The research of three GDCB professors, Jeff Essner, Maura McGrail, and Tom Peterson, was profiled for the fall 2012 edition of STORIES, a magazine published by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Dr. Essner and Dr. McGrail work together using the zebra fish model system to find new insights into battling cancer through better understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to the onset and progression of tumors.

Dr. Peterson studies maize and uses color in the cob and seed coat to phenotypically track the genetic doings of a transposon that controls red pigment in maize. The gene for red kernel color also produces a natural insecticide.

STORIES is the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ semiannual alumni magazine and it is mailed to all Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni and friends each fall, and to those in the Midwest each spring.