Life Sciences Commons^™

Natural Sciences Newsletter - Fall 2018, Parkland College, Manuel I. Rodriguez

Department of Natural Sciences Newsletter

In this semester's Parkland College Natural Sciences Newsletter, you'll find a letter from Department Chair Scott Siechen, updates from the Natural Science Commons, the Planetarium, the Professional Development Committee, and Astronomy and Science Clubs. Also, we say hello and good bye to incoming and outgoing faculty, and learn about conference happenings.

Sperm-Mediated Effects Of Predation Risk On Reproduction In Male Threespined Sticklebacks, Shayne Kempfer, Erika Carlson, Jennifer Hellmann, Jason Keagy, Alison Bell

PRECS student projects

Threespined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, exhibit male-only parental care, but will decrease paternal care if exposed to predators while given care or if their mate has had prior experiences with predators. The offspring will experience lasting effects based on the experience of their parents (behavior-mediated transgenerational plasticity). While other studies have concluded that male exposure to predators prior to fertilization (sperm-mediated transgenerational plasticity) impacts offspring, whether sperm-mediated effects exist in sticklebacks, and for how many generations the effects persist is unknown. Courtship trials with both predator exposed and predator unexposed females with six male treatment groups shows significant impact of maternal …

Production Of Bioactive Isothiocyanates By Bacterial Myrosinase, Juan Isaiz, Xiaoji Liu, Michael J. Miller

PRECS student projects

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are bioactive products found in several plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family, and are produced as defense upon disruption of the tissue by herbivores or pathogens, but in humans they have shown anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

Although we know gut microbes can hydrolyze GSL into ITC, the mechanism is not known. With improved detection methods, the aim of this experiment is to explore whether the gut microbial myrosinase β-glucosidase found within the genome of E. coli Nissle 1917 can hydrolyze glucosinolates (GSLs) into detectable ITCs.

Finding Dex-1 Phenotype Suppressing Components, Matthew Barnum, Kristen Flatt, Nathan E. Schroeder

PRECS 2018

Caenorhabditis elegans is a species of microscopic round worm that has been used as a genetic model for over forty years. When in an adverse environment, C. elegans larvae cease reproductive development and enter the stress-resistant dauer stage.

dex-1 mutants of C. elegans are deficient in this protein, resulting in shortened dendrites and a sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). SDS will kill any non-dauer C. elegans, but wild type dauers will survive well past the standard concentration of 1% SDS. Thus, treatment with SDS is commonly how labs isolate dauers. By contrast, dex-1 dauers (Fig.3) will …

Identifying Kif Subtype That Mediates Axonal Targeting Of Kv7 Channels, Allison Houghton, Jennifer Walters, Mary Hong, Dhruv Joshi, Hee Jung Chung

PRECS 2018

Early-onset Benign Familial Neonatal Epilepsy (BFNE) and Epileptic Encephalopathy (EE), are associated with mutations in neuronal KCNQ/Kv7 channel subunits Kv7.2 and Kv7.3. Kv7 channels are voltage-dependent potassium channels. Enriched at the axonal plasma membrane, they pump potassium ions out of the neurons and inhibit repetitive or burst firing of action potentials. A single neuronal Kv7 channel is a heterotetramer composed of two Kv7.2 and two Kv7.3 subunits. BFNE and EE mutations in Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 lead to decreased surface expression along the axon, which means less potassium ions are moved across the axonal membrane where action potentials are generated and …

The Effect Of Imidacloprid On Honey Bee Queen Fecundity, Jamilyn Martin, Julia D. Fine, Amy Cash-Ahmed, Gene E. Robinson

PRECS 2018

Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide commonly used in agricultural settings to control insect pests by acting as an agonist of acetylcholine receptors and inducing paralysis and mortality. In small doses, imidacloprid can cause loss of memory and foraging ability along with impaired learning and a lowered immune response in western honey bees (Apis mellifera). Effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on colony reproduction have been documented including decreased colony expansion, queen failure and replacement, and decreased queen egg laying.

For this study, we examined the effects of imidacloprid on the fecundity of queen bees when their worker attendants were exposed to low …

Methamphetamine Effects On Adolescent Brain Development In Both Sexes, Jessica Alvarez, Sarah Westbrook, Joshua Gulley

PRECS 2018

Vulnerability to drug addiction in adolescents (ADOLs) may lead to faster rates of addiction and higher rates of relapse. The brain is developing in adolescence, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which are regions involved in self-control and reward systems, respectively. Further, females, both human and rat models, often exhibit faster rates of addiction than males. Research from this lab has found previously that adult rats of both sexes exposed to amphetamine during ADOL had reduced expression of dopamine D₁ receptors (D₁R) in the medial PFC but no change in the NAc. The …

How Does Climate Change Affect Endophytic Fungi?, Amber Toussaint, Natalie Christian, Katy Heath

PRECS student projects

Plant-associated microorganisms can have major effects on plant health, but climate change can affect plant microbiomes. While it is unknown how climate change will affect aboveground plant-associated microorganisms, such as foliar endophytic fungi, we hypothesize that increased CO₂ concentrations will increase species richness and diversity in endophytic fungal communities, because increased plant photosynthesis under elevated CO₂ will increase the resources available to the fungi.

Phosphorus Vs. Mycorrhiza: Mitigation Of Lead Uptake In Tomatoes, Helen Senerchia, Liz Miernicki, Andrew Margenot

PRECS 2018

This study seeks to understand how the mutualist relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) and Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) affects the uptake and distribution of iron (Pb) found in soil by tomatoes and how the effects of phosphorous (P) application may pose a trade-off between AM and P mitigation of bioavailability of Pb.

Buspirone Hydrochloride, Jaslene Garcia

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College provides information on Buspirone Hydrochloride, trade name BuSpar, used to manage anxiety disorders. Chemical information, dosage, and the body's reaction to the medication are included.

Ideonella Sakaiensis: The Bacterium That Eats Pet, David Edlund

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster for the Natural Science Poster Session at Parkland College features information on Ideonella sakaiensis, bacterium that breaks down polyethylene terepthalate, and describes how it may have potential to reduce the environmental impact of plastics.

Itching For A Reason: Understanding Mechanisms Of Itch, Andrea K. Lapira

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College introduces theories regarding why we itch (intensity, labeled line and selectivity) and identifies the two distinct pathways to transmit itch signals: histaminergic and non-histaminergic.

How The Carbon To Nitrogen Ration Affects Soil Microorganisms, Logan M. Stenger, Morgan R. Hobgood

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This slide presentation for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College presents information on the importance of the correct ratio between nitrogen and carbon for microorganism health.

Plant Algae Ecosystems, Arturo Hernandez

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College reports on the student's experiment with algae found in a terrarium and the different effects that light can have on it.

Behavioral Observations Of Drosophila Melanogaster As Compared To Humans, Ali Hosey, Marissa Arnett

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

In this poster for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College, students posit whether there are behavioral similarities between fruit flies and humans, given the genetic similarity. Using both wild type and vestigial wing fruit flies, the students concluded that, while there were no obvious individual behaviors, there might be a similar drive to congregate together.

Absorbance Of 0.15 Seen At 440 Nm Double Peak In Sepia Eyed Drosophila Melanogaster, Fabiola Padron, Liping Zhao

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College reports on an experiment in which the objective was to observe absorbance of eye pigments in both sepia and white eyed fruit flies. Three types of chromatography were used, paper, TLC, and 2D. It was determined that 2D Chromatography was ideal in separating blue and green pigment from sepia toned eyes in fruit flies.

Building A Custom 4-Row Planter, Jacob Larkin

A with Honors Projects

This brief essay describes the processes taken to build a custom 4-row planter with the precision Agriculture Department and their company partner, Helena Chemical.

Wild Type Drosophila Melanogaster Eye Pigments: Examining Absorbance Spectra And Light Sensitivity, Erin Brown, Taylor M. Delaney

A with Honors Projects

The eyes of wild type fruit flies contain various pigments that contribute to a brick red color. Chromatography techniques are used to separate and view these pigments. IN this project, the students extract and gather absorbance spectra for these pigments using three methods: eye pigment chromatography, pigment extraction and spectrophotometry, and spectrophotometry and photosensitivity. The methods are compared to determine how efficient they are at separating and extracting pigments and producing reliable results when examining absorbance spectra. To explore the photosensitivity of the pigments, we compare absorbance spectra changes to a pigment solution.

Nervous System Practical, Ben Albrecht

A with Honors Projects

These are slides for others to use to prepare for the nervous system practical. It contains labeled pictures of all the structures students in the class should know.

An Assessment Of Inheritance Patterns In Two Mutant Eye-Color Traits Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Jedidiah Heiser, Seth B. Yates

A with Honors Projects

This experiment was a two generation test cross (from F0 to F1 and F1 to F2) to check the patterns of inheritance and their chi-square significance. Wild-type males and females were paired with the opposite sex of the two mutant groups -- Sepia eyes and White eyes. The pairing thus resulted in 4 tube conditions. Generations were counted and identified by sex and phenotype -- Wild-type or Mutant. The next generation was seeded with approximately 6 - 8 individuals from each sex and released once the next generation reached their pupal phase. Fresh tubes were seeded between F1 and F2. …

Interitance Pattern Of Vestigial Mutation In Drosophila Melanogaster, Tori R. Witruck, Adam Padron

A with Honors Projects

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the inheritance pattern of the vestigial mutation in Drosophila melanogaster. The experiment was to include two crosses with wild type and vestigial mutation, but the second cross experienced environmental setbacks potentially affecting the results, the experiment could lead to future testing on environmental effects on mutation.

Seed Versus Bulb, Indoor Or Outdoor, Joy Lee

Natural Sciences Student Research Presentations

This poster for the Natural Sciences Poster Session at Parkland College summarizes the student's experiment growing seed plants (arugula) and bulb plants (crocus), both indoors and outdoors, using height of the seed as a measurement.