Dr. Thomas Stewart

Assistant Professor

Department: Biology
College:  Eberly College of Science
Address: Mueller Laboratory, Room 219
Phone:814-863-2829
E-mail: tomstewart@psu.edu
Website: tomstewartscience.org

Skeletal Remodeling in Fish Fins
Project description: Plasticity, or the ability of an organism to respond to stimuli in its environment, has been extensively documented in the vertebrate skeleton. For example, if your upper arm bone repeatedly experiences heavy forces, its shape and composition can change. However, the plastic capabilities of fish fins have not been assessed. Our goal is to analyze whether and how fin skeletons respond to mechanical forces. We are looking for one or two motivated undergraduates to aid in the dissection, imaging, and analysis of various aspects of the fin in previously treated fish. These data will be used to test for a plastic response in various anatomical aspects of fin and contribute to a publication. Undergraduates involved will be included as authors on the paper