RADNOR, Pa. (Sept. 1, 2011) – While some college students might head to the beach for the summer, a group of students at Cabrini College opted for an intense biology lab course on genetics. After completing the course, which was sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the students submitted their findings in the GenBank, a National Institutes of Health repository of genetic information.
The 25 students are members of the College’s Honors Program, first-year students, or students in non-science disciplines with an interest in biology. They worked under the tutelage of Associate Professor of Biology David Dunbar, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor of Chemistry Melinda Harrison, Ph.D.; and Class of 2011 graduates Catherine Mageeney and Steven Forrester, who served as peer mentors.
The students researched and published on identifying phage genomics, or groups of viruses that infect bacteria such as tuberculosis and leprosy. The publication titles and students are:
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“Complete genomic sequence of mycobacteriophage Marvin.”
Authors: Ben Danner ’13, Gabrielle Bruno ’13, Matthew Cusmiani ’12, Matt Doyle ’13, Maya Hutson ’13, Ryan Juhring ’13, Melissa Phillips ’12
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“Complete genomic sequence of mycobacteriophage Ghost.”
Authors: Mageeney, Forrester, Drs. Dunbar and Harrison
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“Complete genomic sequence of mycobacteriophage Toto.”
Authors: Amy Cimo ’14, Trevor Cross ’14, Allisa Derby ’15, Emma Gilmartin ’14, Ji Jeon ’13, Jaimie Kelly ’15, Justin Leng ’14, Rebecca McCartney ’15, Deborah Moran ’14, Joseph Potesta ’14, Donna Wodarski ’14
About Cabrini College
Students do extraordinary things at Cabrini College, a residential Catholic college welcoming learners of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds. Founded in 1957 by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the College provides a transformational “education of the heart,” focusing on academic excellence, leadership development and a commitment to social justice. Cabrini offers 1,300 full-time undergraduate students more than 30 majors, pre-professional programs, concentrations and minors. More than 2,000 students are in graduate studies programs at the main campus in Radnor, Pa., and at 15 off-site locations. The College’s serene 112-acre campus is located 30 minutes from Philadelphia.