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Articles 361 - 390 of 553

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Phylogeny Of Sap Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) Deciphering Patterns Of Host Shift, Matthew Moulton, Dr. Michael F. Whiting Sep 2013

Phylogeny Of Sap Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) Deciphering Patterns Of Host Shift, Matthew Moulton, Dr. Michael F. Whiting

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Nitidulids are a moderately diverse family of beetles, but the evolution of their feeding specializations was poorly understood. They are important in agroecosystems as pests of fruit crops, stored grains, honey production, biocontrol of aphids and scale insects, and transmission of plant viral pathogens. The phylogeny produced helped answer questions pertaining to the evolution of nitidulid host specialization, and provided insights into the diversification of this group. I conducted the first subfamilial phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data. Specific goals were: (1) Perform a phylogenetic analysis using molecular data from eight genes; 2) Use the phylogeny to infer the ancestral …

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A New Species Of Blackish Deer Mouse, Jared B. Lee, Dr. Duke S. Rogers Sep 2013

A New Species Of Blackish Deer Mouse, Jared B. Lee, Dr. Duke S. Rogers

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Biodiversity is a hallmark of our planet. We can see this everyday in the various habitats and environments that we live in, from the desert in Utah to the lush rain forests of South America. These great ecosystems provide a diversity of life in plants and animals. Biologists study and classify these organisms to better understand how this world came into being. All the time new species are being described and discovered in areas throughout the world. In this research project, we used traditional and modern techniques to better understand the diversity and variation in populations of a rodent in …

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Patterns Of Genetic Diversity In The Galapagos Archipelago: Identifying And Preserving Evolutionary Processes, Rebecca Baum, Dr. Jack W. Sites Sep 2013

Patterns Of Genetic Diversity In The Galapagos Archipelago: Identifying And Preserving Evolutionary Processes, Rebecca Baum, Dr. Jack W. Sites

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Galapagos Archipelago, located 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador, arose 1-5 million years ago by the eruption of underwater volcanoes. It consists of 13 larger islands, 6 smaller islands, and numerous islets. The Archipelago is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, yet very little is known about its “hotspots” of genetic diversity or the processes that generate this diversity. The identification of areas of high genetic diversity provides information not only about lizards but also other native species. This information can be used to prioritize conservation efforts such as non-native (i.e. cats, rats, goats) species …

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Matrixgen: Customized Amino Acid Change Matrices To Study Protein Family Evolution, John J. Bowers, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Sep 2013

Matrixgen: Customized Amino Acid Change Matrices To Study Protein Family Evolution, John J. Bowers, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Background: Algorithms for aligning protein and DNA sequences are dependent upon the scoring matrix used to generate accurate alignments. Most alignment applications offer only a few choices for such scoring matrices (typically PAM and BLOSUM series matrices).

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Phylogeny Of The Tribe Psoraleae In North America, Rebecca Schaeffer, Dr. Keith Crandall Sep 2013

Phylogeny Of The Tribe Psoraleae In North America, Rebecca Schaeffer, Dr. Keith Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many species of plants in the Leguminosae family are important economically, but many of these plants are now considered rare, threatened, or endangered. Seventy percent of the species in the genus Pediomelum are highly limited in geographic distribution, which influences conservation status. In addition to this, very little work with phylogenetic studies has been done on this group. Learning about evolutionary relationships within these species is a first step to understanding more about their conservation status.

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Radiological Analysis Of Osteoarthritis In The Mouse Knee Joint, Mark Newcomer, Dr. Robert Seegmiller Sep 2013

Radiological Analysis Of Osteoarthritis In The Mouse Knee Joint, Mark Newcomer, Dr. Robert Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cites that nearly 21 million Americans currently suffer from osteoarthritis (OA) and has recently issued a news release which states that, “Today, 35 million people, 13 percent of the U.S. population, are 65 and older, and more than half of them have radiological evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint. By 2030, an estimated 20% of Americans – about 70 million people – will have passed their 65th birthday and will be at increased risk of OA.” Arthritis can present itself in many ways and degrees of severity. Osteoarthritis is by …

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Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints In The Middle Missouri River Valley (1846-1853) Recreating A Legacy Of Faith, Tiffany Taylor, Dr. Shauna C. Anderson Sep 2013

Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints In The Middle Missouri River Valley (1846-1853) Recreating A Legacy Of Faith, Tiffany Taylor, Dr. Shauna C. Anderson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 1846, after escaping mob persecution in Nauvoo, Illinois, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints established communities along the Missouri River in both Iowa and Nebraska. Approximately 90 settlements were created within seven years, with the most well-known being Winter Quarters.

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The Use Of 13c/12c And 15n/14n Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis To Determine Carnivory Level In Gender Identified Free-Ranging Utah American Black Bears (Ursus Americanus), Eric Olsen, Beverly Roeder Sep 2013

The Use Of 13c/12c And 15n/14n Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis To Determine Carnivory Level In Gender Identified Free-Ranging Utah American Black Bears (Ursus Americanus), Eric Olsen, Beverly Roeder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stable isotope analysis of carbon (13C/12C or d13C) and nitrogen (15N/14N or d15N) has been shown to provide a more accurate estimate of overall diet in various mammalian species (Sponheimer et al. 2003). This technique was used to determine the amount of vegetation and animal protein in the nutritional uptake of free ranging Utah black bears (Ursus americanus). Samples were obtained from harvested bears taken during the fall 2005 and spring 2006 hunt from various regions of Utah via the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). Gender was reported by the hunters at time of harvest. Age was determined by …

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Meeting The Needs Of Diabetic Patients: An Examination Of Type 2 Diabetes Treatments In Ghana, Ashley Valdivieso, Dr. Melinda Ostraff Sep 2013

Meeting The Needs Of Diabetic Patients: An Examination Of Type 2 Diabetes Treatments In Ghana, Ashley Valdivieso, Dr. Melinda Ostraff

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Diabetes is an escalating health risk in Ghana, and it is estimated that approximately 22% of Ghanaians who develop the disease will die of it.1 While government programs intended to provide treatment for diabetes patients have focused on traditional western medicine, Dr. Kwabena Beecham, President of the Ghana Diabetes Association reports that “over 50% of people with diabetes do not experience full health and quality of life despite the availability of medicine.” 3 Studies have also shown that some diabetics have chosen not to treat the disease at all.4 This apparent failure to meet the needs of diabetes patients indicates …

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A Higher Resolution Multiplexed Microsatellite Marker Set For Reliable, Cost Effective Genotyping, Robert J. Kolts, Elliott G. Richards, Sam Ashby, Will D. Brubaker, Aaron C. Ferguson, Paul Fjeldsted, Derek Hatch, Dr. Edward R. Wilcox Sep 2013

A Higher Resolution Multiplexed Microsatellite Marker Set For Reliable, Cost Effective Genotyping, Robert J. Kolts, Elliott G. Richards, Sam Ashby, Will D. Brubaker, Aaron C. Ferguson, Paul Fjeldsted, Derek Hatch, Dr. Edward R. Wilcox

Journal of Undergraduate Research

We are creating a new microsatellite marker set for public use. Because many projects involving genetic disorders in humans depend on microsatellite markers, there is an existing need for a reliable and cost-effective marker set that provides higher-quality statistical data while still being affordable. Our proposed set will consist of approximately 800 markers and currently has a rough spacing of one marker every 4.1 cM. The average heterozygosity is currently 0.85. To further reduce costs to users, we are arranging markers and corresponding PCR primers into ~178 multiplexed groups consisting of 4-5 markers each. These multiplexed groups will allow research …

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Effects Of Predator Presence On Reproductive Effort In Livebearing Fishes Of The Genus Brachyrhaphis, Jason Kiene, Dr. Jerry Johnson Sep 2013

Effects Of Predator Presence On Reproductive Effort In Livebearing Fishes Of The Genus Brachyrhaphis, Jason Kiene, Dr. Jerry Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My research experience has been quite different than anything I foresaw or expected. I will start this report by first reminding you what the experiment was supposed to be, then discuss the setbacks I had during the last two years to try to do the experiment and finally what has happened most recently that led to the failure of the experiment.

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Tilapia Fish: Feast Or Famine?, Laura Scott, Dr. Jerald B. Johnson Sep 2013

Tilapia Fish: Feast Or Famine?, Laura Scott, Dr. Jerald B. Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Tilapia is a commonly farmed fish throughout the world because of its nutritional value, reproductive efficiency, high resistance to disease, and the low-cost of production. However, despite such commercial benefits, there are some characteristics of this fish that are being overlooked. Previous field research in Costa Rica suggests that when tilapia escape from local farms into nearby streams, they negatively impact native fishes, both in terms of abundance and diversity (unpubl. data). The native fish most notably affected are small, livebearing poecealiids.

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Enantioselective Synthesis Of Biologically Important Compounds, David G. Evans, Dr. Matt A. Peterson Sep 2013

Enantioselective Synthesis Of Biologically Important Compounds, David G. Evans, Dr. Matt A. Peterson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Until only very recently it has been the common practice of most pharmaceutical manufacturers and manufacturers of agrochemicals such as herbicides and insecticides to market chiral compounds as mixtures of enantiomers. This practice has been driven by market forces due to the fact that it is much more cost efficient to market chiral compounds as mixtures rather than invest the resources needed to separate them. Tragic cases have shown that there is indeed a need for complete separation of enantiomers and their separate pre-clinical and clinical evaluation.

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Effects Of Inundation Length On Fairy Shrimp, Tammy Behunin, Russell Rader Sep 2013

Effects Of Inundation Length On Fairy Shrimp, Tammy Behunin, Russell Rader

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Phyllopods (fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, and clam shrimp) are the species that best characterize freshwater rock pool communities around the world because of their unique adaptations to temporary conditions. The fairy shrimp, Branchinecta packardi, is one of the most abundant animals in temporary rock pools of the Colorado Plateau. Some rock pools can fill and dry in less than 2 days during the hottest part of the year (July). We conducted a study to examine the relationship between pool evaporation rates and rates of fairy shrimp development. The objectives of this study were to test two hypotheses: 1) fairy shrimp …

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The Orthopteran Mitochondrial Genome And The Evolution Of Genes, J. Daniel Fenn, Dr. Michael F. Whiting Sep 2013

The Orthopteran Mitochondrial Genome And The Evolution Of Genes, J. Daniel Fenn, Dr. Michael F. Whiting

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The insect order Orthoptera contains the common name groups of Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets. We sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome of the Mormon Cricket (Anabrus simplex). Within this genome we found interesting evidence relating to the organization and evolution of mitochondrial genomes. In particular we focus on the secondary structure of messenger RNA molecules, and the role they play in determining gene separation and cleavage. We also examined the A+T-rich region of fifty-five mormon cricket individuals from seven populations and compared the variability within this region. This has led to a better understanding of the evolution of genomes within populations.

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Speciation By Reproductive Isolation, Ian Dawson, Dr. Jerry Johnson Sep 2013

Speciation By Reproductive Isolation, Ian Dawson, Dr. Jerry Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Ecological Speciation Hypothesis is a controversial explanation for how new species form. Although the idea is gaining momentum, there have been very few empirical tests of this model. Hence, our research is very timely and addresses what could be a common process by which new species form. Our research will address the effect of differences in predation pressure on the evolution of mating behavior. It will be one of only three studies to examine if predation can lead to reproductive isolation.

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Effects Of Fasting On Oxygen Stable Isotope Ratios, Bryt Christensen, Kent Hatch Sep 2013

Effects Of Fasting On Oxygen Stable Isotope Ratios, Bryt Christensen, Kent Hatch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my project was to see if fasting has any effect on oxygen stable isotope ratios. Oxygen isotopes are molecules of oxygen that weigh more or less than normal oxygen 16 because they have more or less electrons. Stable isotopes are used as a scientific tool in many fields to study a variety of things. Among many applications, they are widely used by ecologists to study migration patterns and they have also been used to study the diets of animals.

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Watering Snakes, Samuel Hirt, Kent Hatch Sep 2013

Watering Snakes, Samuel Hirt, Kent Hatch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stable isotope research is a relatively new and innovative tool in ecology. Studies have been done with stable isotopes to determine migration patterns, diet, and evidence for nutritional stress and much more. Little has been done with stable isotopes and reptiles. We conducted a stable isotope, pilot study that will help us understand what happens with snakes in relation to temperature and oxygen and hydrogen turnover ratios in water.

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Phylogeography And Species Boundaries In The Lesser Treefrog Hyla Minuta In The Guiana Shield, Montt A. Hawkins, Dr. Jack W. Sites Jr., Dr. Brice P. Noonan Sep 2013

Phylogeography And Species Boundaries In The Lesser Treefrog Hyla Minuta In The Guiana Shield, Montt A. Hawkins, Dr. Jack W. Sites Jr., Dr. Brice P. Noonan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The lesser tree frog (Hyla minuta) is found in abundance throughout most of South America. Earlier studies have suggested that this taxon includes populations which differ significantly in ecological (Cardoso & Haddad, 1994) and morphological (Kaplan, 1994) characteristics (fig 1), and may include unrecognized species. Noticeable phenotypic variation occurs among populations (Figure 1). However to date little work has been done to determine the number of species that may be masquerading under the identity of H. minuta.

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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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Survey Of Nematocerous Flies (Diptera) Of Maupiti, French Polynesia, Limb Hapairai, Dr. C. Riley Nelson Sep 2013

Survey Of Nematocerous Flies (Diptera) Of Maupiti, French Polynesia, Limb Hapairai, Dr. C. Riley Nelson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Maupiti is a small island located west of Tahiti, French Polynesia. Its isolation from the economic center of Papeete (capital of French Polynesia) has allowed its fauna and flora to stay relatively intact for many years. It’s size and topography also makes this island a good candidate for extensive studies on flies. However little is known about the distribution of species from all 120 islands of French Polynesia since little studies have been done on these islands. Now surveying has become an even more complex problem because endemic and foreign species are given new habitats. For example a monoculture of …

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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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Growth Rates, Diet, And Distribution Of Pictetiella Expansa, A Rare Rocky Mountain Perlodidae Stonefly (Plecoptera), Sarah Walker, Dr. C. Riley Nelson Sep 2013

Growth Rates, Diet, And Distribution Of Pictetiella Expansa, A Rare Rocky Mountain Perlodidae Stonefly (Plecoptera), Sarah Walker, Dr. C. Riley Nelson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The stonefly Pictetiella expansa has been acknowledged as a species since the 1920s, yet little is known about this rare species of Perlodidae stonefly. The purpose of our study was to document the growth rates and feeding behaviors of Pictetiella expansa in the American Fork River as well as to document its current geographical distribution.

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A Study Of Genetic Variation In Geographically Separated Populations Of Pediomelum Pariense, Asher Jones, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Sep 2013

A Study Of Genetic Variation In Geographically Separated Populations Of Pediomelum Pariense, Asher Jones, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Pediomelum pariense, also known as Paria River Indian Breadroot, has been listed by NatureServe as an imperiled organism because of its low population numbers. However, no state or federal agency has made any effort to promote the preservation of this species. Ashley Egan, PhD, designed a study with the purpose of changing that. Through the use of methods designed to measure genetic diversity, I was able to assist Dr. Egan in discovering if the amount of genetic variation that exists among the remaining P. pariense populations should be a cause of government concern.

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Organizing Byu’S Fungi Collection, Tess Blackwelder, Dr. Leigh Johnson Sep 2013

Organizing Byu’S Fungi Collection, Tess Blackwelder, Dr. Leigh Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum at Brigham Young University houses many biological collections for study and display. Among the collections of insects, plants, fish, and mammals, there is also a fungi collection. This was donated to BYU by mycologist Kent McKnight (former BYU faculty) several years ago upon his death. Unfortunately, this collection had been rather neglected; it was neither organized, documented, nor accessible to others, and a complete inventory of the scope of the collection did not exist. My ORCA grant idea was to sort through the collection, set up an effective system of organization, create a …

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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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Phylogenetic Analyses Of The Burrowing Members In The Freshwater Crayfish Genera Fallicambarus And Procambarus In Arkansas, Timothy D. O'Connor, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Sep 2013

Phylogenetic Analyses Of The Burrowing Members In The Freshwater Crayfish Genera Fallicambarus And Procambarus In Arkansas, Timothy D. O'Connor, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There are an estimated 338 taxa of freshwater crayfish in the United States, with approximately 48% considered to be endangered, threatened, or of special concern (Taylor et al. 1996). Life history information for the majority of the primary burrowing species is lacking because they dig deep burrows and venture out only during breeding periods.

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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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Species Composition Of A Desert Rock Pool Metacommunity, Cameron Kmetzsch, Russell B. Rader Sep 2013

Species Composition Of A Desert Rock Pool Metacommunity, Cameron Kmetzsch, Russell B. Rader

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Rock pools are one of the most unique and threatened aquatic habitats in the world. Changes in global climate could alter precipitation patterns and disrupt the annual cycle of filling and drying to which this community has evolved. Previous misconceptions assume that all rock pools are temporary habitats. Over a period of two years we have shown that at least 20 pools in three drainages have maintained constant wetted conditions with moderate seasonal fluctuations in water levels, despite air temperatures near 50º C (120º F) on the open hardpan. These “permanent” pools (Tinajas) are shaded within deeply incised channels. Tinajas …

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A Blood Test For Alzheimer’S Disease, Frederick Rohlfing, Dr. John Kauwe Sep 2013

A Blood Test For Alzheimer’S Disease, Frederick Rohlfing, Dr. John Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a severe chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia1. Unfortunately, there is little understanding of its cause, let alone a cure for the 5.3 million affected Americans2. In my research, a novel proteomics method is being used to identify peptides in the serum that are linked with AD. We have already identified 36 peptides as statistically significant biomarkers and need to characterize these amino acid sequences. By characterizing these biomarkers we will be able to provide important information on how to accurately diagnose AD, its causes, and how to cure it.

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