Annie Potter: Paleogenetic Investigation of Life and Climate History in Southeast Alaska
Use fossil evidence and DNA to research the history of animal species and to predict future trends due to climate change.
Final Project Outcome
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SUNY-Funded Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Project
This project was made possible through the financial support of the SUNY Research and Creative Activities for Undergraduates Program.
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Project Description
In this project, Annie worked with DNA from fossils to learn about the evolutionary history of the red and arctic fox species in Alaska. Here is what Annie had to say about the experience:
What I Did:
"My project was focused on bioinformatics. We took subfossil remains from ancient red and arctic foxes, extracted DNA from them and sequenced them to understand the evolutionary history and development of these two species. This allows us to better understand how climate change is impacting species nowadays and predict population migration patterns. I truly enjoyed my time working in this lab, as I got to listen to and talk with experts in the field in intricate detail."
What I Learned:
"This project gave me a lot of hands-on experience with the field of research. I had a fantastic time in the lab working with specimens and solutions, but there was also quite a strong focus on coding and information processing that involved a lot of time in front of the computer. This project was my first experience working somewhere aligning with my career goals, and it provided me the realistic ups and downs of it. Before I began my project, I was not entirely certain about the career I wanted to go into. I knew I had a particular interest in evolution and ecology, and working in paleogenomic research has developed that interest immensely. My confidence as a researcher and student grew tremendously, reflecting not only on my project but on my academics. Going forward, I will be much more confident in my roles both as a mentor and as a student."
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