HOUSTON – The brown anole lizard thrives within the subtropical local weather of Southeast Texas.
Reptiles are an “invasive” species, defined 2021 Pinedale Excessive College freshman Zoe Griffin, a sophomore at Rice College in Houston, Texas.
The brown anole migrates from its native habitat in Central America and the Caribbean, now inhabits the Gulf Coast area of America and can be widespread in California.
Griffin sat exterior a Houston espresso store throughout her Dec. 7 interview and counted no fewer than 5 brown anoles prowling previous.
“They’re in every single place right here,” she mentioned.
Griffin, a bioscience main in cell biology and genetics with a minor in ecology and evolutionary biology at Rice, is acutely conscious that brown anoles share the house round them.
The genetic make-up of the younger lizard gives essential insights in veterinary science and developmental biology.
“The brown anole has change into a well-liked organic mannequin for the examine of lizards,” mentioned Griffin. “We actually do not know a lot about lizards, although they’re an essential and various group. There are over 400 species of anoles alone and there are millions of different sorts of lizards.”
Griffin is conducting a examine on the College of Texas MD Anderson Most cancers Middle to find out how brown anoles discuss to one another by means of the genetic regulation of their pores and skin pigmentation.
“Brown anoles have small flaps (below their throats) known as a dewlap which are brilliant orange and yellow,” Griffin defined. “By understanding how these colours advanced, we are able to perceive how brown anoles talk, which is able to translate throughout species.”
Though she is simply an undergraduate, Griffin is already making an announcement within the biosciences group.
Griffin shared her analysis venture, “Genetic Regulation of Pores and skin Colour Evolution in Brown Anoles,” on the Southwest Regional Assembly of the Society for Developmental Biology hosted by the College of Texas at Austin on November 4-6.
A panel on the symposium, together with professors and main researchers within the biosciences, awarded Griffin’s examine one of the best oral presentation by an undergraduate scholar.
Griffin obtained a $500 money prize and a $1,000 scholarship to attend the Nationwide Convention of the Society for Developmental Biology in Chicago in July.
Griffin described the chance to current her work at an expert science convention as an “unimaginable” honor.
“This was the primary actual convention I attended and it was nice to speak to those people who find themselves so profitable in science and dealing on such superb initiatives,” she mentioned. “It was actually nice not solely to share my work with them, however to get a lot assist and optimistic suggestions.”
open the doorways
Whereas MD Anderson Most cancers Middle college supervised the Griffin Challenge, she independently formulated and developed the venture.
“The good half concerning the examine is that I wasn’t concerned in another person’s analysis venture,” Griffin mentioned. “I’ve my very own mentor and my very own venture.”
The chance to undertake a analysis examine in a nationally famend laboratory is a uncommon alternative for an undergraduate.
Amongst Griffin’s mentors is Dr. Bonnie Kercher, MD, PhD at MD Anderson Most cancers Middle.
“Dr. Kercher is completely superb,” Griffin mentioned. “She taught me every part I do know and was a tremendous particular person to work with.”
The venture is being supervised by Dr. Richard Beringer, a professor on the College of Texas MD Anderson Most cancers Middle. Dr. Behringer has contributed articles to such influential journals as Nature and Science.
“Dr. Behringer is a wonderful trainer and an instance of success on this discipline,” mentioned Griffin.
The nitty-gritty of Griffin’s examine facilities on a selected gene known as SCARB1 that’s present in brown anole lizards. This gene impacts the event of lizard pores and skin coloration.
The examine relied on a know-how known as CRISPR, quick for usually clustered quick palindromic repeats, to isolate the gene.
CRISPR, Griffin defined, is a sophisticated type of gene enhancing, which incorporates “micro-injection surgical procedures” that enable researchers to “mutate” the lizard’s pores and skin coloration.
Griffin added that feminine brown anoles are anesthetized and injected with CRISPR proof within the lab.
“CRISPR clues minimize into the genome of the infants that the feminine will produce on the actual location we would like them to be,” she mentioned. “On this method, this gene is inactive within the child and it’ll change its look and have an effect on the event of its pores and skin coloration.”
Griffin is now ready for the brown salamander to offer start and the infants to mature – a course of that takes seven months.
“Hopefully we’ll get some crazy-colored infants,” Griffin mentioned.
Griffin’s ardour for animals, even scaly ones, impressed her to “leap” on the probability to review the lizards.
“I’ve all the time beloved reptiles,” she mentioned. “I’ve a pet chameleon and a pet tiger gecko. I’ve an incredible curiosity in genetics and animals, so this venture labored out very effectively.”
The brown anole performs a posh mating ritual by which pores and skin pigmentation performs an essential position.
“They’d do little push-ups and bobs for the pinnacle, they usually’d simply pop off their fidget spinners,” Griffin mentioned. “They’re enjoyable to observe. They’ve lots of character.”
Griffin initially deliberate to pursue a profession in veterinary medication. Impressed by her time within the lab, Griffin can be contemplating pursuing a PhD in veterinary analysis.
In April, Griffin introduced her venture for the primary time on the annual American Convention on Biomedical Analysis for Minority College students, sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology.
Griffin’s analysis will possible end in a paper to additional her undergraduate research at Rice College. There’s additionally the potential for publication in a specialised journal and peer evaluate.
Griffin thanked Dr. Kircher and Dr. Behringer for his or her steering and assist and is happy to proceed her work with each scientists for a number of extra semesters.
Upon her return to Rice College and the College of Texas MD Anderson Most cancers Middle after the winter break, Griffin is trying ahead to perfecting her ICSI surgical strategies and producing “some actually cool mutants”.