Life Sciences Commons^™

Pvaast Anallysis Of Alzheimer’S Disease Sequencing Project Pedigree Data, Kristen Crofts, John S. K. Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder affecting more than 10 percent of Americans over the age of 65 (1). This disease destroys memory and thinking skills and is a leading cause of dementia. Although research in recent years has provided substantial information related to risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a great deal of information still remains unknown. PVAAST is a software tool that can analyze genome sequence data of Alzheimer’s patients in a creative way by also analyzing the patients’ pedigree information. With the combined information from family members, it is more feasible to identify genetic mutations related …

Byu Undergraduate Explore The Development Of Scientific Reasoning Ability In Stem Majors And Its Correlation To Student Performance And Retention, Jamie Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This report will outline how effectively we met our academic and mentoring objectives. I have listed below both the academic and mentoring objectives put forth in the original proposal and have outlined how they were met or modified over the course of the past two years. Let me just start out by saying how proud I am of my undergraduate team of researchers. They have been absolutely AMAZING and have taken this project on with incredible autonomy. Although we are a bit behind our anticipated schedule (due to the autonomy that I have tried to foster with the students), the …

Insect Visual Systems And Fossils To Provide Students A Clear Vision Of 21st Century Phylogenetic Systematics, Seth M. Bybee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Goals one and three were both very successful (more below), however goal two became bogged down and was ultimately abandoned. CT-scanning is a process that requires hundreds or even thousands of fine x-rays through an organism in cross-section to be “stacked” together. Stacking the x-rays together allows researchers to literally explore the internal and external anatomy of organisms in ways never before possible. The most successful scans are those produced when tissues are discrete and have different attributes in terms of pattern, hardness, etc. We focused heavily on fossil specimens embedded in amber. Unfortunately, the cuticle of these specimens were …

Autoimmunity-Promoting B Cell Effects Of The Risk Factor Irf5, Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this proposal were met. Using the funding provided by the MEG, we generated data that were used to publish two peer-reviewed journal articles:

Final Report For The 2015 Meg Entitled: Development Of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Q-Pcr) Assays For The Detection And Identification Of Human Tick-Borne Pathogens, Richard Robison

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1. Develop singleplex q-PCR assays to identify the tick-borne pathogens Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia hermsii, Bartonella henselae, and Babesia microti. Primer generation software will be used to design primer and probe sequences that will theoretically perform optimally in PCR reactions. All sequences will be subjected to BLAST searches to confirm their specificity for a particular organism. Once primer sequences have been obtained, they will be synthesized by Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. (IDT). These primers will be evaluated in q-PCR reactions using target DNA from multiple isolates and SyberGreen to detect nucleic acid amplification. Parameters for each reaction will be optimized using these …

The Role Of Nr4a1 In Maternal Obesity Induced Beta Cell Expansion, Jeffery S. Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this Mentoring Environment Grant (MEG) were to 1) train undergraduate students in the scientific process to prepare them in careers as physicians and scientists, and 2) to examine the relationship between in utero Nr4a1 beta cell specific deletion during maternal overnutrition and obesity on beta cell mass at birth and diabetic onset. We were successful in accomplishing these objectives, as evidenced by the training of four undergraduate students, presentation of research and local and national meetings, and initial preparation of a manuscript reporting our findings.

Synaptic Modification Of Inhibitory Inputs To Gaba Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area: A Novel Potential Target Mediating Reward And Addiction In The Brain, Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objectives of this award were met, especially in regard to the mentoring focus of the award. The students have been mentored and trained in an effective manner as outlined in my Mentoring Plan (abbreviated below). This includes mentoring students in research, writing, publishing, presenting at conferences, etc. Indeed, one measure of the success of mentoring is demonstrated by the fact that all the students graduating from my lab during this time were accepted to the professional school of their choice (see students listed below). Research, especially where the students are actually involved in all aspects of it including data …

Unleashing The Power Of Undergraduates To Unravel The Impacts Of Water Relations And Co2 Levels On The Photosynthetic Plasticity Of Agave Sensu Lato Species: A Group Of Desert Succulents Important To Natural And Human Systems, J. Ryan Stewart

Journal of Undergraduate Research

• Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met
• Evaluation of the mentoring environment
• List of students who participated and what academic deliverables they have produced or it is anticipated they will produce
• Description of the results/findings of the project
• Description of how the budget was spent

The Role Of Lkb1 In Obesity-Induced Skeletal Muscle Inflammation And Insulin Resistance, David Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The incidence of obesity and the health consequences that accompany it have increased rapidly over the past decade. Understanding the molecular pathways involved in its development will be crucial in developing novel treatment strategies for obesity and associated disorders. Low-grade inflammation likely plays a major role in many of the complications of obesity. We proposed to study the role of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) in the development of inflammation and insulin resistance in obese mice and saturated fatty acid-induced insulin-resistant cells.

Β-Cell Adaptation To Decreased Nr4a Expression In Conditions Of Elevated Palmitate Concentrations (Hyperlipidemia), Daniel Lathen, Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Diabetes’ prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Normally, insulin-secreting β-cells in the pancreas regulate proper glucose absorption and storage. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are characterized by decreased functional β-cell mass and insulin production and increased circulating glucose and fatty acid levels, which damage and destroy surviving β-cells over time. Though hyperlipidemia’s short-term effects are well studied, its long-term effects on β-cells remain unclear because it destroys them (1). We developed unique cell lines to mimic Type 2 diabetes’ progression by culturing INS-1 832/13 β-cells in progressively elevated concentrations of palmitate (a saturated fatty acid), which permitted …

Electronic Structure And Quassiclassical Dynamics Of [2+2] Tetrafluoroethylene Cycloaddition Reactions, Steven Jones, Daniel Ess

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cycloaddition reactions are key reactions used to construct complex cyclic scaffolds (large networks of carbon atoms that can be used in catalysis, synthesis, etc.). While classical reactions that form 6-membered rings are well-known and generally have a one-step reaction mechanism, 4-member ring-forming reactions are much less used, but could be very valuable for the construction of cyclobutane structures.

Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) is used on a large scale by Dow and other chemical companies to form hydrofluoro compounds such as teflon. The current understanding of the mechanism of cycloaddition reactions with TFE is limited. Standard hydrocarbon reactions proceed via a welldocumented, concerted …

The Role Of Nr4a1 In Β-Cell Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion And Cellular Survival, Kevin Garland, Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 2010, diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in America, and as of 2014, 9% of the world’s adult population was affected by it. In both Type I (T1D) and Type II diabetes (T2D), a loss of β-cell mass and overall function is observed. β-cells essentially stop proliferating after adolescence, therefore developing mechanisms to increase function and/or induce proliferation in β-cells could serve as a powerful treatment and even a cure for both T1D and T2D. Overexpression of the β-cell transcription factor Nkx6.1 induces β-cell proliferation (1) and up-regulates expression of the nuclear receptor Nr4a1 (2). Nr4a1 has …

Development And Application Of Minimum Energy Crossing Point Software Suite For Organometallic Reactions, Justin Snyder, Daniel H. Ess

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Computational studies are critical to the field of organometallic chemistry since many highly reactive and unstable compounds cannot be isolated or observed experimentally. It is well-known that many organometallic reaction mechanisms involve spin intersystem crossing, e.g. singlet to triplet conversion. To estimate the rate of intersystem crossing it is useful to calculate electronic structures where spin states and their energies are degenerate, which is called a “minimum energy crossing point (MECP).” Prior to the completion of this project, there was only one working program that interfaced with the Gaussian 09 electronic structure package for the calculation of minimum energy which …

Quantifying The Efficiency Of Heterobimetallic Complexes, Ryjul Stokes, David Michaelis

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Transition metal catalysts have revolutionized the efficiency by which pharmaceuticals and other value added products are synthesized due to their unique ability to activate small molecules and drive the formation of new C-C and C-N bonds. In particular, the direct functionalization of olefins with transition metal catalysts is a powerful method of converting simple, cheap building blocks into more complex molecules. The challenge is that many ligands that control reaction selectivity often decrease the electrophilicity of the catalyst. Heterobimetallic complexes containing an early/late transition metal pair could provide a solution to this challenge by providing a new way to activate …

Defining Nkx6.1 Binding Partners In Young And Aged Pancreatic Islet, Sean Kang, Dr. Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Diabetes is an increasing epidemic that deserves more attention. Those affected by diabetes are restricted to either strict diets or remedial insulin supplementation. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are directly related to a decrease in functional β-cell mass. Exciting research has revealed Nkx6.1 to be an influential transcription factor which induces β-cell proliferation, protects against apoptosis and enhances insulin secretion when overexpressed 1 . Our recent findings indicate significant β-cell proliferation is limited to β-cells from adolescent rats, with a severe decrease in proliferation as the animal ages. 2 Nkx6.1 expression is present in every stage of development, …

Cebp/Α Increases Functional Β-Cell Mass, Jason Ray, Jeffery Tessem

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are major global health concerns. Diabetes is characterized by impaired management of glucose in the bloodstream, which is due to decreased pancreatic functional β-cell mass. Functional β-cell mass is determined from the insulin secretion rate and the number of β-cells, which is determined from cellular proliferation and death rates. Increasing functional β-cell mass could cure diabetes either by enhancing pancreatic islets prior to transplantation, or by strengthening endogenous cells. Although β-cells stop proliferating around adolescence, β-cell proliferation resumes during conditions such as pregnancy and obesity (1), demonstrating that the molecular pathways necessary for replication …

Current And Future Prospects Of The Biological Diversity Of Vertebrates In Teh Protected Areas Of A Megadiverse Country: Ecuador, Benjamin Bay, Dr. Jack Sites

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I collected, cleaned, and organized data on animal species in Ecuador, a megadiverse country (harbors a vast proportion of Earth’s species and is home to high numbers of endemic species). These data were crucial for a larger project which modeled the impacts of climate change on species conservation over time. I designed the algorithms that cleaned and organized these large data sets.

Microwave Promoted Iminyl Radical Cyclization, Aaron Kubosumi, Steven L. Castle

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Pyrrolidines and their derivatives are found in many biologically active compounds, such as Lipitor and Atorvastatin, which possess a wide variety of remarkable pharmaceutical properties. Therefore, the efficient synthesis of functionalized pyrrolidines is of great value to organic chemists. Multiple attempts have been made to synthesize compounds containing pyrrolidine ring systems. Walton 1 utilized radical cyclization, via microwave heating, to transform Ophenyl oximes with terminal alkenes to dihydropyrroles, compounds closely related to pyrrolidines. Similarly, Sammis 2 proposed a method involving radical cyclizations of azidederived aminyl radicals onto silyl enol ethers. Unfortunately, the method proposed by Sammis requires highly toxic and …

Determining The Structure Of The Bbbsome, Grant Ludlam, Barry Willardson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) occurs when an eight-protein complex called the BBSome is improperly assembled and can no longer function. The BBSome is responsible for trafficking membrane proteins to cilia, a projection from the cell surface packed with receptors that allow the cell to sense its surroundings. Loss of BBSome function causes malformation of cilia and leads to vision loss, obesity, kidney disease and mental retardation.

The Total Synthesis Of Yaku’Mide A, Shi Luo, Steven Castle

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Yaku’amide A (YA) has potent toxicity against cancer cells (IC50 = 14 ng/ml against P388 murine leukemia cells). Ueoka et al.1 first reported the isolation of YA from a marine sponge in the East China Sea. They used spectroscopy and chemical degradations to analyze its structure. YA contains unique dehydroamino acids (See Figure 1). In the growth inhibition study, YA showed unique activity against 39 cancer cell lines, indicating a novel mode of action. The unusual structure of YA and its prominent biological activity has attracted research groups from around the world to address its synthesis.

Using Three Incommensurate Wave Components To Generate Terahertz Radiation, Jacob Bagley, Jeremy Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Electromagnetic radiation is a wave composed of an electric field and a magnetic field. Examples of electromagnetic radiation include visible light, ultraviolet light, Xrays, infrared light, microwaves, and more. Electromagnetic radiation is an indispensable tool for both controlling and studying matter and is applied to countless fields such as electronics manufacturing and medical imaging. Over the past two decades terahertz (THz) radiation, a form of electromagnetic radiation, has become an intense area of research. This surge in activity in due in part to technological advances in generating THz radiation, but is also due to the myriad of potential applications of …

A Microfluidic Approach To Measuring Endothelial Cell Migration

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Pathological angiogenesis or new vessel growth plays a key role in a number of diseases including tumor growth and several eye diseases that can lead to blindness. While antiangiogenic therapies have been developed for many of these pathologies, there remains a pressing need for more effective anti-angiogenic therapy with fewer side-effects. Capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2) has been shown to play an important role in angiogenesis and is a potential target for future anti-angiogenic therapies. To better understand the physiological role of CMG2 and to accurately compare how well different CMG2 antagonists inhibit endothelial cell migration (the putative mechanism for …

Elucidation Of Mechanisms Whereby Embryonic Chicken Limbs Develop, James Broadbent, Jeffery Barrow

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As established by John Saunders 60 years ago, the AER is required for limb growth and patterning. However, the mechanisms whereby the AER regulates these processes remain poorly understood. My professor and I propose that one of the primary roles of the AER is to regulate directional growth of the adjacent limb mesenchyme. Over time, the AER extends along the anteroposterior (AP) and thins along the dorsoventral (DV) axes. These results highlight a morphogenetic paradigm: the dimensions of recruitment signaling centers ultimately shape organs. This model also provides mechanistic insight for evolutionary change. We also show that sonic hedgehog (Shh) …

Using Bioinformatics To Increase The Number Of Tumors That Can Be Treated With Existing Drug Treatments, Jonathan Dayton, Stephen Piccolo

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Typically, tens or even hundreds of mutations are observed in the DNA of a single tumor by the time it has been detected1-4. Knowledge of these mutations may be useful in guiding the way the tumor is treated. In some cases, if a tumor has a mutation in a certain gene, this may indicate that the tumor can be treated with a certain drug. For example, the drug Trastuzumab is a targeted therapy for breast cancer patients with mutations in the HER2 gene5. In other cases, a mutation may be able to be targeted by a drug even if the …

Genome-Wide Association Study Of Prolactin In Cerebrospinal Fluid And Plasma, Lorna Sheradyn Hamilton, Dr. John Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Prolactin is the major hormone involved in milk lactation for pregnant women and has been discovered to play a role in a variety of biological functions. Several other functions include the immune system, reproductive system, maternal behavior, insulin production, and stimulating neurogenesis.1 2 Using prolactin levels from both cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma from nearly 500 individuals, we will be able to conduct a genome-wide association study to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which will lead to a better understanding of what genes are playing a significant role in prolactin’s production and regulation.

The Chemotherapeutic Potential Of Resveratrol-Based Treatments, Connor Peck, Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cancer is one of the most prevalent and deadly diseases in the world. In 2012 alone, there were approximately 14 million new cases of cancer and over 8 million cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite extensive research in past decades, the burden of cancer continues to increase.

One of the most common treatments for cancer is chemotherapy, the use of various chemical substances that exhibit anti-cancer activity. Unfortunately, chemotherapy can be quite toxic and often produces inadequate results. There remains a great need for improved chemotherapeutic treatment strategies in order to improve outcomes for cancer patients.

The purpose of my project was …

Tear Analysis: High-Speed Video Capture Of The Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear, Devon Smith, Steven Cook

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The tearing of the ACL is among one of the most common sports injuries seen during this era. Research shows that annually there are more than 80,000 documented cases of ACL tears occurring with a 15x greater possibility of re-tearing after reconstruction.1 Currently, there is no digitally filmed data on how the fiber bundles unravel during an induced ACL tear. Published studies utilize a Porcine ACL as the highest anatomically comparative model to Human ACL. We are looking to create a grade 3 ACL tear in both human and porcine ACL’s, and film them at high-speed while it unravels. We …

Development Of A Directed Forward Genetic Screen Using Crispr Libraries, Robert C. Russell, Johnathon Hill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Thousands of genes control the development of our bodies. These genes must be activated at the proper place and time in order for development to proceed correctly. The technique that we are developing will improve our ability to identify such genes, thus providing insights to the mechanisms underlying development processes. One in 33 live births in the United States is impacted by a birth defect. Of these, congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common, affecting nearly 1% of births in the United States.1 For this reason, we are developing a technique that will identify key contributors in heart development.

Understanding Birth Defects By Establishing Glutathione Ontogeny In A Chick Embryo Model, Ryan Mackay, Dr. Jason Hansen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Most chemicals known to cause birth defects have been shown to induce oxidative stress – a disruption in intracellular redox signaling. The overall purpose of this research is to better understand how environmental/chemical insults that cause oxidative stress result in specific malformations. Since the tripeptide glutathione (GSH) is an abundant antioxidant and important mediator in redox state and signaling, the goal of this project was to measure levels of glutathione during early embryonic development in order to determine when embryos are more susceptible to environmental and chemical stresses. Changes in the amount of GSH will affect the sensitivity of cells …

Effect Of High Expression Of Irf5 On B Cell Activation After Antigen Stimulation, Kalarelyn Eberting, Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

While autoimmune diseases are very prevalent in the United States, little is understood about the cause of autoimmunity, making it difficult to take preventative measures and develop treatments. Previous studies have determined that a common genetic risk factor across many autoimmune diseases leads to B cell overexpression of the transcription factor IRF5 (1,2,4). Researchers have also discovered that high IRF5 levels are strongly associated with autoantibody production, suggesting that IRF5 may play a role in actually causing autoimmunity. At this point, however, it is unclear how IRF5 promotes the production of autoantibodies.