The Scholar: March 2012 Edition

The Scholar March 20112 Edition

1 The University of Tennessee at Martin’s University Scholars Organization

Table of Contents

Director’s Corner ................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Important Dates ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3

St. Jude - Garrett Ellison ...................................................................................................................................................... 4

Inside the Mind of Hunter Lindberg - Adam Merook ............................................................................................... 5

Alabama Tornado Disaster - Jake Riley ........................................................................................................................ 5

The Girl - Katie Pigg .............................................................................................................................................................. 7

Dating Etiquette for Dummies - Chelsea Boyd .......................................................................................................... 7

Journey Through the Wooded Night - Victoria Templeton................................................................................... 8

Junior/Senior Projects

Cost Effectiveness of Various Health Protocols of Stocker Cattle Using Delayed Vaccinations and Metaphylaxis– Amanda Cain .................................................................................................................................... 9

Non-pharmaceutical Methods of Treatment for Agitation in Dementia

Patients - Teresa Fowler ........................................................................................................................................ 10

Conservation Tillage Practices in Reelfoot Lake's Upper Blue Basin

Watershed – Chance N. Finegan .......................................................................................................................... 11

Communicating the Ideas of Science with a Mind of the Arts - Reuben Kendall ....................................... 12

Isolation and Characterization of Phosphite and Hypophosphite Oxidizing

Microorganisms from Reelfoot Lake - Savannah Smith .............................................................................. 13

Disclaimer: Please note that any views or

opinions herein expressed are not necessarily representative

of the University Scholars Organization as a whole.

Senior Editors Junior Editors

Payton Mink Mary Medling Charles Busby Hunter Lindburg Laura Miller Photographers Paige Mason Katrina Moeller

The University of Tennessee at Martin’s University Scholars Organization 2


Welcome to another edition of The Scholar!

This semester is already off to a great start. The Executive Council is examining everything about

the University Scholars Organization from the Constitution to the Induction ceremony. I’m excited

to see so many Scholars interested in the well-being of their organization. Prospect Weekend was a

smashing success due in large part to the efforts of the Scholars and especially Teresa Fowler, USO

Vice-President. Finally, I am really looking forward to the Scholar trip to Chicago in early March,

and the Honors Travel-Study to the Chesapeake Bay area in May!

I need to get back to evaluating prospects, but let me give you a few more thoughts …

Performance: Being a Scholar means being committed to a high level of academics. Scholars

must maintain a high GPA despite having the additional demands of Scholar coursework and

activities. Their research projects are held to high standards and are mentored by some of the best

faculty on campus. We also encourage the Scholars to present and/or publish the results of their

project to gain some notoriety for the extra efforts they have made. Having high standards can be

tough, but it can also produce many opportunities.

Scholar Research Fund: One area in which the Scholar research projects have been sorely lacking

is in monetary support. Although departments often have financial support available for research, it

makes more sense that Scholar projects be supported by Honors Programs. Better equipment, better

supplies, more opportunities to travel, and more access to resources will not only improve the

quality of projects but may also make some projects possible where they were not before. It might

even attract some new faculty who have been hesitant in the past. I am hopeful that such a fund can

be developed in the near future through the support of the university and perhaps donors.

Fun: Being a Scholar should not be onerous “hoop jumping” to maintain a scholarship. We

provide ample opportunities within the program to have fun … from weekly movie nights to all-

nighters; from day trips to nearby locations such as Mammoth Cave to longer trips to such places as

Boston or San Francisco. We also have our traditional Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas

parties with decorations, a pot-luck, and freshman ornaments. In addition, the building itself is a

great resource with a stocked kitchen, study/activity areas, formal room, and classroom.

I’ve said enough for now. Next edition I’ll get into some more specific thoughts about the program,

including recognizing those people who are making Scholars the awesome group that it is and

promoting events for alumni, faculty, and current Scholars. Thanks for reading and have a great rest

of your year!

Warmest Regards,

Lionel

Director’s Corner Dr. Lionel Crews



Important Dates

Spring Semester 2012

Friday, April 6: Good Friday

Monday, April 9: USO Elections

Friday, April 27: Classes End

Saturday—Friday, April 28-May4: Final

Exams

Saturday, May 5: Commencement

Maymester 2012

Monday, May 14: Classes Begin

Monday, May 28: Memorial Day

Friday, June 1: **Classes End (Final Exams)

Summer Semester 2012

Monday, June 4: Classes Begin, First Half &

Full Term

Wednesday, July 4: Independence Day

Friday, July 6: Classes End (Final Exams),

First Term

Monday, July 9: Advising, Second Term

Tuesday, July 10: Classes Begin, Second Term

Friday, Aug. 10: Classes End (Final Exams),

Second & Full Term

Fall Semester 2012

Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 23-26: First-Year

Initiative

Friday, Aug. 24: Advising

Monday Aug. 27: Day and Evening Classes

Begin

Monday Sept. 3: Labor Day

Friday Oct. 12: Mid-Term Progress Reports

Due

Saturday-Tuesday Oct. 13-16: Fall Break

For more information, visit:

http://catalog.utm.edu/content.php?

catoid=5&navoid=251#Fall_Semester__2012

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fscottfit100572.html



St. Jude

Garrett Ellison

When I picture a hospital, I image white-washed rooms, creepy lighting, and the smell of

antiseptic and bad food. These qualities provide a fairly unwelcoming atmosphere to any who have to

stay at one. Before I went, I thought that St. Jude wasn’t going to be different, but I was wrong. It was

actually nothing like that at all. The walls were all either painted in warm and welcoming colors, or

they were covered in the art of the hospital’s patients. The lights were bright and inviting in the

waiting rooms and tranquil in the hallways and patient centers. There was no smell of bleach or

cleaning supplies despite everything being spotless, and as for the food, let’s just say that it puts our

cafeteria to shame.

We had gone to make what, at face value, could have been considered a simple delivery, but

by the end it was much more than that. We arrived at around three o’clock and met our tour guide, a

Ms. Kristen Jones. She walked us through a small portion of the massive facility, but regardless you

could hear the pride in her voice. She loved this place, and it was obvious to see why. Everywhere we

were taken she told us the great lengths that St. Jude took to be more than just an ordinary hospital.

Every opportunity to make patients more comfort was taken, and every special need was attended to.

The highest point of the tour was when we were in the South

Reception Area. One of us had asked about internships, and our tour

guide asked one of the receptionists for a form. The receptionist asked

who we were, and we answered. When we explained that we were

there to deliver coloring books, I swear I saw her eyes brightening

with every passing second.

“Thank you,” she said. “You don’t know how much this

means to us. The patients and parents always need something to do

while waiting and I usually keep a few books in my drawer.”

I realized that “a few” was an understatement when I saw the

amount in her top drawer. As we left to get the boxes, she quickly

thanked us for stopping by and donating a box or two. None of us told

her it was more like seven boxes and several bags. I can only imagine

what she thought when she saw the room we placed them in the next

day.

We thanked Ms. Jones and left soon after we finished giving

them the boxes. As we pulled away, one of us had already decided to

intern there and another wanted to work for their public relations. Personally, I just wanted to hand

them a billion or more dollar check. I can’t help it, I dream big.

Some people say that “Beethoven’s 9th” was the greatest achievement by man. Maybe in the

world of music that’s true, but if you want to see the pinnacle of human achievement and what we can

achieve when we forget about greed and work towards the betterment of our fellow man, look no

further then faces of the children who are alive because of St. Jude. Man’s history may not be the

happiest story ever told, but it due to people like Danny Thomas, St. Jude’s founder, that portions of it

are worth remembering, and that sometimes we do something right.

“What’s Happening?” Freshmen News Reports



Inside the Mind of Hunter Lindberg

Adam Merook

For my contribution to The Scholar I chose to investigate one of the greatest mysteries known to the University

Scholar’s Organization: what in the world goes on inside of the mind of Hunter Lindberg? I asked a series of

simple questions that will, hopefully, shed a little light on this peculiar creature.

Some background information: He is a freshman Scholar from the phonetically intriguing city of

Ooltewah, Tennessee. His area of study is psychology, and his birthday is November 22, 1993. More relevant

to this interview though are his statements pertaining to his existence here at the University of Tennessee at

Martin and as an active member of USO.

Aside from studying and other academic activities, Hunter enjoys devouring entire seasons of TV

shows in one sitting like a college kid with coffee. He also enjoys writing

haikus, so much so that he was happy to share a bit of his work for

illustration purposes:

The meaning of life

Illusive, mysterious.

Make life meaningful.

These are wise words from a certifiably wise man.

The reason that Hunter found Martin most appealing was its rural setting

and freedom from distractions. The Scholars program caught his attention

the way it does most of its applicants initially: “Yay! A scholarship!”

However, Hunter expands on his participation that later developed a great

appreciation for the people and experiences that came along with it. After

grasping more firmly his concept of Scholar-ship, he formulated a primary

goal for the finished product of his undergraduate years as a Scholar: “I

want to use it as a reason to push myself further, make better grades, and

develop intelligent questions within my major, as I will have to create a

project that demonstrates the nature of what I want to accomplish with my psychology degree from UTM.”

I found Hunter Lindberg to be a student of many talents and interests. I hope that the readers of this article

walk away with a better grasp of what Hunter is and what he wants to be in life, especially with respect to his

involvement in the University Scholars Organization.

Alabama Tornado Disaster

Jake Riley

It's April 27, 2010. The sky over Tuscaloosa Alabama turns black with the approaching storm. You

look up and see a churning layer of inky black clouds just as the rains starts to fall. As you turn to walk back

inside, tornado sirens blare to life, echoing off of the concrete buildings on the University of Alabama's

campus. The wind picks up, and you watch as the rain subsides. Looking through the trees you see it, a

twisting mass of debris and dirt.

The Tuscaloosa tornado tore an 80-mile path through central Alabama with winds topping 190 miles

per hour. This tornado caused 64 deaths and over 1500 injuries. In the middle of it all was the University of

Alabama's newspaper The Crimson White. The campus itself was spared from most of the damage, but the rest

of Tuscaloosa was not so lucky. With 43 of the 64 total deaths being in the city alone, this city suffered a

crippling blow.

On April 28, the day after the tornado, Will Tucker, the assisting editing manager of the paper, met

with 15 other staff members in the house of one of their reporter's grandparents to discuss how they would



cover this situation. None of them had slept the previous night, and due to power outages, they were unable to

use most of their equipment. Newspaper production had come to a halt, but regardless, they began releasing

updates via their web page using cell phones. They began with rough news about areas hardest hit and how the

students were affected. They continued updating their page throughout the day. As they moved into late

evening, they started receiving their first reports of student deaths. Once the staff realized that there were more

people missing, with family and friends unable to get in contact with them, they set up a Gmail account to

receive emails about missing people to attempt to help the families involved.

The next day President Obama arrived to survey the damage. He was quoted saying “I have never see

devastation like this,” and later declared a state of emergency. Later, Tucker's staff was able to confirm that

there had been 9 student deaths—6 of which were from the University of Alabama. Despite intense pressure

from the president of the university they released this information for the public.

By the April 30th, most of the serious, hard

-hitting news was published. They then switched

their focus to managing manpower and covering

neighborhoods. Using social media, especially

Facebook and Twitter, they were able to command

massive forces. During the days after the tornado,

they had “retweets” from people like Katie Couric.

Their web traffic increased exponentially, and they

used this to the advantage of the city. As they

received reports of people needing supplies, they

could tweet about it and within an hour the need

would be met. This turned out to be their major

strength. Using social media and confirming facts,

the staff was able to be at the forefront of the

media during this crucial time period.

The first print after the storm came out a

week later with no ads and focused strictly on the storm and the impact it had on the community. The staff

compiled previous work from the website as well as other stories they had written specifically to record how

this incident played out. Using social media as the key ingredient and long sleepless nights, these college

students were able to help numerous people simply by reporting the truth and using every asset available to

them to the fullest advantage.

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. “ —

Henry David Thoreau

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henrydavid120890.html



“Creative Outlet” Sophomore Creative Pieces

The Girl

Katie Pigg

She has an unavoidable natural beauty.

Her brown, wavy hair frames a face of radiance and joy

And cascades down her back like a carefree breeze.

Despite her timid nature, she thrives on interaction with others,

Yet few know what lies within, beneath this cheerful image.

She believes that honor and nobility are worth sacrifice.

She is real. She is unique and different, yet oddly familiar.

Her love is based on more than proximity. She knows that people are

irreplaceable,

And she vows never to let negative scenes overpower the beauty of life.

In a room full of sinners pretending to be perfect, she is a gleam of hope.

Her goal is more than perfection; her goal is to be whole.

Dating Etiquette for Dummies:

A Brief Guide to Chelsea Boyd’s Dating Do’s and Do Not’s

Chelsea Boyd

With Valentine’s Day having just occurred, I found myself noticing the flood of first dates

popping up on my Facebook newsfeed. This inspired me to enlighten the world with a few simple

tidbits of my views on how to reduce the stress of a first date.

When going on a date with someone new, our minds are flooded with thousands of

thoughts and questions: “Do I look alright?” “That cannot be the color shirt he/she is wearing.”

“Ugh, we match!” “Should I help pay for the (insert event here) or just see what she/he does?”

“Will my date think I’m interesting?” “Will my date be interesting?” “Oh no, did I remember to

put on deodorant?” To ease the load already on our minds, here are a few helpful guidelines on

how to handle a first date properly.

The number one tip on dating etiquette is to always maintain eye contact. You do not

want your date to feel as though you do not care about them. However, please keep in mind that

long, intense stares can make your date feel uncomfortable. Your date should feel as if he or she

is the focus of your attention, not a sideshow.

Another guideline for a date is to always be courteous and complimentary. You know

how much time you put into preparing for the date so look nice; you can expect your date put forth



the same amount of effort. Everyone likes honest, sincere compliments, but obviously fake

compliments are unacceptable. Being polite is always a great way to endear yourself to your date,

too. Rudeness will get you nowhere, while courteousness will allow you to go far.

A few other rules and guidelines to live your dating life by are as follows:

1. Do not swear or use obscene language. Not

only is it offensive, it makes you look crass and

uneducated. 2. Do not bring up former relationships or

partners. Besides showing a lack of class, it will

make your date feel uncomfortable. 3. Never pretend to be single when you are not.

Being upfront with your date is much more

honorable than being inconsiderate and lying.

(Omission of the truth is considered lying.) When you tell your date you will call them or be

in touch with them, follow up with your promise.

Leaving your date hanging is extremely

disrespectful. The golden rule of dating is to treat your companion in the same manner you would expect to be

treated if your roles were reversed. If you are male and are trying to decide whether you should pay,

you should. All women expect the man to pay at least on the first date. If you are a female and are

contemplating whether you want your outfit to be seductive or classy, always go for classy. No man

will take you or the thought of a future relationship with you seriously if your clothing screams “No

morals!” and/or “Desperate!” Easier dates are just a mouse clip away. The quick solution to all

dating etiquette dilemmas is to Google it!

Journey Through the Wooded Night

Victoria Templeton

Broken and jagged

Like shattered glass

The cold, dark abyss

Faced alone

Hope long since faltered

Despair was all that remains

The void, the empty

Threatens to consume

The last hope – the last chance

A flicker, emanating light

Fervor restored once more



“Independent Studies” Junior & Senior Projects

Cost Effectiveness of Various Health Protocols of Stocker Cattle Using Delayed Vaccinations and

Metaphylaxis

Amanda Cain

Mentor: Dr. Jason Roberts

Second Reader: Dr. Joey Mehlhorn

The beef industry suffers millions of dollars in loss annually due to Bovine Respiratory Disease

Complex (BRDC), more commonly known as shipping fever. As its name implies, BRDC is an

extremely complex disease. It is generally the combination of one of four mild respiratory viruses that

weaken the immune system leaving the animal susceptible

to pneumonias caused by one of three opportunistic

bacterial pathogens that naturally reside in the animal’s

respiratory tract. BRDC has both a high morbidity and

high mortality rate causing huge losses in feedlot settings

due to decreased gains from ill animals as well as high

death losses. With treatment for BRD affected animals

averaging $15.57 per head there are significant incentives

to develop strategies to minimize the occurrence of BRDC,

especially in feedlot/stocker situations.

The premise behind delayed vaccination strategies

is that the animals are already in a weakened immune state

due to the stress from weaning, traveling, commingling,

and environmental change. Therefore, it is presumed that because of this immuno-compromised state,

the calves’ reactions and seroconversions due to vaccination would be greatly weakened, thus leaving

them more susceptible to BRDC. Although in theory this seems logical, experimental results to this

point have been mixed and largely inconclusive.

Metaphylaxis, mass medication to control disease, is another regimen that is being tested as a

way to control BRDC. In it, all animals are administered an antibiotic in order to bolster the immune

system and to ward off any potential infection, even though the animal may seem perfectly healthy.

Thus far, several studies have been conducted to support the use of metaphylaxis as well as to determine

which antibiotic is most effective in this protocol. However, the cost effectiveness remains under

scrutiny.

It is essential for cattle producers to manage and control factors that impact the profitability of

the operation. Increasing productive efficiency is an important part of the overall management plan of

beef producers. Producers face fluctuating input and output prices that result from changes in market

supply and demand conditions. As a result, producers seeking to maximize profits seek to minimize

variable cost factors in the operation. Veterinary and health related expenses are variable costs that can

impact the producer’s net revenue. A common method for determining and comparing expenses for a

cattle operation is through enterprise budgets which provide producers with an estimate of potential



revenue, expenses and profit for a single enterprise operation. Enterprise budgets are effective for

comparing differences in returns among different operations, but they can also be used to compare

changes in revenue as a function of management practices.

The objective of this project is to analyze the cost effectiveness of different protocols

concerning the timing of vaccination in stocker cattle. It is hypothesized that vaccinating high-risk,

stressed cattle immediately upon arrival is less effective from both a health and financial standpoint than

waiting 14 days to allow the animals to acclimate to their new settings and situations. Additionally, it is

hypothesized that the use of metaphylaxis would be cost effective in increasing weight gain in high-risk

stocker cattle.

Non-pharmaceutical Methods of Treatment for Agitation in Dementia Patients

Teresa Fowler

As a nursing major, we work closely with the elderly in both nursing homes and the hospital

setting. I felt it was important to work with a population that I am comfortable with for my project. I am

looking at non-pharmaceutical methods of treatment for agitation in dementia patients.

Agitated patients are given medications immediately which relax the patient but also sedate

them. In this sedated state, they usually sleep or are not very responsive verbally. The families of these

patients already go through a hard time assisting a family member affected by dementia. It makes it

even more difficult to care for them when they are

constantly sedated. I want to investigate the

effectiveness of treatments that are not medication

based and do not impair the cognition of awareness of

the individual.

My hypothesis is that the majority of agitated

patients can be calmed by other means of intervention

before resorting to medication. For my project, I will

go to the Martin Healthcare Dementia Unit in the

evening. I hope to catch the patients in an agitated

state, as those with dementia are most agitated in the

evening times. I will quickly assess the level of

agitation of the patient by using the Pittsburg Agitation

Scale. I will then give the patient an object, such as a teddy bear, ball of yarn, or some other tactile

object for them to hold and feel. My hopes are that this will distract them and give them an outlet for

their agitation. I will then assess their agitation again with the same scale and compare the scores pre-

intervention and post-intervention. I will do this for two to three days and then compile the statistics

based the results.

Nurses are constantly looking for interventions that we can control and that will help both

patients and their families. After completing this project, I hope to publish my work so this information

can be available to other healthcare professionals. I will then continue my project into graduate school to

investigate the effectiveness of treatments such as a soothing environment, imagery, music, and tactile

objects. I hope that one day these treatments will be the first line of intervention instead of immediately

medicating the patient. Along with my mentor, Dr. Mary Radford, and my second reader, Dr. Julie

Floyd, we will work together to make this a solid project that will one day hopefully help those affected

by agitation secondary to dementia.



“Genius is more often found in a cracked pot than in a whole one.”

— E. B. White

Conservation Tillage Practices in Reelfoot Lake's Upper Blue Basin Watershed

Chance N. Finegan

As you stand astride Fish Gap Hill west of Union City, gazing at the placid waters of Reelfoot Lake, the

profound changes that landscapes experience seem to be far away in a hazy past. The earthquakes of

1811/1812 that created the lake have long since ended. The mass wastings and landslides that shrunk

Fish Gap Hill are no more.

But the change continues to this day. Reelfoot Lake is filling up. Slowly, almost imperceptibility, the

bottom of the lake grows ever closer, and vegetation is starting to choke Reelfoot's famous fishing

channels. Increased runoff from nearby agricultural lands is a primary cause of the lake's decreasing

depth. Officials in the public sector have taken several steps to address the problem, not the least of

which is to encourage no-till farming in the watershed.

Scientists do not have hard proof of the effectiveness of these no-till

outreach efforts, in terms of adoption rates nor in the (hopeful)

slowing of the filling of the lake. Terri Roe, a university student

under Dr. Stan Dunagan, is currently researching the rate of

sedimentation in Reelfoot Lake, using a specific isotope of cesium

as a marker in the sediment. Results so far have been inconclusive,

as the cesium is proving difficult to detect. Efforts are ongoing.

My project is intended to compliment Ms. Roe's research. I have

been surveying farmers in the watershed that drains the basin she is

investigating (the Upper Blue) to learn more about conservation

tillage practices in the area, with particular regard to no-tillage. So

far, I have met with local University of Tennessee Extension and

Farm Services Administration Agents. I have also been in contact

with the large producers (farmers) in the Upper Blue Basin Watershed.

Thus far, I have learned that most producers in the area started to implement no-tillage practices during

the 1970s. I have also learned that they rotate soy and corn under no-till and generally use wheat as a

winter cover crop. Most producers cite a lack of herbicides as an early problem with no-till farming

operations.

I look forward to finishing my research within the next few weeks, as I only have a handful of producers

left to survey. I hope that my work, partnered with Ms. Roe's, will give decision-makers a better

understanding of the land-use dynamics that influence sedimentation in Reelfoot Lake.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/ebwhite106188.html



Communicating the Ideas of Science with a Mind of the Arts

Reuben Kendall

Mentor: Phillip Davis, PhD.

Second Reader: Carol Eckert, MFA.

Most people have heard some version of a fable in which a

group of blind men, standing around an elephant, come to different

conclusions about the shape and nature of the beast determined by

where they are standing and what they can feel.

The moral is that even though one man claims that the elephant is

like a tree trunk, one claims the beast is more like a wall, one knows

the animal is like a rope, and another is sure that the elephant is

shaped like a fan, all of them are correct. The whole is greater than

the sum of the parts, and a single elephant with legs, sides, trunk, and

ears actually is like a tree, a wall, a rope, and a fan combined.

Now, re-imagine the story, but instead of four blind men,

imagine that the elephant is being observed by a scientist, a painter, a

poet, and a priest. This should give you a pretty good understanding

of what I am trying to do with my research project.

The core assumptions, expressive mediums, and conceptual paradigms of various fields of study

are incredibly different in places, leading to many enormous disagreements between fields on how best

to know and communicate information. As a student of both biology and studio arts, my experiences in

multiple fields have led me to appreciate and trust more than one path to understanding and have given

me a desire to see these paths in cooperation instead of conflict.

My senior project is an attempt to communicate the ideas of science with the mind of the arts.

My mentor, Dr. Phil Davis, and I have been attempting to tap the core of what it means to understand

one idea from two directions and how being able to utilize different modes, mediums, and methods of

communication can unlock better doors into understanding the world around us.

Our readings have focused mainly on the research and work of scientists, such and Ruth Clark

and Richard Mayer, whose work in the field of Cognitive Learning Theory has provided insight into

how multi-media information presentation should be designed for optimal accessibility to the learner.

The integration of holistic, linear, visual, audio, symbolic, analogous, and conceptually or perceptually

abstracted information can be designed to accentuate the strengths of each approach to communication.

It follows that good designs for educational media will flow from a good understanding of how different

methods of communication are accessed by the mind and integrated into the mental maps of experience.

The project itself centers on the designing and building of a two-part e-module for teaching

basic concepts in biology and chemistry. Our goals for the project include later expansion of the module

into a full series of educational materials that will serve as a continued experiment in integrating

different fields of scientific thought with the various expressive paradigms of the visual arts. This is

something that could ideally be developed and continued by other Scholars.



Even though it’s little ambitious, my personal hopes for the project include a desire to see the ideas upon

which it is built challenge the arrogance found in much of the scientific establishment that assumes

essential understanding of the nature of truth is exclusive to the discipline.

Isolation and Characterization of Phosphite and Hypophosphite Oxidizing Microorganisms from

Reelfoot Lake

Savannah Smith

Mentor: Dr. Matthew Pritchett; Second Reader: Dr. James Smart

The goal of my research is to identify the part of the genome of Reelfoot Lake isolates that is utilized in

order for them to grow on reduced phosphorus compounds. Phosphorus is an essential element for all

organisms. It is found in DNA, RNA, cell membranes, and in metabolic processes. It is also a growth

limiting nutrient in many ecosystems. The phosphate ion is the most oxidized and most abundant form

of phosphorus. Reduced phosphorus exists in nature as well. Given the prevalence of reduced

phosphorus compounds, it is not surprising that many organisms have the capacity to utilize these

molecules.

The three phosphorus sources that have been used are phosphate and two reduced forms of

phosphorus, phosphite and hypophosphite. All organisms require phosphorus in its most oxidized form,

but some organisms are able to oxidize reduced phosphorus compounds into phosphate. Only these

organisms are able to grow on reduced forms of phosphorus. The htxA gene produces an enzyme that

catalyzes oxidation of hypophosphite to phosphite, and the ptxD produces an enzyme that catalyzes

oxidation of phosphite to phosphate so that organisms are able to utilize the reduced phosphorus forms.

Soil samples were taken from Reelfoot Lake and were incubated in enrichment cultures. Two

isolates were chosen that were able to grow on the reduced

phosphorus forms. Genomic DNA was isolated and amplified

with DNA. The samples were then sent off for sequencing to

determine what type of organisms they were. One of the

isolates was related to the microorganism Paracoccus and the

other was related to Azospirillum. Neither of the organisms

have a defined way to utilize reduced phosphorus forms, so a

genomic library was needed for testing to determine what part

of the genome allows the two organisms to do so.

Right now I am in the process of constructing the

genomic library. So far the DNA has been digested using an

enzyme called Sau3AI . The DNA has been ligated to plasmid

DNA and transformed into our negative control which is unable to grow on reduced phosphorus sources.

Next I have to see if the transformation produces any cells. If it does, I can then test these colonies on

reduced phosphorus sources. If I find a colony able to grow on the reduced phosphorus sources, then we

can determine the part of the microorganisms’ genome that allows for it to grow on these reduced forms.

The Scholar: March 2012 Edition

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Transcript of The Scholar: March 2012 Edition