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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Plant-Derived Drug Discovery In An Introductory Biology Laboratory Course, Tatiana Kuzmenko, Ashwarya Sharma, Demian A. Willette
Plant-Derived Drug Discovery In An Introductory Biology Laboratory Course, Tatiana Kuzmenko, Ashwarya Sharma, Demian A. Willette
Biology Faculty Works
Hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory activities are excellent opportunities to introduce first-year undergraduate students to the lab environment and to catalyze new interest in topics they may not yet know or be as enthusiastic about studying. We describe a multisession introductory laboratory activity that couples the research areas of medicinal drug discovery and plant biology. Selecting from a diversity of native California plants and broadly recognized medicinal plants, students learn and apply an assortment of basic phytochemical assays, analyze preliminary data, and then formulate hypothesis-driven follow-up experiments. Working in small groups, students develop shared project management and collaboration skills, and present activity …
From Coast To Coast To Coast: Ecology And Management Of Eelgrass Systems Across Canada, Sarah Joy Bittick
From Coast To Coast To Coast: Ecology And Management Of Eelgrass Systems Across Canada, Sarah Joy Bittick
Biology Faculty Works
Seagrass meadows are among the most productive and diverse marine ecosystems, providing essential structure, functions, and services. They are also among the most impacted by human activities and in urgent need of better management and protection. In Canada, eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows are found along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic coasts, and thus occur across a wide range of biogeographic conditions. Here, we synthesize knowledge of eelgrass ecosystems across Canada’s coasts, highlighting commonalities and differences in environmental conditions, plant, habitat, and community structure, as well as current trends and human impacts. Across regions, eelgrass life history, phenology, and general species …
A Functional Genomics Screen Identifying Blood Cell Development Genes In Drosophila By Undergraduates Participating In A Course-Based Research Experience, Cory Evans
Biology Faculty Works
Undergraduate students participating in the UCLA Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) have conducted a two-phased screen using RNA interference (RNAi) in combination with fluorescent reporter proteins to identify genes important for hematopoiesis in Drosophila. This screen disrupted the function of approximately 3500 genes and identified 137 candidate genes for which loss of function leads to observable changes in the hematopoietic development. Targeting RNAi to maturing, progenitor, and regulatory cell types identified key subsets that either limit or promote blood cell maturation. Bioinformatic analysis reveals gene enrichment in several previously uncharacterized areas, including RNA processing and export and vesicular …
Characterizing Industrial And Artisanal Fishing Vessel Catch Composition Using Environmental Dna And Satellite-Based Tracking Data, Demian A. Willette, Gabriela Navarrete-Forero, Zachary Gold, Apollo Marco D. Lizano, Leonardo Gonzalez-Smith, Giovanna Sotil
Characterizing Industrial And Artisanal Fishing Vessel Catch Composition Using Environmental Dna And Satellite-Based Tracking Data, Demian A. Willette, Gabriela Navarrete-Forero, Zachary Gold, Apollo Marco D. Lizano, Leonardo Gonzalez-Smith, Giovanna Sotil
Biology Faculty Works
The decline in wild-caught fisheries paired with increasing global seafood demand is pushing the need for seafood sustainability to the forefront of national and regional priorities. Validation of species identity is a crucial early step, yet conventional monitoring and surveillance tools are limited in their effectiveness because they are extremely time-consuming and require expertise in fish identification. DNA barcoding methods are a versatile tool for the genetic monitoring of wildlife products; however, they are also limited by requiring individual tissue samples from target specimens which may not always be possible given the speed and scale of seafood operations. To circumvent …