Profile

• Time Zone

  Pacific

  
  
• Organization

  University of California - Davis

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  I do research in restoration and invasion ecology with a focus on plants. Currently, I am working on Mojave Desert perennials (plants that live two or more years) and trying to use soil microbes to restore them. Much of my previous research has focused on drought and fire impacts on native vegetation.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  Most plants in the Salvia genus are pretty awesome, because they smell great.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  Can you describe your attitude toward science when you were in high school?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  I enjoyed science, but I viewed it as very strict. I was not aware of the research aspect of it, but when I learned of it I was super excited.

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  (not set)

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  (not set)

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

shscoatesfogbspring2024 project 14 Mayra Hernández Mar 28 at 08:42pm

Nice picture Marina! :)

Is this part of the flower base or an undeveloped seed pod? I can't tell from the picture.

shscoatesfogbspring2024 project 14 Mayra Hernández Mar 28 at 08:37pm

Hey Ashlyn! For there to be changes to the genetic code of an individual plant there would have to be a mutation, which can occur during cell replication. The probability of mutations occurring and not being corrected during replication increases…

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Hey Ashlyn! For there to be changes to the genetic code of an individual plant there would have to be a mutation, which can occur during cell replication. The probability of mutations occurring and not being corrected during replication increases with age. So, if someone wanted to look at impacts of genetic change, they could assess DNA of an individual as a seedling and later on as an adult. If there were traits observed to change between those two stages (like color of leaf), it could be that it was due to the change in DNA, but it couldn't be said for sure it was due to the genetic change.

shscoatesfogbspring2024 project 14 Mayra Hernández Mar 20 at 11:21pm

Really great job with your experimental design! Y'all are really impressing me. :)

Just to clarify, though, the expression of genes is what may be affected by the environment in a single generation. You could possibly see environmental…

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Really great job with your experimental design! Y'all are really impressing me. :)

Just to clarify, though, the expression of genes is what may be affected by the environment in a single generation. You could possibly see environmental impacts on genes, but that would need to be multi-generational -- unless we're talking about radiation or something with the potential to cause cellular damage.

Keep up the amazing work!