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CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL DATA
| NAME | R. Wilson Gorham |
| DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH | Sept. 8, 1947. Washington, D.C. |
| MARITAL STATUS | Married |
| ADDRESS | Annandale, VA 22003 |
| PHONE | 703-323-3476 |
| EDUCATION | ||
| Ph.D. | University of California, Irvine (March, 1974) | Comparative Physiology |
| M.Sc. | University of California, Irvine (June, 1973) | Developmental and Cell Biology |
| B.Sc. | University of California, Irvine (June, 1969) | Biological Sciences |
| GPA Undergraduate (Biology): | 3.8/4.0 (44 credit-hours) |
| Graduate (Biology): | 3.9/4.0 (160 credit-hours) |
| AREA OF SPECIALIZATION |
| Comparative Physiology; Cell Physiology; Marine Ecology |
| PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY |
| Faculty Position |
| Professor of Biological Sciences |
| Northern Virginia Community College (1973 to present) |
| Courses Taught (lecture and laboratory sections) |
| Biology 205: Microbiology (1984 to present); planned, organized, coordinated lab exercises. |
| Biology 141, 142: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II (2008 to present) |
| NAS 161: Health Science I (2008 to present) |
| NAS 150: Human Biology (2008) |
| Biology 101: General Biology I (1973 to present) |
| Biology 102: General Biology II (1974 to present) |
| Biology 110: General Botany (1998 through 2007); designed lab exercises |
| Biology 001: Developmental Biology (1974-1980); designed lab exercises. |
| Publications: |
| Study Guide to Accompany Basic Microbiology (by Volk 7th Edition). Copyright 1992 by HarperCollins Publishers; ISBN: 0-06-501012-4), 330 p. |
| Recent Honors |
| Nominated for "Golden Apple Award" (SGA Faculty of the Year) - 2004
Nominated for "Alumni Association Faculty of the Year Award" - 1996, 1997, 1998. Nominated for SGA Faculty of the Year - 2000 Certificates of Appreciation from Fairfax County - 1998 to present - Earth Day/Arbor Day Steering Committee |
| COURSES QUALIFIED TO TEACH |
| Microbiology, Microbial Physiology, Cell Physiology, Cell Biology, Botany, Anatomy and Physiology, General Biology, History of Biology. |
| RESEARCH ACTIVITIES |
| Dissertation Topic: Amino Acid Uptake by Sea Lettuce, Ulva Lobata, Characteristics and Significance. |
| Methods Utilized: Radiotracers, analytical chemistry, chromatography, environmental analysis, field studies, algal culture techniques, enzyme kinetics. |
| Other Studies: Marine invertebrate physiology and biochemistry, vascular plant development and tissue culture, vascular plant pathology, microbial physiology. |
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| Many marine organisms, particularly intertidal forms, have shown
the ability to remove dissolved organic matter from very dilute solutions.
Ulva
lobata, a marine macrophytic alga, was examined from the standpoint
of amino acid uptake. The organism demonstrated an ability to remove a
variety of dissolved amino acids from environmentally meaningful concentrations.
At least three distinct uptake systems are present: one for neutral amino
acids, one for cationic amino acids, and one for anionic amino acids. Each
system exhibits characteristic Vmax
and Km values and competitive inhibition
of uptake by other amino acids carried by that system. The uptake has been
shown to be a sodium-dependent active transport phenomenon.
A quantitative relationship between available concentrations of amino acids, uptake rates, and nitrogen requirements has been used to assess the ability of the organism to supplement its nitrogen requirements by amino acid uptake. Ulva lobata living in Newport Bay, California can obtain sufficient nitrogen for normal growth rates from the uptake of amino acids alone. This has been interpreted as a possible explanation for this alga's long history as an indicator of polluted waters. |