Women In ScienceWomen In Science

Outlook Good – Medical schools, Vet Schools > Outlook Good – Medical schools, Vet Schools > parity parity Outlook OK – Dental Schools = Women gaining Outlook OK – Dental Schools = Women gaining ground for parity, still some work to do (2002 = 40% ground for parity, still some work to do (2002 = 40% female in National Dental Schools, 50% at MCG)female in National Dental Schools, 50% at MCG)““Glass ceiling” still applies – fewer women than Glass ceiling” still applies – fewer women than predicted hold tenured positions, fewer are full predicted hold tenured positions, fewer are full professorsprofessors Reasons vary – career interruptions due to pregnancy Reasons vary – career interruptions due to pregnancy

still problematicstill problematic Still some male-dominated areas (eg., engineering, Still some male-dominated areas (eg., engineering,

math, chemistry) where improvements can be made at math, chemistry) where improvements can be made at both entry and advanced levelsboth entry and advanced levels

The 2009 Graduating Class of the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry

Applications Received  Class Academic Qualifications

Applications received for the 2005 entering class: 237

Overall grade point average:

3.44

Applications received from Georgia residents:  237

Science grade point average: 

3.37

Number of applicants granted interviews: 131

DAT Academic Average:

18.6

Class size: 62DAT Perceptual Test Average:

17.7

Ratio of Georgia resident applicants to enrollees: 3.82 to 1

   

 Number of Applicants

NumberEnrolled

Women / Men Enrolled

Average Age of Enrolled (Range)

At large 280 1 1/0 *

Georgia 192 71 54/17 25 (20-40)

Delaware 10 2 2/0 23 (*)

South Carolina

55 16 14/2 22 (20-24)

West Virginia

29 6 5/1 21 (21-23)

Totals 566 96 76/20 24 (20-40)

UGA Vet School Stats

 

Average scores for accepted applicants

GPA Cum.

GPA Science

Last 45hr GPA

GRE V+Q Comb.

GREAnal.

GRE Biology

At large * * * * * * *

Georgia 3.53 3.49 3.59 1191 4.5 607

Delaware 3.68 3.46 3.73 1235 4.3 625

South Carolina

3.72 3.67 3.77 1157 4.8 621

West Virginia

3.70 3.67 3.79 1121 4.7 585

Overall 3.58 3.54 3.65 1180 4.5 608

Know What Makes A DifferenceKnow What Makes A DifferenceExcellent GPA essentialExcellent GPA essential Pay attention to rigorPay attention to rigor Be smart about schedulingBe smart about scheduling

DAT/GRE/MCAT scores v. importantDAT/GRE/MCAT scores v. important Take prep course if you canTake prep course if you can Familiarity with computerized exams very usefulFamiliarity with computerized exams very useful Get the books and use themGet the books and use them

Internships invaluableInternships invaluable Do well, impress intern sponsors with work habits, Do well, impress intern sponsors with work habits,

curiosity, engagementcuriosity, engagement Letters of rec from professionals importantLetters of rec from professionals important

Choose extracurriculars wiselyChoose extracurriculars wiselyExperiences which differentiate you from others Experiences which differentiate you from others should be pursued. should be pursued.

Career Choices and GoalsCareer Choices and Goals

Difference between stated goals in early Difference between stated goals in early career and path of career progressioncareer and path of career progression

Adjustments for academic reasons, for Adjustments for academic reasons, for family reasons, for monetary reasonsfamily reasons, for monetary reasons

Internships vital to assisting in career Internships vital to assisting in career decisionsdecisions

Solid academic preparation a must; later, Solid academic preparation a must; later, pedigree importantpedigree important

                                

         

HAVE A PLANHAVE A PLAN

Map strategy for postgraduate plansMap strategy for postgraduate plansEngage in coursework, internships, Engage in coursework, internships, research opportunities that mesh with goalresearch opportunities that mesh with goalMake your postgraduate plans a reality – Make your postgraduate plans a reality – talk to representatives at schools to which talk to representatives at schools to which you are applying, find out about schools, you are applying, find out about schools, visit if possiblevisit if possibleSenior year – backup plan in place Senior year – backup plan in place BEFORE graduationBEFORE graduation

The Secret Life of The Secret Life of Vitamin AVitamin A

Holly Boettger-Tong, Wesleyan College Holly Boettger-Tong, Wesleyan College Department of BiologyDepartment of Biology

What is Vitamin A ?What is Vitamin A ?Required for normal visionRequired for normal visionreproduction,differentiation, reproduction,differentiation, homeostasishomeostasisDeficiency leads to blindness, Deficiency leads to blindness, sterilitysterilityRetinol, Retinal, Retinoic acid Retinol, Retinal, Retinoic acid all have biological activity. all have biological activity. Nature of function depends Nature of function depends upon form, converting upon form, converting enzymes, expression of enzymes, expression of receptors for each retinoidreceptors for each retinoid

Retinoic AcidRetinoic Acid

Metabolite of Vitamin AMetabolite of Vitamin A

Organic compound that is produced endogenously and whose Organic compound that is produced endogenously and whose production is dependent upon tissue-specific expression of production is dependent upon tissue-specific expression of enzymes (retinaldehyde dehydrogenases, to be specific) enzymes (retinaldehyde dehydrogenases, to be specific)

Affects vertebrate physiological processes Affects vertebrate physiological processes DevelopmentDevelopment Cell growth and differentiationCell growth and differentiation MorphogenesisMorphogenesis Adult tissue functionAdult tissue function

Retinoid Isomer StructuresRetinoid Isomer Structures

All-trans Retinoic acid

9-cis Retinoic acid

How Retinoic Acid Effects How Retinoic Acid Effects Gene ExpressionGene Expression

Gene product

Retinoid binding protein

Retinoic AcidReceptor – bindsligand and DNA, Influencing gene expression

What is the Effect of Retinoic Acid What is the Effect of Retinoic Acid During Early Development? During Early Development?

What are the dose-response characteristics of What are the dose-response characteristics of retinoic acid’s effects on retinoic acid’s effects on Oryzias latipesOryzias latipes development?development?What insight into the role of retinoic acid in What insight into the role of retinoic acid in cardiogenesis might be gleaned from these cardiogenesis might be gleaned from these experiments? experiments? What are the gene expression changes associated What are the gene expression changes associated with retinoid-altered developmentwith retinoid-altered developmentHow does the stage of development effect How does the stage of development effect sensitivity to retinoid effects?sensitivity to retinoid effects?

Retinoids and DevelopmentRetinoids and DevelopmentSpecification of primary antero-Specification of primary antero-posterior axis, forming nervous system, posterior axis, forming nervous system, establishing limbsestablishing limbsControl of gene expression – produced Control of gene expression – produced at specific developmental times to yield at specific developmental times to yield a gradient of retinoic acida gradient of retinoic acidDefects in retinoic acid production or in Defects in retinoic acid production or in receptor expression result in defective receptor expression result in defective development. Excess retinoic acid is development. Excess retinoic acid is teratogenic, causing malformations teratogenic, causing malformations which are informative as to retinoid which are informative as to retinoid action in specific tissues. action in specific tissues.

The Japanese KillifishThe Japanese Killifish

Oryzias latipesOryzias latipes are native to Japan, Taiwan, and are native to Japan, Taiwan, and southeastern Asiasoutheastern Asia

Freshwater and common to rice paddiesFreshwater and common to rice paddies

Rapid development (ranges from 1-3 weeks) in Rapid development (ranges from 1-3 weeks) in a translucent egg makes them ideal for a translucent egg makes them ideal for determining potential teratologic effects of determining potential teratologic effects of chemicals of interestchemicals of interest

Good for students due to ease of cultureGood for students due to ease of culture

Experimental DesignExperimental Design

Modified FETAX – treat embryos for three Modified FETAX – treat embryos for three days with different concentrations of days with different concentrations of retinoid (or vehicle control), then retinoid (or vehicle control), then discontinue use and observe effects of discontinue use and observe effects of treatmenttreatment

Monitor embryos daily, observing Monitor embryos daily, observing morphologymorphology

Determine effects on hatchingDetermine effects on hatching

1 6

3 3 3 3

8 3

1 0 0

0

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

1 0 0

0 0 . 0 0 1 0 . 0 1 0 . 1 1

Dose Dependent Inhibition of Dose Dependent Inhibition of Medaka Hatching by ATRA and 9-Medaka Hatching by ATRA and 9-

cis RAcis RA

Dose of Retinoid (M)

% F

aile

d H

atch

ing

Embryonic Morphology on Embryonic Morphology on Experimental Day 6Experimental Day 6

Control

ATRA

9-cis RA

10nM 100nM 1M

Cardiac MorphologyCardiac MorphologyIs Dramatically Altered by 100nM ATRA Is Dramatically Altered by 100nM ATRA

TreatmentTreatment

100nM ATRA100nM ATRAControlControl

Cardiac MorphologyCardiac MorphologyIs Altered by 50nM ATRA TreatmentIs Altered by 50nM ATRA Treatment

50nM ATRA50nM ATRA ControlControl

Range of Cardiac MalformationsRange of Cardiac Malformations

Normally Chambered

Hearts

Heart Looping

Heart Strings/ Cardiac Tissue

Masses

Control

10nM ATRA/9-cis

50nM ATRA/9-cis

100nM ATRA/9-cis

1µM ATRA/9-cis

+++

+++

++

- -

- -

+++

++ -

- - -

+++ -

What are the Genetic Consequences of What are the Genetic Consequences of Treating Neurula Embryos with Treating Neurula Embryos with

Retinoic Acid?Retinoic Acid?

To study global changes in gene expression To study global changes in gene expression patterns we use DNA microarrayspatterns we use DNA microarrays

Large numbers of genes (from 5-10K) Large numbers of genes (from 5-10K) represented on small coated glass slides represented on small coated glass slides (chips) (chips)

Assess changes in gene expression patterns in Assess changes in gene expression patterns in normal vs treated embryos (normal vs treated embryos (work in progresswork in progress))

What are the Effects of Retinoic What are the Effects of Retinoic Acid on Uterine Function?Acid on Uterine Function?

Estrogen is a potent regulator of uterine growthEstrogen is a potent regulator of uterine growth

In immature rats, all uterine cell types proliferate In immature rats, all uterine cell types proliferate in response to estrogen treatmentin response to estrogen treatment

What effect, if any, does retinoic acid have on What effect, if any, does retinoic acid have on estrogen-induced uterine cell proliferation?estrogen-induced uterine cell proliferation?

Can these effects be reiterated in vitro, using Can these effects be reiterated in vitro, using cultured primary cells?cultured primary cells?

Is there a difference in response between Is there a difference in response between primary cells and immortalized cells?primary cells and immortalized cells?

All-trans Retinoic Acid Inhibits Estrogen All-trans Retinoic Acid Inhibits Estrogen Induced Uterine Myometrial and Induced Uterine Myometrial and

Stromal Cell ProliferationStromal Cell Proliferation

1. Treat animalswith 30mg/kg ATRAprior to estradiol ( E2

stimulates cellproliferation in OVX rats)3. Inject 3H Thy4. Remove uterus 24 hrspost E2 injection5. Section uterus6. Expose to emulsion7. Develop slides

Why Switch to Cell Culture Why Switch to Cell Culture Experiments?Experiments?

Advantages:Easier to work with than whole animalsMore manipulable, faster resultsGreater range of treatment concentrationsCheaperCan extend studies to humans (cultured

human cells)

Disadvantages:May not reiterate effect seen in vivoNon-physiologicalPrimary cells have limited lifespan

Effect of Retinoic Acid on Human Effect of Retinoic Acid on Human Myometrial Cell ProliferationMyometrial Cell Proliferation

Retinoic Acid Alters Uterine Retinoic Acid Alters Uterine Smooth Muscle Cell MorphologySmooth Muscle Cell Morphology

Control, Day 6 10-9 M ATRA, Day 6

Do Retinoids Influence the Growth of Do Retinoids Influence the Growth of ImmortalizedImmortalized Human Uterine Cells? Human Uterine Cells?

ControlControl 1010-11-11M ATRAM ATRA

1010-9-9 M ATRA M ATRA 1010-7-7 M ATRA M ATRA

Dose-Dependent Effects of ATRA on Dose-Dependent Effects of ATRA on Immortalized Myometrial Cell SurvivalImmortalized Myometrial Cell Survival

What Is the Mechanism of Differential What Is the Mechanism of Differential Sensitivity to ATRA Between Primary Sensitivity to ATRA Between Primary Non-Pregnant Cells and Immortalized Non-Pregnant Cells and Immortalized

Pregnant Cells? Pregnant Cells?

Death due to necrosis or apoptosis?Death due to necrosis or apoptosis?

Irrespective of Method of Immortalization?Irrespective of Method of Immortalization?

What gene expression changes occur in What gene expression changes occur in pregnant vs non-pregnant myometrial cells?pregnant vs non-pregnant myometrial cells?

Do any of these gene changes increase Do any of these gene changes increase sensitivity to retinoids? sensitivity to retinoids?

What Secrets Have These Experiments What Secrets Have These Experiments Revealed About Retinoids?Revealed About Retinoids?

Role of retinoids in heart development poorly Role of retinoids in heart development poorly understoodunderstoodImplications for cardiac malformations in higher Implications for cardiac malformations in higher vertebrates (including man); opportunity to dissect vertebrates (including man); opportunity to dissect gene pathway leading to chambering gene pathway leading to chambering Retinoic acid inhibits smooth muscle cell Retinoic acid inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation in both normal and benign tumor cells proliferation in both normal and benign tumor cells (implications for pharmacologic treatment of (implications for pharmacologic treatment of leiomyomas?)leiomyomas?)Deducing mechanism of action may reveal more Deducing mechanism of action may reveal more information about growth control mechanisms in information about growth control mechanisms in these cells (implications for deciphering events these cells (implications for deciphering events during pregnancy which lead to myometrial cell during pregnancy which lead to myometrial cell hyperplasia)hyperplasia)

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Namita Mohanty (GH 2003, “Comparative Effects Namita Mohanty (GH 2003, “Comparative Effects of All-trans and 9-cis Retinoic Acid on Medaka of All-trans and 9-cis Retinoic Acid on Medaka ((Oryzias latipesOryzias latipes) Development” BIOS 76(1), 2005. ) Development” BIOS 76(1), 2005.

Erin Rooney (Pirate 2005, “Effects of All-trans Erin Rooney (Pirate 2005, “Effects of All-trans retinoic acid on Immortalized Human Myometrial retinoic acid on Immortalized Human Myometrial Cells”)Cells”)

Munroe SistersMunroe Sisters

Tri-Beta Research FoundationTri-Beta Research Foundation

NSF MRI 0116189NSF MRI 0116189