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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Epigenetics A Decolonizing Science, Wade Paul
Epigenetics A Decolonizing Science, Wade Paul
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Epigenetics is the study of gene expression that does not entail alterations to the actual DNA. Decolonization is a theoretical and political movement that seeks to deconstruct colonial institutions and ideologies and reconstruct new and balanced approaches that accept and respect Indigenous worldviews. This project studies the decolonizing potential of epigenetics. Using genealogy as the method, the study establishes a long history of reductionist and deterministic thought that shaped the study of genetic science. Particular instances like thrift gene theory are explored to highlight how genetic explanations have been detrimental to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people and illustrate …
Bioinformatics And Next Generation Sequencing: Applications Of Arthropod Genomes, Zaichao Zhang
Bioinformatics And Next Generation Sequencing: Applications Of Arthropod Genomes, Zaichao Zhang
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Over the past decade, the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology has been broadly applied in many areas such as genomics, medical diagnosis, biotechnology, virology, biological systematics, forensic biology, and anthropology. Taken together, it has offered us brilliant insights into life sciences. Most of the work presented in this thesis describes NGS applications on genome assembly, genome annotation, and comparative genomics, using arthropods as case studies: (1) by sequencing and analyzing the genomes of three Tetranychus spider mites with three completely different feeding behaviors, we uncovered genomic signature variations and indicative of pest adaptations; (2) we sequenced, assembled and annotated five …
Gene Discovery In Mendelian And Complex Diseases, Sali Farhan
Gene Discovery In Mendelian And Complex Diseases, Sali Farhan
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Through the Finding of Rare Disease Genes in Canada (FORGE Canada) initiative, individuals affected with rare Mendelian diseases were clinically ascertained with a goal of identifying the genetic origin of their disease. Herein, I describe the methods for identifying the genetic basis of four Mendelian diseases. The application of next generation sequencing led to the discovery of non-synonymous variation in the DNA of individuals affected by rare diseases. The effects of the candidate variants were assessed using a series of functional experiments to complement the human genetics data. The variants observed in patients’ cells are extremely rare, were consistently predicted …
Genomic Analyses Of Paenibacillus Polymyxa Cr1, A Bacterium With Potential Applications In Biomass Degradation And Biofuel Production, Alexander W. Eastman
Genomic Analyses Of Paenibacillus Polymyxa Cr1, A Bacterium With Potential Applications In Biomass Degradation And Biofuel Production, Alexander W. Eastman
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Lignin is a polyphenolic heteropolymer constituting between 18 to 35% of lignocellulose and is recognized as preventative of cellulosic biofuel commercialization. Paenibacillus polymyxa CR1 was isolated from naturally degrading corn stover and shown to produce alcohols using lignin as a sole carbon source. Genome sequencing and comparative genomics of P. polymyxa CR1 identified two homologs, a Dyp-type peroxidase and a laccase, which have previously been implicated in lignin metabolism in other bacteria. Knockout mutants of the identified genes displayed no growth deficiency and P. polymyxa CR1 is incapable of metabolizing common aromatic intermediates of lignin, suggesting the bacterium employs a …
Resolving The Genetic Etiology Of Hypercholesterolemia In Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia, Mary A. Bamimore
Resolving The Genetic Etiology Of Hypercholesterolemia In Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia, Mary A. Bamimore
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Hypercholesterolemia is a classical risk factor for cardiovascular disease development. The genetic etiology of hypercholesterolemia in familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH), one of the most common genetic dyslipidemias, is poorly understood. We aimed at understanding the genetic etiology of hypercholesterolemia in FCH.
Sequencing, genotyping and computational analyses were performed in a case-control setting to better understand the ‘nature’ aspect of hypercholesterolemia in FCH. My findings suggest that FCH more likely has a polygenic basis.
All my findings have shown that the genetic definition of a disease, especially relatively common diseases like FCH that have been previously considered to be monogenic, may …