Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Autism As The Early Closure Of A Neuroplastic Critical Period Normally Seen In Adolescence, Julia Marie Berger, Troy T. Rohn, Julia Thom Oxford
Autism As The Early Closure Of A Neuroplastic Critical Period Normally Seen In Adolescence, Julia Marie Berger, Troy T. Rohn, Julia Thom Oxford
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
The most severe cases of autism are diagnosed by extreme social dysfunction and other behavioral abnormalities. A number of genetic studies have been conducted to correlate behavioral phenotypes to genetic dysfunctions, but no “autism gene” has yet been discovered. In addition, environmental factors have been found to influence the development of autistic traits with high probability. This review will examine the role of a shortened period of neuroplasticity as a unifying feature of the autistic phenotype. The neuroplastic period of interest normally extends into adolescence, allowing for neural integration and the development of language and social skills. Early closure of …
The Importance Of Epigenetic Phenomena In Regulating Activity Of The Genetic Material, Sin Chan
The Importance Of Epigenetic Phenomena In Regulating Activity Of The Genetic Material, Sin Chan
Senior Honors Projects
Genetics has taught us that genes are represented as discrete sequences within a larger DNA molecule found embedded within the chromosomes of a living cell. Collectively these chromosomes and their associated genes carry all of the instructions for life. Until recently, the prevailing thought has been that genes are destiny in the life of an individual since the genes carry the information that determines the general traits and characteristics associated with that individual. The relatively recent understanding of mechanisms that underlie epigenetic phenomena has led to a rethinking of this concept. Epigenetics describes cellular mechanisms that explain how two individuals …
Effects Of Experimentally Elevated Traffic Noise On Nestling White-Crowned Sparrow Stress Physiology, Immune Function And Life History, Ondi L. Crino, Erin E. Johnson, Jessica L. Blickley, Gail L. Patricelli, Creagh W. Breuner
Effects Of Experimentally Elevated Traffic Noise On Nestling White-Crowned Sparrow Stress Physiology, Immune Function And Life History, Ondi L. Crino, Erin E. Johnson, Jessica L. Blickley, Gail L. Patricelli, Creagh W. Breuner
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Roads have been associated with behavioral and physiological changes in wildlife. In birds, roads decrease reproductive success and biodiversity and increase physiological stress. Although the consequences of roads on individuals and communities have been well described, the mechanisms through which roads affect birds remain largely unexplored. Here, we examine one mechanism through which roads could affect birds: traffic noise. We exposed nestling mountain white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) to experimentally elevated traffic noise for 5 days during the nestling period. Following exposure to traffic noise we measured nestling stress physiology, immune function, body size, condition and survival. Based …
The Pea Aphid Uses A Version Of The Terminal System During Oviparous, But Not Viviparous, Development, Ryan D. Bickel, Hillary C. Cleveland, Joanna Barkas, Caitlin C. Jeschke, Amelie A. Raz, David L. Stern, Gregory K. Davis
The Pea Aphid Uses A Version Of The Terminal System During Oviparous, But Not Viviparous, Development, Ryan D. Bickel, Hillary C. Cleveland, Joanna Barkas, Caitlin C. Jeschke, Amelie A. Raz, David L. Stern, Gregory K. Davis
Biology Faculty Research and Scholarship
Background: In most species of aphid, female nymphs develop into either sexual or asexual adults depending on the length of the photoperiod to which their mothers were exposed. The progeny of these sexual and asexual females, in turn, develop in dramatically different ways. The fertilized oocytes of sexual females begin embryogenesis after being deposited on leaves (oviparous development) while the oocytes of asexual females complete embryogenesis within the mother (viviparous development). Compared with oviparous development, viviparous development involves a smaller transient oocyte surrounded by fewer somatic epithelial cells and a smaller early embryo that comprises fewer cells. To investigate …