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Amy Hark Professor of Biology |
New Science Building 225 484-664-3747 |
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 Regularly Taught
Concepts of Biology: Genes, Genomics, and Society (BIO 118)
From Organisms to Molecules (BIO 175)
Biochemistry (BIO 220)
Genomes and Gene Evolution (BIO 472)
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 organization of genes within genomes may affect gene expression in eukaryotic organisms. Students in my lab are currently engaged in a comparative genomics project that uses in silico (computer-based) analysis to annotate genes in Drosophila species, a collaborative effort of the Genomics Education Partnership (thegep.org). Past and future projects include studying the role of chromatin structure and other epigenetic mechanisms in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
Recent Publications *denotes undergraduate co-author
Lopatto, D., A.G. Rosenwald, R.C. Burgess, C.S. Key, M. Van Stry, M. Wawersik, J. DiAngelo, A.T. Hark…and S.C.R. Elgin (~100 authors). 2022. Student attitudes contribute to the effectiveness of a genomic CURE. Journal of Microbiology & Biology, in press.
Poulios, S., D. Dadarou, M. Gavriilidis, N. Mougiou, N. Kargios, V. Malliori, A.T. Hark, J.H. Doonan, and K.E. Vlachonasios. 2021. The transcriptional adaptor protein ADA3 modulates flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana. Cells 10: 904.
Lopatto, D., A. Rosenwald, J. DiAngelo, A. Hark…and S.C.R. Elgin (~100 authors). 2020. Facilitating Growth through Frustration: Using Genomics Research in a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education 21(1). doi:10.1128/jmbe.v21i1.2005
Wagner, M.*, J. Hanna*, and A.T. Hark. 2020. Making Connections: The role of dystrophin in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science. https://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/collection/detail.html?case_id=1104&id=1104
Hark, A.T. and E.R. McCain. 2019. The Histone Acetyltransferase GCN5 and the Transcriptional Coactivator ADA2b Affect Trichome Initiation in Arabidopsis thaliana. microPublication Biology. https://doi.org/10.17912/micropub.biology.000176
Kotak, J.*, A. Kendig*, K. Cann*, J. Shaffer*, A.T. Hark, and E.R. McCain. 2019. Disruption of the Histone Acetyltransferase GCN5 and the Transcriptional Coactivator ADA2b Affect Trichome Density in Arabidopsis thaliana. microPublication Biology. https://doi.org/10.17912/micropub.biology.000174
Trachtman, N.*, P. Sockler*, H. Caiola*, E.R. McCain, and A.T. Hark. 2019. Expression of the DELLA Repressor GAI and its Regulators SPY and SEC are Impacted by Disruption of Chromatin Modifiers. microPublication Biology. https://doi.org/10.17912/micropub.biology.000175
Kotak, J.*, M. Saisana, V. Gegas, N. Pechlivani, A. Kaldis, P. Papoutsoglou, A. Makris, M. Sheikh*, J. Burns*, A.L. Kendig*, C.E. Kuschner*, G. Whitney*, H. Caiola*, J.H. Doonan, K.E. Vlachonasios, E.R. McCain, and A.T. Hark. 2018. Transcriptional coactivators affect leaf development and trichome morphogenesis in Arabidopsis. Planta 248: 613-628
