Research Experience for Undergraduates

Integrative Developmental Biology at ETSU

Individual Research Projects:  #1
   Embryonic Nutrition

Reptiles are ideal organisms to study embryonic nutrition, and in particular the importance of calcium to embryonic development, because incubating eggs are easy to handle and manipulate. Students can observe development (growth) of the whole organism and easily understand how molecular and cellular mechanisms impact organismal function.

1. Localization of calcium transporting proteins in embryonic tissues, Dr. James R. Stewart
   
   Embryo of the oviparous five-lined skink

2. Developmental expression of calcium transporting proteins in embryonic tissues, Dr. Tom W. Ecay

3. Ontogeny of embryonic calcium mobilization and skeletogenesis, Dr. Rebecca Pyles

Corn snake embryo stained for cartilage (blue) and bone (red) to study the pattern of bone formation