Rana GonzalesRana Gonzales
Junior Biology
Reproductive Physiology
Hi my name is Rana Gonzales and I am a junior at the University
of Southern Colorado. I was lucky enough to be accepted into the
Minority Biomedical Research Support Program and I now work in
Dr. Davî Gonzales' Reproductive Physiology lab. As of now
I am working on characterizing the enzyme activity that is potentially
involved in escape from the zona pellucid in utero. I have learned
how to run electrophoresis zymography and how to analyze and archive
the data using computer technology. I will soon learn how to use
Western blotting and do 2-D electrophoresis. I also have learned
how to collect uterine flushates for my experimental protocol,
vasectomize hamsters, and culture hamster embryos. My lab partner,
Felicia Rodriguez, is currently working on developing an epithelial
culture system in which we hope to induce the enzyme activity
we are investigating.
I was able to attend the Society of the Study of Reproduction
during July 2000. It was interesting to see the variety of papers
and posters and it helped me understand the process of poster
presentation as well as design. I hope to be accepted into a summer
program that deals with neurology and psychological experiments
on patients with brain injuries.
I am a Biology major with a double minor in Chemistry and Psychology.
There are many benefits in attending a university that has a small
population. Most of my professors know me by name and not by a
number. It is easier to have one on one discussions with your
professors. The professors at USC want to see students succeed
in any field that they choose.
I have not been an author of any papers but the students preceding
me published an abstract and a paper in Biology of Reproduction:
Thrasher D.L., Mese S.A., Bavister B.D., Gonzales DS. (1999) In Utero Proteinase Activity During the Hamster Embryo Zona Escape Time Widow. Biology of Reproduction, Vol. 60, Supp 1, p250.
Gonzales D. S., Bavister B.D., Somer M. (2001) In Utero and In Vitro Proteinase Activity During the Mesocricetus auratus Embryo Zonal Escape Time Window. Biology Of Reproduction 64, 222-230. (Currently in press)
Interesting web-sites
http://www.chemfinder.com/
http://www.chemexper.com/
Internship web-sites
http://www.internships.info@nhmi.org/
