Amy Hark
Assistant Professor of Biology
Co-director of Biochemistry program
New Science Building 225
484-664-3747
hark@muhlenberg.edu
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/biology/faculty/hark/index.html

Education
B.S. Biology, summa cum laude, College of William and Mary
M.A. Molecular Biology, Princeton University
Ph.D. Molecular Biology, Princeton University
Postdoctoral research, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University

Courses Taught
Concepts of Biology: Genes, Genomics, and Society (BIO 118)
Principles of Biology III: Cells and Molecules (BIO 152)
Biochemistry (BIO 220)
Genomes and Gene Evolution (BIO 385), with Dr. Bruce Wightman
Foods, Broods, and Moods: The Impact of Genetics on Society (FYS 236)

Research Interests
My scientific interests focus on the regulation of gene function; in particular, I am interested in how factors such as packaging of DNA into chromatin and DNA methylation may affect gene expression in eukaryotic organisms. My current research investigates the biological roles of proteins known to covalently modify chromatin structure. Disruption of the corresponding genes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana results in dramatic effects on growth and development. Further research studying these factors and chromatin modification in general will be carried out using a variety of approaches, allowing students to develop projects in the areas of molecular biology & biochemistry, genetics, and developmental biology.

Recent Publications
* denotes undergraduate co-author

Cohen, R.*, J. Schocken*, A. Kaldis, K.E. Vlachonasios, A.T. Hark, and E.R. McCain. 2009. The histone acetyltransferase GCN5 affects the inflorescence meristem and stamen development in Arabidopsis. Planta, in press.

Hark, A.T., K.E. Vlachonasios, K.A. Pavangadkar, S. Rao, H. Gordon*, I.-D. Adamakis, A. Kaldis, M.F. Thomashow, and S.J.Triezenberg. 2009. Two Arabidopsis orthologs of the transcriptional coactivator ADA2 have distinct biological functions. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1789: 117-124.

Hark, A.T. 2008. Crossing over: An undergraduate service learning project that connects to biotechnology education in secondary schools. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 36, 159-165.