Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Nora, and I am currently a second-year Clinical Professions major at Florida State University, from Louisville, Kentucky. I plan on attending medical school upon graduation, with aspirations of becoming a neonatologist or an emergency medicine physician. I enjoy staying active through working out, hiking, and pickle ball, reading and spending time outdoors. I am actively involved in volunteering at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in the emergency department and plan to get my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license this summer.

An Investigation of Keratin Structure Through the use of BioArt

Abstract

BioArt merges scientific methodology with artistic vision to communicate scientific findings in a more visually aesthetic manner. The subjects of these images can encompass a wide range of biological samples and can include bacteria, fungi, cells, and/or animal/plant tissues. In this project we explore mainly keratin-based samples, including hair, nails, and differences in their structure under upright microscopes. Keratin is a fibrous structural protein found in epithelial cells, as well as in glands and organs. Various microscopy techniques were utilized, including brightfield, phase contrast, darkfield, epifluorescence, and differential interference contrast, to visualize the complex networks created by keratin. How keratin self-assembles into complex structures can differ greatly between individuals depending on unique amino acid sequences expressed in each person’s DNA, highlighted in the images gathered during this project. The photos captured highlight the differences in hair morphology across individuals. Beyond this project, BioArt in general helps to expand public perception and understanding of science by putting microscopic objects on display in a more digestible way.

Keywords: art, biology, microscopy, keratin