Research in Biotechnology (Principles of Experimental Design in Biotechnology)

Welcome to the first edition of the Rock Canyon High School Research in Biotechnology Journal, a product of the the Principles of Experimental Design in Biotechnology class at Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Students conducted authentic scientific research from start to finish: designing their research experiments, finding an expert mentor in the field, writing and defending a research proposal, writing a budget and securing their own sources of funding, ordering their materials, conducting research, making a scientific poster, presenting at a research symposium, and writing a full-text journal article. After a year of intense research filled with triumph and struggle, 10 student teams are proud to present their final research in this journal: Featured Research 1. Species of bacteria associated with leg amputee residual limbs 2. Assaying the effects of Namzaric and coffee on paralysis in beta-amyloid peptide Alzheimer’s disease model Caenorhabditis elegans, strain CL2006 3. The effects of CRISPR folding on the efficiency of targeting the lacZ gene site within E. Coli using a blue/white screen 4. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the AtPCS gene into Helianthus annuus (common sunflower) 5. The effect of freezing on bacterial growth found on Levi’s® denim 6. Effects of blue light on Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryo morphology and behavior 7. Assaying the effects of coffee on paralysis in Alzheimer’s disease model Caenorhabditis elegans 8. The effects of Metformin on Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos 9. A comparison of the effects of two herbicides, Roundup® and Beyond®, on the mortality, morphology, and cardiac development of Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos 10. The allergenicity of ovalbumin under heat degeneration Any profits from the sale of this journal (approximately $5 per copy) will go to funding the next year's research, so your support of our students and their work is truly appreciated!

This journal was authored by 26 students in the Principles of Experimental Design in Biotechnology class at Rock Canyon High School. Individual "About the Authors" for each student group can be found at the end of each journal article.