Original research in the classroom: why do zebrafish spawn in the morning?

As part of an upper level undergraduate developmental biology course at the University of Minnesota Duluth, we developed a unit in which students carried out original research as part of a cooperative class project. Students had the opportunity to gain experience in the scientific method from experimental design all of the way through to the preparation of publication on their research that included text, figures, and tables. This kind of inquiry-based learning has been shown to have many benefits for students, including increased long-term learning and a better understanding of the process of scientific discovery.

Molecular characterizations of Nop16 in murine mammary tumors with varying levels of c-Myc.

NOP16, also known as HSPC111, has been identified as a MYC and estrogen regulated gene in in vitro studies, hence coexpression levels were strongly correlated. Importantly, high expression of NOP16 was associated with poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients. However, coexpression of NOP16, MYC and estrogen receptor (ESR1) varied widely in tumors and cell lines suggesting that transcriptional regulation differed according to pathological environments.

New bioactive bromotyrosine-derived alkaloid from a marine sponge Aplysinella sp.

A new bromotyrosine-derived alkaloid, (+)-aplysinillin (1), together with seven known compounds, was isolated from the crude organic extract of the marine sponge Aplysinella sp. collected from the Federated States of Micronesia. The structure of 1 was deduced by NMR and mass spectral techniques.

Bioactive polybrominated diphenyl ethers from the marine sponge Dysidea sp.

A new polybrominated diphenyl ether ( 9), together with eight known compounds, were isolated from the crude organic extract of the marine sponge Dysidea sp. collected from the Federated States of Micronesia. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of various NMR spectroscopic data.