MDI Biological Laboratory

MDI Biological Laboratory
HomeEducationCoursesBridging Disciplines: The Impacts of Environmental Chemicals on Aging and Physiology

Bridging Disciplines: The Impacts of Environmental Chemicals on Aging and Physiology

Location: MDI Biological Laboratory (travel information)
Contact Education Office

2020 Bridging Disciplines Flyer

Aging is a multifaceted process affected by the interplay of both genetics and environments. While much research on genetics in aging has been conducted, the non-genetic factors, such as the environmental toxicology of aging, have been under-explored. Arsenic is a common toxicant found in ground water that has been linked to age-related diseases, suggesting a plausible association to aging physiology.

This week-long course will provide the fundamental concepts of toxicology and aging biology via lectures, discussions, reading current news articles and scientific publications, and critical thinking exercises. The course will also offer hands-on research experiences. Students will examine the toxicity of arsenic exposure using nematode C. elegans in i) developing toxicological testing methodologies, ii) assessing several biomarkers of health-span and lifespan, and iii) interpreting research data for scientific communities as well as for general public.

Tuition

Undergraduates are not charged a fee; housing and meals are provided free of charge.

Course Director

Course Faculty

  • Douglas Currie, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor of Biology and Graduate Coordinator
    University of Southern Maine
  • Jane E. Disney, Ph.D.
    Senior Staff Scientist; Director of Education; Director, Community Environmental Health Laboratory
    MDI Biological Laboratory
  • Nishad Jayasundara, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor
    University of Maine Honors College

Overview:

This week-long course will provide the fundamental concepts of toxicology and aging biology via lectures, discussions, reading current news articles and scientific publications, and critical thinking exercises. The course will also offer hands-on research experiences. Students will examine the toxicity of arsenic exposure using nematode C. elegans in i) developing toxicological testing methodologies, ii) assessing several biomarkers of health-span and lifespan, and iii) interpreting research data for scientific communities as well as for general public.

Research Goals:

  1. Practice skills that will be required throughout the week to address research questions related to  C. elegans
  2. Examine the effects of arsenic exposure on physiology and behavior of C elegans:
  • Mortality
    1. Acute toxicity: death of P0 animals
    2. Lack of viable progeny : no F1 animals
  • Stress responses: % survival assay
  • Developmental speed: time of the first egg- laying
  • Progeny production: fecundity: brood size
  • Motility and muscle function
    1. The touch-evoke escape response assay, used to measure acceleration during a burst swimming motion after exposure to toxicant.
    2. Microscopic imaging of changes in muscle structure (actin or myosin)
  • Neurological and behavior assay
    1. Burrowing assay
    2. Speed of food depletion: the rate of food consumption
  1. Acute exposure vs. chronic (long-term exposure)
  2. Change of gene expression: using qPCR assay

Guest speakers (Tentative):

  • Jane Disney: SEPA program (arsenic in drinking water in Maine)
  • Doug Currie: In-vitro (cell-based) toxicological assays
  • Jarod Rollins: Polysome profiling, translation regulation in aging
  • Liz Marnik: CRISPR technology to edit genomes of C. elegans.
  • Sam Baek: Chromatin remodeling and aging
  • Nishad Jayasundara: Global arsenic problems, arsenic impact on zebrafish metabolism and behavior

Tentative schedule:

Sunday: Arrival, Orientation and Responsible Conduct of Research Training

Monday – Thursday (subject to change)

  • 9:00 – 10:30 am: Students will learn to handle and transfer C. elegans and to set up and perform the bioassays of arsenic exposed vs. control groups
  • 10:30 – 10:45 am: break
  • 10:45 – 12:00 pm: Students will continue laboratory activities or learn about animal model systems, current works on arsenic exposure, and basic practice skills in biomedical research (by lecture or from guest speaker)
  • 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch
  • 1:00 – 3:00 pm: Activity with guest speakers (lecture, lab activity, discussion etc.)
  • 3:00 – 3:15 pm: break
  • 3:15 – 5:00 pm: lab activity or discussion

Friday morning: Students will present and discuss about their research and reflect about the experience

 

Connect