The research in my lab focuses on the effects of various substances
on embryological development. We are interested in determining
what substances might cause congenital malformations (birth
defects) in humans. We are currently test ing substances in
two model systems, chick and frog embryos.
In the chick embryo system, fertilized eggs are
injected with a given amount of the test substance on Development
Day 0, incubated for seven days, then cracked open and examined
under a stereoscopic microscope. We record embryo viability as
well as emb ryo size and the types of malformations that were
produced.
In the frog embryo system, we use a standard toxicology assay
method called FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay: Xenopus).
We mate the frogs, then gather and cull the fertilized eggs.
We grow the embryos in a standard FETAX salt solution to w hich
the test substance has been added. We check the embryos every
day for viability and then check the tadpoles for congenital
malformations.
We have tested some common environmental pollutants
such as the heavy metals (cadmium, zinc, lead), metalloids (arsenic)
and organic solvents (xylene). Once we establish if a substance
is teratogenic (causes congenital malformations) we try to devise
e xperiments to delineate the mechanism of action of the substance.
We have begun testing herbal remedies that are available without
prescriptions at drug and grocery stores. These substances have
been subjected to little or nor teratological studies. We are
currently testing St. John's wort and Gingko biloba ex tract,
both of which seem to have adverse effects on development.
All of this work is accomplished through the efforts
of the lab team, a group of undergraduate and graduate students
who work under my direction to perform the research. The lab team
meets two Fridays per month to exchange ideas, to plan strategies
and (usually) to eat pizza. Lab team members are expected to work
together, whether they are "chick" people or "frog"
people. We are all available to help one another.
All of the students have a goal to attend a scientific meeting
at which they will deliver an oral or poster presentation. The
lab team gets together frequently and for long hours before
one of these scientific meetings because we want to make sure
that our team members have lots of practice in presenting their
research. Repeated practice helps the presenter control the
anxiety and nervousness associated with giving a presentation.
Our lab team members have presented at numerous meetings and
have done o utstanding jobs in presenting themselves, their
research, the lab team and the university. Once a student presents
at one meeting, he or she becomes even more interested in research
and plans to do experiments that can be presented at another
meeting. We make every effort to underwrite the cost of the
student's attendance at meetings and have been very successful
in finding funding for our students.
Here are some of the presentations given by our lab team members.
Campos*, R., Galindo*, J. and S. Chopin. 1998.
The effects of mercury on the developing chick embryo. 6th Annual
National Science Foundation, Alliance for Minority Participation
Research Conference, Pablo, Montana (oral presentation by Campo
s)
Floissac*, M., C. Peter* and S. Chopin. 1998. The effects of
Ginko biloba on chick embryo development. 6th Annual National
Science Foundation, Alliance for Minority Participation Research
Conference, Pablo, Montana (oral presentation by Floissac)
Thomas*, M. H. Frankum**, K. Swart*, M. Haas*
and S. Chopin. 1998. The effects of cadmium and zinc on frog embryo
development. Southwestern Regional conference for Developmental
Biology, A&M-CC, Corpus Christi, TX (oral presentation by
Thomas and w inner of the award of excellence)
Taransenko, Y.* and S. Chopin. 1998. The effect of arsenic
on the embryological development of the chick. Council on Undergraduate
Research, Washington, D.C. (poster presentation on Capitol Hill)
Taransenko*, Y. (S. Chopin, mentor). 1998. The
effect of arsenic on the embryological development of the chick.
National Council on Undergraduate Research, Salisbury, MD (oral
presentation)
Frankum**, H., M. Haas*, K. Swart*, M. Thomas* and S. Chopin.
1998. The effect of St. John’s wort on frog embryo development.
12th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, UTMB, Galveston,
TX (oral presentation by Frankum)
Galindo*, J., R. Campos*, and S. Chopin. The effects
of low levels of mercury on chick development. 12th Annual Undergraduate
Research Symposium, UTMB, Galveston, TX (oral presentation by
Campos)
Haas*, M., H. Frankum**, K. Swart*, M. Thomas* and S. Chopin.
1998. The effects of cadmium and zinc on frog embryo development.
12th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, UTMB, Galveston,
TX (oral presentation by Haas)
Tarasenko, E.* and S. Chopin 1998. The effect
of arsenic on the embryological development of the chick. 12th
Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, UTMB, Galveston, TX (oral
presentation by Taransenko, winner of first place award of excellence)
de Forest**, P. and S. Chopin. 1997. Reduction of cadmium induced
malformations in chick embryos by co-injecting with zinc. 13th
International Congress of Developmental Biology, Snowbird, UT
(poster)
Swart*, K., H. Frankum*, M. Thomas*, and S. Chopin.
1997. Evaluation of cadmium and zinc teratogenesis using the frog
embryo teratogenesis assay-Xenopus (FETAX), Southwestern and Rocky
Mountain Division, American Association for the Advancement of
Science, College Station, TX. (oral presentation by Swart, winner
of Award of Excellence)
Frankum*, H., P. Clepper*, J. Bailey*, K. Swart* and S. Chopin.
1997. The South Texas Journal of Science: a medium for student
publication. Southwestern and Rocky Mountain Division, American
Association for the Advancement of Science, College Station,
TX (oral presentation by Frankum)
de Forest**, P. and S. Chopin. 1997. The effect
of cadmium and zinc on the developing chick embryo. Federation
for the Associated Societies of Experimental Biology, New Orleans,
LA. (oral presentation by de Forest)
de Forest**, V. Rodriguez*, and S. Chopin. 1997. Embryotoxicity
of cadmium and zinc in chick embryos. 5th Annual South Texas
Environmental Conference, Corpus Christi, TX (poster)
Frankum, H.*, K. Swart*, M. Thomas*, M. Meilak*
and S. Chopin. 1997. Frog embryo teratogenesis assay-Xenopus (FETAX):
a method to evaluate toxins rapidly. 5th Annual South Texas Environmental
Conference, Corpus Christi, TX (poster)
Clepper*, P, H. Frankum*, C. Jeffers and S. Chopin. 1997. The
South Texas Journal of Science. 5th Annual South Texas Environmental
Conference, Corpus Christi, TX (poster)
de Forest**, P., V. Rodriguez* and S. Chopin. 1997. The effects
of zinc and cadmium on the developing chick embryo. Eleventh
Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium (UTMB), Galveston, TX
(oral presentation by Rodriguez, winner of third place award)
Thomas*, M., H. Frankum*, K. Swart* and S. Chopin.
1997. Rapid identification of embryolethal and teratogenic substances.
Eleventh Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium (UTMB), Galveston,
TX (oral presentation by Thomas)
Swart*, K., P. Clepper*, H. Frankum*, M. Bearden* and S. Chopin.
1997. The South Texas Journal of Science. Eleventh Annual Undergraduate
Research Symposium (UTMB), Galveston, TX (oral presentation
by Swart)
de Forest*, P. and S. Chopin. 1996. Embryotoxicity
of cadmium in chick embryos. Southwestern and Rocky Mountain Division
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Flagstaff,
Az (oral presentation by de Forest, winner of Award of Excel lence)
de Forest*, P. and S. Chopin. 1996. Embryotoxicity of xylene
in chick embryos. Southwest Regional Conference for Developmental
Biology, Denton, TX (oral presentation by de Forest)
Chopin, S. 1996. Science and technology in the
classroom. National Teacher Training Institute for Math, Science
and Technology. Corpus Christi, TX (keynote speaker)
de Forest*, P., D. Wagner*, H. Frankum* and S. Chopin. 1996.
Cadmium and xylene: dispersal and biological impact. South Texas
Environmental Conference, Corpus Christi, TX (poster presentation)
*Undergraduate student
