Model Organisms. The Wisconsin Fast Plant is a model organism developed at the University of Wisconsin and is based on a variant of wild mustard (Brassica rapa) that was selectively bred to complete its seed to seed life cycle in just five weeks. The plant is self-incompatible and is, thus, easily out-crossed. These characteristics make the plant readily amenable to experiments in classical genetics. As a result, Fast Plants have been embraced by the science education community. Two high-school level teaching modules, developed by the University of Wisconsin and distributed by Carolina Biologicals, Inc., are based on mono-hybrid and di-hybrid genetic crosses. The phenotypic traits involved are readily scored and allow direct assignment of genotype.

The Wisconsin Fast Plant program was initially developed as a model for research in plant pathology. Although embraced by the science education community, there has been little attention from the research community; basically due to problems with genetic transformation, which is unusual for a Brassica.

Summer Research Program. The summer research program will be centered on basic experiments in classical genetics using the Wisconsin Fast Plant model. Simple mono- and dihybrid crosses will follow segregation of phenotypic traits to assign the genotype of individual plants. We will extend the experiments by initiating experiments that will culminate in the isolate and characterization of the genes associated with the phenotypic traits. The project will be conducted in collaboration with a Brassica genomics program at the University of Wisconsin.

The principle aim of this project is to isolate genes associated with specific Fast Plant phenotypic markers. These genes have never been isolated in Wisconsin Fast Plant model.

This is a long-term project that will use each summer session to further the project. Teachers in each summer session will apply new genomics approaches or extend a previous approach used in an earlier summer session. Although the specific goal is to clone the genes for Fast Plant markers, the ultimate goal is to provide an opportunity for Oklahoma teachers to both experience and participate in an actual scientific research project.

The inaugural Oklahoma Science Project-Noble occurred in the summer of 2004. Consistent with the objectives outlined above, the first session concentrated on optimization and analysis of microsatellite markers in Fast Plant segregating populations.
 

(left to right) Dr. Robert Gonzales, OSP Program Director (Noble Foundation); Susan Hofstetter, Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa) (biology and physiology); Janet Clemons, Smithville High School (biology I, chemistry, physics, Italian, and AP biology); Dominie Dew, Lawton High School (physical and environmental science); Calvin Aldrich, Byng High School (zoology, botany, human anatomy, physiology, and AP environmental science); Ann Harris, DNA Analysis Facility Coordinator (Noble Foundation)

• SRI-I, SRI-II, and Return to Science Applications Due – March 24, 2006
• Notification of Selection – April 27, 2006
• SRI-I and Return to Science Dates at OU – June 3 to July 28, 2006
• SRI-II at Noble – June 12 to July 21, 2006