Student Research Projects from Spring 2015
In Spring 2015 for the first time, student research teams could complete a full year-long research experiment (this was part of the first offering the BioCore curriculum). Teams were permitted to continue their animal behavior research begun in Fall Semester during Biology I (LB144) but now take it to the molecular level (**study a gene connected to the behavior). Other student groups chose to start a new research project, to design PCR-based diagnostic assays for a mutation that was know to cause a disease.

NOTE: Student work was graded in a blinded environment, so instructors did not know who's paper they were grading. To support blind grading students replaced their names with codes. Some forgot to return their names on the final manuscripts online. Also, if approved, student groups also performed sociological experiments and created short documentary films, only 5-minutes in length, using still photos to communicate the findings of their "30 Days" sociological experiment (see links to YouTube, often at the bottom of each group's website).

Student websites reporting their findings at the end of the independent investigations from Spring Semester 2015 (the second semester of BioCore)

FGFR3: Gel electrophoresis shows PCR a valid method of amplifying FGFR3 gene in IB3 cells

**HEXA: Trials of Amplification of the HEXA gene in human and turdus migratorius DNA determined by PCR and Gel Electrophoresis.

HTT: Isolation of HTT gene via PCR assay and gel electrophoresis (also pursued sociological experiment)

**HTT2: A PCR Assay for the HTT Gene in Homo sapiens and a Possible Daphnia pulex Homolog with Gel Electrophoresis.

LRRK2: Genotypic Identification of Exon 41 of Human Wild-type LRRK2 in IB3-1 Cell DNA by PCR Amplification.

P2: Evaluation of the Forkhead Box P2 gene in Homo sapiens through PCR and Gel Electrophoresis for a 66 Base Pair Product.

**PAHgene: PCR amplification of the PAH gene in cultured human cells and homologous regions of D. pulex and S. oleracea DNA

**PSEN1: Identification of Wild-Type PSEN1 Gene in Homo sapien IB3 Cell Lines and Predicted Avian Homolog Through Exon Specific PCR.

SCGB1A1: Genomic Identification and Amplification of the SCGB1A1 Gene in Homo Sapien IB3-1 Cell DNA Using PCR and Gel Electrophoresis

SOD1: Successful Genotypic Cloning via PCR of the SOD1 Gene Using S9 Homo Sapien Cells for ALS Research (also pursued sociological experiment)

**STK11: Genotypic Identification of STK11 homologs in Homo sapiens and Daphnia pulex using PCR.

TP53: An Examination of PCR methods and an Analysis of Their Success in Amplifying the TP53 Gene

**UCP2: Genotypic Cloning of the UCP2 Human Gene and Identifying the Homolog in Black-Capped Chickadees Using PCR.

ZDHHC8: Replication of Homo sapiens ZDHHC8 Linked to Schizophrenia By Exon Precise PCR Amplification