Life Sciences Commons^™

Confronting Sources Of Systematic Error To Resolve Historically Contentious Relationships: A Case Study Using Gadiform Fishes (Teleostei, Paracanthopterygii, Gadiformes), Adela Roa-Varón, Rebecca B. Dikow, (...), Eric J. Hilton

VIMS Articles

Reliable estimation of phylogeny is central to avoid inaccuracy in downstream macroevolutionary inferences. However, limitations exist in the implementation of concatenated and summary coalescent approaches, and Bayesian and full coalescent inference methods may not yet be feasible for computation of phylogeny using complicated models and large data sets. Here, we explored methodological (e.g., optimality criteria, character sampling, model selection) and biological (e.g., heterotachy, branch length heterogeneity) sources of systematic error that can result in biased or incorrect parameter estimates when reconstructing phylogeny by using the gadiform fishes as a model clade. Gadiformes include some of the most economically important fishes …

Welcoming The Game Changer Of Human Society: A Defense Of The Moral Permissibility And Obligations Of Human Genetic Engineering, Yongkang Li

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In 2018, a Chinese scientist, Jiankun He, announced the birth of two HIV-resistant babies through his experiment of human genetic engineering. This incidence has soon shocked the entire scientific community and invoked public outrage towards He’s corrupt moral integrity.

However, this event should also act as a harbinger to the human society that the technique of human genetic engineering is rapidly approaching maturity. In that case, how should we respond?

This thesis focuses on the moral issues surrounding human genetic engineering and advertises an accepting moral attitude to this booming technology. This thesis will first discuss the types of human …

Low Impact Of Different Snp Panels From Two Building-Loci Pipelines On Rad-Seq Population Genomic Metrics: Case Study On Five Diverse Aquatic Species, Adrian Casanova, Francesco Maroso, (...), Ana Verissimo, Et Al

VIMS Articles

The irruption of Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and restriction site-associated DNA sequencing(RAD-seq) in the last decade has led to the identification of thousands of molecular markers and their genotyping for refined genomic screening. This approach has been especially useful for non-model organisms with limited genomic resources. Many building-loci pipelines have been developed to obtain robust single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) genotyping datasets using a de novo RAD-seq approach, i.e. without reference genomes.Here, the performances of two building-loci pipelines, STACKS 2 and Meyer’s 2b-RAD v2.1 pipeline, were compared using a diverse set of aquatic species representing different genomic and/or population structure scenarios. Two …

Stock Composition Of Striped Marlin (Kajikia Audax) In The Central North Pacific Ocean Inferred By Analyses Of Genome-Wide Molecular Markers, Jackson Martinez

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Relative to many highly migratory fishes, Striped Marlin, Kajikia audax, exhibit considerable stock structure. At least four genetically distinct stocks of Striped Marlin have been delineated in the Pacific and Indian oceans, although stock composition in the central North Pacific (CNP) remains unclear and the presence of an additional stock in the North Pacific has been suggested in two recent studies. The goals of this research were to clarify the number of Striped Marlin stocks in the North Pacific and utilize temporal sampling to better understand the stock dynamics of Striped Marlin exploited by the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery (HBPLLF). …

A Quantitative Genetic Analysis Of Commercial Traits In Polyploid Crassostrea Virginica, With An Evaluation Of Strategies For Genetic Improvement Of Triploids, Joseph L. Matt

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Triploids are a popular product in commercial oyster aquaculture and make up most of the hatchery-produced Crassostrea virginica farmed in the Chesapeake Bay. Despite their importance to commercial aquaculture, the potential of genetically improving triploid C. virginica from selective breeding and breeding strategies for their improvement had not been evaluated. In this dissertation, the prospect of improving triploid C. virginica through selective breeding was assessed with a quantitative genetic analysis from a field test, and breeding strategies for genetically improving triploids were compared by computer simulation. Heritability and genetic correlations involving commercial traits in triploids, including mass mortality associated with …