CRUI: Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry to Study Evolutionary, Ecological & Behavioral Interactions Between Birds & Feather-Degrading Bacteria & Environmental Appli

俄亥俄卫斯理大学的教师和学生将研究鸟类羽毛中的微生物生态系统，重点是那些降解羽毛角蛋白的细菌。分子遗传学将用于研究降解过程的控制，生物化学将用于研究切割角蛋白分子的酶的结构适应性。微生物学将研究羽毛内的各种微生物如何与羽毛降解细菌相互作用。最后，教师和学生将研究鸟类如何调节这个复杂的微生物生态系统，这些生态系统威胁着它们的羽毛和生存。相互关联的生化、分子、遗传、微生物、生态和进化问题需要多学科方法。了解羽毛降解细菌及其鸟类宿主的自然历史、酶合成的遗传控制和降解的生物化学，将有助于提出从废羽毛中回收小蛋白质和氨基酸的环保安全方法，以及对死禽进行有效堆肥。72名本科生，其中包括37名大一新生，已经作为合作伙伴设计、完成并报告了他们自己的研究。每年夏天，八名学生将获得研究奖学金，并为一名中学科学教师提供一个研究助理职位。每年将提供四个学年的指导，这将在学生教学生的同时建立对研究的承诺。

Ohio Wesleyan faculty and students will study the microbial ecosystem within avian plumage emphasizing those bacteria that degrade feather keratin. Molecular genetics will be used to study the control of the degradation process and biochemistry to study structural adaptations of the enzyme that cleaves the keratin molecule. Microbiologically will study how the diverse microorganisms within the plumage interact with feather-degrading bacteria. Lastly, the faculty and students will study how birds regulate this complex, microbial ecosystem that threatens their feathers and their survival. The interrelated biochemical, molecular, genetic, microbial, ecological, and evolutionary questions necessitate multidisciplinary approach.Knowledge of the natural history of feather-degrading bacteria and their avian hosts, the genetic control of enzyme synthesis, and the biochemistry of degradation will enable the suggestion of environmentally safe methods of recovering small proteins and amino acids from waste feathers and efficient composting of dead poultry.Seventy-two undergraduates, including 37 freshmen, have designed, completed, and reported their own research as partner in the current project. Each summer eight students will be offered research fellowships and one research associate position for a secondary science teacher. There will be an offer of four academic-year mentorships annually, which will build a commitment to research as student teaches student.