Research Symposium

BIO

Hi! My name is Sarah Downing, and I’m a Dance major on a Pre-Physician Assistant (PA) track at Florida State University. I’m originally from Panama City Beach, Florida, and I’ve always been passionate about both movement and medicine. My goal is to merge my background in dance with healthcare, using my understanding of the body to help others live healthier lives.

Throughout my time at FSU, I’ve worked as a research assistant for a Master of Fine Arts dance piece, performed in the Spring 2024 MFA Showcase, and assisted with productions like Days of Dance. Beyond dance, I’ve gained hands-on experience in healthcare by volunteering in the Post-Operative Unit at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and interning at First Choice Physical Therapy—experiences that have deepened my passion for patient care and rehabilitation.

These experiences have also fueled my curiosity for scientific research. I’m drawn to exploring a variety of topics in the science realm, and research has allowed me to discover even more possibilities for my future. Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of working in the biology department with Dr. Bass on a project that truly fascinates me. I’m excited to continue this research and see where it leads!

Mutants in the Metaverse

Abstract

The Maize-10-Maze project is a public education outreach event at FSU in Tallahassee, FL, as part of
our outreach educational project for more than 20 years. The goal of the outreach is to produce a fun
and educational self-guided public field tour of the maize genome. The goal of this project is to produce
a virtual version of the Maize-10 maze for distribution online. We started by exploring different online
platforms that would be compatible with posting images and movies from past events. We selected 3
platforms to enhance visibility and for user-guided exploration, such as Instagram (@maize10maze)
and GlideApp. Our criteria for platforms were based on user accessibility, cost, and ease of
administration. The online resources (images, placards, links to more info) are intended for free use in
any educational setting from middle school through college level. The final product, which we call the
maize10maize online museum, is fascinating and beautiful on its own, while also illustrating the historic
importance of maize mutants for advancing plant biology research.

Keywords: genetics, mutants, corn maze