. Within the department, I have found myself surrounded by professors and peers who will gladly observe ant grooming behaviors with me for hours at a time or discuss what really happens to a whale as it decomposes. The major can truly be what you want to make it.

In my Insect Ecology and Behavior course with Professor Frances Hanzawa, a project throughout our semester was creating an insect collection. This involved catching insects, learning how to identify them to order by sight, keying them to family and species, and finally pinning and creating the collection itself (which is a true art form). I carried around a kill jar to catch insects all semester, as well as engaged in butterfly net ventures around Marston Quad and the Bernard Field Station with my classmates. One specimen was a presumed dead Figeater beetle picked up on the walk to my organic chemistry lecture, which ended up being not so dead, and required me to hold the living beetle in my hand while taking notes for the whole lecture. While an admittedly strange way to spend a semester, I now am very competent with insect identification, which has proven a rather useful skill. This past summer, I used the abilities I gained from that course in my internship at Michigan Aerospace Corporation, where I created collections of insects invasive to the Michigan watersheds to be used in drone mapping and educational outreach.

I choose to major in biology because of my passion for our oceans. In the future I hope to become a marine biologist/conservationist, using my love and knowledge to educate future generations on the importance of our oceans.

Alongside all the in-class and in-field projects and activities, I had the amazing opportunity to become a Doris Duke Conservation Scholar where I spent two consecutive summers researching and learning all about conservation and marine biology. Throughout my three years at Pomona, I also had the chance to work with multiple professors in their labs on their personal research projects. I was also able to receive a Laboratory TA (teaching assistant) position where I tutored and assisted underclassmen biology majors in the subject.

When I first got into Pomona, I learned about an academic cohort called Pomona Scholars of Science (PSS) intended for first-generation, low-income (FLI) students to ease their transition into science classes at Pomona. Being in PSS, I was able to take my first-year introductory science classes alongside other FLI students who shared similar fears or confusions as I did throughout the school year and built community very early on. Being a part of such an important program was the reason I gravitated towards studying biology in the first place, that, along with the compassion and drive that my professors in the department showed in the classes I took.

The fact that a program like PSS even exists, I think, speaks to the commitment that the department has in ensuring an equitable system of education where all students, regardless of their academic backgrounds, can feel a part of the classes they are taking and know that the faculty are intentional creating a welcoming class environment for their students.

The summer after my first year at Pomona, I was able to work in the lab of Professor Sara Olson working on a research project whose goal was to use CRISPR/Cas-9 techniques to explore the role that a newly discovering gene, B0513.4, had on eggshell formation in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegan, or C. elegan. The goal of my part of the project was to use CRISPR, a gene editing tool, to insert an edit into the C. elegan's DNA that would allow the worms to glow green at the site of the B0513.4 gene which we could then look at under a microscope to see whether there was any effect on the formation of the eggshell. I was then able to present my research project at the 2019 National Diversity in STEM Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Pomona was able to fully fund my trip and I presented my project at the poster presentation portion of the conference.

One thing that I really love about the Biology Department is the approachableness of faculty members. As a first year, it was very intimidating to contact professors that I had never met before, but I quickly learned that they enjoy interacting with students. Whether it be at Oldenborg language tables, department events, or chance occurrences, biology professors often converse with students about topics ranging from juggling to their research experiences in the Arctic. I know that I can approach faculty members I have never taken classes with and ask them questions about studying abroad, discuss my academic course load for the next semester, or just chat with them.

I also appreciate how passionate professors are about biology and teaching students. I distinctly remember a lecture from my Introductory Genetics course, in which my professor talked about the foundational experiments that identified DNA as the carrier of genetic information. I could visibly see his excitement while he likened the experiments to fine art. My friends and I walked out of the lecture admiring his passion for biology and feeling even more energized about studying it.

Earth Expeditions are stand-alone education and conservation-focused graduate courses in which students travel the globe to join world-class conservation and community projects in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Our mission is to build an alliance of individuals with first-hand knowledge of inquiry-driven, community-based learning for the benefit of ecological communities and global understanding.

Use online graphics to illustrate how a blood vessel forms. Blood vessels are structures that carry blood and are responsible for transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. There are three main types of blood vessels: arteries, veins, and capillaries. For this project, complete a literature search to understand what is known about blood vessel growth. Then, utilize this information to generate a graphic with no words to demonstrate how the vasculature (network of blood vessels) forms. The goal of this project is to explain science without using text and therefore make it more available to a larger community.

Aging is the number one risk factor for a variety of diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and loss of hearing/sight. We are only now beginning to truly understand the process of aging and have even started to uncover ways that we could stop, or potentially reverse, the effects of aging. What are the hallmarks/signs of aging? How do researchers study 'aging'? How does human lifespan and aging compare to the rest of the animal kingdom? Is it possible to stop or reverse the effects of aging? What advancements are being made related to this? We could explore these questions or brainstorm others you might have about the biology of aging.

Many countries are already releasing millions of genetically engineered mosquitoes into the wild every week. These mosquitoes have been modified to reduce their ability to transmit disease-causing pathogens like dengue fever, Zika, and malaria, and are sent into the wild to mate with disease-carrying mosquitoes. However, this is still controversial as some people are concerned about the unintended consequences on the environment. What could be the potential pros and cons for this? The project will mainly focus on doing meta analysis of articles and watching informative videos to understand how/why genetically engineered mosquitoes can be used to reduce rates of different diseases. Students will have the chance to use critical thinking and do in-depth research on genetic engineering techniques, how scientists determine breeding rates and number of insects released, and epidemiology of different bloodborne diseases.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are areas of ocean or coastal waters that are set aside for the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. These areas are established by governments, NGOs, or other organizations, and they can take different forms, from fully protected "no-take" zones to areas with regulated fishing or other activities. Marine protected areas have the potential to guide sustainable resource management and protect biodiversity, but have a host of reasons for why they are not currently effective. Explore reasons for why MPAs may not be effective. Then develop a framework for mapping, modeling, and implementing an effective Marine Protected Area.

Can the toxins produced by frogs help us fight antibiotic resistant bacteria strains? How can understanding how lizards and newts regrow their limbs help us improve wound treatment? Why do tilapia skins help with burns? Discover the role of animals in the development of modern medicine as well as its potential. Are there any ethical concerns with these developments and findings? If so, what are they and do they matter? Share your findings in a research proposal, article, or presentation.

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