Professor David Crowley and Eliana
Tabares '07: Double-Teaming the Double Helix
by
Stacey MacDonald '06
 July,
2005—Dr. David Crowley, assistant professor of Biology,
and Eliana Tabares ‘07 of Lowell, MA, are
working together to uncover how cells maintain their genetic material.
Crowley and Tabares are particularly interested in how cells repair
the DNA damage caused by ultraviolet light. Exposure to UV light
causes the DNA of cells to chemically change, which can lead to
mutations and cancers if the changes remain uncorrected. Fortunately,
cells have protein-mediated repair systems in place to fix the damage
caused by UV light.
“There has been an immense amount of research done on the
protein repair systems in bacteria, such as E.coli,” Crowley
states. “However, little research has been done on the unique
group of microorganisms known as Archaea.” Under Crowley’s
guidance, Tabares has been performing experiments to discover a
new method to measure the different rates of DNA repair within the
genome of Halobacterium, a specific type of Archaea.
Halobacterium are microorganisms that live in environments that
reach ten times the salinity of sea water, such as the salt lakes
of Utah. One of the mysteries that Crowley and Tabares are trying
to solve is how these archaea perform the process of DNA repair
within such a salty environment.
Because Archaea have more genetic similarity to humans than bacteria
do, the findings from this project will also help experimenters
understand more about human DNA repair mechanisms. Crowley explains,
“When humans breathe oxygen, their body is absorbing toxic
byproducts that change the chemistry of DNA molecules. The information
we find out about the repair enzymes within Archaea, can be applied
to learn more about our own systems of detoxification in the human
body.
Tabares, originally from Colombia, moved to the United States in
2000. Since then, she has graduated from Lowell Catholic High School,
where she worked hard to learn the English language. She is now
continuing her education at Assumption as a Biology and Chemistry
double major, demonstrating an impressive knowledge of scientific
terms and concepts. After graduation, Tabares plans on attending
dental school and participating in more scientific research. “Choosing
Eliana for this position was a no-brainer. She continually demonstrates
an interest in microbiology, exemplifies a good work ethic, and
came with excellent recommendations from faculty,” Crowley
states.
Dr. Crowley began his work with Archaea while attending Stanford
University for his Ph.D. However, his work with UV repair began
long before, when he was an undergraduate student at Holy Cross.
During that time, he chose to work on a research project at UMass
Medical School in Worcester under the direction of Dr. Michael Volkert.
It was this experience, Crowley states, “that inspired me
to want to work on research with undergraduate students.”
He adds, “Research helps students decide what career path
they want to take in their lives. I realized that my interest was
in microbiology through my undergraduate research. I have my dream
job here at Assumption being able to mentor and work with many gifted
students, such as Eliana, just as Mike did for me."
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