Coker College Student Megan Sexton Presents Research

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (04/11/2012)(readMedia)-- Coker College student Megan Sexton, of Gaffney, S.C., recently presented at the third annual Coker College Celebration of Academics Student Research Symposium. Continuing in a tradition that began during President Robert Wyatt's inauguration as the 16th president of the College in 2010, Coker hosted a week-long campus-wide Celebration of Academics April 9-13. This year's schedule also included presentations of student-faculty research and service-learning projects as well as a performing arts showcase.

Sexton, a junior biology major at Coker, presented two research projects: "Microarray analyses to identify genes involved in fungal development" and "Interrogating the transcriptomes of developmental mutants to identify conidiation-specific genes in Fusarium graminearum."

Student-driven research in genetics and molecular biology at Coker College has led to the discovery of specific genes that control development of an important pathogen of major economic crops.  This project involves the application of cutting-edge technology to analyze gene expression patterns.  The advances made from this research may ultimately lead to more effective control strategies of fungal pathogens, which will have a positive impact on the world's food supply (and subsequent prices of food and agricultural commodities).

Established in 1908, Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.