The Ecological and Evolutionary Implications of Phytocannabinoids for Wild Primates
Description
Our team is conducting multidisciplinary research across the Primate Environmental Endocrinology, Endocannabinoid, Comparative Aging, Ethnobotany, and Environmental Chemistry Labs on campus at IU, as well as international collaborations in Uganda, India, Zambia, Madagascar, Thailand, and Costa Rica.
We are examining the comparative effects of consumption of plants containing cannabinoids across primates, including humans, and elephants, given their similarities to humans in terms of longevity and sociality.
We are training students in methodology from plant chemistry (e.g., extraction and identification of phytocannabinoids), cell biology (e.g., use of cells lines to determine effects of specific phytocannabinoids), and endocrinology (e.g., use of immunoassays to quantify hormone levels as biological effect.
Goals and Learning Outcomes
- Design and execute original research.
- Learn appropriate research methodologies.
- Discuss and debate research design and data analysis with their peers, graduate students,and professional scientists.
- Communicate scientifically in a professional manner.
Instructor