Spring 2005 Vol 3, Issue 2 coral shrimp hides in an artifi- cial coral. The two friends set up a 20-gal- lon tank in Kalyn's home last year and had so much fun, they wanted to try something bigger. The large tank in the biology lab was just collecting dust, so the girls asked permission to set up the aquarium. “We thought it would be really good for the introductory biology students to see some of the things they were learning about in an actu- al habitat,” said Kalyn. “It's also medically proven that watching fish swim around lowers the blood pressure, and we thought that would be good for everyone!” Kalyn, who has worked at Sarah Tracy and Kalyn Estep tend to their fish friends. Petland in North Augusta for mals into action in the Biology the past three years, will gradu- Salt Water 102 lab this year, setting up two ate next May with a biology salt water aquaria for the enjoy- continued on page 6 ment and education of students Habitats and faculty alike. The 55-gal- (and other creatures) lon tank pictured is home to a yellow tang, a maroon clown- hey were both tomboys fish, a green birdfish, a spotfin IN THIS ISSUE: growing up. Biology lion fish, a snowflake moray eel, Chair’s Message - 2 Tmajors Sarah Tracy and and a Banggai cardinalfish. Faculty Focus - 2 Kalyn Estep grew up in the The smaller 20-gallon tank in Graduates - 3 country, Sarah by a creek and the back corner of the room is a Students of The Year - 4 Kalyn by a lake. “We must mini-reef system with live rock SC Acad. of Science - 5 have driven our parents crazy providing a habitat for a poly- Faculty News - 5 with all the critters we would chaete worm, red coral, and a Alumni Update - 5 bring home,” Kalyn muses. variety of bacteria and other Independant Study - 7 They have put their love of ani- microorganisms. A banded Alumni Focus - 8

From The Chair:

ometimes change comes in small steps let us know how you are doing! and sometimes in leaps and bounds. SWhen you look around our department In our last edition, I reported the hiring of Dr. lately it seems that we are currently on either a Michele Harmon to teach physiology. leap or a bound. One manifestation of the Although she does not officially start until the changes taking place in the Department of fall, she is already on campus and has hit the Biology and Geology is the new look of ground running. She recently visited the our newsletter. A facelift was in order “Changes University of Georgia where she and I hope you like what we have done. learned the finer techniques of C. ele- This publication would not be possible are everywhere - gans culture. Although these nema- were it not for the hard work of Carol todes have been most commonly used all you have to do to study development, Michele is hop- Cutsinger, our Administrative Assistant ing to put them to work in the area of who not only finds time to write most of is look! ” environmental toxicology. In addition the articles, but to take all of the photo- to filling the physiology position, I am graphs as well. A special thanks goes to Jeff pleased to report that we are currently search- Mastromonico, the USCA Director of Visual ing for a tenure-track faculty position to teach Communications for his help in the new anatomy, something we have not had since the design. As usual you can access the full color retirement of John Spooner. We are currently version at our website: http://www.usca.edu/bio- conducting on-campus interviews and I am geo/news.asp. We are also working on a new hopeful that we can hire someone for the fall look for the web site and hope to have some- semester. thing up and running soon. Visit us often and continued on page 6

revamped the class to include evolu- him back to UC-Davis to investi- Faculty Focus: Andy Dyer tionary theory. gate the population ecology of inva- Educated at California State sive species such as barbed goat- e calls his office a haven, University, Fresno (B.A., Zoology grass. and during the five years and M.A., Wildlife biology) and the He has been working on two major HDr. Andy Dyer has been University of California, Davis research projects here at USCA, at USCA, he has filled it with (Ph.D., Plant ecology), Dr. Dyer involving a number of our students soothing, interesting items. The served two post- Zen garden, bubbling fountain, docs before join- Hindu prayer flags, plants, and ing our faculty in collection of rocks, fossils, arrow 2000. The first, heads, and tree cores are indica- with the Univ. of tive of the varied interests of our Michigan, took resident Plant Ecologist. Dr. Dyer him and his fam- is one of the principal teachers for ily to Israel on an ABIO 102, Biological Sciences II, NSF-funded and teaches ABIO 370, Ecology project investigat- and Evolution, ABIO 570, ing the competi- Principles of Ecology, and has tive interactions been the instructor for ABIO of species from 355, Integrated Research two desert annual Techniques. In 2002, ABIO 370 communities. became a core requirement for all The second took Biology majors ,and Dr. Dyer

2 Evolutions

Congratulations Graduates Wedding Bells Pam Wall. Jackie, who is May currently working at Katherine Anderson MCG, has been accepted Kimberly Browder into the Cardiac and Raven Ginn Vascular Technology Pamela Johnson Program at the University Carol Journey—cum Hospital. Jason is laude employed with a family business in Jackson. Natalie Keya McCasline has completed her first year Leonard “Ray” in a Ph.D. program at McNeely—cum laude iology/Geology alums Jackie UNC Chapel Hill, Vanessa, Jaina Patel—magna Davis and Jason Hall were employed at MCG, is preparing for cum laude Bmarried May 7, 2005 at a her own wedding in June, and Pam Barbara Ann Smith beautiful ceremony at Lake Murray. is beginning her 3rd year of doctor- K’Joy Simms Attending the bride were classmates al studies at MCG. Bianca West Natalie Surzenko, Vanessa Guy, and Carl Williams

August Lee Atkinson doing Senior Research Projects. to start spreading so rapidly. Barbed Kimberly Bushee With funding from the National goatgrass, related to wheat, is a Shanette Meeks Wild Turkey Federation, he has hybrid of two other species of goat- been studying the biology and ecol- grass and is teaching us new things Christopher Perez ogy of Chufa, a domesticated about the genetics of invasive Tanya Vance nutsedge which is fodder for wild species. turkeys. The NWTF was interested in learning whether Chufa would This summer Dr. Dyer is study- hybridize with wild nutsedges (the ing tuber reproduction in answer has turned out to be very nutsedges, funded by a USC unlikely), but Dr. Dyer's studies Research and Productive went much further, investigating Scholarship grant. different growing conditions, com- petition, and germination. Dr. Dyer has also been very active in the community. An avid swim- He has also continued his work mer (he currently holds five Georgia with barbed goatgrass, a weed that Masters state records), he is the has been spreading wildly in founder and coach of the Aiken Northern California since the High School swim team. He also 1990s. First recognized in this serves on the Board of Directors of ents country in 1914 and carried here the Fermata Club and Smart atel with her par Jaina P eception from the Mediterranean by cows, it Growth Aiken. ’s graduation r is not understood what has caused it at dept

Evolutions 3

Students Of the Year tion at the National Institutes of Health. We are very proud of Katie and look forward to her contin- atie Anderson, Biology Student of the Year, ued success. transferred to USCA as a sophomore major- Dwight Jones, Student of the Year in Geology, will King in pre-pharmacy. She later changed her major to psycholo- gy and her interests to medical school - specifically psychiatry. However, after taking two introductory biology courses, Katie became more interest- ed in the biological aspects of psychi- atric illnesses and addiction. She once again changed her major, this time to biology where she soon immersed herself in the activities of the depart- ment.

In addition to her regular coursework she began working in the research laboratory of Dr. William Jackson on the use of ribozymes as therapeutic Dwight Jones, Dr. Jackson, Katie Anderson agents against the Human Immunodeficiency be a familiar face to regular readers of our newsletter, Virus. This work “I can’t explain how great the as this is the second year in a row Dwight culminated in the has earned this honor. During the past year, presentation of her geology program is at USCA ..the Dwight completed an Independent Study data at the South faculty provided me with real life Project related to his internship at the Carolina Academy Savannah River Site last summer, also pre- of Sciences meeting opportunities to use what I had senting his work at the SC Academy of held this past March learned in real life applications.” Sciences meeting. He was a leader in Karin a t Winthrop Willoughby’s Geomorphology class in the University. She -Dwight Jones Spring. Dwight is transferring to the recently submitted Columbia campus in the Fall and hopes to her work as a manuscript for publication. Katie also complete a double major in geology and anthropol- participated in departmental operations by working ogy (archaeology). Summing up his time at USCA in the office and as a student laboratory assistant for Dwight said, “I can't explain how great the geology introductory biology. program is at USCA. My only regret is that there is not a BS program for geology at USCA. It was the For the short-term Katie is continuing her research faculty which directly influenced my decision to with Dr. Jackson over the summer before entering study geology. The same faculty provided me with graduate school at the Medical College of Georgia real life opportunities to use what I had learned in this fall. Her long term goals are to obtain a PhD in real life applications.” Good luck, Dwight! Pharmacology or Neuroscience and obtain a posi-

4 Evolutions

South Carolina Academy Of Science Recent Faculty Activities

Dr. Garriet Smith attended the SC Aiken was well represented at this year’s South Carolina BackReef II Workshop, The Academy of Science meeting, held March 16th on the cam- Importance of Back Reef Upus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Habitats to the Sustainability of Coral Reef Ecosystems, spon- In the Cellular Biology section, Christina Wilson, Effects of sored jointly by NOAA, U.S. Phosphate and Microbial Amendments on Lead (Pb) Contaminated Soil EPA, and PIMS on Lee and Brian Nevius, Survival of Bacteria from African Dust, both men- Stocking Island in late January tored by Dr. Garriet Smith. and participated in an American Academy of In Molecular Biology, Brandon Busbee, Construction of Recombinant Microbiology colloquium Plasmids to Study Genes of the bph Cluster, mentored by Dr. James on Marine Microbial Diversity: Yates; Jaina Patel, Design and Cloning of an anti HIV-1 Rev The Key to Earth’s Stability in Hammerhead Ribozyme, Connie Arthur, Design and Cloning of a San Francisco April 7-10. Hammerhead Ribozyme Targeted to HIV-1 Vpu, and Katherine Anderson, Design and Cloning of Hammerhead Ribozymes Targeted to Dr. Bill Jackson, Dr. James NL 43 HIV-1 vif aRNA, all mentored by Dr. William Jackson. Yates, and Dr. Garriet Smith attended a Microbiology & And in Geography/ Geological Sciences, Dwight Jones, GIS Biodefense Conference spon- Dynamic Population Model Tool for Savannah River Site Emergency sored by MCG at the Savannah Response, faculty mentor Dr. Allen Dennis, and Erin Brown, Burma Rapids Pavilion on May 6, Road Borrow Pit 2 Soil Investigation, mentored by Dr. Bill Pirkle. 2005. Dr. Smith was a featured Congratulations to all for a successful meeting. speaker at the conference.

Dr. Allen Dennis, on sabbatical this year, presented Provenance Technology from the Medical of polymictic conglomerates in Alumni Update Online College of Georgia in 1995 and is the Catskill-Pocono clastic Did you know? currently employed as a Medical wedge: Implications for the You can update your address and Technologist at Edgefield County Inner Piedmont of the let us know what you’ve been Hospital. She is married to Lanny Carolinas and Devonian doing since graduation online! Miller from McCormick and has Mississippian collisional tec- Just go to two daughters, Abbie (8) and tonics in the central www.usca.edu/biogeo/alumni.a Sara Frances (3). sp. We’d love to share your news! Appalachians at the Northeast Section meeting of the Jennifer Vann, 2001, was Geological Society of America Dr. Jennifer Walker 1987 and awarded a Doctor of Veterinary and Middle Paleozoic clastic Mr. Mark Adams were married Medicine degree from Tuskegee wedge provenance, dextral col- on May 28, 2005 in Charleston, University on May 8, 2005. SC. Dr. Walker received her lision, and the Southern Appalachian Inner Piedmont: medical degree from MUSC in Sydney Jones, 2002, is a first The Spechty Kopf and 1991 and is currently a cardiac year law student at the Rockwell Formations of the surgeon on staff at Massachusetts Charleston School of Law and is Central Appalachians as tectonic General Hospital and North engaged to be married in January markers at the Southeast sec- Shore Medical Center. 2006 to Aiken native Brent tion of the GSA, both in Chavis. Belinda West Miller, 1993, March. received a B.S. in Medical

Evolutions 5

Salt Water Habitats continued from page 1 major and a criminal justice minor. She has become known at Petland as a wildlife rehabili- tation specialist and has raised all sorts of injured and aban- doned wild animals. She also gives a home to animals Petland is unable to sell. Currently her pets include a baby owl named Archimedes, a parrot, a finch, two dogs, a hairless cat, turtles, newts, sala- manders, eight Chinese fighting fish, keep a salt From The Chair continued from and her own water page 2 20 gallon salt tank, they water tank. said time, Congratulations to our May and patience, August 2005 graduates! One of Sarah, who is and the the greatest joys in this job is to planning a willingness watch as students take control of triple major to do the their future. I look at graduates in biology, research in like Katie Anderson, Carol psychology, order to Journey, Chris Perez, and Bianca and sociolo- learn West and cannot help but gy currently which remember back over the past four has three species can years to the first time I met each dogs- a boxer coexist of them. It seems like yesterday and two dachsund-chihuahua peacefully in the same tank. that Chris showed up in my mixes from the SPCA. She is The correct lighting and levels Biology 101 class or that Jaina the primary caretaker of the of salinity, bacteria, and pH Patel and K'Joy Simms came to department's resident alligator, levels are essential ingredients annoy the heck out of me with Wally. (Many of our alumni to keeping a healthy tank. A their transfer credits! Several of will remember Wally as a sweet good filter and heater round this year's class worked in my little foot-long gater, but in the out the required equipment. research lab and as usual it made seven or so years he has lived The fish are very territorial, for a unique cast of characters. with us, he has grown to four too. Any time a new fish is Like every year there was laughter feet with an attitude!) Her added, the decorations in the and tears, excitement and trepi- tank should be rearranged so father had fish tanks while she dation as we moved towards the that new territories have to be was growing up, so she has spring and graduation. In a few enjoyed working with the fish established. It takes time to get a tank ready for its first live weeks we will be starting over here. Both Sarah and Kalyn with a new group of freshmen. have their sights set on medical inhabitants. The girls are also preparing a salt water tank in This year's underclassmen will be school studying parasitology next year's graduates. Changes and tropical medicine. the departmental office, which is already home to a red-eared are everywhere - all you have to do is look! When asked what it takes to slider named Darwin!

6 Evolutions

Spring 2005 Independant Research Projects esearch continues to be an integral part of our department’s program. Students pursue independent study projects under the tutelage of Rfaculty members, and those pursuing a B.S. degree are required to complete a senior research project. Listed below are projects for Spring 2005.

Independent Study Projects • Connie Arthur: Transient generation of retroviruses as anti-HIV reagents. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson. • Erin Brown: Plant succession and detention periods. Advisor: Dr. William Pirkle. • Lesley Duffie: Design and cloning of an anti-HIV-1 hammerhead ribozyme. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson. • Elizabeth Harrison: Design and cloning of an anti-HIV-1 hammerhead ribozyme. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson. • Melinda McDonald: Design and cloning of an anti-HIV-1 hammerhead ribozyme. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson. • Brian Nevius: Characterization of bacterial pathogens of African Dust. Advisor: Dr. Garriet Smith. • Christina Wilson: Bacterial analysis of African Dust Storms. Advisor: Dr. Garriet Smith. • Christina Wilson: Effects of phosphate and microbial amendments on lead (Pb) contaminated soil. Advisor: Dr. Garriet Smith. • Zachary Wilson: Cloning of the RNA Polymerase I transcriptional cassette. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson.

Senior Research Projects • Katherine Anderson: Analysis of HIV-1 tat expression by Reverse Transcription-PCR. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson. • Kimberly Dobson: The importance of moisture in heat-treated Cyperus tubers. Advisor: Dr. Andy Dyer. • Katherine Fleming: The effects of resource availability on competition in Brassica. Advisor: Dr. Andy Dyer. • Raven Ginn: The effects of food supply on silk moth production. Advisor: Dr. Andy Dyer. • Carol Journey: Generation of a stable HeLa cell clone expressing a TatFLAG fusion gene. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson. • Brandon Padgett: Effects of temperature on seed germination and young plants. Advisor: Dr. Harry Shealy. • Jaina Patel: Design and cloning of an anti- HIV hammerhead ribozyme. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson. • K’Joy Simms: Exploring the characteristics of African Dust. Advisor: Dr. Garriet Smith. • Barbara Ann Smith: Analysis of plasmid pKT240. Advisor: Dr. James Yates. • Christina Tucker: Determining the presence of coyote (Canis latrans) in Hitchcock Woods via scent post surveys. Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Priest. • Caroline Weed: Determining coyote (Canis latrans) presence and food habits in Hitchcock Woods by means of scent post surveys and scat anaylsis. Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Priest. • Bianca West: Design and cloning of an anti-HIV hammerhead ribozyme. Advisor: Dr. William Jackson. • Carl Williams: Arm structure and prey handling in Octopus bimaculatus. Advisor: Dr. Heather Bennett

Evolutions 7

Sales Rep where Dr. Smith’s work Alumni Focus contributed to their fungal e turn our alumni Identification Database,” said focus this Spring to Heath. “I feel that every member W1998 graduate of the faculty was very support- Heath Holley. After receiving a ive, and this support and instruc- B.S. in Biology, Heath went to tion has had a profound influence work for Monsanto on my career. Without the one- Pharmaceutical in on-one attention I received at Augusta, GA, first as a Quality USCA, I do not feel that I would Control Associate Engineer/Cleaning Validation have been able to excel this far in Microbiologist and later as an Site Material Expert. This posi- such a short period of time. The Aseptic Unit Specialist. He tion is focused on review and test- Biology/Geology Department then moved to Miami, FL ing of procedures and processes has provided me remarkable where he was employed by utilized in pharmaceutical pro- experiences and opportunities in Schering Laboratories in duction. He manages multi-func- growing and learning.” Heath MiamiLakes. His first position tional teams and oversee projects will be married in the near future there was as Quality Test from beginning to end. to Amy Nicole Ray who has a BS Laboratory Microbiologist— in Biology from Georgia State Quality Control In his years at USCA, Heath University. Heath says the cere- Microbiologist. learned skills in the labs of Dr. mony will take place on a sail- Garriet Smith and Dr. James boat in a nice, quiet sunset In April of this year he moved Yates that have helped in his pro- ceremony off of Key West. to the Validation Department fessional career. “In fact, I had the

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