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Nuclear Localization Of Gdf5 Is Mediated By A Bipartite Nuclear Localization Signal, J. Daniel Jensen, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Sep 2013

Nuclear Localization Of Gdf5 Is Mediated By A Bipartite Nuclear Localization Signal, J. Daniel Jensen, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

GDF5, also known as cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein-1 (CDMP1), is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) protein superfamily. TGFβ proteins play an integral role in cell proliferation and differentiation, matrix synthesis, and apoptosis. First identified in 1981, highly-conserved TGFβ protein homologues have since been identified in a wide range of animal species, a compelling indication of their importance in biological function.

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Experiment Three, - - Sep 2013

Experiment Three, - -

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In order to demonstrate the presence of hydrocarbon biodegradation in a hypersaline aqueous environment an isotopic method of analysis was employed. The relative 13C abundance of Great Salt Lake’s HCO3- in equilibrium with atmosphere and fossil hydrocarbon are quite different. By creating microcosms using the sediment of Rozel Point and allowing the microbial activity to occur over a 12 week timeframe, data were collected regarding the change of CO2 concentration and the isotopic signature of the 13C in HCO3- of the microcosm water. A shift in the isotopic signature from the 13C levels of the HCO3- in equilibrium with atmosphere …

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What Is In Your Picnic Basket, Hailey Billings, Dr. Beverley Roeder Sep 2013

What Is In Your Picnic Basket, Hailey Billings, Dr. Beverley Roeder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My project made inroads in the field of wild animal nutrition using stable isotope ratios to reconstruct diets in free ranging American Black Bears. This information will help develop diets that improve health and reproduction, and aid prevention of diseases and ailments such as obesity, arthritis, allergies and nutritional deficiencies, in bears maintained in zoos, and artificial habitats.

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Endophyte Effects On Drought Resistance In Forage Grass, Alan Chambers, Dr. Brad Geary Sep 2013

Endophyte Effects On Drought Resistance In Forage Grass, Alan Chambers, Dr. Brad Geary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Endophyte infected, drought resistant crops are gaining in popularity with growers because irrigation can be expensive and rainfall unpredictably sparse. For this reason there has been a recent explosion of research relating to the benefits of plant microbe interactions. Our investigations were focused on fungal endophytes that produce alkaloid compounds which confer drought resistance in forage grasses.

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Transgenic Rescue Of Disproportionate Micromelia (Dmm) Mice, Lisa Higgenbotham, Dr. Robert Seegmiller Sep 2013

Transgenic Rescue Of Disproportionate Micromelia (Dmm) Mice, Lisa Higgenbotham, Dr. Robert Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Microinjection is a technique used to introduce DNA into the genome of an animal at the embryo stage. It is an effective way to insert replacement, or rescue, copies of a gene that the embryo may be lacking. In this study, I prepared purified copies of the mouse Col2a1 gene and microinjected them into the pronuclei of single-cell mouse embryos. Col2a1 encodes type II collagen, a major component of cartilage. Mice carrying one or two mutant alleles of Col2a1 are characterized by developmental abnormalities, degenerative joint disease, and even death. This phenotype is observed in Disproportionate micromelia (Dmm) mice, which …

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Do Stable Isotope Turnover Rates In Ectotherm Tissues Change With Temperature?, Joseph Franckum, Kent Hatch Sep 2013

Do Stable Isotope Turnover Rates In Ectotherm Tissues Change With Temperature?, Joseph Franckum, Kent Hatch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Examining the ratios of stable isotopes (non-decaying atoms with extra neutrons) in animal tissues can yield important information about an organism, such as detecting diet change or establishing migratory origin. Information gathered from these studies help develop future practices to care for certain species. A better understanding of an animal’s dietary capabilities will improve animal techniques.

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Analytical And Toxicological Assessment Of Carp Collected From Utah Lake, Holly Clayton, Dr. Richard Kellems Sep 2013

Analytical And Toxicological Assessment Of Carp Collected From Utah Lake, Holly Clayton, Dr. Richard Kellems

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The June sucker was once the most abundant fish species in Utah Lake and its tributaries. Since April 30, 1986, the June sucker has been on the endangered species list. Some declines in species abundance is due to the competition of nonnative species and degraded water quality, both which can be attributed to the amount of common carp in Utah Lake. The June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program (JSRIP) desires to resolve the concerns of water development and large numbers of nonnative, sportfish predators and competitors by removing nearly all the common carp from Utah Lake.

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Reducing The Cost Of Soil Mapping In Precision Agriculture, Elizabeth Gillins, Dr. Ruth Kerry Sep 2013

Reducing The Cost Of Soil Mapping In Precision Agriculture, Elizabeth Gillins, Dr. Ruth Kerry

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Using electrical conductivity data (ECa) in soil survey is related to several soil properties. Particular use has been made of ECa data in precision agriculture because it is related to properties that could affect crop yield. Although theoretically sound reasons exist to explain these relationships, they vary spatially, making ECa data interpretation difficult, even within fields.

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Christian Hand-Bells In Celtic Lands, Adam Crandell, Dr. E. Harrison Powley Sep 2013

Christian Hand-Bells In Celtic Lands, Adam Crandell, Dr. E. Harrison Powley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The zealous Christian missionary Patrick arrived in Ireland in 432 A.D., laboring to introduce to the Celtic tribes there the gospel and monasticism. He used bells, among other clerical instruments, for this purpose. Bells were employed to sundry ends, from the mundane gathering of the missionaries to the more miraculous effecting of curses. His followers, both members of the church and fellow missionaries, revered the bells that Patrick used. Accordingly, his bells would become treated as relics, passed down from cleric to cleric as a divine investiture. Other later missionaries like Columba, Columbanus, and Ninian would also adopt the use …

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The Lion And The Mouse, Blake Johnson, Kelly Loosli Sep 2013

The Lion And The Mouse, Blake Johnson, Kelly Loosli

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The traditionally animated student short film The Lion and the Mouse has been in production for several years here at BYU. Within a year after it started in 2001 it was set aside due to the rapid advancement of the computer graphic or CG animation world.

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Rebirth, Individuation And Illumination, Mary E. Illions Wilde, Claudia Harris Sep 2013

Rebirth, Individuation And Illumination, Mary E. Illions Wilde, Claudia Harris

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For my project, I analyzed Zora Neale Hurston’s novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and D. H. Lawrence’s short story, The Horse Dealer’s Daughter, using the Mythic/Archetypal approach. First I identified the archetypes of water, light and mud in both works and intended to compare the way each author used them. As I proceeded with my research, however, I could not find any literary criticism that compared Hurston’s novel with Lawrence’s short story nor any criticism that focused on my topic in either of the works alone. I had stepped off an edge. The primary sources thus became …

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Tumor Drug Concentration Due To Ultrasonic Drug Delivery, Bryant Staples, Dr. William Pitt Sep 2013

Tumor Drug Concentration Due To Ultrasonic Drug Delivery, Bryant Staples, Dr. William Pitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The tri-block copolymer, Pluronic P105, has been found to be an ideal ultrasonically activated drug delivery vehicle because it forms micelles with hydrophobic polypropylene oxide cores that sequester hydrophobic drugs (Fig. 1). These micelles release their contents upon the application of low frequency ultrasound [1] such that drugs can be released specifically at the ultrasonicated region (Fig. 2). Such ultrasonically controlled release has been effective against cancer cells in vitro [2] and in vivo [3].

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Scar Effects On Vocal Fold Vibration, Todd Groesbeck, Dr. Scott Thomson Sep 2013

Scar Effects On Vocal Fold Vibration, Todd Groesbeck, Dr. Scott Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The influence of scarring on the vocal folds is of great interest to the speech community. Surgeons, educators, and vocalists all have interest in understanding what causes vocal fold damage, and how such damage may be repaired. Frequently, repair requires surgery, and the surgery may result in scarring. Scarring results in impaired vibration, thus altering the quality of the individual’s voice.

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Education In Rural Mexico: What Stops Students?, Jared A. Wilkerson, Dr. Harold Miller Sep 2013

Education In Rural Mexico: What Stops Students?, Jared A. Wilkerson, Dr. Harold Miller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Providing regular education in rural Mexico has been a focus for the Mexican government for the last few decades. Even twenty years ago, many teachers were quite unwilling to visit rural areas, where the facilities and transportation were far under par. By the beginning of this decade, however, kindergarten and elementary schools had reached even the most remote parts of the country, with middle schools and high schools increasingly accessible to all potential students. Seeing the still-low rates of rural student matriculation, and especially noting the extremely low rates of male education, I wondered what inhibited youth from finishing, or …

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Visual-Motor Development In South Indian School Children: Environmental Complexity’S Relationship With Cortical Development, Christine H. Walton Sep 2013

Visual-Motor Development In South Indian School Children: Environmental Complexity’S Relationship With Cortical Development, Christine H. Walton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Previous neurological studies have found the degree of environmental complexity influences the acquisition and development of motor skills in human infants as well as animal models. During a critical period in human development, which is believed to span the first 6-10 years for human visual-motor development, neurons grow and solidify appropriate connections. Signals sent from cell to cell are insulated by additional protective cells in a process called myelination. These postnatal cognitive developments are influenced by sensory input and experience. It appears that deprivation of appropriate stimuli in a subject’s surroundings at this time results in decreased cognitive development as …

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Bone Ashing To Measure The Effects Of Vitamin K In Bone Mineral Density In Rats, Michael Draney, Dr. Robert Davidson Sep 2013

Bone Ashing To Measure The Effects Of Vitamin K In Bone Mineral Density In Rats, Michael Draney, Dr. Robert Davidson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Millions of people throughout the world suffer from osteoporosis. It is a degenerative disease that is characterized by increased bone fragility and decreased bone mineral and bone density.

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Testing Nuclear Primers, Nathaniel Ralston, Dr. Keith Crandall Sep 2013

Testing Nuclear Primers, Nathaniel Ralston, Dr. Keith Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Crustaceans are some of the richest multi-cellular animals in the world in terms of species. Within the crustaceans the decapods are chief in species numbers and diversity with over 15,000. Among these are the very familiar and well-known species, such as crayfish, shrimp, and crabs, although there also are many lesser known groups as well. The current classification tells us that there are approximately 62,000 species of Crustacea in the world among 849 families. Approximately 152 of those families belong to the Decapoda. To add to this, the decapods have been referred to as “the pinnacle of crustacean evolution.” Knowing …

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The Investigation Of X-Ray Diffraction Patterns From Human Hair In Correlation With Dietary Habits, Savannah Gore, Beverly L. Roeder Sep 2013

The Investigation Of X-Ray Diffraction Patterns From Human Hair In Correlation With Dietary Habits, Savannah Gore, Beverly L. Roeder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Eating disorders, namely anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), are a serious problem affecting 1-5% of high school and college age women in the US. Unfortunately, the diagnostic methods used to determine if an individual is suffering from AN or BN are, for the most part, based on fallible self-report data. In an attempt to alleviate this problem, a quantitative, biologically based test able to accurately diagnosis AN 80% of the time using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope fractionation in hair was developed. In an effort to raise the accuracy of this test, I looked at x-ray diffraction patterns …

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Cloning Bovine Ccl28, Melissa Hughes, Dr. Eric Wilson Sep 2013

Cloning Bovine Ccl28, Melissa Hughes, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I have successfully completed my project of cloning CCL28. CCL28 (MEC) is a protein that acts as a chemical signal in the body to attract antibody-secreting IgA cells that expresses a receptor called CCR10 to the mucosal tissue and to the mammary gland (1). CCL28 plays a vital role in allowing the maternal antibody secreting cells to home to the mammary gland and to pass antibodies to the breast-feeding infant, giving the infant passive immunity. This provides the infant with antibodies to antigens found in the mother’s environment (which is consequently the infant’s environment as well) and decreases mortality rates. …

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Dxa Scan Analysis Of The Reducing Effect Of Vitamin K And Omega-3 On Bone Mineral Loss In Ovariectomized (Ovx) Sprague-Dawley Rats, Stephen Roberts, Dr. Robert Davidson Sep 2013

Dxa Scan Analysis Of The Reducing Effect Of Vitamin K And Omega-3 On Bone Mineral Loss In Ovariectomized (Ovx) Sprague-Dawley Rats, Stephen Roberts, Dr. Robert Davidson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Vitamin K, long established as important for blood clotting, has received more recent attention regarding a role in bone metabolism and remodeling.1 Vitamin K could potentially be an effective treatment in reducing the deleterious effect of osteoporosis.

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The Effect On Femur Bone Tensile Strength And Calcium Levels In Osteoporosis Induced Rats By Vitamin K Supplementation, Ryan Probst, Dr. Robert T. Davidson Sep 2013

The Effect On Femur Bone Tensile Strength And Calcium Levels In Osteoporosis Induced Rats By Vitamin K Supplementation, Ryan Probst, Dr. Robert T. Davidson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Osteoporosis is a growing problem in the world today. With the aging population of the United State’s Baby Boomer generation, healthcare research is shifting dramatically to combat the rising rates of diseases associated with our aging population majority. Compiled with this majority of elderly people is the fact that Americans are living longer. We must face the challenges associated with the aging human body. Osteoporosis is an age-related disease. This study has added to the research available on osteoporosis and has provided enhanced methods to treat osteoporosis, a major problem especially in postmenopausal women. Several Asian studies report an increase …

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Retinal Detachment In Mice With Disproportionate Micromelia, Jared R. Jackson, Dr. Robert Seegmiller Sep 2013

Retinal Detachment In Mice With Disproportionate Micromelia, Jared R. Jackson, Dr. Robert Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stickler syndrome, caused by a mutation of the Collagen 2A1 gene, is the most common cause of inherited retinal detachment in children. A mutation of the same gene in mice causes Disproportionate Micromelia (Dmm). “In cases where mouse mutations occur in genes that are also responsible for human disorders, the mouse strains provide essential model systems for studies of pathogenetic mechanisms.” The purpose of this study is to find and document evidence of retinal detachment that is hypothesized in heterozygous (Dmm/+) mutant mice.

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Chondrocyte Apoptosis Correlated With Progression Of Osteoarthritis In Dmm Mice, Ryan Anderson, Dr. Robert E. Seegmiller Sep 2013

Chondrocyte Apoptosis Correlated With Progression Of Osteoarthritis In Dmm Mice, Ryan Anderson, Dr. Robert E. Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease resulting in the degeneration of synovial joint cartilage and is the leading cause of chronic disability in the elderly1. Despite the prevalence of this disease, its pathogenesis is poorly understood. There is need for low cost, short generation animal model to study this disease. For this, we used a proven mouse model as the means for researching OA, the Disproportionate micromellia (Dmm) mouse which has been shown to develop early onset OA. One mechanism involved in OA that we are specifically researching is programmed cell death, apoptosis, of cartilage cells, chondrocytes and how it …

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Foraging Habits Of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis), Joshua Whitaker, Dr. Todd F. Robinson Sep 2013

Foraging Habits Of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis), Joshua Whitaker, Dr. Todd F. Robinson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Over the course of the last few months the final foraging samples have been collected on five populations of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in the Great Basin and along the Wasatch Front. These locations include the Newfoundland Mountains, Antelope Island, American Fork Canyon, Rock Canyon, and Mt. Nebo. The purpose of this project was to develop an idea of the foraging habits of these different herds, and within the Antelope Island herd, determine the differences in foraging habits between age and sex classes. By no means is this intended as a complete final report, but rather as preparations for a …

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The Analysis Of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (Pcb) In Common Carp, Phydee John Heng, Dr. Richard O. Kellems Sep 2013

The Analysis Of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (Pcb) In Common Carp, Phydee John Heng, Dr. Richard O. Kellems

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were first introduced into Utah Lake in 1881 with large numbers being imported between 1881 and 1903. Common carp ages 2+ years have an estimated population of 5.9 million in Utah Lake . A risk assessment, based on four categories of effects (i.e., predation, competition, abundance, habitat destruction), ranked common carp as the nonnative species with the highest potential for conflict with June Sucker recovery .

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Melanoma And Metastasis In A Mafia Mouse Model, Keith Wells, Dr. Kim O'Neill Sep 2013

Melanoma And Metastasis In A Mafia Mouse Model, Keith Wells, Dr. Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It has been estimated that over 560, 000 Americans will die of cancer this year, over 1,500 a day. Currently, there is much research performed to understand how cancer works, how to prevent it, and how to treat it. Cancer encompasses a multitude of diseases coming from nearly all tissue types in the body and from all age groups. It is a problem which plagues all countries and cultures.

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Fetal Programming Of A Hyperactive Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, Joshua P. Thatcher, Dr. James P. Porter Sep 2013

Fetal Programming Of A Hyperactive Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, Joshua P. Thatcher, Dr. James P. Porter

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cardiovascular diseases have become among the most widespread of adult diseases in the United States. Over the last few decades, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in the rate of diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Obesity and Hypertension.

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Confirming Artificial Fungal Endophyte Inoculation Of Maize By Aflp And Sem, Alan Chambers, Dr. Brad Geary Sep 2013

Confirming Artificial Fungal Endophyte Inoculation Of Maize By Aflp And Sem, Alan Chambers, Dr. Brad Geary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Plant microbe interactions have been shown to enhance plant growth (Nassar, 2005) and it is well established that fungal endophytes affect beneficial phenotypes like resistance to drought or insects (Bacon 1997). Plants have been selected for beneficial phenotypic traits for thousands of years, but selection for beneficial microbe interactions is under studied. We desire to investigate improving crop yield and quality, while minimizing the expenditure of natural resources, by growing maize artificially infected with fungal endophytes from plants adapted to stressful environments. We report our early success here.

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Learning To Recognize Vervet Monkey Calls, Jeremiah Mcghee, Dr. Deryle Lonsdale Sep 2013

Learning To Recognize Vervet Monkey Calls, Jeremiah Mcghee, Dr. Deryle Lonsdale

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The use of computers to perform speech recognition on human speech is becoming commonplace in today’s world. Less well known are attempts to use speech recognition on other animal species. Current projects are researching the possibilities of using speech recognition technologies to give insight to the animal communication of dolphins1, elephants2, birds3 and even crickets4. All of these projects are showing very promising results with recognition results approaching 90%. The goal of this project is to apply speech recognition technology to identify the distinct calls of vervet monkeys.

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The Effects Of Anesthesia On Midbrain Gaba Neurons, Stuart Layton, Dr. Scott Steffensen Sep 2013

The Effects Of Anesthesia On Midbrain Gaba Neurons, Stuart Layton, Dr. Scott Steffensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Consciousness has perplexed neuroscientists for decades. What is consciousness and how is it obstructed by anesthesia? Every year doctors expose thousands of people to general anesthesia. Anesthesia does several things, it prevents the perception of pain, renders a patient unconscious, inhibits the formation of memory, and paralyzes the subject; all of which as desired during a medical procedure. The mechanism by which anesthesia accomplishes these many tasks are unknown, including its ability to render a subject unconscious. The goal of this study was to study the effects of anesthesia on -aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) …

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