John Hatanelas
Undergraduate Student
Department of Biological Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Denver
E-mail: jhatanel@du.edu
Education
B.S. in progress, Molecular Biology, and BSCh in Chemistry. University of Denver
Research Interests
Currently, I am investigating possible changes in genetic diversity of a white tailed ptarmigan population found on Mt Evans in Colorado. We have obtained samples from the 1960’s and are comparing them to modern samples collected from the early 90’s to the present using microsatellites. If we find a reduction in diversity, it may correlate to rising global temperatures as ptarmigan are moving to higher elevations and mating in smaller populations.
As part of my chemistry/biochemistry research, I am using a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study the effects of ultraviolet light on DNA. I am specifically looking at photodimers and their repair by polyermases eta and zeta. By knocking out catalytic subunits on these polymerases I hope to determine which polymerase is involved in the repair of specific mutations.