CORRECTION: Prof, Students Research Parakeets

In the first media advisory below the name of Calvin student Holly Van Wyk was
spelled incorrectly (there is no C in her last name). Apologies for this
error. The spelling of her name has now been fixed in the advisory below.
Thanks. == Phil de Haan, Calvin College

August 3 , 2007 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Summary: A Calvin professor and two students are researching parakeets,
including a partnership with a local veterinarian and John Ball Park Zoo.

Full story see http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2007-08/parakeets.htm

A Calvin College biologist has teamed with a local veterinarian to figure out
what kinds of good bacteria are normally found in a parakeet.

Bob Leunk, a Calvin professor of biology and his two student researchers, Ben
Koestler and Holly Van Wyk, have partnered on the parakeet research project
with Dr. Richard Bennett, a vet in private practice who also treats exotic
animals at the John Ball Park Zoo.

Van Wyk is a biotechnology and biochemistry major who hopes to pursue a career
in medical research. Koestler is a biology major with his eye on graduate
school in micro- or cellular-biology.

Leunk says it's important to establish what constitutes good or normal
bacteria for a parakeet-or any species for a couple of reasons.

"We all have normal flora, and that's healthy," he says. “When a
veterinarian like Dr. Bennett wants to examine an unhealthy animal, they’d do
a smear for bacteria. But if you don't know what’s normally supposed to be
there, how do you know what’s causing an infection?"

The research that does exist on the subject is 20 years old and not specific
to parakeets. To answer their research question, the team is sampling bacteria
from three local populations of parakeets, including those at the John Ball
Park Zoo. Thus far, the team has collected samples from two populations; they
will sample the zoo population later this summer.

Leunk, who has taught at Calvin for a year after 20 spent in research at
Proctor and Gamble, says such summer research projects are where Calvin excels.

"It's great to have good courses, and Calvin does that," he says. "But real
world research experience is good preparation for what they'll be doing when
they leave here."

Contact Leunk (pronounced LINK) at 616-526-8667

-end-
Received on Fri Aug 3 09:26:23 2007