The author learning DNA extraction protocols
Over the last several weeks, I have been hard at work with my research on Pelecinids. I continued to collect weekly samples from the Triplehorn Insect Collection’s malaise traps, and I began to practice keying various families and superfamilies of Hymenoptera. I also learned the protocols for DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis from graduate student Huayan Chen.
Not every aspect of research, however, is an active endeavor taking place in a lab or in the field. Research also requires a considerable amount of time for reading, writing, planning, and patience.
I am now in the process of shaping my research into an honors project that will span multiple semesters rather than this summer alone. Honors research is a much more demanding ambition than a single semester of research, but it is also a very rewarding experience that will push me to delve deeper into my research topic. I plan to expand the scope of my current research on Pelecinus DNA by also looking for DNA from Wolbachia, a bacteria that can influence sexual differentiation in insects. Huayan and I have already found that Wolbachia is present in several of our wasp specimens. I am also interested in the possibility of geographical parthenogenesis in P. polyturator females.
My current focus is on composing an honors project proposal. The purpose of the proposal is to establish how I plan to conduct my research, what materials I will need, and what goals I aim to meet. The proposal also includes an abstract, which is vital for exhibiting my research to the scientific community, and a literature review, which is important for ensuring the quality and relevance of my project.
The literature review has proven to be the most challenging portion of the proposal. It involves finding and reading the research of others, then synthesizing the information into a concise review and citing the sources in a list of references. Because there is such a vast amount of previously conducted research available to read, picking out the relevant studies and piecing the information together can be a time-consuming process. While searching for material to read, it isn’t uncommon for me to feel a little overwhelmed.
Despite the challenge, the literature review is one of the most important components of any research project for many reasons. First, it prevents the unnecessary repetition of collecting and interpreting data that another study already collected and interpreted in an identical manner. Second, it provides helpful context for the researcher. By reading about work that others have done on Pelecinus, Wolbachia, and parthenogenesis in Hymenoptera, I will be better equipped to design a procedure that is effective and efficient, or modify that procedure should something not work. Third, I can interpret data from other studies in relation to my own research findings, and vice versa, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of my final results.
P. polyturator female
Although summer semester is coming to a close, I still have several research-related plans before I head back to classes this autumn. I will collect fresh P. polyturator specimens from Zaleski State Forest this August, which is when adults are most prominent in Ohio. These specimens will then be used for DNA extraction, along with several frozen or mounted specimens already in the collection. We also received a generous donation of West Virginian and Canadian P. polyturator specimens, which will be very useful for sampling DNA from a wider range of localities. I will also continue collecting from the malaise traps, keying Hymenoptera families and superfamilies, and reading relevant materials on DNA barcoding.
About the Author: Hannah McKenzie is an undergraduate entomology major at the Ohio State University. She currently works at the Triplehorn Insect Collection and is participating in undergraduate research on Pelecinus wasps.