Project:

Biodiversity and Effects of Invasive Weeds and Grasses in our Neighborhood

Students:

Melissa Cortez, Salsabil Adiba, ashlee dossantos, Sayam Dahuja

School:

High School for Health Professions and Human Services, Manhattan

Mentors:

Rocheli Apilan

Abstract:

DNA barcoding is a system that can be used to identify invasive species of grass and weeds using a short genetic region as a barcode. The U.S Department of Agriculture had listed different types of grasses and weeds as invasive to the environment. The grasses and weeds that are invasive are those that are overgrowing and spilling onto curbs and sidewalks. These invasions can overtake and kill other plants that are in that area which can be harmful and decrease biodiversity. Different samples are to be collected from different neighborhoods; Cityline and Bayridge in New York City. It can be used to assess their presence in our environment and educate high school students. The study aims to collect samples from different areas to determine if different grass and weed species grow differently in a variety of environments. DNA for analysis is extracted from each sample and replicated millions of times to prepare it for sequencing. The environment affects the species and growth of weeds, an

Poster:

Team samples: