University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumnus and former Husker football player Dr. Dane Todd has always been grateful for guidance and advice received from his former genetics professor, Alan Christensen. Todd also never lost sight of the importance of his undergraduate education in the College of Arts and Sciences in preparing him for medical school and now, his practice as a Lincoln orthopedic surgeon.
Todd decided to give back after learning of the need to update the equipment in the Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology Lab in the School of Biological Sciences. He made a $17,000 gift to purchase new lab equipment through the University of Nebraska Foundation.
“Dr. Christensen’s love for teaching and energy is infectious,” Todd said. “Giving back to the university that gave so much to me is great, but giving back to my mentor and friend is even better.”
The lab now features a GelDoc Go, used for imaging protein and DNA separation gels, and a Bio-Rad Trans-Blot Turbo, which transfers proteins from a gel to a membrane in just seven minutes — eliminating the need for an overnight process. Both instruments also reduce hazardous chemical waste, enhancing lab safety and sustainability.
In the course, students use gels to separate proteins from plant cells, then transfer them onto a paper membrane. By applying specific markers, they stain the proteins to determine their cellular location — whether in the mitochondria, nucleus or chloroplast. This method, known as Western blotting, is widely used in medical diagnostics for its high sensitivity in detecting viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis C and Lyme disease.
“The new equipment has changed the course’s reputation among students, making it feel like ‘real science,’” said Rebecca Varney, assistant professor of biological sciences. “I’ve seen a noticeable increase in their excitement and sense of ownership over their experiments. I know they will leave with a stronger understanding of genetics and how science forms the foundation of medicine.”
Christensen said the school is deeply grateful to Todd and his support for the next generation of program graduates.
“This modernized equipment enhances the course and improves experimental outcomes, giving students a deeper grasp of scientific techniques and their real-world applications,” Christensen said.
In 2006, Todd, a Lincoln native, earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences at the university, where he played fullback for the Huskers as a decorated student-athlete. He earned a medical degree from Emory University and practices at the Nebraska Orthopaedic Center, specializing in the treatment of sports injuries of the knee, hip and shoulder, as well as shoulder replacements and general fracture care. He also serves as a team physician for Nebraska Athletics.
Todd first met Christensen when he took a general genetics course from him as an undergraduate and then served as his teaching assistant for two years. The two get together regularly to discuss Nebraska sports, education and life. During one of those conversations, Todd learned of Christensen’s desire to update the genetics lab.
“I left that conversation thinking about the decades that Dr. Christensen has put into education, the thousands of hours he has worked to understand his field and pass on that knowledge and the time he has spent helping me accomplish my goals over the years,” Todd said. “The next time we met, I told Dr. Christensen that I would donate the money he needs for the genetics lab so that he can leave a lasting impact on the department long after he retires.”
Todd’s gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state.
