David J. Wright

Office/Lab: Department of Biology SH-27C

Telephone: (937) 229-2859

Fax: (937) 229-2021

Teaching

Concepts of Biology I and II

BIO-151 and BIO-152 are introductory classes, in that they will give you the basic knowledge needed to understand how living organisms work and how they are put together. The two classes are offered on alternating semesters, so that students can take both in sequence.

Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates

BIO-309 Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates is designed to provide a suitable understanding of anatomical features of the vertebrates to students, regardless of their major focus of study in biology.

Research

Sperm Nuclear Architecture

How does the sperm nucleus become so compact? The DNA within the nucleus of the sperm is compressed into a small volume - yet remains capable of quickly becoming reactivated following fertilization. Once inside the cytoplasm of the egg, the sperm nucleus undergoes a remarkable transformation that enables the male genome to become active in the development of the embryo. What are the components of the sperm nucleus that allows the DNA to remain so compressed and inactive during the lifetime of the sperm? How do these components change following fertilization?

Educational Interactive Web Sites

To foster learning outside of the classroom, I have developed a software package called Mentor that enables a teacher to quickly create interactive educational Web sites. The Mentor program runs on a Web Server, from where it dishes out pages of information that can contain pictures, movies and questions. If students answer the questions incorrectly, then Mentor will provide some feedback to educate the student, as if the teacher was standing by their side. The Mentor program will be freely available to other teachers from http://mentor.udayton.edu.

I have also worked with Dr. Shirley Wright, to create the S.E.M. Sight - A web site that introduces students to the use of the scanning electron microscope.

Publications / Projects

Software:

Ebeling, C.E., and D.J. Wright (1999) "RMAT 2000 Version 1.0, Reliability and Maintainability Model", National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Wright, D. J. (1998). "Mentor 98·1 Program Suite for Creating Interactive Web Sites". http://mentor.udayton.edu.

Wright, D. J. (1997). "Mentor 97·1 Program Suite for Creating Interactive Web Sites". http://mentor.udayton.edu.

Wright, D. J. (1996). "Mentor 96·7 Program Suite for Creating Interactive Web Sites". http://mentor.udayton.edu.

Wright, D. J. (1995). "Mentor 95 Program for Standalone PC's".

Wright, D. J. (1995). "Videodisc Controller: Controlling Video Discs from a Standalone PC".

Others:

Wright, S.J., and D.J. Wright (1999) "S.E.M. Sight." Web site describing the installation and use of the Scanning Electron Microscope at UD funded by the National Science Foundation. http://biology.udayton.edu/SEM.

Wright, D.J. (1999) Mentor - Creating Interactive Web Pages: A conversation with David Wright. Connexions. 11:5-7.

Wright, D.J. (1997) Mentoring Biology Students across the Internet. Strategies for Success. 26, 5.

Wright, D.J. (1989) The anatomical and biochemical characterization of a novel nerve terminal protein. Ph.D. Dissertation. The University of Iowa, Iowa.

Wright, D.J. (1985) Investigating the rational use of JB4 embedding medium for use in light microscopy. B.Sc. Thesis. The University of Sheffield, England.

Articles:

Raskin, D. M., D. J. Wright, and S. J. Wright. (1997). Sea urchin sperm nuclear enlargement and shape transformations are differentially regulated in vitro. J. Exp. Zool. 277: 401-416.

Horobin, R.W., P.O. Gerrits, and D.J. Wright (1992) Staining sections of water-miscible resins. 2. Effects of staining-reagent lipophilicity on the staining of glycol-methacrylate-embedded tissues. J. Microsc. 166, 199-205.

Wright, D.J., T.C. Ritchie, and J.D. Coulter (1991) Distribution and developmental expression of the nerve terminal protein NT75 in the rat cerebellum. J. Comp. Neurol. 304, 530-543.

Gerrits, P.O., R.W. Horobin, and D.J. Wright (1990) Staining sections of water-miscible resins. 1. Effects of the molecular size of the stain, and of resin cross-linking, on the staining of glycol methacrylate embedded tissues. J. Microsc. 160, 279-290.

Cassell, M.D., C.A. Chittick, M. A. Siegel, and D.J. Wright (1989) Collateralization of the amygdaloid projections of the rat prelimbic and infralimbic cortices. J. Comp. Neurol. 279, 235-248.

Gerrits, P.O., R.W. Horobin, D.J. Wright, H. Van Goor, and J. A. J.K. Grond (1987) Retention, localization and staining of lipids in tissues embedded in water miscible methacrylates: Using the solubility parameter to analyze the influences of resins, plasticizers and other reagents. Acta Morphol. Neerl.-Scand. 25, 29-40.

Cassell, M.D., and D.J. Wright (1986) Topography of projections from the medial prefrontal cortex to the amygdala in the rat. Brain Res. Bull. 17, 321-333.

Papers Presented to Professional Groups:

Wright, D.J. (1999) Mentor: Software for Creating Interactive Educational Web Sites, Syllabus'99 Educational Technology Conference, Santa Clara, California.

St. Pierre, J., D. J. Wright, and S. J. Wright (1999). Localization of topoisomerase II in mammalian eggs and embryos. 39th Annual Midwest Regional Development Biology Meeting. University of Illinois, Urbana, IL.

Kruer, S. E., D. J. Wright, and S. J. Wright (1999). Topoisomerase II localization in cancer cells. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Tenth Annual Brother J. W. Stander Symposium at the University of Dayton, Dayton, OH.

Wright, D.J. (1998) Mentor: Software for Creating Interactive Educational Web Sites, 28th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Exploration of Teaching Alternatives, Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Wright, S. J., A. Lepine, and D. J. Wright (1998). Canine sperm viability, motility and acrosome reaction. 31st Annual National Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction at Texas A & M University, College Station, TX. Biol. Reprod. (Suppl. 1) 58:77.

Kruer, S. E., D. J. Wright, and S. J. Wright (1998). Sperm activation prior to fertilization involves nucleoprotein remodeling. 38th Annual Midwest Regional Developmental Biology Conference at Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.

Kruer, S. E., D. J. Wright, and S. J. Wright (1998). Nucleoprotein remodeling during sperm activation at fertilization. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Ninth Annual Brother J. W. Stander Symposium at the University of Dayton, Dayton, OH.

Wright, S. J., D. M. Raskin, and D.J. Wright (1997). Different mechanisms regulate area and shape changes of decondensing sperm nuclei. 37th Annual Midwest Regional Developmental Biology Conference at Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.

Wright, S., D. M. Raskin, and D.J. Wright (1996). Sperm nuclear enlargement and shape changes are differentially regulated in vitro. Mol. Biol Cell 7: 637a. American Society for Cell Biology, San Francisco, CA.

Wright, D.J., and A.O.W. Stretton (1993) Isolation and sequencing of an Ascaris suum body wall myosin gene. C. elegans Meeting Abstr. 9.

Ritchie, T.C., M.A. Thomas, D.J. Wright, and J.D. Coulter (1988) Characterization of a selectively distributed nerve terminal protein (NT75). J. Cell Biol. 107, 733a.

Wright, D.J., T.C. Ritchie, and J.D. Coulter (1987) Expression of a selectively distributed nerve terminal protein in cerebellar cortex. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 13.

Wright, D.J., T.C. Ritchie, and J.D. Coulter (1986) Selective distribution of a synaptic vesicle protein in brain. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 12.

Goodlett, C.R., T.C. Ritchie, D.J. Wright, J.D. Coulter, and J.R. West (1986) Lesion-induced changes in the pattern of organization of a synaptic vesicle protein in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 12.

Ritchie, T.C., M.A. Thomas, S.S. Kanekar, D.J. Wright, and J.D. Coulter (1986) A synaptic vesicle protein in selected populations of nerve terminals. J. Cell Biol. 103, 76a.

Invited Symposia and Invited Seminars:

Wright, D. J. (1999). Mentor: Software for Creating Interactive Web Sites. Strategies for Success Workshop, University of Richmond. Richmond VA.

Wright, D. J. (1999). Demonstration of the Learning-Teaching Center Web Site. Fall Part Time Faculty Workshop. University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D.J., and K. Graetz (1999). Integrating technology into the curriculum - Part II, Course III - FrontPage. Marianist Education Consortium, The University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1999). Designing parish and school web pages. Pastoral Communications and Ministry Workshop. Pastoral Communications Institute, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH.

Wright, D. J. (1999). Mentor: Software for Creating Interactive Web Sites. Strategies for Success Workshop, Sinclair Community College. Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J., J. Rowe, and C. Wolfe (1999). Computer-enhanced learning in introductory biology classes: A model for the Learning Village. Faculty Exchange Series, The University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1999). Demonstration of multimedia use in teaching. Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J., and Bro. T.E. Oldenski (1999). How do people learn? Spring Part Time Faculty Workshop. The University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1998). Teaching Dilemmas. Fall Part Time Faculty Workshop. The University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J., T.F. Eggemeier, K.A. Kinnucan-Welsch, and P.H. Benson (1998). How do people learn? Faculty Exchange Series. The University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J., T.F. Eggemeier, P.M. Hart and P.H. Benson (1998). How do people learn? School of Business Administration. Learning Teaching Forum. The University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1998). Demonstration of multimedia use in teaching. Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1998). Mentoring students on the Web. Marianist Education Consortium, The University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1998). Creating your own Web page. Pastoral Communications and Ministry Workshop. Pastoral Communications Institute, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1998). Getting started with academic technology. Luncheon Teaching Seminar, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1997). Teaching with Microsoft PowerPoint. Fall Part Time Faculty Workshop, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1997). Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint. Teaching Effectiveness Seminar, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1997). Enhancing student learning with an interactive Mentor Web site. Faculty Development Day Presentation, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1997). Teaching with Microsoft PowerPoint. Center for Electronic Learning and Teaching Workshop. University of Dayton.

Wright, D. J. (1996). Demonstration of multimedia use in teaching. Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1996). Presenting electronic media in a classroom using Microsoft PowerPoint. Faculty Development Day Presentation, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1996). Multimedia presentations in the classroom. Teaching Effectiveness Seminar, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1995). Demonstration of multimedia use in teaching. Department of Biology, University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1994). Careers in Biology. Invited Speaker, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. University of Dayton, Dayton OH.

Wright, D. J. (1994). Departmental Seminar, Department of Biology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH.

Wright, D. J. (1993). Parasitology Program Seminar, School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.

Wright, D. J. (1990). Guyer Fellow Seminar, Department of Zoology, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.