Studying bacteria that saves lives
By Jennifer Palmberg
The Collegian
Today’s Biology Lecture
Series will focus on a bacteria famous for producing much of the world’s
antibiotics.
Gerald L. Newton is a senior research associate at University of California,
San Diego. His presentation will focus on mycothiol in marine actinomycetes.
Actinomycin is any various red, often toxic antibiotic obtained from soil
bacteria. Mycology is the branch of botany that deals with fungi, according
to the American Heritage Dictionary.
“Mycothiol is a low molecular rate thiol that plays an important
role in cells. Antinomycetes is bacteria that produce 88 percent of known
antibiotics in the world,” said Mamta Rawat, a professor in the
biology department.
Rawat said the biology lectures are divided into two parts: biotechnology
seminars and ecology and evolution seminars that are held every Friday
at 3 p.m. She said the lecture series is funded by the dean of College
of Science and Math and the funding allows them to invite a guest speaker
from other university campuses.
“The biology lecture series is designed for biology students and
really anyone interested in biology,” Rawat said.
Newton comes from a university that is comprised of an outstanding science
campus, a leading medical school, and the world’s foremost oceanographic
institution, according to the University of California, San Diego Web
site.
Newton will present at 3 p.m. in Science II room 109.
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