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Biology Course Proposal 02/23/06, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Regulation Of Cytoplasmic Dynein Atpase By Lis1, Mariano T. Mesngon, Cataldo Tarricone, Sachin Hebbar, Aimee Guillotte, E. William Schmitt, Lorene Lanier, Andrea Musacchio, Stephen J. King, Deanna S. Smith

Faculty Publications

Mutations in Lis1 cause classical lissencephaly, a developmental brain abnormality characterized by defects in neuronal positioning.Over the last decade, a clear link has been forged between Lis1 and the microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein. Substantial evidenceindicates that Lis1 functions in a highly conserved pathway with dynein to regulate neuronal migration and other motile events. Yeasttwo-hybrid studies predict that Lis1 binds directly to dynein heavy chains (Sasaki et al., 2000; Tai et al., 2002), but the mechanistic significance of this interaction is not well understood. We now report that recombinant Lis1 binds to native brain dynein and significantly increases the microtubule-stimulated enzymatic …

Exploring Important Protein Interactions In The Mammalian Diaphanous-Related Formins: A Closer Look At The Relationship Between The Intracellular Skeletal Network And A Single Amino Acid Residue, Brent Hehl

McNair Scholars Journal

The Diaphanous-related formin protein family plays a key role in intracellular cytoskeletal regulation. Due to their farreaching importance, these proteins must be highly regulated themselves. With recent exploration of regulatory processes of mDia2, a formin protein found in mammals, the established mechanism of control appears to be more complex than previously thought. This project examines the possibility of phosphorylation at critical sites near the protein regions that regulate formin function. Here, we outline our initial screen for discovering these specific residues within mDia2 and their potential for phosphorylation using site-directed mutagenesis.

Study Of The Human Mitochondrial Dna Polymorphism, Catherine Willis

McNair Scholars Journal

Traces of Paleolithic exodus routes of modern humans from Africa to Europe have been studied genetically using female specific ancestral lineages via mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We suggest modern humans entered Europe near the Carpathian Mountains and Hungarian Valley. If so, isolated populations of highlanders in Carpathian Europe may carry a genetic fingerprint of the ancient European predecessors and illustrate the migration routes of modern humans into Europe. Lineage-specific polymorphic sites on mtDNA were analyzed in the Carpathian Highlander population. The Carpathian Highlanders genetically resemble modern Europeans when analyzed by a hierarchical haplotyping scheme; however more studies need to be undertaken …

A Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Curriculum For Secondary Biology Teachers, Raquel Georgina Martinez

All Graduate Projects

Research was conducted in the following areas, which help support the need for a culturally and linguistically responsive curriculum for secondary biology teachers. The history of both bilingual education and science, the importance of bilingual education, a summarization of selected bilingual and ESL models, bilingual and science curriculum, supported bilingual research, standardized tests, science and ELL students, and in closing secondary bilingual research. Based on the conducted research, the curriculum was developed utilizing the late-exit bilingual model, preview/review, and the incorporation of the student's culture.

Diet Affects Immunologically Relevant Gene Expression In Brains Of Toxoplasma Gondii Infected, Lydia Kullman

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.

Use Of Lolium Multiflorum For Remediation Of Phosphorus From Poultry-Litter-Contaminated Media, Daniel L Starnes

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.

Physiological And Behavioral Responses Of Eurycea Sosorum To Variation In Levels Of Conductivity, H. Arthur Woods, Mary F. Poteet

KIP Data Sets and Technical Reports

"This report summarizes our findings on the response of adult salamanders to conductivity and covers a portion of our work between February 21 and August 23, 2006. We also include our results on salamander activity levels in response to dissolved oxygen (DO) in order to justify the oxygen levels we are currently testing in the 28 day oxygen toxicity experiment. Our next report will provide a detailed discussion of the effects of DO on salamander behavior, physiology and mortality. In this report, we cover all aspects of adult salamander response to conductivity, but we do not address the response of …

Genetics And Physiology Of Motility By Photorhabdus Spp, Brandye A. Michaels

Doctoral Dissertations

Photorhabdus is a bacterial symbiont of soil nematodes and a lethal pathogen of insects. Many pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria utilize various methods of motility to reach favorable conditions, colonize a host, or have motility genes that also regulate virulence expression. It is not known how motility is regulated, or how it may confer an advantage, in the complex life cycle of Photorhabdus..

We characterized motility in Photorhabdus and found that the bacterium was motile both by swimming (movement in liquid) and swarming (movement on surfaces) under appropriate conditions. Both types of motility utilized the same peritrichous flagella and shared genetic …

Gonadal Histology And Reproductive Steroidogenesis Of Anurans Exposed To Potential Endocrine Disrupting Contaminants, Emily May La Fiandra

Doctoral Dissertations

The prevalence of malformed amphibians and the association of high incidences of malformation with the presence of environmental contaminants have raised questions about the effects of environmental contaminants on the development of larval amphibians. The potential endocrine disrupting effects of pesticides suggest that the reproductive and developmental abnormalities observed in larval anurans may be due at least in part to impacts on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The present studies investigate the effects of exposure to environmental contaminants including DDT and atrazine on the development, gonadal histology and reproductive steroidogenesis of larval anurans.

As previous monitoring at Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge …

Physiological Bases Of Parental Care In The Burying Beetles, Nicrophorus Orbicollis, Stefania Carmen Panaitof

Doctoral Dissertations

Burying beetles, Nicrophorus orbicollis, have extended biparental care. They bury and prepare small vertebrate carcasses as food for their young. While females provide the most care, single males show a remarkable behavioral compensation after a mate loss. Here, I integrate behavioral and physiological analyses of parental behavior in burying beetles by exploring how hormonal and social factors may interact to mediate brood care.

In Chapter I, I establish Juvenile Hormone (JH) profiles during a breeding bout and show that after larvae hatch, JH titers of single males and paired females are similar. JH titers of single males also respond to …

Ecological Patterns, Community Classification, And A Comparison Of Approaches For Predicting Biological And Habitat Reference Conditions In New Hampshire Streams, Brian R. Frappier

Doctoral Dissertations

Reference conditions play a vital role in many challenges facing both conservation and natural resources management. This dissertation sought to establish minimally-impacted reference conditions for stream biota and habitat in New Hampshire and explore alternative statistical methodologies to predict reference conditions for biological and habitat assessments. The fish, stream-dwelling salamander, macroinvertebrate and periphyton assemblages as well as the co-occurring physical habitat and riparian conditions of 76 minimally-impacted first to fourth order streams in New Hampshire were estimated using USEPA Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program protocols over a four year period. Several statistical approaches and data standardizations for classifying multi-taxonomic assemblages …

Remote Detection Of Forest Structure In The White Mountains Of New Hampshire: An Integration Of Waveform Lidar And Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Data, Jeanne Elizabeth Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations

The capability of waveform lidar, used singly and through integration with high-resolution spectral data, to describe and predict various aspects of the structure of a northern temperate forest is explored. Waveform lidar imagery was acquired in 1999 and 2003 over Bartlett Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of central New Hampshire using NASA's airborne Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS). High-resolution spectral imagery from 1997 and 2003 was likewise acquired using NASA's Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). USDA Forest Service Northeastern Research Station (USFS NERS) 2001-2003 inventory data was used to define basal area, above-ground biomass, quadratic mean stem diameter and …

Cichlids As A Model For The Evolution Of Visual Sensitivity, Tyrone Clifford Spady

Doctoral Dissertations

The cichlid fishes of East Africa are the most ecologically diverse radiation of recent vertebrates. These highly visual fish live in habitats ranging from turbid rivers to clear lakes. They have evolved to exploit an astounding array of foraging strategies. The combination of phenotypic diversity and varied environmental conditions makes the cichlid system ideal for the examination of the relationship between ecology and the evolution of visual sensitivity. In this dissertation, I explore several aspects of this relationship. In Chapter 1, I compare the opsin gene sequences from 17 African cichlid species that have evolved in either clear or turbid …

Structural Analysis Of Cytokine Signaling Modulators, Cristina Ileana Silvescu

Doctoral Dissertations

The N-linked glycans attached to cytokine receptors modulate signal transduction by interacting with galectin-3 and generating a cell surface lattice. This opposes constitutive endocytosis and reduces the thresholds for cytokine signaling. The preferred ligands for galectin-3 are the poly-N-acetyl lactosaminylated tetra-antennary glycans which are synthesized by Mgat 5 and are present at high levels in tumor cells. A null mutation in Mgat 5 inhibits lattice formation and cancer progression in cells with an oncogenic background. GlcNAc feeding reestablishes lattice formation, cytokine signaling and tumorigenesis.

A MALDI-TOF analysis was employed to identify the N-glycans involved in modulating signal transduction in wild …

Improving Estimation Of Gross Primary Productivity Of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Qingyuan Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

The MOderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) provides an unprecedented opportunity to monitor and quantify seasonal changes of vegetation and phenology. MODIS has the potential to improve the estimation, which is based on the algorithms for the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), of biophysical/biochemical variables of vegetation. My doctoral study improves estimation of gross primary productivity (GPP) through two aspects: first, my study improved the detection of vegetation phenology by distinguishing MODIS contaminated observations and contamination-free observations, and secondly, I inverted the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) by chlorophyll using radiative transfer models and daily MODIS data. …

Cellular Uptake And Actions Of Bilberry Anthocyanins In Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells, Paul Everett Milbury Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations

Inflammation and oxidative stress play a significant role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In AMD, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are damaged by oxidative stress and die via the process of apoptosis. Anthocyanins from fruits and berries, such as bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), possess significant antioxidant activity in vitro and have been used in "traditional medicine" to treat AMD. It is not clear whether intracellular concentrations of anthocyanins are sufficient to quench radical species and mitigate oxidative stress in vivo. In this research project, human RPE cells in vitro were used to establish an oxidative stress model in …

Analysis Of The Role Of Poly(A) -Binding Protein (Pab1) In The Mrna Degradation Process In Yeast, Gang Yao

Doctoral Dissertations

The mRNA deadenylation process influences multiple aspects of protein synthesis and is known to be the major factor controlling mRNA decay rates. My data demonstrates that yeast PAB1 plays both positive and negative roles in controlling deadenylation, and I have identified particular regions of PAB1 involved in controlling different aspects of the mRNA degradative process. I have found that yeast PAB1 does not play a simple, obstructionist role in regulating CCR4 deadenylation. Instead, PAB1-PAB1 protein interactions, as mediated by the PAB1 proline-rich region (P domain) and the RRM1 domain, are required for the CCR4 deadenylase activity. The P and RRM1 …

Patterns And Process During The Diversification Of The Cichlid Fishes In Lake Malawi, Africa, Michael R. Kidd

Doctoral Dissertations

The 500-1000 cichlid species endemic to Lake Malawi constitute one of the most rapid and extensive radiations of vertebrates ever discovered. The objective of this dissertation was to test the assumptions and predictions of several recently published models of cichlid speciation. First, a novel assay of female choice was used to evaluate the role of visual cues during conspecific recognition. The results of this experiment demonstrate that females are able to identify conspecific mates using only visual cues. Second, the assumptions of a recent model of speciation via intrasexual selection were tested by comparing aggressive behavior during territorial contests among …

Uptake And Growth Effects Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Wetland Plants, Alison Watts

Doctoral Dissertations

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants in estuarine environments, but little is known about the distribution and fate of PAHs in wetland sediments and plants. The effect of PAHs on common salt marsh plants, and the PAH distribution within the plants, sediment, and atmosphere were evaluated to determine if PAHs were transported from the sediment into the plants, and if the PAHs affected plant growth. Four salt marsh plant species, Spartina alterniflora, Phragmites australis, Solidago sempervirens and Distichlis spicata were grown in pots of PAH contaminated sediment containing mean total PAH concentrations of 355 mg/kg (ppm). During the growing …

Functional Analysis Of The Caf1 Protein, Takbum Ohn

Doctoral Dissertations

The CAF1 protein is a component of the CCR4-NOT deadenylase complex. While yeast CAF1 displays deadenylase activity, this activity is not required for its function in vivo, and CCR4 is the primary deadenylase in the complex. In order to identify CAF1-specific functional regions required for deadenylation in vivo, we targeted for mutagenesis six regions of CAF1 that are specifically conserved among CAF1 orthologs. Defects in three regions of the CAF1 protein (residues 173-175, residues 255-257 and residues 340-342, alleles caf1-1, caf1-3 and caf1-6, respectively) were found to dramatically reduce the rate of deadenylation in vivo and to result in typical …

Tropical Forest Structure: Ground Measurements Of Coarse Necromass And Satellite Observations Of Crown Geometry, Michael W. Palace

Doctoral Dissertations

Forests are structurally diverse, but these structures derive from the same processes of disturbance and growth. Understanding forest structure can help unlock the history, function, and future of a forested ecosystem. Components of forest structure include tree size distributions, foliage distributions and variation in canopy density, and coarse woody debris (coarse necromass). Tropical rainforests are structurally the most complex of all ecosystems. In addition to having high biological diversity, Amazon forests are marked by complex vegetation dynamics and a diverse forest stand structures, which play an important role in the interactions of water and carbon between the biosphere and atmosphere. …

A Molecular And Morphological Investigation Of The Red Seaweed Genus Porphyra (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) In The Northwest Atlantic, Troy Lee Bray

Doctoral Dissertations

To evaluate the possible occurrence of cryptic Porphyra taxa in the Northwest Atlantic, extensive field collections were made during winter and spring periods when relatively few previous collections had been made. Approximately 100 different sites extending from Chance Harbor, New Brunswick, Canada to Rye, New York, USA, were sampled during multiple years (2001-2005). Historical specimens from several herbaria (NHA, FH, BM, WTU, MICH, US) were also examined for possible cryptic taxa. A combination of morphological and molecular tools was used to screen both recent and historical collections.

Sequences from the plastid-encoded, ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase large subunit (rbcL) gene and rbcL- …

Risks Of Atrazine Use To Federally Listed Endangered Barton Springs Salamanders (Eurycea Sosorum)

KIP Data Sets and Technical Reports

The purpose of this assessment is to make an "effects determination" for the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) by evaluating the potential direct and indirect effects of the herbicide atrazine on the survival, growth, and reproduction of this Federally endangered species. This assessment was completed in accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Endangered Species Consultation Handbook (USFWS/NMFS, 1998), the August 5, 2004 Joint Counterpart Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation Regulations specified in 50 CFR Part 402 (USFWS/NMFS, 2004a; FR 69 47732-47762), and procedures outlined in the Agency's Overview Document (U.S. …

Panzea: A Database And Resource For Molecular And Functional Diversity In The Maize Genome, Wei Zhao, Payan Canaran, Rebecca Jurkuta, Theresa Fulton, Jeffrey Glaubitz, Edward Buckler, John Doebley, Brandon Gaut, Major Goodman, Jim Holland, Stephen Kresovich, Michael Mcmullen, Lincoln Stein, Doreen Ware

Faculty Publications

Serving as a community resource, Panzea is the bioinformatics arm of the Molecular and Functional Diversity in the Maize Genome project. Maize, a classical model for genetic studies, is an important crop species and also the most diverse crop species known. One average, two randomly chosen maize lines have one single-nucleotide polymorphism every ~100 bp; this divergence is roughly equivalent to the differences between humans and chimpanzees. This exceptional genotypic diversity underlies the phenotypic diversity maize needs to be cultivated in a wide range of environments. The Molecular and Functional Diversity in the Maize Genome project aims to understand how …

Expression Profiling Of The Spermidine Synthase3 (Spds3) And Spermine Synthase ( Spms) Genes During The Life Of Arabidopsis, Charles F. Rice

Master's Theses and Capstones

Polyamines are low molecular weight nitrogenous compounds found in all living organisms. These omnipresent molecules have been extensively studied in plant systems and have been implicated in a number of physiological responses including growth, development, and stress response. The proposed role of polyamines in vital processes such as cell division and differentiation has sparked enthusiasm in further investigation of this relatively small biosynthetic pathway. Very little is known about the regulation of polyamine biosynthetic genes, an aspect that can elucidate further functions of these ubiquitous compounds. In the following study, the expression profiles of two of these genes, spermidine synthase3 …

The Expression Of Heat Shock Protein 70, Heat Shock Protein 90 And Heat Shock Factor 1 Within The Bovine Midcycle Corpus Luteum After Stimulation With Temperature In Vitro And Pgf2alpha In Vitro And In Vivo, Melissa N. Kopka

Master's Theses and Capstones

Environmental and biological stressors affect cellular function. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that safeguard cells against these stressors by protecting endogenous proteins from degradation. Heat shock factors (HSF) are their transcriptional regulators. In the present study, we evaluated whether heat (Experiment 1) or prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha; Experiments 2 and 3) induces the expression of HSP 70, HSP 90 and HSF1 in the bovine corpus luteum (CL). In summary, in vitro heat treatment elicited a later response in luteal cells by increasing HSP 70 expression at 24 hrs, while in vivo PGF2alpha treatment leads to an earlier response by …

Assessing The Suitability Of The Eelgrass (Zostera Marina L) Deep Edge As An Indicator Of Water Clarity In Estuarine Systems, David Omer Rivers

Master's Theses and Capstones

The suitability of the seagrass deep edge as an indicator of water clarity was assessed by examining the sensitivity and specificity of this indicator to changes in light. Indicator specificity was assessed by examining the extent to which seasonal variation in environmental parameters affected the location of the deep edge at five eelgrass meadows in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire. The mean location of the eelgrass deep edge was seasonally stable at three sites, confirming its suitability as an indicator. At two sites, the deep edge responded to long-term light reduction and changes in deep edge location of 1.3 …

Native Gastropods And Introduced Crabs: Shell Morphology And Resistance To Predation In The New England Rocky Intertidal Zone, Sarah Joanne Teck

Master's Theses and Capstones

The impact of non-native species is one of the most critical issues facing management and conservation today. When these invaders are generalist predators, their impacts on native communities can be a major restructuring force for ecosystems. A new voracious predator the Asian crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus , joins another non-native established species, Carcinus maenas, along the majority of the New England coastline. What remains poorly understood is how the two introduced predators may modify local communities, especially considering their impact on native prey, such as the rough periwinkle snail, Littorina saxatilis. The goal of this research is to investigate the vulnerability …

The Effects Of Photoperiod And Water Temperature On The Reproductive Development Of Black Sea Bass, Centropristis Striata, Katie Strait

Master's Theses and Capstones

Black sea bass are a potential candidate for marine aquaculture due to their high market value, high demand, and limited seasonal supply. One of the most significant impediments to commercial production of black sea bass is the lack of a year-round supply of eggs and larvae. Further, control of reproductive development is poorly understood in this species. Black sea bass are protogynous hermaphrodites that change sex between 2-5 years of age. It is unclear why adult black sea bass undergo sex change in the wild. Therefore, the first part of study sought to determine if density is involved in sex …