This project was prepared as part of a BioQUEST faculty development workshop entitled BioQUEST Summer Workshop 2007 at Beloit College in June 2007. The BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium is committed to the reform of undergraduate biology instruction through an emphasis on engaging students in realistic scientific practices. This approach is sometimes characterized as an inquiry driven approach and is captured in BioQUEST's three P's (problem-posing, problem-solving, and peer-persuasion). As part of this workshop groups of faculty were encouraged to initiate innovative curricular projects. We are sharing these works in progress in the hope that they will stimulate further exploration, collaboration and development. Please see the following links for additional information:
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Several plant species have been identified and employed for years in bioremediation efforts (Peuke and Rennenberg, 2005). Among these the species Silene vulgaris (Moench.) has been utilized for similar purposes (especially for the up-take of copper and zinc from soils) in European countries. The purpose of this work consisted in reviewing current literature to learn the absorption modality of these ions by the plant under study, identify the genes involved in the process and locate the evolution of this trait in the phylogenetic tree of the species.
[1]. Cobbett, C. and P. Goldsbrough, Phytochelatins and Metallothioneins: Roles in Heavy Metal Detoxification and Homeostasis, Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 2002. 53:159-82. [2]. Le Gac, M., M. E. Hood, E. Fournier, and T. Giraud, Phylogenetic Evidence of Host-Specific Cryptic Species in the Anther Smut Fungus, Evolution, 61(1):15-26, January 2007. [3]. Peuke, A. D. and H. Rennenberg, Phytoremediation, EMBO Reports 6(6):497-501, 2005. [4]. Schat, H., R. Vooijs, and E. Kuiper, Identical Major Gene Loci for Heavy Metal Tolerances that Have Independently Evolved in Different Local Populations and Subspecies of Silene vulgaris, Evolution, 50(5):1888-1895, October, 1996.