Hello everyone! I hope you're all doing well. My name is Henry Basila, and I'm thrilled to share with you some exciting updates from my work in Dr. Read's lab at Cal State San Marcos. As a senior majoring in Biotechnology, I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of this lab, as the skills, experience, and knowledge I gain here will undoubtedly pave the way for my future endeavors, particularly in pursuing a Ph.D. in cellular biology.
The past week has been truly remarkable in terms of progress and personal growth. As I delved deeper into my research project, which focuses on identifying the genes involved in the calcification process of coccolithophores, I found myself becoming more immersed and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the materials and methods within this field. Now, let me give you a brief overview of my project. Coccolithophores, fascinating unicellular algae, play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem by producing intricate calcium carbonate shells in various shapes and sizes. With over 200 different species, these organisms have an ancient lineage dating back over 200 million years. To initiate my project, I first need to determine the precise timing of shell production after a period of inoculation. This involves creating a growth curve to identify the late log phase, during which coccolithophores exhibit the highest rate of reproduction. These shells reflect light, and in order to view this calcification, I will be using a polarized light microscope to see the light reflected from their shells. Once I see calcification I will then be able to use an acid to break down the shell, and then extract rna from said decalcified algae. From there I will be doing a transcriptomic comparative analysis in order to view the difference between genes of calcified and non calcifying coccolithophores. Everyone came together to build a puzzle, either physically, or morally. After all of our hard work, Dr. Read rewarded us with some amazing crepes (what can't she do?)! Outside of the lab, I spent a lot of time with my new boyfriend, Stephan. We cooked meals together, exercised, and went to a baseball game. To end the week, I welcomed transfer students to the school as a representative of the Biotechnology club. I am very excited to spend more time in the lab, and with all of you amazing individuals!
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Watch this space for weekly updates!Every week, one of our CSUSM NSF REU students will post their blurb, summarizing their week, and chronicling our program. AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
August 2023
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