Johnson County Science Cafe

Microbes That Live In Extreme Conditions – the Extremophiles

Speakers: Kelley Tuel
              
Date: November 13, 2012

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Coaches Bar and Grill, 9089 W. 135th Street, one block west of 135th and Antioch, south side of 135th St.

In the last 20 years, science has developed a new classification group call the Archaea. These organisms live in some of the most inhospitable conditions on Earth. Kelley will introduce what causes these organisms to be grouped together.  Genetics and conditions of early organisms will be discussed. Kelley’s emphasis is on a group that survives in extremely salty conditions and this group will be emphasized.

Kelley Tuel is a M.S. Degree candidate in biology at Emporia State University.  Her thesis is on the molecular genetics and high school laboratory application of Halobacterium sp. NRC-1, an extreme salt-loving microbe.  The laboratory in which she has done her research at ESU isolated a previously undescribed mutant that has a novel gene that can move around.  They named this mutant KBT-1 (Kansas Biology Teacher).  Kelley is a former high school biology/AP biology teacher here in the metro and is planning to return to teaching when she graduates in May.

For more information: biologycctrack@hotmail.com