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Articles 241 - 270 of 553
Full-Text Articles in Biology
Metazoan Parasites Of Antarctic Fishes, Mehmet Cemal Oğuz, Yahya Tepe, Mark C. Belk, Richard A. Heckmann, Burçak Aslan, Meryem Gürgen, Rodney A. Bray, Ülker Akgül
Metazoan Parasites Of Antarctic Fishes, Mehmet Cemal Oğuz, Yahya Tepe, Mark C. Belk, Richard A. Heckmann, Burçak Aslan, Meryem Gürgen, Rodney A. Bray, Ülker Akgül
Faculty Publications
To date, there have been nearly 100 papers published on metazoan parasites of Antarctic fishes, but there has not yet been any compilation of a species list of fish parasites for this large geographic area. Herein, we provide a list of all documented occurrences of monogenean, cestode, digenean, acanthocephalan, nematode, and hirudinean parasites of Antarctic fishes. The list includes nearly 250 parasite species found in 142 species of host fishes. It is likely that there are more species of fish parasites, which are yet to be documented from Antarctic waters.
Generality Of The Terminal Investment Hypothesis: Effects Of Extrinsic Mortality And Resource Availability On Age-Related Reproductive Investment, Allystair Jones
Generality Of The Terminal Investment Hypothesis: Effects Of Extrinsic Mortality And Resource Availability On Age-Related Reproductive Investment, Allystair Jones
Theses and Dissertations
A central question in life history theory is, what combination of traits and behaviors will lead to the highest reproductive success throughout a lifetime. The trade-off between current and future reproduction is central to the lifetime reproductive success of an organism. If there is a cost to reproduction, then allocation of energy to current reproduction will come at a cost to future reproduction. We expect young individuals to favor future reproduction over current reproduction and that balance shifts to current reproduction as they age (i.e. terminal investment hypothesis). However, how this transition from an emphasis on future reproduction to emphasis …
Understanding The Diversification Of Central American Freshwater Fishes Using Comparative Phylogeography And Species Delimitation, Justin C. Bagley
Understanding The Diversification Of Central American Freshwater Fishes Using Comparative Phylogeography And Species Delimitation, Justin C. Bagley
Theses and Dissertations
Phylogeography and molecular phylogenetics have proven remarkably useful for understanding the patterns and processes influencing historical diversification of biotic lineages at and below the species level, as well as delimiting morphologically cryptic species. In this dissertation, I used an integrative approach coupling comparative phylogeography and coalescent-based species delimitation to improve our understanding of the biogeography and species limits of Central American freshwater fishes. In Chapter 1, I conducted a literature review of the contributions of phylogeography to understanding the origins and maintenance of lower Central American biodiversity, in light of the geological and ecological setting. I highlighted emerging phylogeographic patterns, …
Spatial Heterogeneity Of Ecosystem Metabolism In A Shallow Wetland, Daniel Riley Rackliffe
Spatial Heterogeneity Of Ecosystem Metabolism In A Shallow Wetland, Daniel Riley Rackliffe
Theses and Dissertations
Spatial heterogeneity in ecosystem metabolism may play a critical role in determining ecosystem functions. Variation in ecosystem metabolism between macrophyte patches in shallow wetlands at the extremes of freshwater habitats has not been investigated. We estimated ecosystem metabolism in mesocosms containing different macrophytes using 24-hour oxygen curves to test our hypotheses: (1) net aquatic production (NAP) during spring and summer would be similar among algal patches (metaphyton and Chara), (2) NAP in algal patches would be greater than patches dominated by the vascular plant Potamogeton foliosus, (3) heterotrophy and anaerobiosis would be greatest in patches dominated by Lemna, and (4) …
A Molecular Phylogeny Of Lampyridae With Insight Into Visual And Bioluminescent Evolution, Gavin Jon Martin
A Molecular Phylogeny Of Lampyridae With Insight Into Visual And Bioluminescent Evolution, Gavin Jon Martin
Theses and Dissertations
Fireflies are some of the most captivating organisms on the planet. Because of this, they have a rich history of study, especially concerning their bioluminescent and visual behavior. Among insects, opsin copy number variation has been shown to be quite diverse. However, within the beetles, very little work on opsins has been conducted. Here we look at the visual system of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), which offer an elegant system in which to study visual evolution as it relates to their behavior and broader ecology. They are the best-known case of a terrestrial organism that communicates through the use bioluminescence. The …
Variation In Resource Utilization And Cost Of Reproduction For Two Burying Beetle Species, Peter J. Meyers
Variation In Resource Utilization And Cost Of Reproduction For Two Burying Beetle Species, Peter J. Meyers
Theses and Dissertations
The cost of reproduction hypothesis suggests that allocation into current reproduction constrains future reproduction. How organisms accrue reproductive costs may differ between species and with varying levels of resource quality. Burying beetles are model organisms for testing for the cost of reproduction because of their unique natural history; beetles utilize small vertebrate carcasses for reproduction and they and their offspring feed exclusively on these discrete resources. Burying beetles also can utilize a large range of carcass sizes for reproduction. We tested for the cost of reproduction in two species of burying beetles, Nicrophorus marginatus and Nicrophorus guttula found in Central …
Small Mammals Matter? Linking Plant Invasion, Biotic Resistance, And Climate Change In Post-Fire Plant Communities, Rory Charles O'Connor
Small Mammals Matter? Linking Plant Invasion, Biotic Resistance, And Climate Change In Post-Fire Plant Communities, Rory Charles O'Connor
Theses and Dissertations
The introduction and establishment of exotic species can profoundly alter ecosystems. Two exotic species drastically changing the landscape of deserts in western North America are Bromus tectorum L. and Bromus rubens L. Through the buildup of biomass and slow decomposition rates in deserts these two exotic annual grasses can alter fire regimes that change the plant and animal community dynamics in the ecosystems. To better understand the ecological mechanisms that could restrict or alter the patterns of invasive plant establishment we established a replicated full factorial experiment in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert. The combinations of factors being manipulated …
The Interaction Of Aeolian And Fluvial Processes In Dry Washes On The Colorado Plateau, Usa, Beau Jensen Walker
The Interaction Of Aeolian And Fluvial Processes In Dry Washes On The Colorado Plateau, Usa, Beau Jensen Walker
Theses and Dissertations
In the past decade there has been a call for integrated studies that examine the interaction of fluvial and aeolian processes (Belnap et al., 2011; Bullard and Livingstone, 2002). In this study, we examined the role of land-use, weather, and soil type on the flux of aeolian material into dry washes on the Colorado Plateau in central Utah, USA, and western Colorado, USA. Our goal was to quantify the impact of individual deposition and erosion events by correlating weather and land-use data with a combination of measurement methods including dust collection via dust traps, GPS surveying, and close-range photogrammetry. Our …
Role Of Epistasis In Alzheimer's Disease Genetics, Mark T. Ebbert
Role Of Epistasis In Alzheimer's Disease Genetics, Mark T. Ebbert
Theses and Dissertations
Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disease whose basic etiology and genetic structure remains elusive, despite decades of intensive investigation. To date, the significant genetic markers identified have no obvious functional effects, and are unlikely to play a role in Alzheimer's disease etiology, themselves. These markers are likely linked to other genetic variations, rare or common. Regardless of what causal mutations are found, research has demonstrated that no single gene determines Alzheimer's disease development and progression. It is clear that Alzheimer's disease development and progression are based on a set of interactions between genes and environmental variables. This dissertation focuses …
Viability Costs Of Reproduction And Behavioral Compensation In Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia Affinis), Clinton T. Laidlaw, Jacob M. Condon, Mark C. Belk
Viability Costs Of Reproduction And Behavioral Compensation In Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia Affinis), Clinton T. Laidlaw, Jacob M. Condon, Mark C. Belk
Faculty Publications
The cost of reproduction hypothesis suggests that current reproduction has inherent tradeoffs with future reproduction. These tradeoffs can be both in the form of energy allocated to current offspring as opposed to somatic maintenance and future reproduction (allocation costs), or as an increase in mortality as a result of morphological or physiological changes related to reproduction (viability costs). Individuals may be able to decrease viability costs by altering behavior. Female western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis experience a reduction in swimming ability as a consequence of pregnancy. We test for a viability cost of reproduction, and for behavioral compensation in pregnant female …
Residency Time As An Indicator Of Reproductive Restraint In Male Burying Beetles, Ashlee N. Smith, Mark C. Belk, J. Curtis Creighton
Residency Time As An Indicator Of Reproductive Restraint In Male Burying Beetles, Ashlee N. Smith, Mark C. Belk, J. Curtis Creighton
Faculty Publications
The cost of reproduction theory posits that there are trade-offs between current and future reproduction because resources that are allocated to current offspring cannot be used for future reproductive opportunities. Two adaptive reproductive strategies have been hypothesized to offset the costs of reproduction and maximize lifetime fitness. The terminal investment hypothesis predicts that as individuals age they will allocate more resources to current reproduction as a response to decreasing residual reproductive value. The reproductive restraint hypotheses predicts that as individuals age they will allocate fewer resources to current reproduction to increase the chance of surviving for an additional reproductive opportunity. …
Robust Meta-Analysis Shows That Glioma Transcriptional Subtyping Complements Traditional Approaches, Sanghoon Lee, Stephen Piccolo, Kristina Allen-Brady
Robust Meta-Analysis Shows That Glioma Transcriptional Subtyping Complements Traditional Approaches, Sanghoon Lee, Stephen Piccolo, Kristina Allen-Brady
Faculty Publications
Background Gliomas traditionally have been sub-classified
based on histopathological observations. However, this ap-
proach is subject to inter-observer variability, and histopatho-
logical features may not reflect the biological mechanisms that
drive tumor growth. High-throughput transcriptional profiling
has shown promise in objectively and reproducibly identify-
ing glioma subtypes. Most prior studies have typically used
only modest sample sizes and have sometimes overlooked
important data-processing steps to ensure sample quality and
to evaluate the robustness of quantitative findings. The pur-
pose of our study was to define robust glioma subtypes by
applying rigorous preprocessing and validation steps to 1,952
microarray samples aggregated …
Perceptions And Influences Behind Teaching Practices: Do Teachers Teach As They Were Taught?, Stephanie Elizabeth Cox
Perceptions And Influences Behind Teaching Practices: Do Teachers Teach As They Were Taught?, Stephanie Elizabeth Cox
Theses and Dissertations
Schools face the problem of recruiting and retaining students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees. One reason that students leave STEM fields is because their introductory classes are too hard or not engaging. These introductory classes are typically taught using a lecture-heavy, instructor-centered approach, contrary to current evidence based pedagogy. Many who call for teacher reform put the blame on the way teachers are educated, which is often not student-centered, citing that because ‘teachers teach the way they were taught,’ current education is also not student-centered. The idea that ‘teachers teach the way they were taught’ is commonly …
Genomic Classification Of The Ras Network Identifies A Personalized Treatment Strategy For Lung Cancer, Nader N. El-Chaar, Stephen R. Piccolo, Kenneth M. Boucher, Adam L. Cohen, Jeffrey T. Chang, Philip J. Moos, Andrea H. Bild
Genomic Classification Of The Ras Network Identifies A Personalized Treatment Strategy For Lung Cancer, Nader N. El-Chaar, Stephen R. Piccolo, Kenneth M. Boucher, Adam L. Cohen, Jeffrey T. Chang, Philip J. Moos, Andrea H. Bild
Faculty Publications
Better approaches are needed to evaluate a single patient's drug response at the genomic level. Targeted therapy for signaling pathways in cancer has met limited success in part due to the exceedingly interwoven nature of the pathways. In particular, the highly complex RAS network has been challenging to target. Effectively targeting the pathway requires development of techniques that measure global network activity to account for pathway complexity. For this purpose, we used a gene-expression-based biomarker for RAS network activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, and screened for drugs whose efficacy was significantly highly correlated to RAS network activity. …
Association Of Rare Genetic Variants To The Development And Progression Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Cameron Schmutz, Dr. Keoni Kauwe
Association Of Rare Genetic Variants To The Development And Progression Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Cameron Schmutz, Dr. Keoni Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder and is the leading cause of dementia.1,3 It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the only one that has no adequate prevention or cure. AD is characterized by a progressive loss in cognitive function and memory loss. Neuropathological symptoms include loss of neurons and synapses, extensive accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Alzheimer’s disease has been identified as a proteopathy disease due to the extensive accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.1,2,3 This project focused on the research of a rare genetic variant in …
Evolution Of Ectoparastism In Earwigs (Insect: Dermaptera), Michael Naegle, Dr. Michael Whiting
Evolution Of Ectoparastism In Earwigs (Insect: Dermaptera), Michael Naegle, Dr. Michael Whiting
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Dermaptera (earwigs) is a small order of insects, typically characterized by the presence of cerci on the abdomen that are modified into forceps-like appendages (Giles, 1963). Dermaptera includes approximately 2200 extant species comprising 11 families (Kocarek 2013). The majority of earwigs are free-living feeding on detritus and other plant material (Sakai 1987). Two families, Arixeniidae and Hemimeridae are ectoparasitic, associating with Malay Peninsula bats and giant murid rats of sub- Saharan Africa respectively (Jarvis 2005).
Population-Based Analysis Of Cetp Identifies Association Between I405v And Cognitive Decline: The Cache County Study, Caitlin Munger, Dr. John Kauwe
Population-Based Analysis Of Cetp Identifies Association Between I405v And Cognitive Decline: The Cache County Study, Caitlin Munger, Dr. John Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease and is the sixth leading cause of death in the US. There are currently no successful therapies to prevent or treat LOAD, and predicting disease status remains a challenge1. Apolipoprotein E (APOE)—a gene involved in cholesterol regulation—is the strongest genetic predictor for LOAD. Because of the association between APOE and LOAD, cholesterol levels were suspected and have since been shown to increase LOAD risk2. Similar to APOE, the Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) gene facilitates cholesteryl ester and triglyceride exchange between lipoproteins3 and is found in the same pathway as APOE, …
Heteroplasmic Mitochondria Project, Lyndsay Staley
Heteroplasmic Mitochondria Project, Lyndsay Staley
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Unfortunately, my Heteroplasmic Mitochondria project was picked up by a commercial entity whom we had asked for the sequenced genomes, but they beat me to the answer before releasing the sequenced genomes. I worked on another project involving Alzheimer’s disease genetics. I was able to do the initial analyses in a genome-wide association study of cerebrospinal fluid levels of 59 Alzheimer’s Diseaserelated analytes from the Rules Based Medicine panel in two independently collected and measured series (ADNI and Knight ADRC). Now I am working with these results to further our knowledge of the genes that cause AD. We will be …
Genetic Variants In The Apoe Gene Region Responsible For Change In Cerebrospinal Fluid Ab42 Protein Levels, Spencer Foutz, Dr. John Kauwe
Genetic Variants In The Apoe Gene Region Responsible For Change In Cerebrospinal Fluid Ab42 Protein Levels, Spencer Foutz, Dr. John Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
For the last several years, the e4 allele in the APOE gene region has been a strong determinant of the development of Amyloid Beta plaques in the brain’s cerebral spinal fluid. As these plaques aggregate, the deposits become increasingly deadly to neuronal cells, and can eventually lead to Alzheimers’ Disease. While the e4 allele is a strong indicator of change in Amyloid Beta levels, there are believed to be other genetic variants within the APOE gene region that also greatly influence this protein. Our purpose was to further evaluate previous studies on this gene region in order to determine other …
Robust And Versatile Bioinformatic Pipeline Development, Ryan Hillary, Dr. Seth Bybee
Robust And Versatile Bioinformatic Pipeline Development, Ryan Hillary, Dr. Seth Bybee
Journal of Undergraduate Research
With the many advances in sequencing technology and exponential growth of computational capacities there comes a huge demand for processing larger and larger quantities of data. With respect to Biology there can be hundreds of gigabytes of data that can be involved in a single research study that requires computational analysis. Since each research project is unique in terms of design and desired outcome, the programs and tools that are required can vary greatly, but there are some analyses that are similar and can be compiled and optimized. The current research being conducted by Dr. Bybee focuses on the visual …
Biodiversity And Distribution Of Entomophilic Nematodes In Utah’S Mojave Region, Westen Archibald, Dr. Byron Adams
Biodiversity And Distribution Of Entomophilic Nematodes In Utah’S Mojave Region, Westen Archibald, Dr. Byron Adams
Journal of Undergraduate Research
To better understand the diversity and distribution of entomophilic nematodes in Utah’s Mojave region, I have begun a project that’s purpose is to develop phylogenetic maps of 55 nematode species that I have already extracted from the soils of the Beaver Dam wash ecotone. This project involves both the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships to recover biodiversity, and generating a species distribution map for the Beaver Dam wash ecotone.
Assessment Of Trem2 Rs75932628 Association With Alzheimer’S Disease In A Population-Based Sample: The Cache County Study, Josue D. Gonzalez Murcia, Cameron Schmutz, Caitlin Munger, Ammon Perkes, Aaron Gustin, Michael Peterson, Mark T. W. Ebbert, Maria C. Norton, Joann T. Tschanz, Ronald G. Munger, Christopher D. Corcoran, John S. K. Kauwe
Assessment Of Trem2 Rs75932628 Association With Alzheimer’S Disease In A Population-Based Sample: The Cache County Study, Josue D. Gonzalez Murcia, Cameron Schmutz, Caitlin Munger, Ammon Perkes, Aaron Gustin, Michael Peterson, Mark T. W. Ebbert, Maria C. Norton, Joann T. Tschanz, Ronald G. Munger, Christopher D. Corcoran, John S. K. Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Recent studies have identified the rs75932628 (R47H) variant in TREM2 as an Alzheimer’s disease risk factor with estimated odds ratio ranging from 2.9 to 5.1.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Discovery In Cutthroat Trout Subspecies Using Genome Reduction, Barcoding, And 454 Pyro-Sequencing, Derek D. Houston, David B. Elzinga, Peter J. Maughan, Scott M. Smith, John S. K. Kauwe, R. Paul Evans, Ryan B. Stinger, Dennis K. Shiozawa
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Discovery In Cutthroat Trout Subspecies Using Genome Reduction, Barcoding, And 454 Pyro-Sequencing, Derek D. Houston, David B. Elzinga, Peter J. Maughan, Scott M. Smith, John S. K. Kauwe, R. Paul Evans, Ryan B. Stinger, Dennis K. Shiozawa
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Salmonids are popular sport fishes, and as such have been subjected to widespread stocking throughout western North America. Historically, stocking was done with little regard for genetic variation among populations and has resulted in genetic mixing among species and subspecies in many areas, thus putting the genetic integrity of native salmonid populations at risk and creating a need to assess the genetic constitution of native salmonid populations. Cutthroat trout is a salmonid species with pronounced geographic structure (there are 10 extant subspecies) and a recent history of hybridization with introduced rainbow trout in many populations. Genetic admixture has also occurred …
A Multi-Faceted Approach To Improving Adamts13 Deficiency Prediction Algorithm, Steven Nevers, David Brandt, Matthew Biggs
A Multi-Faceted Approach To Improving Adamts13 Deficiency Prediction Algorithm, Steven Nevers, David Brandt, Matthew Biggs
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Despite previous work by our group and other researchers, the existing methods to predict ADAMTS13 deficiency are inadequate. Through the use of machine learning techniques applied to mined patient data we have improved the accuracy and efficiency of our existing ADAMTS13 deficiency prediction algorithm. In conjunction with ARUP Laboratories, who pioneered the original work, we have continued to improve the algorithm accuracy. Significant correlation for severe ADAMTS13 deficiency was seen for four of the observed variables: indirect bilirubin, reticulocyte percentage, creatinine, and platelet count; a fifth variable, D-dimer, just missed significance but performed well.
Choose Your Daddy: Genetic Genealogy To Prevent Dairy Cow Production-Related Diseases, Nalani Yamada, Beverly Roeder
Choose Your Daddy: Genetic Genealogy To Prevent Dairy Cow Production-Related Diseases, Nalani Yamada, Beverly Roeder
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Dairy cows are bred and utilized to produce large quantities of milk daily and are held to high production standards. Greater production or manipulated production activity can affect the homeostasis state of an animal and lead to production-related metabolic diseases (PRMDs). In a previous study focused on predicting PMRDs in dairy cows utilizing carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios performed at Brigham Young University, the results suggested that there is a correlation between carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in hair, freeze-dried feces, erythrocytes, plasma, and PRMDs. In collaboration with this study previously and based on the results, it was …
Genetic Factors That Influence Tau Protein Levels In Csf And Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, David Patty, Dr. John S. K. Kauwe
Genetic Factors That Influence Tau Protein Levels In Csf And Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, David Patty, Dr. John S. K. Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia, affects nearly 6 million Americans. Its effects on the individual range from mild impairment of memory to the complete destruction of the victim’s identity and their ability to perform everyday tasks. They become a heavy burden on their family, requiring constant medical care that often leaves the family with not only emotional problems, but financial stress as well. A study involving a clinical diagnosis of the disease, or case-control study, is limited by the accuracy of a psychiatrist’s judgment of the severity of the disease. This is obtained by a verbal and …
Determining The Presence Of Micro Rna In The Untranslated Regions Of Adipoq, A Metabolism Gene, Victoria Scott, Dr. John Keoni Kauwe
Determining The Presence Of Micro Rna In The Untranslated Regions Of Adipoq, A Metabolism Gene, Victoria Scott, Dr. John Keoni Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The purpose of this project is to sequence the untranslated region of the AdipoQ gene and interrogate it for novel genetic variation and potential microRNA sequences. This work will illuminate how adiponectin levels are regulated and provide insights into type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity.
Molecular Diversity Compared To Associated Morphological Differences Between Two Species Of Southern Chilean Crabs, Andres Mallipudi, Erwin Barria, Carlos G. Jara, Keith A. Crandall
Molecular Diversity Compared To Associated Morphological Differences Between Two Species Of Southern Chilean Crabs, Andres Mallipudi, Erwin Barria, Carlos G. Jara, Keith A. Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The biologically diverse region of Patagonia is under constant threat of urban development from both external and internal sources. Gaining a thorough understanding of the ecological roles of this area’s organisms is essential to preserving Patagonia’s rich biodiversity. Researching the differences between Southern Chilean crab subspecies led to a better understanding of this taxon, which will help determine its ecological role and will contribute to gaining a deeper understanding of the ecological environment of the area. Examining genetic relationships, divergence times, and morphometric variations between two different types of southern Chilean crabs (A. denticulata denticulata and A. denticulata lacustris) allows …
Alzheimer’S Disease And Mitochondrial Genome Copy Number, Miles Mckee, Dr. John Kauwe
Alzheimer’S Disease And Mitochondrial Genome Copy Number, Miles Mckee, Dr. John Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The purpose of this research project was to identify genetic variation, or more specifically variation in the average number of mitochondria per cell, and determine how these variations relate to risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The project started off with a measurement of the ratio of mitochondrial genome copies to nuclear genome copies by using Q-PCR. We checked this because mitochondrial concentration is necessary for normal energy metabolism and cell growth. This heritable trait may be regulated by genetic variation in the mitochondrial genome. We are currently attempting to determine if there is an association that exists between the measured …
Validation Of Genetic Association Between Variants In Ppp3r1 And Mapt And Rate Of Progression Of Alzheimer’S Disease, David Peterson, Dr. John S. K. Kauwe
Validation Of Genetic Association Between Variants In Ppp3r1 And Mapt And Rate Of Progression Of Alzheimer’S Disease, David Peterson, Dr. John S. K. Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting more than 4.5 million people in the US. Genetic studies of AD have previously identified mutations in three genes (APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2) and polymorphism in APOE as risk factors. These findings have led to a better understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms. However, half of all AD cases have no known genetic risk factors for disease. Most studies are designed to identify variants associated with risk or age at onset, but rarely cover other important facets of AD, such as disease progression or duration. Previously, Cruchaga et al. identified …