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George Armah ’08 (Accra, Ghana) had a question. What conditions led to the evolution of vertebrae in fish, and how did this evolution take place more than once and independently during the evolutionary process?
Specifically, he and other “Fish Fellows” Shiliang Cui ‘09 (Shanghai, China) and Ross Creed ’07 (New Hampton, N.Y.) researched current and past literature on fish morphology and physiology that would provide a working hypothesis. This would act as the basis of a mathematical model to help investigate vertebrate evolution. Armah and the others used the findings of two researchers to develop their model.
The previous researchers had mapped out the anatomy of a teleost fish using soniomicrometry techniques, which measure small distances with ultrasound, and proposed a mechanism for how a fish bends that involves the muscle, axial skeleton, and tendons called myosepta. The students came up with a kinematic model, which they believe captures all the essential ideas.
They propose that the evolution of vertebrae results at least in part from improved performance of a fish during a fast start, a maneuver used by fish for escaping predators, by allowing for increased energy storage and efficient energy use. This efficiency offers a greater chance that the fish will escape its predator. Vertebrae, therefore, act as a selective pressure in fish evolution.
“One exciting thing about this project is that, as far as we know, no one has recently mathematically modeled their findings and proposed a mechanism for bending in fish,” Armah explains.
Working under the guidance of Robert Root, associate professor and associate head of mathematics, Armah has been working on modeling the geometry of the interaction between muscles and the axial skeleton, or vertical column, in early vertebrates.
Armah and Root are collaborating through Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, in which students conduct research with faculty while earning a stipend. The program has helped to make Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their work through articles in academic journals and/or conference presentations.
In June 2005, Root and Chun Wai Liew, associate professor and head of computer science, were awarded a $956,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study how vertebrae first evolved. The project teams Root and Liew with biologist John Long of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and biomedical engineer Tom Koob of the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.
“I have found the modeling of fish locomotion to be a perfect venue for introducing students to research,” says Root. “I have pursued it as the primary thrust of my own scholarship, not just because of the interesting biological questions it addresses and the breadth of mathematics that is required, but also because of the opportunities it offers to EXCEL Scholars. I really enjoy the opportunity to include students in my research; it is one of the most satisfying aspects of teaching at Lafayette.”
Root acknowledges Armah’s exceptional research abilities and learning capacity.
“George has a keen and inquiring intellect. He is an affable guy, but not uncritical. He is not afraid to ask hard questions, the kind that get right to the center of the issue under discussion,” says Root. “I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with him, and I expect that I will wait quite a while for a student who brings a comparable breadth of knowledge of biology and mathematics to my research program.”
Armah, who is pursuing a B.S. mathematics and an A.B. degree with a major in computer science, has enjoyed working with Root.
“The thing I enjoyed most about working with Professor Root was that he never tried to rein us in; he provided only guidance. He gave me options at the very onset and our initial project, which I chose, was going to be on neural control in fish. After researching more articles, however, a single article I stumbled upon caused a switch in direction, and he whole-heartedly supported it,” explains Armah. “This kind of freedom was crucial to me in terms of giving me a feel for what applied mathematical research is like. Without it, I would probably have had to work on a small part of the project and not have a clear idea of what the driving questions and the big picture were all about.”
Armah, Cui, and Creed will give a presentation on their work at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, formerly the American Zoological Society, Jan. 3-7 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Both Root and Armah believe the EXCEL program is an integral part of the Lafayette academic experience.
“The EXCEL program gives students a glimpse of what learning and research is about,” says Armah. “After learning deeply enough about a specific subject, you get to a point where you are in a position to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding that subject. I believe that is something that is almost impossible to do as an undergraduate student without the help and guidance of a professor who is already an expert in the field. At Lafayette, EXCEL is the catalyst that makes this collaboration between students and faculty and undergraduate research contribution possible.”
“The EXCEL program is a great opportunity for students to develop their understanding of the academic enterprise,” adds Root. “It challenges them to perform at a professional level, the kind of challenge that is transformative for students if it happens in the right way at the right time. The EXCEL program is such an important part of the education we offer here at Lafayette.”
After graduation, Armah hopes to either pursue a mathematics graduate program or enter the software industry.
Armah is a Dana Scholar, president of Lafayette African and Caribbean Students Association and a McKelvy Scholar. He is a member of International Students Association and a teaching assistant for the mathematics department. He also was a member of the Tech Clinic team that worked to increase the visibility and vibrancy of the Easton business community. He works as a student technician for Information Technology Services and at the Skillman Library circulation desk.
As a national leader in undergraduate research, Lafayette sends one of the largest contingents to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year. Forty students were accepted to present their research at this year’s conference.