Endocrinology Lab

Digital Photogrammetry Lab

The Endocrinology Lab is located in the Department of Physiology in the Health Sciences Center on the east side of campus. The lab houses an array of equipment dedicated towards radio- (125I) and enzyme immunoassays, including a gamma counter, a plate reader, and two centrifuges (high speed, and high volume). Ongoing work in the lab include the measurement and extraction of (1) fecal steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids, estrogens, and testosterone in wild geladas and woolly monkeys, (2) immune biomarkers such as urinary neopterin and fecal SIgA from wild geladas, and (3) milk-origin steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids and DHEAS from captive rhesus macaques and vervet monkeys, (4) hair steroid hormones from captive vervet monkeys.

The Digital Photogrammetry lab is housed in the Department of Anthropology in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building (west side of campus). Here, students take morphometric measurements of body and limb length from photographs of wild geladas. More specifically, we utilize parallel lasers set 4cm apart to create an automatic scale within a photograph. Thus, a real distance can be calculated for every measurement on the photograph, much like we calculate distances from the scale bar listed on a map. These morphometric measurements are then used to determine the rate of growth for geladas, and to evaluate how various social factors (stress, nutrition, injuries) can influence both male and female growth. Beginning in 2011, we worked with Paragon Model and Tool (Wixsom, MI) and then with the machine shop at the University of Illinois to construct a CAD-designed parallel laser mount that retains stable laser alignment, but is also adjustable using a hex wrench. To encourage comparative data collection on primate growth, we have made these Laser apparatus blueprints freely available. Any machine shop should be able to follow these designs and construct a parallel laser mount for use with a standard digital SLR.