Mickie Perreault: Long Bone Development in Wild Versus Laboratory Macaques

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This project involved skeletal analysis of captive and wild macaques, specifically examining osteoarthritis. Mickie analyzed both skeletal specimens to determine if there was a relationship between skeletal development and environment. Here is what Mickie had to say about the experience:

What I Did:

"For this project, I examined the skeletons of macaques from two different environments: laboratory and wild. For each long bone, I scored 1 for fused and 0 for un-fused on both sides, then calculated the average. The fusion score, which indicates the degree of bone fusion, is a crucial measure in understanding skeletal development and evolution. The results showed a higher average (closure to 1) fusion score in the wild macaque population. This indicates that change in environment early in life can affect growth and can be used to understand evolution. During this experience, I had to learn to communicate with other museum collections, such as the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. I developed critical thinking skills when trying to understand why some species didn't fit in the pattern. I am incredibly proud of this project and appreciated the guidance from start to finish from my mentor, Dr. Holowka."

What I Learned:

"This project taught me many things, such as critical thinking, communication, and professionalism. This project allowed me to grow as a student and researcher. When I started this project, my time management skills were not the best; however, they have been refined through this project. I hope to continue applying this skill as I continue through school and conducting research. This project also allowed me to develop and enhance my writing skills.