CSB/SJU Biology Department Newsletter
Volume 3    Number 13
January 21, 2000


1. Message from the Chair

Shortly after the New Year I was listening to a radio program and one of the commentators was speculating about the future. Among the comments that "stuck" with me is that our quality of life is now better than it has ever been and better than it will likely be in the future. It’s easy to appreciate the advances in medical care, food distribution, technology, etc. that have made our lives downright "cushy" compared to our ancestors. Unfortunately, it’s not clear what the future will bring. If you consider the recently-released statistic that the US population will double to over 500 million by the year 2100, there is certainly some cause for concern. My hope for the New Year is that our leaders from all sectors of societies recognize the potential magnitude of our global environmental situation and begin to act to prove the radio commentators wrong. Voltaire said that this was the best of all possible worlds – let’s hope it stays that way.  

2. Student News:

Elaine Marie Fernandes- is currently working on an honors thesis project - "Structural Studies of Two DNA-repair proteins-Rad23 and Rad27".

3. Faculty News:

Dr. Michael Reagan has been awarded a faculty development grant of support his project on the role of DNA glycoslase in DNA repairs. Congratulations Mike!
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Dr. Stephen Saupe judged a 5th/6th grade science fair at John Clark Elementary School in Rockville. His favorite project was the lad who showed that temperature increased the rate of diffusion in water.

4. Curriculum News:

5. Biology Club News:

 6. Calendar of Events:

Feb 10 Internship Workshop – 4:30 Q247
Feb 14 Pfizer Summer Workshop Applications Due
Feb 15 Deadline for Claire Booth Luce Scholarship Applications
Feb 29 Plant Puzzler Entries due
Mar 1 Summer Jobs/Internship Fair, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Alumnae Hall, Haehn
Mar 10 Lil’ Sibs Weekend
Mar 14 Careers in Science Panel; 7 pm; Teresa Reception Center
Mar 31 CSB Senior Parent Weekend
Mar 7 Internship Workshop – 7:30 pm. HAB 009
April 1 SJU Mother-Son Dance
April 8 Biology Subject Test – GRE
April 29 Pinestock
May 2 Stearns County Environmental Education Day
7.Internships/Scholarships/Jobs:

Summer Jobs/Internship Fair

A variety of organizations will attend this fair, including some temporary laboratory/science" organizations, on 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Alumnae Hall, Haehn Campus Center, CSB.
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Careers in Science

Panel presentation to be held on Mar 14 at 7 p.m. in Teresa Reception Center, CSB
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Summer Research Fellowship Opportunity! – by Dr. Michael Reagan

This year, for the first time, CSB/SJU have been invited to nominate students for the Pfizer Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship for Molecular Biology. This fellowship allows a student to do research in the general area of molecular biology in a lab here at CSB/SJU for the summer. The fellowship will pay $3,500 to the student for the summer, and the student and faculty mentor will visit Pfizer Central Research in the fall for an award ceremony and to present the results of their research project in a poster session. Pfizer will give preference to juniors. The Biology department will nominate up to two students to Pfizer for this fellowship. Awards will be announced March 29. Interested students should pick up information from Dr. Reagan (NSC 216) and should contact and discuss potential projects with a faculty mentor. The student will have to submit to Dr. Reagan by Monday, Feb 14: 1) a short (one-page) statement describing the importance of this opportunity to your personal and career plans and a brief explanation of the project, 2) a letter of recommendation from the faculty mentor, and 3) a copy of your transcript. A Biology Department committee will decide the nominees from the department, and the student will then complete the application process.

The application to Pfizer, due March 1, will have to include, in addition to the material described above, a description of the proposed research project written in collaboration with your faculty mentor.
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Behavioral Sciences - U of M Summer Undergraduate Research Experience -

will be held June 5-August 14, 2000. The goals of this program are to interest students in graduate study and careers in research and teaching in the Behavioral Sciences, Cognitive Sciences, and Mental Health. The deadline for receipt of applications is February 1, 2000. If you have any questions contact gersh001@tc.umn.edu
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DNR Volunteer Opportunities for winter 2000 - www.dnr.state.mn.us
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GRANTS for Conservation Biology Research in Minnesota. The awards average $3,000 per year, but requests up to 10,00 will be considered. Program guidelines, and other information can be viewed at:
www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_and_wildlife/natural_heritage.html
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Internship Opportunity at The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

There will be UP TO FIVE student intern positions to assist with a statewide mussel survey. Positions will be based in St. Paul and Brainerd, Minnesota. Interns will assist a DNR malacologist in mussel surveys of rivers throughout the state of Minnesota. Start and end dates are flexible but are expected to begin in May and continue as late as October.

Qualifications: Student interns must register for credits through a college or university as a part of an internship program. Course work or experience in any of these areas will be an asset: ecology, limnology, invertebrate biology/taxonomy, word processing, and data entry. One position in each location (St. Paul and Brainerd) requires SCUBA certification. For more information contact: Dan Kelner (dan.kelner@dnr.state.mn.us) or Rick A. Hart (rick.hart@dnr.state.mn.us)
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Public Employees Roundtable - Public Service Scholarship

The Public Service scholarship program was started in 1986 in direct support of its mission statement that commits it to "encourage an interest in public service careers." Their aim is to encourage the best and brightest college students to pursue careers in public service by offering merit-based scholarships. Eight to ten scholarships of $1,000.00 will be offered for the 2000-2001 academic year.

Qualified applicants must have a 3.50 GPA in all college work completed to date. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, but applicants must have completed, or be in the process of completing, their first year of undergraduate work and MUST be planning to enter a career in government service at the local, state, or federal level. Preference will be given to applicants who have had work experience in local, state, or federal government or community service, i.e., volunteer, summer employment, or other temporary appointment.

Applications are due by 19 May and are available on-line at www.theroundtable.org or at the External Scholarship Program office, HAB 103 - CSB. Applications are due by 19 May and are available on-line at or at the External Scholarship Program office, HAB 103 - CSB.
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Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship

The Ambassadorial Scholarships Program supports the mission of The Rotary Found-ation to further international understanding and world peace. The 2001-02 Ambassadorial Scholarships will be awarded for study or training beginning after July 2001. Applicants must have completed at least two years of university or college course work when the scholarship begins. All applicants must be citizens of a country in which there is a Rotary club. Initial application must be made through a local Rotary club in the applicant’s legal or permanent residence, or place of full-time study. If you are the child, grandchild, or spouse of a living Rotary member, a Rotarian, an Honorary Rotarian, or an employee of a club, district or other Rotary entity, or of Rotary International you are NOT eligible to apply for these awards. An applicant’s maturity and ability to communicate is a more important consideration than grade-point-average.

Applications MUST be received by 15 March.

Applications, and additional information, are available at the External Scholarship Program office, HAB 103 - CSB.

8. Seminars/Lectures/Symposia:

Restoration Ecology Symposium - The MN Native Plant Society’s annual day long symposium this year is titled, " Rare plants and local ecotypes : Emerging Issues in Native Plant Restoration". It will be held Saturday March 18, 2000, 8:30 AM -4:00 PM, at the Minnesota Valley Refuge Visitor Center. Co-sponsors include the USFWS, Great River Greening and the University of Minnesota's Institute for Sustainable Natural Resources.

Costs for the symposium, including a box lunch, are approximately $20. For

more information on the symposium call (651) 772-7574 after January 28.
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The 17th North American Prairie Conference

The North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa is hosting the first North American Prairie Conference of the new millenium, July 16-20. 2000. Prairie heritage is rich in Iowa considering their state was once 80% covered with prairie. Any questions contact: schutcar@niacc.cc.ia.us
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9. Miscellaneous:

Biology in the Newsby Dr. Michael Reagan. Here are some exciting biological discoveries from the journal Science, 10 December 1999.

Microbial Life Under 4 Kilometers of Ice

Under about 4 kilometers of ice in Antarctica is a lake (known as Lake Vostok) approximately 500 m deep and with a surface area about equal to that of Lake Ontario! The water is thought to be kept liquid by geothermal heating, pressure, and insulation of the overlying ice. Scientists have drilled through the ice to within 120m of the lake and discovered bacteria (predominantly Gram-negative) in the ice which seem to be alive, although they are very slow growing. Do the bacteria originate from the lake? Are they contaminants from the surface? (Strict precautions were taken to ensure that this did not happen.) The environment in this lake may be very similar to the environment of the oceans that appear to exist on Europa and Callisto, two moons of Jupiter.

The Minimal Genome?

It has been proposed, by comparing the genome of the bacterium Mycobacterium genitalium, which has the smallest known genome (580kb), to other bacterial genomes, that the minimum number of genes necessary to allow a cell to be alive is 256. With these 256 genes, the bacterium can do everything necessary to remain alive (at least under a certain set of laboratory conditions). By creating many strains of M. genitalium and its close relative M. pneumoniae with mutations in a large number of genes and then comparing the patterns of genes which can be destroyed without killing the cell, the authors propose that between 256 and 350 genes are necessary for life of this bacterium. There is no known function for about 100 of these genes! Also in this issue is an article concerning the ethical considerations involved in this sort of experiment. Is it ethical to create a new form of life with a minimal genome? A number of authors collaborated to address this question.
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Plant Puzzler: The Case of the Rapidly Appearing Weeds.

The Puzzler: Consider a garden. Have you ever noticed that once the soil is turned over a new crop of weeds develops quickly? Why?

To enter the competition, simply send your answer (anyone can participate!) to Dr. S. Saupe via email (ssaupe@csbsju.edu, or snail mail, c/o Biology Department, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN 56321, campus mail, or simply slide the entry under my office door, SC335). The winner will be selected randomly from among the correct entries. The winner will receive an official CSB/SJU Herbarium Magnet. Entries are due February 29, 2000.
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Extending the Classroom Walls: A Unique Biology Course/Research/Field Experience. During the Spring Term 2001, the Biology Department will be offering students a unique opportunity to mix course work with a field research opportunity. This program will be offered as part of the Learning Communities project sponsored by CSB/SJU and the Bush Foundation. Students who enroll in the program will spend the first half of the term on campus studying evolutionary ecology, field research methods, writing, and a related Upper Division Humanities or Senior Seminar. During the second half of the term we will travel to the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina where we will spend five weeks at the Highlands Biological Station doing field research in this ecologically fascinating area. We will also spend a week on the coastal islands of the Carolina’s or Georgia, examining a very different ecological setting. If you are interested, contact Dr. Poff (Phone 3179; email jpoff).
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Stearns County Environmental Education Day – May 2, 2000

The First Annual Stearns County Environmental Education Day is scheduled for Thursday, February 10th at 1 p.m. in Room 105 of the Midtown Office Building, 3400 1st St. North, St. Cloud (in the four story brick building behind the mall which houses the Old Country Buffet). The current plan is to set up 8 different stations at the farm of John and Linda Peck in Rockville and allow local 5th graders to visit the various stations. Volunteers are needed to help staff the stations, with registration, etc. Dr. Saupe has been involved in discussions concerning this activity. If you are interested in helping for all or part of the day, please contact Dr. Saupe (ssaupe@csbsju.edu; 2782).
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Looking for a good place to study?

Check out the Herbarium or Natural Science Museum. You are welcome to sit and relax or study in a wonderful biological atmosphere.
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10. Web Sites Worth a Visit: (have you visited any cool sites lately? Let us know so we can post them here!)

CSB/SJU Pre-Med Web Site: http://www.users.csbsju.edu/~premed/

CSB/SJU Biology Dept. Web Site: http://www.csbsju.edu/biology/.

DNR Volunteer Opportunities: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us

Claire Booth Luce Scholarship: http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/hjakubowski/cblucehomepage.htm

CSB/SJU Library News: http://www.csbsju.edu/library/news/news.html

Summer Research at various institutions:

UM - http://biosci.cbs.umn.edu/summerresearch/.

Assorted: http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/reu/reubio.htm

Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayo.edu/mgs/surf.htm

University of Texas-Houston: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/ut_general/ research_acad_aff/eae/general/sumresprog.htm)

University of Wisconsin: http://www.wisc.edu/cbe/bioprog/.

University of Iowa – http://www.biology.uiowa.edu/.

Washington State University - http://www.wsu.edu/~plph/pbrtc/summerres.html .

Hope College, MI - http://www.hope.edu/academic/biology/reu00/application.html

Pfizer Summer Research – contact Dr. Reagan

11. Joke of the Week: (we welcome your jokes and other contributions! Thanks to Dr. Linda Mealey for sharing this gem. I especially like the winner)

Great Theories - A contest was held for people to submit their theories on ANY subject. Below are the winners:

4th RUNNER-UP (Subject: Probability Theory)

If an infinite number of rednecks riding in an infinite number of pickup trucks fired an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an infinite number of highway signs, they would eventually produce all the world's great literary works in Braille.

3rd RUNNER-UP (Subject: Bio-Mechanics)

Why Yawning Is Contagious: You yawn to equalize the pressure on your eardrums. This pressure change outside your eardrums unbalances other people's ear pressures, so they then yawn to even it out.

2nd RUNNER-UP (Subject: Symbolic Logic)

Communist China is technologically underdeveloped because they have no alphabet and therefore cannot use acronyms to communicate technical ideas at a faster rate.

1st RUNNER-UP (Subject: Newtonian Mechanics)

The earth may spin faster on its axis due to deforestation. Just as a figure skater's rate of spin increases when the arms are brought in close to the body, the cutting of tall trees may cause our planet to spin dangerously fast.

HONORABLE MENTION (Subject: Linguistics)

The quantity of consonants in the English language is constant. Consonants, like energy, cannot be created or destroyed. If omitted in one place, they turn up in another. When a Bostonian "pahks his cah," the lost R's migrate southwest, causing a Texan to "warsh" his car.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER (Subject: Perpetual Motion)

When a cat is dropped, it always lands on its feet, and when toast is dropped, it always lands buttered side down. Proposal: strap giant slabs of buttered toast to the backs of cats; the two opposing forces will cause the cats to hover, spinning inches above the ground. Using a giant

buttered toast/cat array, a high-speed monorail could easily link New York with Chicago.

For more information, contact:

Faculty Editor:
Dr. Stephen G. Saupe
Chair & Professor
Biology Department
College of St. Benedict/St. John's University
Collegeville, MN 56321
(320) 363-2782; (320) 363-3202 (fax); ssaupe@csbsju.edu
Student Editor:
Ms. A. Wawra
Biology Major
College of St. Benedict
St. Joseph, MN 56374

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