Home > Contents of Proceedings > Volume 5

[Out of print]
Editors: Corey A. Goldman (University of Toronto), P. Lynn Hauta (Lakehead University), Michael A. O'Donnell (Trinity College), S. Edward Andrews (Sir Wilfred Grenfell College), Ron van der Heiden (Redeemer College)
Host: Doris R. Helms

1. Bacterial Transformation

Michael J. Ernest, Pfizer Central Research, and Nancy J. Rosenbaum, Yale University)  [abstract] [full text]

2. Extraction, Assay, and Light Activation of NADP+-3-Phosphoglyceraldehyde Dehydrogenase

William H. Outlaw Jr., Thomas P. Kraus, and Anne B. Thistle, Florida State University  [abstract] [full text]

3. Responses to Stimuli: The Basis of Behavior

Kathryn Stanley Podwall, Rosalie R. Talbert, and Walter B. Lener, Nassau Community College  [abstract] [full text]

4. Sensory Perception and Communication in Electric Fish

Patricia J. DeCoursey, University of South Carolina at Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

5. Clearing Techniques for the Study of Vascular Plant Tissues in Whole Structures and Thick Sections

J. M. Herr, Jr., University of South Carolina at Columbia  [abstract] [full text]

6. The Use of the Biotic Index as an Indication of Water Quality

Melvin C. Zimmerman, Lycoming College  [abstract] [full text]

7. A Field Study Of The Ant Trail Phenomenon

Dwight Moody, University of Findlay  [abstract] [full text]

8. Chick Embryos in Shell-less Culture

Cynthia J. Fisher, Bard College  [abstract] [full text]

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Abstracts (Vol. 5)

1 -- Bacterial Transformation
Michael J. Ernest and Nancy J. Rosenbaum  [full text]
Key Words: Acinetobacter, transformation, DNA, p-hydroxybenzoate.
Bacterial cells in the proper physiological state can absorb molecules of DNA from their environment. Once inside the cell, these DNA molecules can be integrated into the genome of the cell and become a heritable portion of the bacterial chromosome. This process is called transformation. The soil bacteria Acinetobacter calcoacetius is capable of utilizing aromatic compounds, like para-hydroxybenzoate, as its sole carbon source. In this experiment, DNA will be isolated from the wild-type Acinetobacter and used to transform a mutant unable to grow on p-hydroxybenzoate.

2 -- Extraction, Assay, and Light Activation of NADP+-3-Phosphoglyceraldehyde Dehydrogenase
William H. Outlaw Jr., Thomas P. Kraus, and Anne B. Thistle  [full text]
Key Words: Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, photosynthetic carbon reduction pathway, photosynthesis, carbon reduction, NADP+-glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase, chloroplast enzyme, light activation.
Carbon dioxide is reduced to carbohydrate in the so-called dark reactions of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. This cycle has no direct light requirement, but its continued operation depends on ATP and NADPH, which are generated by the photosynthetic pigment systems and associated electron carriers and enzymes. These two functions light harvesting and carbon reduction are coordinated. Thus, activation of several enzymes of the carbon reduction cycle is light-mediated. In this exercise the student will extract, assay, and investigate light activation of the reductive step enzyme of this cycle. This exercise is useful also as an introduction to an open-ended semester research project, suitable for third-year students.

3 -- Responses to Stimuli: The Basis of Behavior
Kathryn Stanley Podwall, Rosalie R. Talbert, and Walter B. Lener  [full text]
Key Words: stimulus, behavior, brine shrimp, milkweed bug, thermotaxis, phototaxis, chemotaxis, rheotaxis, geotaxis, thigmotaxis.
This exercise is designed to provide students with an opportunity to observe simple taxic responses in an aquatic test organism (brine shrimp) and a terrestrial test organism (the milkweed bug). Students perform a variety of simple tests designed to elicit taxic responses (thermotaxis, phototaxis, chemotaxis, rheotaxis, geotaxis, and thigmotaxis) in the test organisms and record observations on prepared record sheets. Instructions for the preparation and maintenance of milkweed bug cultures are provided.

4 -- Sensory Perception and Communication in Electric Fish
Patricia J. DeCoursey  [full text]
Key Words: electroperception, electrocommunication, electric fish, gymnotid fish, mormyrid fish.
Electric fish of the Amazon Basin and Nile River are equipped with electric generator-receiver organs for both sensory perception and communication. These fish are superbly adapted for life in turbulent, muddy streams and, therefore, provide an excellent illustration of the input of environmental information into central nervous systems via specialized sensory windows. This exercise also provides practice in a number of important general animal behavior techniques such as the maintenance of freshwater aquaria, the use of an oscilloscope and other electronic devices for behavioral recording, and the taxonomic identification of behavioral subjects.

5 -- Clearing Techniques for the Study of Vascular Plant Tissues in Whole Structures and Thick Sections
J.M. Herr, Jr.  [full text]
Key Words: clearing technique, clearing-squash technique, clearing technique.
For transmission light microscopy, an alternative to tissue sectioning is provided by clearing techniques whereby thick tissue masses are made translucent. Clearing is accomplished either by removal of opaque protoplasmic components or by changing the refractive properties of various organelles without altering the structural integrity of the cells. The 4« clearing technique, presented here in four exercises, operates through the latter mechanism. It effects a refractive uniformity among cellular organelles so that their distinctive and contrasting features can be revealed at present only with phase contrast and Nomarski interference microscopy or through selective staining in conjunction with bright field optics.

6 -- The Use of the Biotic Index as an Indication of Water Quality
Melvin C. Zimmerman  [full text]
Key Words: Hilsenhoff's Biotic Index, stream water quality, organic pollution, aquatic insects, stream food web.
This is a field/laboratory exercise involving the collection, identification, and use of aquatic insects to estimate the water quality of lotic (stream) ecosystems. The development and use of a biotic index to characterize water quality is related to aspects of organic pollution, food webs, and other physical/chemical properties of the stream. Aspects of this laboratory are appropriate for an introductory biology course, an extended student project, or a detailed laboratory exercise in a general ecology course.

7 -- A Field Study Of The Ant Trail Phenomenon
Dwight Moody  [full text]
Key Words: ants, ant foraging activity, ant trails, insect behavior, insect communication, insect territoriality, pheromone, trail pheromone.
Foraging ants establish trails which lead colony members to food sources. Trails are pheromone secretions deposited on the ground by ants as they return from the food location to their nest. In this exercise students place food at various distances from an ant hill or nest. Ants are then observed as they find the bait and lead other ants to it. At the completion of this exercise students construct a graph which shows the establishment of trails, recruitment of workers, and depletion of the bait.

8 -- Chick Embryos in Shell-less Culture
Cynthia J. Fisher  [full text]
Key Words: chick embryo, shell-less egg culture, growth and differentiation, histochemistry.
Chick embryos and egg contents that are 72-hours-old are removed from their shells and shell membranes and cultured in plastic wrap slings suspended in styrofoam hot cups. Continuous observation of developing embryos from day 3 up to day 18 of incubation allows students to see differentiation of extraembryonic membranes and circulation, limb bud, heart, feathers, etc., as well as pre-hatching behavior. For advanced classes, this method is useful to study teratology, organogenesis, and quantitative growth changes.