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----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darwin Day Seminar: "What
embryos teach us about evolution" Darwin Day Seminar: "What embryos teach
us about evolution" Hosted by the Graduate Organization of Biology Students and Sigma Xi Abstract The evolution of body form requires not only that genes evolve, but that development from egg to adult also evolves. It is now possible to forge an experimental link between evolution and development. Dr. Raff studies a pair of closely related Australian sea urchins that differ radically in early development, focusing on the aspects of gene organization and expression that underlie the differences in cell cleavage, cell lineage, timing of developmental events, and morphogenetic processes between these species. Dr. Raff's work also involves how changes in body plans evolved by comparing the radial echinoderm body plan with the linear body plan of vertebrates. This is done by examining the expression of patterns of pattern-regulating genes and the processes that form the radially symmetric animal. His work focuses on the central nervous system, which reflects the radial body plan. Bio Rudy Raff of Indiana University is the
Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology. He is the author of The
Shape of Life. Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form. "Assessment of Parkinson's
Disease and Treatment Through Eye and Head Position Measurement" "Assessment of Parkinson's Disease
and Treatment Through Eye and Head Position Measurement"
A School of Engineering Graduate Research Seminar Abstract Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurological movement disorder caused by degeneration of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra of the brain, resulting in hypokinesias, rigidity and tremor. The disease can affect other motor and sensory functions including changes in postural reflexes and the control of eye movements. Treatments include medications that increase the dopamine level within the brain or those which reduce acetylcholine production. As the disease progresses, medications often become less effective or produce negative side effects. Surgical procedures may then be considered which include Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) involving the surgical implantation of a stimulating electrode within the globus pallidus or in the ventrointermediate nucleus of the thalamus. The stimulating module is then used to generate a continuous train of high frequency current pulses that are sent to a multi-site stimulating electrode. The stimulating module can be programmed to adjust the characteristics of the pulse and can be also turned on or off. When off, disease symptoms return within minutes. To investigate the effects of PD and treatment, eye and head movements of patients were measured at 120 Hz, while performing simple tracking tasks and during reading. Differences in eye and head movement control were observed as a function of disease state and adjustment of the DBS device. The normal control of gaze was also affected during reading including the normal coordinated relationship between eye and head movement. Bio Dr. Paul Wetzel received his PhD, MS and BS degrees in bioengineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the SM degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1988 through 1999 he worked at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Arizona where he was responsible for eye and head movement research, development of helmet-mounted displays, night vision systems, simulation training and performance measures. Since joining the VCU engineering faculty, he has been involved with the study of Parkinson’s disease and treatment on gaze control, assistive devices for the disabled, electronic voting systems and a study of bottle feeding patterns in preterm infants. For more information please contact School of Engineering
Graduate Research Seminar Coordinator Anthony
Guiseppi-Elie.
"Protein Structures as
Networks of Contacts: Identification of "Protein Structures as Networks of
Contacts: Identification of All Fellows and Members are Invited to Attend this CSBC Seminar
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