Saint Anselm student Steven Coyne, of Weare, receives grant for biochemistry research

MANCHESTER, NH (12/16/2013)(readMedia)-- Saint Anselm College senior Steven Coyne of Weare, N.H., has been chosen to receive a research grant for his continued study of genetic defects. Through the New Hampshire Idea Networking of Biomedical Research Excellence (NH-INBRE) grant, the biochemistry major uses equipment at Saint Anselm College, Dartmouth, and the University of New Hampshire to search for genes that cause cells to double the number of chromosomes they carry.

"Defects at the genetic level can give rise to a lot of serious problems for an organism. One very notable example is cancer, which is a result of an accumulation of mutations that are often involved in regulation of the life of the cell. Identifying these genes and understanding the nature of the mutations they may undergo that cause problems is important to understanding cancer and hopefully finding solutions for it," says Coyne.

Since the summer following his sophomore year, Coyne has worked with Dr. Daniel Broek, whose research has focused on understanding the mechanisms of tumor development.

"We have identified a number of mutations of genes involved with chromosome separation during mitosis as well as genes involved with epigenetic regulation that we believe increase the capacity for a cell to tolerate dicentric chromosome problems," says Coyne.

Coyne is personally responsible for reproducing clean pieces of DNA containing the mutations they have identified and inserting them into plasmids in order to investigate how the mutation affects the cells.

"During my research, Dr. Broek has taught me a number of important techniques and afforded me the opportunity to understand them at a deeper level than is possible in a classroom laboratory setting. Perhaps, more importantly, I have learned the values of analyzing and troubleshooting ways to find solutions that only begin to come with experience."

Coyne will spend the rest of his senior year continuing his research with Dr. Broek. After Saint Anselm he plans to attend graduate school for genetics and molecular biologyand earn a Ph.D.

"This was always a path I had considered, but I could not have the level of certainty, comfort, or preparedness for this decision without my laboratory experience through INBRE."

The INBRE grant is intended to strengthen biomedical research experiences for students at undergraduate colleges by partnering them with faculty who specialize in the field of the student's interest.

Saint Anselm College is a Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts college located in Manchester, N.H.