About Me

Dr. Tony Jelsma
Professor of Biology
Phone: (712) 722-6278
Email: Tony.Jelsma@dordt.edu
I joined the department in 2000. I obtained my Ph.D. in cancer research from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. After this I did cancer research in England and worked on nerve regeneration in Montreal. In 1996 I moved into teaching and I taught at Crandall University in Moncton, New Brunswick before coming to Dordt in 2000. I am chair of the department and presently serve as program advisor for the pre-chiropractic and medical laboratory science programs. My academic and research interests are in molecular biology and developmental biology. I have also followed the creation-evolution debate for many years and teach a class in this area.
To keep in shape, I recently resumed playing hockey and get my bike on the road when my schedule and the weather permit.
Some articles I have written for In All Things:
- Models of the Interaction of Science and Religion
- A Reformed Approach to the Interactions of Science and Religion
- A Reformed Approach to the Interactions of Science and Religion (cont’d)
- A Christian Look at the Biology of Gender Dysphoria
- The Limbic System and Christian Sanctification
In collaboration with other science professors I have supervised many student summer research internships in cellular and molecular biology. Some of this work was recently published.
I presently have a collaboration with Dr. Peter Vitiello at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, studying the role of antioxidant proteins in organ function. The histology course that I teach has been very helpful to these researchers and has allowed me to incorporate ongoing research into my lab courses.
I teach the following courses at Dordt:
- Bio 251 Perspectives on Origins
- Bio 301 Developmental Biology
- Bio 304 Histology
- Bio 324 Advanced Genetics
- Bio 325 Human Anatomy
- Bio 326 Human Physiology
- Bio 327 Cadaver Dissection
- Bio 357 Medical Terminology
- Bio 358 Introduction to Biological Research
- Bio 380 Directed Senior Research
Teaching a wide range of courses keeps me stimulated and helps me think of life in a variety of ways.