|
2005 Alumni Reunion took place on April 16, 2005 in the Carl Icahn Atrium We welcomed back 28 teachers to Princeton for the 2005 reunion on April 16, 2005 . We were honored to host two exciting guest speakers. Professor Tullis Onstott of the GeoSciences Department at Princeton University started the morning by sharing his research and adventures "From Mines to Mars and the Search for Dark Life". He coined the term "dark life" for life that does not require light. He explained that since 1997 when Viking I landed on Mars, our picture of Mars has changed dramatically. The field of molecular biology has advanced quickly as well. Experiments being designed now to search for life on Mars are different than in the past. Professor Onstott shared astounding images of the surface of Mars that looked like Earths' geological features including rivers and glacial deposits. On Earth these formations require water. Water is predicted to exist on Mars locked in ice saturated rock under the surface. On Earth, life was thought to require light until the discovery of hydrothermal vents under the ocean in the 1970s. If life can exist at the bottom of the ocean, perhaps scientists should be looking below the Earth's surface. Professor Onstott began to explore the depths of South African gold mines for signs of life. DNA is isolated from samples and sequenced and compared to known prokaryotes. New lineages have been discovered which are thermophilic and survive at pH 9. Mars appears to be in a geologically active period. Methane has been discovered on Mars. Methane is not stable on Mars so it must be created through volcanic activity or through life. The new astrobiology mantra is "follow the methane". In order to design experiments form Mars, one has to make sure they will work on Earth first. A new project, searching for life under ice saturated rock in Canada is a model for Mars. Huge saline reservoirs under the ice are yielding exotic looking bacterial forms. Similar experiments on Mars are projected to be performed 2018-2020. Will there be anything there? Professor Jean Schwarzbauer gave an illuminating talk on "Scrapes, Scabs, Scars- a Wound Healing Saga". She started by introducing the basic components of skin structure: dermis, epidermis and extracellular matrix (ECM). During wound healing, the first phase is the formation of a blood clot. The cells and proteins of the blood signal the surrounding cells. Other cells are recruited to clean the wound and remove damaged tissue. Neutrophils and macrophages move from the vascular system to phagocytose debris. A remarkable video clip of this process in a transparent zebrafish embryo was shown. The second phase of healing is the replacement of the granulation tissue by collagen. Cells use the ECM for attachment, spreading and migration. Spreading depends on the number of receptors the cells have for ECM proteins. Professor Schwarzbauer showed a striking video clip of a cell migrating with fluttering lamellipodia. Professor Schwarzbauer also shared the clinical application of her research. She is collaborating on an advanced titanium rod for hip replacement. Current designs only last about 10 - 15 years. Professor Schwarzbauer and her colleagues are coating the titanium with an organophosphate and then binding antibodies to the ECM receptors to it. The goal is for bone cells to attach to the titanium and thus strengthen and increase the durability of the implant. In early rat implant studies, the results look promising with attachment and deposition of bone onto the implant. After lunch, Maureen Nosal of Allentown High School gave an invigorating talk on the AP exam and how to maximize student performance on the test. . Tom Stagich of Cranford Senior High School ended the day with by leading a brief discussion on the AP exam.
Past Reunions: 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 |
|||||||
Home 
Class Reunions
Class Reunions 
Past Reunions
| Reunion 2004 |
| Reunion 2003 |
| Reunion 2002 |
| Reunion 2001 |