Where are you from, and what is your role in Extreme 2002?

I am from the University of Oregon, the Department of Chemistry, and a member of the Institute of Molecular Biology. I will be collecting samples of the Pompeii worm (Alvinella pompejana) and investigating how it has adapted to the extreme environment of deep-sea thermal vents.

What questions are you trying to answer and why?

The use of prokaryotic organisms from extreme environments have led to advances in understanding basic cellular processes, and the lack of eukaryotic organisms from extreme environments has denied researchers studying processes specific to eukaryotes this same important tool. To rectify this situation, we are studying the Pompeii worm (Alvinella pompejana), one of the most thermotolerant eukaryotic organisms known. We are specifically interested in the eukaryotic cellular process of pre-mRNA splicing, which is an important process involved in the production of proteins.

Why is this research important? What are the benefits?

The characterization of a thermotolerant eukaryote will provide a resource for researchers studying all types of cellular processes specific to eukaryotes. The study of basic eukaryotic cellular processes can lead to insights into human diseases. For example when incorrect pre-mRNA splicing occurs, a mutant protein can be produced, potentially causing a human disease. It is believed that approximately 15% of human diseases are caused by errors in pre-mRNA splicing.

What's your educational background and what lured you into marine science and education?

As an undergraduate student, I was a marine biology major at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I changed my major to biochemistry mid-way through my undergraduate career when I realized I was more interested in understanding the biochemistry of basic cellular processes, but never lost my interest in marine science. Now, by studying basic cellular process in a marine organism, I have brought together these two fields. Thinking again about marine biology has been great.

My last trip with Craig Cary (chief scientist) and being a part of Extreme 2001 made me realize the importance of getting younger students excited about science and research. To build on the excellent outreach program of Extreme 2002, I am visiting middle- school and high-school classrooms and giving presentations about these trips and the research taking place in my laboratory.