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The Drift
October 26, 2007
Kate Hinner , Editor
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-In This Edition–
EEB Department News
Monday Seminar Series
Tuesday “Noon” Seminar Series
Journal Club Meeting
Travis Huxman to Speak at IPSE-Fest
Retirement Party for Bill Birky
SAMEC Request for Classroom Assistance
Congratulations Hoshaw Award Recipients
News from Other Areas
Center for Insect Science Seminars
Technical Computing with MATLAB and Simulink
ARL Division of Neurobiology Discussion Group
News from the UA Library
Special Program at UA Visitor Center
Spring 2008 Course Announcements
PLS/ECOL 472/572: Plant Systematics
Fellowship/Employment Opportunities
Undergraduate Student Worker – Enquist Lab
Recruiting BioME Graduate Fellows
McGinnies Graduate Scholarship in Arid Land Studies
General Announcements
CoSSAC 50/50 Raffle
Emily Krauz Staff Endowment Scholarship
Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia of the National Academy of Sciences
Open Dialogue with the Provost
Monday Seminar Series
Date: October 29, 2007
Time: 4:30 pm
Location: Biosciences West, Room 301
Dr. Bryant McAllister
University of Iowa
http://www.biology.uiowa.edu/mcallister/
Host: Dr. Therese Markow
Divergence between X and Y chromosomes: evidence of selection in response to sex-linked transmission.
Sex chromosomes of many different organisms exhibit similar patterns of differentiation relative to each other and to the autosomes. Features of these heteromorphic sex chromosomes arise as a consequence of sex-linked transmission, although the underlying mechanisms are currently unclear. Suppression of recombination between sex-linked genomic regions, which isolates the X and Y, represents the first stage in the differentiation of sex chromosomes. This suppression is thought to occur in response to sexually antagonistic selection generated by opposing selection pressures biased toward optimizing either female or and male fitness. We are using a naturally occurring rearrangement in the genome of Drosophila americana, which is a member of the virilis species group, to examine distinct selection pressures on newly formed sex chromosomes. A centromeric fusion between the X and chromosome 4 (Muller element B, or melanogaster 2L) caused a recent transformation of an autosomal pair into a pair of neo-sex chromosomes. An inversion complex limited to the neo-X suppresses recombination between these neo-sex chromosomes. Analyses of sequence variation guided by identification of the outermost breakpoints of the inversion complex reveal that positive selection is responsible for establishing the inverted form of this neo-X, thus demonstrating that suppressed recombination and initial divergence between this pair of sex chromosomes is driven by selection specifically on the neo-X chromosome. Sequence variation on the neo-Y shows little indication of a response to unique selection pressures, except for an elevation in nucleotide diversity associated with sex-linked transmission. The evidence for immediate selection specific to the neo-X suggests that female-biased selection pressures are an important force shaping the early evolution of sex chromosomes.
Tuesday “Noon” Seminar Series
Date: October 30, 2007
Time: 12:30 pm
Location: Biosciences West, Room 208
Erin Kelleher
EEB Graduate Student
Evolution of Reproductive Tract Interactions in Cactophilic Drosophila
Journal Club Meeting-Today
Date: October 26, 2007
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: Biosciences West, Room 302
Just a reminder that the Journal Club will be meeting today on the paper "The frailty of adaptive hypotheses for the origins of organismal complexity" by Michael Lynch. The paper can be found at www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0702207104v1
For additional information, please contact Joanna Masel at masel@email.arizona.edu.
Travis Huxman to Speak at IPSE-Fest
Date: November 1, 2007
Time: 2:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: Marriott University Park Hotel
Sabino and Pima Rooms
Guest Speaker:
Travis Huxman, Ph.D.
Director, Biosphere 2 and B2 Earthscience
Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
The University of Arizona Biosphere 2 - a scaling tool for research, outreach and education in the earth and environmental sciences.
IPSE-Fest is an annual event for faculty, staff, and graduate students affiliated with the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth to meet and mingle, learn about ISPE's future, and celebrate the accomplishments of the past year. For detailed information, please go to http://www.ispe.arizona.edu/events/ispefest.html, or contact Teresa Carochi at teresac@email.arizona.edu, 622-9062.
Retirement Party for Bill Birky
Please mark your calendars!
Date: November 20, 2007
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: Tucson Botanical Gardens
2150 N. Alvernon Way
Friends' House and Xeriscape Garden Patios
Join us as we eat, drink and celebrate 10 years of EEB memories with Bill!
If you would like to speak during the open mic, please contact Bruce Walsh (jbwalsh@u.arizona.edu) or Shanley Yates (shanley@email.arizona.edu). Hope to see you all there!
SAMEC Request for Classroom Assistance
Are you interested in giving a talk or helping out with science expertise in a K-12 classroom?
The Science and Mathematics Education Center (SAMEC) receives requests from K-12 teachers for faculty or graduate students in science, mathematics or computer science to visit their classes to share their research in the form of a talk, demonstration, or discussion of a personal career path, or to help out with a classroom activity. If you are interested in this opportunity, or if you want to know more, please contact Katrina Mangin, Director of SAMEC, at mangin@u.arizona.edu or 626-5076. Thank-you!
Congratulations Hoshaw Award Recipients
Congratulations to Patrick Degnan and Nate Swenson - this year's Hoshaw Award recipients. Both Patrick and Nate have distinguished themselves in many ways and exemplify all of the traits of successful scientists.
We are proud to have them represent our department with this honor.
The Hoshaw Memorial Scholarship is in honor of our late colleague, Bob Hoshaw.
This is the highest departmental honor for students in EEB.
Center for Insect Science Seminars
Date: November 1, 2007
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: Marley Auditorium, Room 230
Sylvain Pincebourde
Dept. of Biological Sciences
University of South Carolina
PERT Host: Jeremy Davis
Environmental biophysics of a leafmining insect
Technical Computing with MATLAB and Simulink
Date: October 29-31, 2007
Time: Varied
Location: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Register for the sessions that best fit your interest and schedule
Visit http://www.mathworks.com/seminars/uoaoct07
To get the most from these sessions, we recommend viewing the MATLAB Tutorial as a prerequisite.
http://www.mathworks.com/academia/student_center/tutorials/launchpad.html
Who Should Attend: Professors, researchers and students
For more information contact:
Tim Mathieu
Account Manager, Education Department
Tim.Mathieu@mathworks.com
508-647-7016
ARL Division of NeurobiologyDiscussion Group
Date: Monday, October 29, 2007
Time: 12:00 Noon
Location: Gould-Simpson, Room 601
Hong Lei, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
ARLDN
University of Arizona
Deciphering a Neural Code for Stimulus Intermittency
Faculty host: Wulfila Gronenberg, Ph.D. (626-5422 or wulfi@neurobio.arizona.edu)
News from the UA Library
I want to inform you of some new library acquisitions, please take notice. Regardless of the spending reduction exercise, in FY07 the UA Libraries used $1.7 million in non-state funding to enhance library collections. Here are some of the resources that support educational and research programs in your subject area that are made available mostly through fundraising from the Libraries: Merck Index, Biosis (extended) backfile, ZooRecord (extended) backfile, Blackwell Journal Archives, Wiley Online Books, MathWorks downloads.
Access these resources from the Library home page: http://www.library.arizona.edu/
Have other questions about the UA Libraries? Contact: Elizabeth Kline, Science Librarian at 621-6375 klinee@u.library.arizona.edu
Special Program at UA Visitor Center
Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Time: 9:00 am until 5:00 pm
Speaking Program begins at 2:45 pm with special guest UA President Robert
Shelton
Location: 811 N. Euclid Ave.
Stop in at the UA Visitor Center during UA Sustainability Week! Stroll through our new native plant landscape completed by UA staff and students.
Learn about active and passive water harvesting methods and the solar panels installed onsite, which support a portion of the building’s electricity.
ECOL/PLS 472/572: Plant Systematics
4 credits
Days/Time: MW/9:00 – 9:50 am and 1:00 – 3:50 pm
Location: BSW 210/Koffler 441
Instructor: Dr. M. McMahon
This course will cover modern systematics (analysis of biodiversity, phylogenetic methods, and new classification systems), the evolution of plant diversity (key innovations in land plants, seed plants, and flowering plants), as well as plants of the world.
Undergraduate Student Worker – Enquist Lab
Undergraduate Student Worker needed for Spring 2008. Data entry and processing, process leaf and soil samples for mass-spectrometry analysis, press and mount herbarium specimens, various other lab technician duties. No experience necessary, all training provided. Gain experience using sophisticated plant and soil biochemical analysis equipment. The ideal candidate will be energetic and have attention for details. Work-study; non-work study; research credit; all welcome. 15-20 hrs/wk. Possible continued work during Summer 2008.
Contact hulshof@email.arizona.edu for additional information.
Recruiting BioME Graduate Fellows
Application Due Date: October 29, 2007
BioME (Biodiversity from Molecules to Ecosystems) creates one-year partnerships between UA life science graduate students and K-12 science teachers. Fellows help plan science units and projects, assist with lesson development and implementation, and guide students in inquiry-based activities and research projects. Through the program, fellows will become better communicators of scientific concepts and methods, while teachers and their students will benefit from enriched science content and develop a better understanding of the process of scientific research.
BioME graduate fellows work with their teacher partners throughout the school year (~15 hours per week) and receive a $30,000 stipend, plus additional funds for university fees and benefits.
For more details about the BioME program, including application information, please visit the website at http://biome.bio5.org or contact Kathleen Walker (BioME graduate coordinator) at krwalker@ag.arizona.edu.
McGinnies Graduate Scholarship in Arid Land Studies
Application Review Date: December 1, 2007
The intent of the McGinnies Scholarship is to provide additional support to graduate students whose dissertations or theses projects involve the plants, animals, biotic history, or environment of the world’s arid and semiarid lands. The annual scholarship award is $1,000.
Additional information and application details can be found at: http://www.arid.arizona.edu/McGinnies/index.asp
CoSSAC 50/50 Raffle
Tickets: $1.00 each or 6 tickets for $5.00
CoSSAC (College of Science Staff Advisory Council) is having a 50/50 raffle to raise funds for staff enrichment and the annual staff luncheon.
What is a 50/50 raffle? CoSSAC will take the total amount of money collected, draw one ticket and split the money with the winner. The winning ticket will be drawn on November 13th. The winner will be contacted via email or phone on Wednesday, November 14th.
If you'd like to buy tickets, please stop by Beth Sanchez’s office in BSW, Room 310. Tickets will be available until Noon, November 13th.
Good luck!
Emily Krauz Staff Endowment Scholarship
Application Deadline: November 1, 2007
The Emily Krauz Staff Endowment Scholarship is open to any benefits-eligible UA classified staff member. The purpose of the fund is to encourage and support UA career staff members toward their career advancement and/or education. This scholarship can be applied toward educational expenses such as registration costs, books and supplies. Class registration may be at the UA, including correspondence courses, or Pima Community College.
Details about the scholarship are available at http://fp.arizona.edu/sac/krauz_scholarship/Emily_Krauz_brochure.pdf.
On-line application form is available at: http://fp.arizona.edu/sac/krauz_scholarship/application.html
Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: December 6-8, 2007
Location: Beckman Center of the National Academies, Irvine, CA
In the Light of Evolution II: Biodiversity and Extinction
Darwin’s experience as a natural historian contributed greatly to his explanation of evolution by natural selection, which stands as one of the grand intellectual achievements in the history of science. The Earth’s exuberant biodiversity is a wellspring for scientific curiosity and discovery about nature’s workings. Bringing together leading researchers and students interested in biodiversity from evolutionary as well as ecological perspectives, this colloquium seeks to synthesize recent discoveries and concepts regarding the global abundance and distribution of biodiversity, and to compare the biodiversity patterns to conditions in the near and distant evolutionary past, as well as to those plausible in the near-term future. A preliminary program can be viewed at www.nasonline.org/Sackler_biodiversity_program.
For registration information go to http://www.nasonline.org/Sackler_biodiversity
Open Dialogue with the Provost
Date: Thursday, November 29, 2007
Time: 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM
Location: Union Kiva on the main floor, northeast corner of the SUMC
The Office of the Provost has initiated a lunch-hour forum, "Open Dialogue with the Provost." This forum is designed to be an opportunity where anyone in the university community can come and ask questions of the Provost and the Provost's senior leadership team members.
Please bring your lunch and join us for open discussion and an exchange of information.
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