Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Jacqueline Lee Rose Hills

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and Gonadotropin Inhibitory Hormone (GnIH) Interactions Over Time In Birds That Exhibit Delayed Puberty

Delayed puberty is a reproductive strategy seen only in a few species of seasonally breeding birds. These birds go through puberty several years after reaching adult size unlike most birds that experience puberty right as adult size is reached. Little is known about the mechanism behind puberty, and even less is known about delayed puberty. To investigate why some species of bird experience delayed puberty, my project involves observing neuronal cell populations of two important reproductive hormones in the brains of California Gulls and Western Gulls, two species that display delayed puberty. These hormones are gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH) that regulate the reproductive status of an individual. I am attempting to understand the relationship between GnRH and GnIH as birds age, which will help uncover parts of the mystery behind delayed puberty.

Message To Sponsor

The SURF Rose Hills fellowship provides the opportunity and resources for me to make an impact in the scientific community. I am excited to continue my work in Dr. Bentleys research lab. In addition to valuable lab experience, SURF will also allow me to improve my scientific writing, give insight into the research career, and provide a support network to help me throughout the process. Through the SURF Rose Hills fellowship, I will be spending my summer doing something that I truly enjoy.
Major: Integrative Biology
Mentor: George Bentley
Sponsor: Rose Hills Foundation
Back to Listings
Back to Donor Reports