Ramir Hollis: The Biologist
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Laboratory & Field Proficiencies
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Microscope Techniques
Microbiology Lab - BIO 3232
Upon completion of the Microbiology course. I received notice of a program called SciTech, in which middle school children joined WSSU Biological department to complete special activities that prepare them for courses such as organisms that were invisible to the naked eye. Determining my unknown microorganism granted me the opportunity to become an expert in microscope techniques. Many Microbiological techniques like smearing incubated bacteria from agar plates, onto slides using an inoculating loop and heat fixed the slide required a microscope to explore the appearance of the bacteria. In addition gram staining, colored dye staining of cell wall, were utilized and required a microscope to determine its shape and arrangement; two very significant classification characteristics. *Below are pictures of my unknown on Agar and under microscope after being gram stained*
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Gel Electrophoresis
I & R - Dr. Steed
In my I & R course, working in the lab with Dr. Steed and determining the roles Matrix Metallo-proteinases (MMP) play in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, I learned and enhanced my skill in regards to Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) and Polylermase Chain Reaction (PCR). In the lab I improved my skill in making both running and stacking gels, polyacrylamide gels that tissue samples would be loaded into to determine the MMP weight and expression in the specific tissue, thus determining a particular type of MMP.
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UV Vis-Spectrometry
Biomolecules - BIO 3137
In the Biomolecule laboratory we were given an experiment that expanded my lab proficiencies. In the experiment, we sought to understand the spectral properties of paranitrophenol (PNP) change as a function of pH. We observe the spectra of PNP under basic and acidic condition and determine the pH at which PNP deprotonates. Lastly using the data, we investigated the pH titratration of PNP in an aqueous buffer and a buffer containing ethanol to determine pKa.
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Gram Stain
Microbiology - BIO 3232
Upon completion of the Microbiology Laboratory course and spring semester, I received notice of a program called SciTech. A program involving middle school children from Forsyth County and the  WSSU Biological department, aiding in the early interest for science in the youth. In the program we helped young children practice their Gram staining technique and microscope observation skills.