Heather Knowlton | 2026 I.S. Symposium
Name: Heather Knowlton
Title: Investigating the influence of xenobiotic pollutants on CYP1A enzyme levels in abundant Ohio populations of endangered Canadian Redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus) populations
Majors: Biology; French and Francophone Studies
Advisors: Rebecca Williams and Laura Burch
Xenobiotic contamination is a widespread issue that affects the surrounding community exposed, including humans and animals. Urbanization can contribute to the spread of these contaminants to the aquatic populations, specifically Redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus). Redside dace, an endangered species in Canada, abundantly found in Northeastern Ohio, were used to examine the effects of xenobiotic contaminant exposure, specifically polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Redside dace were exposed to sediment samples from different sites in Northeast Toronto and Northeast Ohio. The results found biologically significant CYP1A expression in muscle tissue, however there was no statistical significance between the control and experimental groups. These results suggest that CYP1A is induced in Redside dace when exposed to trace amounts of xenobiotic contaminants such as PAHs and PCBs. For future studies, the mechanisms by which Redside dace filter pollutants in their environment should be explored and the factors leading to the decline of Redside dace populations need to be examined to develop environmental remediation and conservation strategies for this species.
Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.
