Olney Central College
ABOVE: Dr. Sarah Bergbower assists OCC Foundation Members Sherry Brauer and Brenda Glover as they utilize the new equipment during a lab exercise.
is used to automate the DNA sequencing process to determine the order of bases. “Microbiology is quickly moving toward molec - ular methods, and many hospital labs are finding themselves sending samples out to reference labs for sequencing difficult organisms or specific questions of resistance when culturing takes too long or is incapable of answering a molecular question,” Bergbower said. “This will be especially helpful for our microbiology students as they can use it for real-world applications.”
“I don’t know any other community colleges that have a sequencer who are using them,” Bergbower added. “It’s really unheard of for a community college.” Bergbower is grateful for the Foundation’s support in making the technology available to OCC students. “As a prospective student, I wanted to know a college’s lab equipment was up to date,” she said. “Biotechnology equipment is getting more accessible, but it’s not something included in the standard budget. I’m grateful the Foundation saw a need for it. Having this cutting-edge technology puts OCC on the map.” Brauer says providing OCC with these updated resources serves a twofold purpose. First, it enables students to carry out the same types of experiments they will undertake at a transfer institution and second, it can pique the interest of students who are curious about forensics or related fields. She added, “I am happy that the OCC Foundation can help to provide the tools for education to inspire leaders of tomorrow.”
Enhancing Learning
Bergbower said the accompanying software is ideal for educational purposes as students can observe real- time analysis on a smartphone. Together, the new technology will expand lab oppor- tunities for Introduction to Biology, General Biology, Biology II and Microbiology students, allowing them to gain experience conducting complex laboratory exercises before transferring to a senior institution.
Forward Together 17
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