Molecular Biology Commons^™

Applications Of Machine Learning In Microbial Forensics, Ryan B. Ghannam

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Microbial ecosystems are complex, with hundreds of members interacting with each other and the environment. The intricate and hidden behaviors underlying these interactions make research questions challenging – but can be better understood through machine learning. However, most machine learning that is used in microbiome work is a black box form of investigation, where accurate predictions can be made, but the inner logic behind what is driving prediction is hidden behind nontransparent layers of complexity.

Accordingly, the goal of this dissertation is to provide an interpretable and in-depth machine learning approach to investigate microbial biogeography and to use micro-organisms as …

The Impact Of Household Biocides And Antibiotics On Aquatic Microbial Community Composition, Abdulaziz Saud M Alrashdi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Triclosan (TCS) is antimicrobial agent that is used in a lot of consumer products, including toothpaste, liquid and bar soap, and cosmetics. TCS has been found in many lakes and rivers in the United States. However, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned TCS recently and it will no longer be used in household products. Despite the recent ban, TCS is known to persist in the environment and may have long-term impacts. We conducted an experiment on using fresh water from three locations Houghton, Green Bay and the Huron Mountains. Our goals in the study is to assess the impact …