Allyson Keathley

Most of the research done over this summer was completed as a group. We did many experiments together and split up the data collection evenly. The model organism used in our study was Chlamydomonas, which is a single celled eukaryotic alga. We were studying programmed cell death, which is a controlled, stepwise type of death that occurs in multicellular organisms for multiple reasons, including embryonic development and to rid of precancerous cells. We also compared programmed cell death to another type of death called necrosis. Necrosis is a very sudden, uncontrolled death of a cell that occurs in the presence of a very harsh stress.

To show the differences between necrosis and programmed cell death, we used dyes that stain for certain compounds present when death is occurring in a cell. We also studied what was happening to the DNA during necrosis and PCD, and found that the DNA gets degraded very differently in these two processes.  We also studied the amount of death that was occurring based on the relationship of cells in a culture by heat stressing the cells and staining using another dye. The most time consuming experiment we did this summer was testing to see if heat stressed cells would release compounds that would help other cells survive and flourish. This experiment required that data be collected every 24 hours. We would perform the heat stress experiments together and would then assign each of us the days that we were responsible for data collection. After the experiment was completed, the data would be analyzed and discussed between our group members.

We completed the five day long experiment together and separated the remaining experiments based on what interested each of us the most. I was responsible for studying what was happening to the DNA during programmed cell death and necrosis. I extracted DNA from cells that were undergoing the two types of death –programmed cell death and necrosis—and compared the results by running an agarose gel. Once I had these results, I could see differences between the two types of death that helped show that they are two distinct processes.

            This research has benefitted my professional development immensely. I learned more about the project that I have been working on for almost two years and also learned new laboratory techniques. I found that I love studying what happens to the DNA in Chlamydomonas during programmed cell death, which is now the topic of my honors thesis for my remaining year at Sam Houston State University. I plan to attend medical school, where a broad range of laboratory techniques will benefit my learning as a medical student. I would like to thank EURECA for not only supporting my research project, but also spreading awareness about the importance of research at Sam Houston State University.