LINDA HENSEL

B.S., Microbiology and Immunology, University of Washington

M.S., Genetics, University of Wisconsin

Ph.D., Genetics, University of Wisconsin

BIO 212 Introductory Biology II

BIO 310 Genetics

BIO 303 Microbiology

BIO/WGS 361 Biology of Sex and Gender

BIO 410 Molecular Genetics

BIO 450 Development

BIO 482 Immunology

SCI 105 Scientific Inquiry

FYS 101/102 First Year Seminar

WGS 180 Gendered Lives

HON 201 Honors Seminar

UNV 101 First Year Experience

Molecular Genetics in the mustard plant, Arabidopsis

For the academic year of 2003-2004, Dr. Hensel was on sabbatical working on the Human Genome Project at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington. The National Science Foundation funded her work in a high-throughput genomics laboratory to develop undergraduate laboratory protocols that would access the information produced by the high-throughput laboratory and expose undergraduates to the entire process. Several Mercer undergraduate researchers (Gary Yawn, Emily Salmon, and Alayna Price) worked with her in developing these protocols. Thus far, both her Genetics and Molecular Genetics students have successfully piloted the laboratory protocols in a classroom setting. Mercer undergraduate students have now worked with a system that had only been tapped by graduate students and faculty in the past. As the protocols are completed, they are made available to the public on the TILLING web page. The compilation of protocols will be published in the educational section of a scholarly journal in the genetics field.

TILLING is a high-throughput method used to isolate 12 or more lines each with a different mutation in one gene of interest. Each mutant line is “cleaned up” i.e. background mutations are eliminated from the line by continual crossing to wild-type lines. The lines are then tested for their function. In this way, the geneticist can determine which part of the gene is important for which aspect of the function. For example, the left end of the gene might be important in DNA-binding ability, and a mutation in the left end could eliminate the resulting protein’s ability to bind DNA. The protein may, however, retain another function e.g. ATPase activity. Thus far, the undergraduates working on this project have developed protocols for assessing each step of the process. They have stream-lined a quick DNA prep from plants, optimized oligonucleotides for amplifying their gene of interest (AtCys¬heavy metal resistance gene), and simplified a phenotypic assay for heavy-metal resistance in plants. They are currently working on optimizing a CelI Assay which would allow for quick and easy genotyping of all of their plant lines.

Two undergraduates, Alayna Price and Jonathan Anderson, created a database, seed bank, and DNA bank that will be utilized by all undergraduate students in the future. The archive contains seeds, DNA, amplified genes, and phenotypic information for over 200 progeny lines that they have analyzed from twelve original mutant lines. Our students are excited and enthusiastic about this project. The students present their component of the project at one regional and one national each spring.

Dr. Hensel and her students’ work has been presented at both regional and national meetings. Gary Yawn attended the Genetics Society of Georgia section of the Georgia Academy of Science (GAS) meeting March 26-27, 2004 in Rome, Georgia, and gave a talk titled “A Novel Reverse Genetic Approach to Undergraduate Research.” The abstract is published in the Georgia Journal of Science 62:35.

The Council for Undergraduate Research holds a nation-wide competition each year and selects 75 undergraduate research students (2-4 students from each state) to present their results at “Posters on the Hill” in Washington, D.C. The students present their research to scientists, congressmen, and legislative aides. The chosen students may also visit with their congressmen to thank them for supporting undergraduate research programs by supporting the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation. The students also learn how science and the government work together. Gary Yawn was chosen to present, “A Novel Approach to Undergraduate Research: TILLING the AtCys”at CUR’s Posters on the Hill in April, 2004. Emily Salman was chosen to present, “Reverse Genetics Made Available to Undergraduates: TILLING the Det2 Gene” at CUR’s Posters on the Hill in April, 2005.

Hensel LL, Nelson M, Richmond T, Bleecker AB. (1994) The Fate of Inflorescence Meristems is Controlled by Developing Fruits in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 106:863-876.

Hensel LL, Grbic V, Baumgarten DB, Bleecker AB. (1993) Developmental and age-related processes that influence the longevity and senescence of photosynthetic tissues in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 5:553-564.

Hensel LL, Bleecker AB. (1993) Arabidopsis as a model system for analysis of leaf senescence and inflorescence-meristem longevity. Cellular Communication in Plants--proceedings from the 21st Steenbock Symposium (Plenum Publishing Corporation: New York) pp. 123-130.

Meyers, Stephen, Hensel L. (2007).

Salman E, Hensel L. (2005) Reverse Genetics Made Available to Undergraduates: TILLING the Det-2 Gene. Presented at CURs Posters on the Hill. Washington, DC.

Yawn G, Hensel L. (2004) A Novel Approach to Undergraduate Research: TILLING the AtCys Gene. Presented at CURs Posters on the Hill. Washington, DC.

Yawn G, Hensel L. (2004) A Novel Reverse Genetic Approach to Undergraduate Research: TILLING the AtCys Gene. Georgia Journal of Science 62:35.

McIlwain H, Burtner J, Dane F, Hensel L. (2002) A comparison of Mathematics Education Outcome for Elementary-school girls in two environments: A Single-sex Science Focused Experience and a Co-educational Engineering-focused Experience. Presented at the AAAS Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.

Moss N, Foster S-A, Chipley J. (2001) Analysis of chlorophyll levels in transgenic and mutant proliferous lines of Arabidopsis thaliana in response to varying amounts of the synthetic cytokinin, kinetin. Presented at the 44th Annual Meeting for the BBB Southeastern Region, New Orleans, LA.

Chipley J, Moss N, Hensel LL. (2000) Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana Cytokinin Levels in Transgenic and Mutant Proliferous Lines. Georgia Journal of Science 58:45.

Moorman D, Lonergan L, Moss N, Hensel LL. (1999). Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic lines crossed with proliferous lines. Georgia Journal of Science 57:34..

Moorman D, Hensel-Burke L. (1998). Characterization of Arabidopsis thaliana Lines Transformed with a Construct that Increases cytokinin Production a the Onset of Senescence. Georgia Journal of Science 56:31.

Zeigler L, Hensel-Burke L. (1997). Isolation and Characterization of plf1 2, a Mutant Line of Arabidopsis thaliana that produces Twice as Many Fruit as Wild Type. Georgia Journal of Science 55:

Bleecker T, Zeigler L, Aldridge A, Hensel-Burke L. (1995). Proliferous, an Arabidopsis Mutant that lacks the Global Arrest of Inflorescence Meristems. Supplement to Plant Physiology 108:81.

Hensel LL, Nelson M, Richmond T, Bleecker A. (1994). Global Proliferative Arrest of Inflorescence Meristems in Arabidopsis. Developmental Biology 163:554.

Richmond T, Hensel L, Nelson M, Bleecker A. (1994). Isolation and Characterization of an Arabidopsis Mutant Showing Abnormal Inflorescence Meristem Development. Developmental Biology 163:555.

Ly-Cor GEMF award of $37,654.00 for 4300L automated DNA sequence analyzer Spring 2008

Improvement of Teaching Award, 2004, Facilitating a summer faculty development workshop for 9 faculty members in the Scientific Inquiry Program. ($22,500)

Plunkett Faculty Development Award, 2004, Emily Salman’s summer research project “TILLING the Det-2 Gene.” ($3,000)

NIH-RIA Grant in Collaboration with Lucas Comai 2002-2003 ($30,000)—Salary and supply funds for TILLING project of Human Genome Initiative. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Community Foundation of Central Georgia in collaboration with Dr. Hope McIlwain and Ms. Joan Burtner 2001-2002 ($9600). Central South Summer Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Program for Rising 5th, 6th, and 7th graders.

Hendricks Teaching Development Grant, 2000, ($5400) awarded to coordinate Chemistry & Biology Retreat in order to develop a Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Concentration. In 2002 the program was in the Bulletin, and we now have over 10 BMB majors each year.

American Honda Foundation Grant in Collaboration with Dr. Hope McIlwain and Ms. Joan Burtner 2000-2001 ($52,531). Central South Summer Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Camps for Rising 5th, 6th, and 7th graders.

100 Black Men of Middle Georgia Grant for enhancing American Honda Foundation Grant 2000—2001 ($9600)

AGL Resources Grant for enhancing American Honda Foundation Grant 2000-2001 ($3000)

American Honda Foundation Grant in collaboration with Dr. Hope McIlwain and Ms. Joan Burtner 1999 – 2000 ($49,967) This award will be used to develop and direct two summer math, science, and engineering camps for elementary school children from title I elementary schools for the summers of 2000 and 20001. This award enhances the AAUW Community Action Grant (see below).

American Association of University Women Community Action Grant in Collaboration with Dr. Hope McIlwain 1999 ($10,000). This award will be used to plan and coordinate an all girls summer math and science camp for summer 2000.

Plunkett Faculty Development Award for summer research, 1999 ($1000)

Plunkett Faculty Development Award for summer research, 1997 ($3250)

Plunkett Faculty Development Award for summer research, 1996 ($5500)

University Research Office Faculty Incentive Grant Recipient. This $2000 award was used to fund two undergraduate researchers for the summer of 1995 to work on “Characterization of Proliferous, a Gene Controlling Fruit Production in Arabidopsis.”

Plunkett Faculty Development Award for summer research, 1995. ($4400)

ATG Fellow (USDA/NSF/DOE Arabidopsis Training Grant), March 1994 to July 1994

NIH-NIA Postdoctoral Fellowship, March 1991 to February 1994

WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation) Fellow, September 1983 to August 1984

NIH-Genetics Predoctoral Traineeship, September 1985 to August 1988

Magna Cum Laude (graduated #1 in Department), University of Washington, March 1981