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| Millsaps Receives
Alden Grant for New Genetics Lab The trustees of the George I. Alden Trust of Worcester, Mass., have approved a $50,000 grant to fund a new Microscopy and Fluorescence Genetics Lab at Millsaps. The laboratory will feature a highly powerful fluorescence microscope equipped with a digital image analysis system, which will allow students to participate in genetic research via their computers. Students will be able to see real-time images on computer screens in class as they are being generated by the microscope. Other equipment funded by the grant will include a digital camera and sophisticated analysis software. The Alden grant will greatly enhance the continued studies of Dr. Sarah Lea McGuire, Assistant Professor of Biology. For the past four years, Dr. McGuire and her team of undergraduate students have conducted research on fungi cell reproduction. This research, as detailed in the preceding Campus News article, earned senior Brett Wilson Carter a national microbiology award. The Alden grant will allow the researchers to view live, unstained specimens of fungi cells. In addition to the inherent educational value of this research, it may shed light on tumor growth since the genes that control cell division in fungi and humans are often very similar. “As with fungi, cancer cells divide in an uncontrolled manner, and understanding cell division and what controls it will allow insight into some of the mechanisms of cancer,”said McGuire. “With this grant, the Alden Trust is recognizing the excellent undergraduate research opportunities we offer at Millsaps,” said Dr. Edward Schrader. “Few graduate students get to work with equipment like this.” Students currently involved in McGuire’s research include Brett Wilson Carter, Rob Carter, Peyton Hays, Angela Payne, Melanie Schrader, and Chad Young. Long known for producing distinguished writers and teachers, doctors and lawyers, Millsaps is attracting national attention as the undergraduate source for tomorrow’s leading scientists. PREVIOUS PAGE | PAGE 1 OF 1 | NEXT PAGE |