Natural Science Seminar Welcomes Nicholas Macoretta II, Ph.D. ’16
The Natural Science Seminars are an engaging series spotlighting the groundbreaking science research programs on campus and beyond. The program features presentations by students, faculty, and leading scientists from other institutions and the private sector. We recently welcomed Nicholas Macoretta II, Ph.D. ’16 back to The Heights to share his work exploring how gene expression changes without altering DNA sequences, especially through histone modifications and DNA methylation.
Aging and Comparative Biology
Dr. Macoretta graduated from Le Moyne in 2016 with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology (with a focus on molecular biology) and Chemistry (while minoring in music). During his time at Le Moyne, he conducted research on the alga Hydrodictyon reticulatem under the mentorship of Dr. Hilary McManus. He shared his latest research with student, faculty and staff. Photos by Tim Landgraf '27
His work explores how gene expression changes without altering DNA sequences, particularly through histone modifications and DNA methylation. Using the naked mole rat as a model organism—known for its exceptional longevity—his research identified epigenetic patterns linked to aging and disease, including cancer.
His work highlights the role of epigenetics in longevity and potential therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.
After graduation, Macoretta went on to earn his Master of Science degree in pursuit of a Ph.D. at the University of Rochester, where he began his research on this topic using a comparative biological approach.
He wanted to leave our students with one piece of advice: “Keep at it. There will be obstacles in science, and you’ll find that failures are often more frequent than successes. It may be discouraging. But if you stick with it, you’ll overcome those challenges and do great!”
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