Life Sciences Commons^™

Identifying Genetic Sources Of Anthracnose Resistance In Global Sorghum Lines, Mary-Frances Behnke

All Theses

Anthracnose of sorghum (causal agent: Colletotrichum sublineola) is the most detrimental disease of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) worldwide, significantly reducing grain yield. This study includes a literature review of the disease and a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of anthracnose-resistance in sorghum as means to elucidate genetic sources of the trait. The meta-analysis includes genotypic and phenotypic data from 5 unique studies and 1,071 sorghum lines. Original genotyping-by-sequencing data from were obtained primarily from National Center for Biotechnology Information’s Sequence Read Archive (NCBI-SRA) and prepared and processed using the Tassel 5 GBS v2. pipeline. Phenotypic data were …

Genetics And Genomics Education Among Physician Assistants, Wesley Patterson

All Dissertations

This dissertation comprises five chapters to describe genetics and genomics education among physician assistant/associate (PA) students and practicing PAs. Chapter I introduces the gap in supply and demand of genetic services, the need for non-genetics healthcare providers to fill the gap, and the PA profession as a solution.

Chapter II is a rapid literature review that summarizes the available literature regarding genetics and genomics education for PAs. A paucity of literature exists to describe the current state of PA genetics-genomics education. The few studies retrieved describe content being taught in PA programs, the number of genetics-genomics contact hours PA students …

The Presence And Distribution Of Crotoxin In The Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus Lepidus), Jade Mellor

All Theses

Crotoxin and its homologs (hereafter all referred to as CTx) is a highly lethal heterodimeric beta-neurotoxin found in pitvipers (Crotalinae) and is the main driver of neurotoxic venom phenotypes (Type II). In contrast, hemorrhagic venom phenotypes (Type I) are characterized by high snake venom metalloproteinase expression and low toxicity. Although many rattlesnake species have been classified as either Type I or Type II, population level variation in venom phenotype has also been documented in several species. The presence or absence of CTx is the main component of this variation in venom phenotype and has been most widely studied in large-bodied …

Family Cancer History And Pedigrees As A Public Health Intervention For Promoting Health And Preventing Prostate Cancer In African American Men, Holisa Wharton

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. African-American men have substantially higher prostate cancer incidence and mortality than European-American men. It is unclear whether this incidence is due to acquired DNA changes (sporadic cancer) or if germline Mendelian genetics/genomics (inherited cancer) is the source of this health disparity. To explore this cause, the focus of this dissertation paper is family health history and hereditary prostate cancer. A family history tool is the most commonly used predictive instrument for hereditary prostate cancer. The …

Bioinformatics Tool Development And Sequence Analysis Of Rosaceae Family Expressed Sequence Tags, Margaret Staton

All Dissertations

BACKGROUND: An international community of researchers has generated a significant number of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) for the Rosaceae, an economically important plant family that includes most temperate fruits such as apple, cherry, peach, and strawberry as well as other commercially valuable members. ESTs are fragments of expressed genes that can be used for gene discovery, developing markers for mapping and cultivar improvement via marker assisted selection. Efficient dissemination and integration of this data is best facilitated through a centralized and curated database with associated sequence analysis tools.

DESCRIPTION: The Genome Database for Rosaceae (GDR) was initiated to provide a …