This is one of the most basic and unknown questions of biology, says , assistant professor of .

Joining him to study the topic is junior biology/ double major, Charise Garber of Lancaster, Pa.

“We’re using fruit flies,” explained Garber, “because their genes are easy to manipulate. Fruit flies live relatively short lives and are metabolically similar.”

Original research stems from post-doctoral work

The fruit fly research builds on Copeland’s post-doctoral work at The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his doctorate work at the California Institute of Technology.

Continuing the project at EMU has allowed Copeland to engage with a student in significant ways.

Students and professors work alongside each other

This kind of study – undergraduates paired with full-PhD level professors doing original research – is typical at EMU and key to the success many graduates report enjoying in graduate and medical school study.

Hearing about this kind of faculty-student interaction from EMU alumni in the Lancaster area, as well as a campus visit, influenced Garber’s decision to come to EMU.

“When I came, I visited professors from many different departments,” Garber said. “They not only took the time to answer my questions, but helped guide me in the directions that were best suited to my gifts.

Interdisciplinary focus allows students to cross disciplines

The interdisciplinary emphasis of EMU is a real strength of the university, Garber noted.

“It’s something I’ve really grown to appreciate now that I’m here,” she reflects, noting the ‘s new interdisciplinary studies concentration as a good example.

With her double major in music and biology, Garber intends to do research next year on connections between the two fields.

Impressive alumni were key factor in professor’s decision

Copeland considered other options before coming to EMU in fall 2010. Even while still in Los Angeles, Copeland said, he met many alumni who impressed him with their unique perspective and knowledge.

“Most professors have the option of picking a larger or a smaller school to teach,” Copeland noted.

“Part of the thrill of teaching at EMU is being able to have those one-on-one mentoring opportunities that strengthen the educational experience for both teacher and student.”

About the research on aging

Of the current theories of aging, Copeland notes that scientists currently have only a naive idea, and “we don’t have a good understanding of the genes controlling the aging process.”

He wants to understand which genes are important and how they relate to the numerous age-related diseases, like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

“One method to understanding the life of fruit flies is to slightly lower their metabolism, and it is important to determine if lowered metabolism can affect disease models in flies,” Copeland explained.

Lowered metabolism may hold key

Garber and Copeland know that lowered metabolism specifically in the brains of flies can extend the lifespan, something Copeland determined in his earlier research at UCLA.

Now the two hope to discover what regions of the brain are affected and in what way. Answering these questions could give scientists everywhere never before seen insights into many illnesses currently plaguing humanity.

Tim Hartman, Elida, Ohio, a senior with a emphasis, contributed to this article.

His goal was to determine the effects of Genestein – a phytoestrogen compound found in soy – on male reproductive development in mice.

Derstine’s studies confirmed the hypothesis that phytoestrogens have detrimental effects on sperm production and maturation. He discovered decreased numbers of mature spermatozoa, and increased numbers of immature sperm cells.

“Further research needs to be conducted to determine the relevance of these findings for humans,” he notes.

Continuing work in research

Currently Nate continues to work for EMU associate professor of chemistry, Dr. Matthew Siderhurst.

Siderhurst received a grant for research related to fruit-piercing moths at The Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hawaii.

Learning ‘what it takes to make real science happen’

“My relationships with both Dr. Miller and Dr. Siderhurst have been beneficial,” reflects Derstine.

“They trusted me so much and gave me autonomy to work on these projects. I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to make real science happen, while being given remarkable opportunities to apply the skills I’ve learned beyond college.”

Doing research on mice prostates may not be every student’s first choice of a special endeavor, but it proved rewarding in several ways for a recent EMU graduate.

“When I came to EMU, I hoped to be part of some intensive, faculty-supported research during my undergrad years,” says Rebecca J. Drooger. “Collecting and analyzing data over a two-year period has been an amazing learning experience and was especially exciting when I found statistically significant results from my data on the prostate,” she adds.

Her research studied the responses of the young adult mouse prostate to neonatal phytoestrogen exposure. Drooger describes it as studying the effect of “chemicals produced by plants that are similar in structure to human estrogen,” such as that found in soy-based products, on young mice.

The results could have implications for cancer studies that consider whether a diet high in such products has an impact on the advancement of prostate cancer.

‘Best Research’ in 25 Years

Roman J. Miller, professor of biology, says it’s some of the best research he’s seen in his 25 years at EMU and believes it is publishable material.

“Rebecca’s consistency, keen insights, dedication, dependability, and hard work were exemplary,” Dr. Miller says of the work she spearheaded, together with three other students.

Drooger came to EMU on an honors scholarship and majored in biology with minors in Spanish and chemistry. At the university’s 89th commencement Apr. 29, she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree.

This summer she plans to study for and take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), apply to medical schools, work at Harvard University’s library and travel to Nazareth, Israel under the auspices of Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions to teach English to Arabic-speaking children.

She eventually hopes to become a physician, perhaps focusing on endocrinology, and work in a Spanish-speaking community.

Cross-cultural study in Costa Rica will help with that. As will the volunteer work she did in the emergency department of Rockingham Memorial Hospital the past three years and language tutoring with migrants following the apple harvest near Harrisonburg.

In addition to that community service, Drooger spent one semester of study in the Middle East.

Rebecca Drooger graduates with honors Apr. 29, receiving her BA degree in biology from EMU President Loren Swartzendruber.
Photo by Jim Bishop

EMU’s Med School Acceptance Rate High

“This kind of well-rounded undergrad experience will certainly enhance Rebecca’s application to medical school,” notes Miller. EMU pre-med graduates boast an 85 percent acceptance rate into medical school, well above the national average of 40 percent.

EMU pre-med majors must complete two credit hours of research experience to graduate. The options include an independent research project, such as Drooger and her colleagues completed, or a research course.

“A distinctive of the small liberal arts college experience for undergraduate science students is our ability to take students into our laboratories so that they can collaborate in a research experience with a professor,” says Miller.

He notes that EMU’s ratio of faculty to students involved in research is better than many other institutions, particularly large institutions, where students simply can’t get the kind of mentoring they do at a smaller college like EMU.

“This project was successful because Dr. Miller was always available to assist and encourage me along the way,” says Drooger.

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