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Articles 421 - 450 of 553
Full-Text Articles in Biology
Evolution Of Nuclear Mitochondrial Pseudogenes Of Three Genes Within Orthoptera (Arthropoda:Insecta), Matthew Moulton, Dr. Michael Whiting
Evolution Of Nuclear Mitochondrial Pseudogenes Of Three Genes Within Orthoptera (Arthropoda:Insecta), Matthew Moulton, Dr. Michael Whiting
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Mitochondria are unique organelles that contain their own genomes. Metazoan mitochondrial genomes typically encode 37 genes (13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes) that are used for cellular respiration.
Phylogeography And Population Structure Of Scottnema Lindsayae, Mac Martin, Dr. Byron Adams
Phylogeography And Population Structure Of Scottnema Lindsayae, Mac Martin, Dr. Byron Adams
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Glaciologists have suggested that because of the extent of the ice sheets during the last glacial maximum (LGM) in Antarctica no terrestrial species could have survived these harsh conditions. However, substantial evidence suggests that some invertebrate species did indeed survive the LGM. We hypothesize that S. lindsayae survived the LGM in Antarctica through hypothetical refugia, areas that remained ice-free during the LGM. These are coastal areas characterized by high elevation, which would have remained ice-free during the LGM and would not have been inundated under episodes of elevated sea levels.
What Can Phylogeographic Breaks In The Livebearer Poeciliopsis Turrubarensis Tell Us About Fish Community Boundaries In Western Costa Rica?, April Larson, Dr. Jerald B. Johnson
What Can Phylogeographic Breaks In The Livebearer Poeciliopsis Turrubarensis Tell Us About Fish Community Boundaries In Western Costa Rica?, April Larson, Dr. Jerald B. Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
One active area of study in ecology, termed biogeography, is the determination of how communities are formed. A basic knowledge of what factors have shaped the formation of ecological communities leads to greater understanding of a system as a whole and specific species interactions. One possible factor that is rarely taken into account when studying biogeography is the effect that early earth history events could have playing in the shaping of community boundaries. Molecular phylogeographic data is a useful tool in helping to determine the contribution of vicariant events in community formation. If single species genetic breaks coincide with community …
Exploring Phylogenetic Relationships, Origins Of Claws, And Loss Of Functional Eyes In Decapod Lobsters (Infraorder Astacidea, Achelata, Glypheidea, Polychelida), Dohyup Kim, Dr. Keith Crandall
Exploring Phylogenetic Relationships, Origins Of Claws, And Loss Of Functional Eyes In Decapod Lobsters (Infraorder Astacidea, Achelata, Glypheidea, Polychelida), Dohyup Kim, Dr. Keith Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The order Decapoda represents a species-rich and economically important group of crustaceans. Among decapods, lobsters play a huge role of monetary significance, bringing in billions of dollars each year to world fisheries.
Resolving Genetic Relationships Within Shrimp-Like Decapods And Tracing The Phylogenetic Significance Of Morphological Traits Within Caridea (Crustacea: Decapoda), Jennifer Rasmussen, Dr. Keith Crandall
Resolving Genetic Relationships Within Shrimp-Like Decapods And Tracing The Phylogenetic Significance Of Morphological Traits Within Caridea (Crustacea: Decapoda), Jennifer Rasmussen, Dr. Keith Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Shrimp-like decapods–including sergestoids, penaeoids, carideans, procaridids, and stenopodideans–are a species-rich and morphologically diverse group of crustaceans. Some taxa, such as the penaeoids and carideans, are economically important, bringing in billions of dollars each year to world fisheries. The economic importance of this group, together with their distinctive morphology and ecological diversity, makes shrimp-like decapods popular research subjects in all fields of biology.
Biogeography And Evolution Of Neotropical Small Mammals, With Emphasis On Hystricognath Spiny Rats Of The Genus Proechimys (Family Echimyidae), Rafael Do Nascimento Leite
Biogeography And Evolution Of Neotropical Small Mammals, With Emphasis On Hystricognath Spiny Rats Of The Genus Proechimys (Family Echimyidae), Rafael Do Nascimento Leite
Theses and Dissertations
The Neotropical region is the most biologically diverse region on the planet. The region encompasses a variety of ecosystems and has long been the target of researchers interested in patterns of species diversity and distribution. More recently, molecular data have been incorporated into methods for reconstructing the historical relationships among geographical areas and their biotas. Molecular phylogenetics has provided insights into diversification patterns and the influence of Late Cenozoic events on the evolutionary history of the region. Nevertheless, considering the vast extent and complexity of the region, more studies are needed to fully appreciate the patterns of biogeography and the …
Personhood And Cloning: Modern Applications And Ethics Of Stem Cell And Cloning Technology, Sariah Cottrell Mccarrey
Personhood And Cloning: Modern Applications And Ethics Of Stem Cell And Cloning Technology, Sariah Cottrell Mccarrey
Theses and Dissertations
Within many communities and religions, including the LDS community, there is some controversy surrounding the use of stem cells – particularly embryonic stem cells (ESC). Much of this controversy arises from confusion and misconceptions about what stem cells actually are, where they come from , and when life begins. The theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has interesting implications for the last of these considerations, and it becomes less a question of “when does life begin” and more an exploration of “when does personhood begin” or “when does the spirit enter the body.” With no official …
Screening Of Secondary Chemicals From Selected Species Of North American Lichens Against Various Pathologenic Bacteria, Jocelyn Raphael, Dr. Larry St. Clair
Screening Of Secondary Chemicals From Selected Species Of North American Lichens Against Various Pathologenic Bacteria, Jocelyn Raphael, Dr. Larry St. Clair
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Lichens consist of a fungus occurring symbiotically with a photosynthetic organism (such as an alga and/or cyanobacterium). Lichens are known to produce a high number of secondary metabolites. Studies have shown that these secondary compounds have various biological roles such as antibiotic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, antioxidant, etc. (Huneck, 1999; Molnar & Farkas, 2010). There is a great need for new forms of antibiotics as bacterial infection is an ongoing problem and many bacteria have become resistant to available treatments. To develop new forms of antibiotics many different potential compounds need to be tested. The purpose of this project was to …
Early Parental Death, Genetic Variants And Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease: Building A Risk Profile From The Cache County Study On Memory, Health And Aging, Michael Peterson, Dr. John Kauwe
Early Parental Death, Genetic Variants And Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease: Building A Risk Profile From The Cache County Study On Memory, Health And Aging, Michael Peterson, Dr. John Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
A person’s predisposition to Alzheimer’s Disease is known to be influenced by both genetic factors as well as environmental factors. One know environmental factor is that known to affect risk for disease is early parental death. The purpose of this research is to better understand the complex factors that influence the disease by analyzing the relationship between the environmental factor of early parental death with genetic variants known to influence the disease.
Genetic Relationships Of Cottus Bairdii In Butterfield Springs, Nevada, To Other Population Of Cottus Bairdii, Sun Yeong Oh, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa
Genetic Relationships Of Cottus Bairdii In Butterfield Springs, Nevada, To Other Population Of Cottus Bairdii, Sun Yeong Oh, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The goal for this project was to evaluate the genetic relationships of the freshwater sculpin, Cottus bairdii, in Butterfield Springs, Nevada, with other populations of C. bairdii. We planned to examine several mitochondrial genes, ND1, ND2, and the control region, to identify the most likely origin of this population. We hypothesized that these sculpins were from Colorado River Basin as Scoppettone speculated (Scoppettone, Rissler & Shea, 2004).
Teasing Out The “Why’S” Of Evolution: A Functional Assessment Of B-Class Protein Complexes, Holly Waddel, Dr. Clinton Whipple
Teasing Out The “Why’S” Of Evolution: A Functional Assessment Of B-Class Protein Complexes, Holly Waddel, Dr. Clinton Whipple
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The evolution of floral development is caused by changes in gene function. The model for floral morphology is the ABC model of floral development (Coen & Meyerowits, 1991). In this model, A genes control sepals, A + B genes control petals, B + C genes control stamen, and C genes control carpels (See fig. 1). If B genes are removed, the resulting flower would contain only sepals and carpels, no petals or stamen.
The Effects Of Daidumene Lineata On The Intertidal Rock Pools, Preston Wilson, Russell Rader
The Effects Of Daidumene Lineata On The Intertidal Rock Pools, Preston Wilson, Russell Rader
Journal of Undergraduate Research
My experiment was to test the effect Diadumene lineata has on the marine life of the intertidal rock pools in the northwest.
Phylogeny Of Acridoidea (Orthoptera: Caelifera) Based On Complete Mitochondrial Genome Data: Testing Partition Strategies, James Leavitt, Dr. Michael Whiting
Phylogeny Of Acridoidea (Orthoptera: Caelifera) Based On Complete Mitochondrial Genome Data: Testing Partition Strategies, James Leavitt, Dr. Michael Whiting
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The orthopteran superfamily Acridoidea (Orthoptera, Caelifera), which includes grasshoppers and their nearest relatives, is the largest of the orthopteran superfamilies and provides an excellent model for studying the evolution of mitochondrial genomes. Ultimately I was able to reconstruct a phylogeny for Caelifera based on entire mitochondrial genomes (mtgenomes) in order to (1) evaluate the relative effectiveness of various data partitioning strategies within a Maximum Likelihood (ML) framework; (2) evaluate the conservation of anti-codons across the group and elucidate patterns among the start and stop codons of the mitochondrial protein coding genes (MPCGs); and (3) specifically test the monophyly of Acridoidea …
The Effect Of Male Dominance On Female Mate Choice In Poecilia Gillii, Michael Mcentire, Dr. Jerald Johnson
The Effect Of Male Dominance On Female Mate Choice In Poecilia Gillii, Michael Mcentire, Dr. Jerald Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Female mate choice (intersexual selection) and male dominance interactions (intrasexual selection) can each play important roles in sexual selection. These two mechanisms tend to be discussed in isolation. The goal of this study is to explore the interaction between these two forms of sexual selection. To test this idea, we focused on the livebearing tropical fish system Poecilia gillii (See Figure 1). We grouped males into similarly sized pairs and observed them for a week to determine which male was dominant. These pairs were then presented to females in mate choice trials to ascertain female preference. Our data appears to …
Interaction – Characterizing The Effect Of Chromosome 21 On Both Tau And Aß42 In Alzheimer’S Disease, Mo Lee, Dr. John Kauwe
Interaction – Characterizing The Effect Of Chromosome 21 On Both Tau And Aß42 In Alzheimer’S Disease, Mo Lee, Dr. John Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
It turns out that the data for chromosome 21 didn’t come to me at all. There were some problem with the data itself according to our co-researchers. However, the data for the phenotype YKL40, which is a promising gene that might affect the pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Kauwe decided that we should utilize the ORCA grant on this data that we had.
What Fatty Acids In Dairy Cow Feces May Predict Resistance Or Susceptibility To Production-Related Metabolic Diseases, Brian Melville, Beverly Roeder
What Fatty Acids In Dairy Cow Feces May Predict Resistance Or Susceptibility To Production-Related Metabolic Diseases, Brian Melville, Beverly Roeder
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Dairy cows supply an important food source for humans, and any disease that hurts production threatens this source. Once a cow has a PRMD (production related metabolic disease) there are many signs and symptoms that are readily observed and tested for, but it would be useful to use diagnostic techniques to discover if an animal is at risk of a future disease when the cow is clinically normal. These diagnostic tools could be used with clinically normal healthy appearing cows, empowering producers to make more informed decisions about animal care to improve milk production. Other exciting possibilities exist, such as …
Polyomavirus Phylogenetics In Relation To Host Switches, David Morris, Dr. Keith Crandall
Polyomavirus Phylogenetics In Relation To Host Switches, David Morris, Dr. Keith Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Evolutionary Biology is not a branch of biology that spends much time in the public eye. It just doesn’t have flashy results like cloning or evocative naturalist documentaries to captivate the imagination. However, this doesn’t mean that evolutionary biology is any less essential to our understanding of life and how it may eventually impact people in their daily lives.
Validation Of Possible Blood Serum Biomarkers Linked To Genetic Risk Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Jesse Cobell, Dr. John Kauwe
Validation Of Possible Blood Serum Biomarkers Linked To Genetic Risk Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Jesse Cobell, Dr. John Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
In 2011, the Alzheimer’s Association released in their annual facts and figures that 5.4 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and is the only disease in the top ten that cannot be prevented or cured. The report explains that diagnosis is a significant difficulty and emphasizes the importance of identifying another method such as serum biomarkers to use in the diagnosis of the disease (Alzheimer’s Association). The ability to diagnose early or detect risk factors before onset would make an enormous impact on management of the disease for …
Genetic Diversity And Conservation Of Old-Growth Cross Timbers Forest, Warren Chatwin, Dr. Leigh Johnson
Genetic Diversity And Conservation Of Old-Growth Cross Timbers Forest, Warren Chatwin, Dr. Leigh Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
My project “Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Old-Growth Cross Timbers Forest” has been undoubtedly the best learning experience of my undergraduate career. The project did not go at all like I had planned, but it gave me a taste of realworld scientific exploration and allowed me to practice some of the things I’ve learned in class. I’ve adapted to challenges, changed my plans, overcome obstacles through creative thinking and sheer diligence, and collaborated with colleagues who are working on the same organism. These skills will be invaluable in my future career as a research professor. I will see this project …
Detection Of Genetic Variants Affecting Mmp Protein Expression: A Genome-Wide Association Study Approach, Krista Klingler, Dr. John Kauwe
Detection Of Genetic Variants Affecting Mmp Protein Expression: A Genome-Wide Association Study Approach, Krista Klingler, Dr. John Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 35 million people worldwide. However, the pathology of the disease is not fully understood. Because of this, no cure for the disease currently exists, and once a patient has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, death usually occurs within ten years.1 This has led to a concentrated effort on understanding the genetics behind Alzheimer’s disease.
The Efffect Of Precipitation Frequency And Magnitude On Engelmann Spruce, Sarah Karlinsey, Dr. Richard Gill
The Efffect Of Precipitation Frequency And Magnitude On Engelmann Spruce, Sarah Karlinsey, Dr. Richard Gill
Journal of Undergraduate Research
I was able to present my findings in poster-‐form at the Ecological Society of America conference in Portland, Oregon in August. Dr. Gill and I are now in the process of writing up a paper about our work to be submitted to Tree Physiology or the Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
Student Resistance To The Inquiry Method Of Instruction In The Biological Sciences, Liahona Hamblin, Dr. Jamie Jensen
Student Resistance To The Inquiry Method Of Instruction In The Biological Sciences, Liahona Hamblin, Dr. Jamie Jensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The purpose of this study was to test student resistance to the inquiry method of instruction in tertiary introductory biology classes. Proven to be beneficial, the “inquiry” method differs from confirmatory “cookbook” laboratory experiences in that students explore phenomena and solve problems (Prince & Felder, 2007). This research was sparked by evidence that students tend to show resistance to student-centered instruction (of which inquiry is a part) (Felder, 2011; Prince & Felder, 2007). This research began with three specific aims: to define resistance based on learning theory, to quantify that resistance, and to test our hypotheses that reasoning ability, learning …
Novel And Integrative Approaches To Articulating The Pancrustacean Tree Of Life, Alan Colver, Dr. Keith Crandall
Novel And Integrative Approaches To Articulating The Pancrustacean Tree Of Life, Alan Colver, Dr. Keith Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The taxonomic group Pancrustacea encompasses more than half of the world species. The two main groups within Pancrustacea are the crustaceans and hexapods (insects). Understanding these two groups will aid in preservation, population control, and economic pursuits involving these groups. In our evolutionary analysis, six different genes, which are good indicators of evolutionary divergence (Felsenstein, 2003), were analyzed to gain a much deeper understanding of the relationships among these species than ever before and to hopefully resolve much of the controversy in the scientific community concerning their evolution (Jenner, 2010).
Clinical And Molecular Models Of Glioblastoma Multiforme Survival, R. Piccolo Stephen, J. Frey Lewis
Clinical And Molecular Models Of Glioblastoma Multiforme Survival, R. Piccolo Stephen, J. Frey Lewis
Faculty Publications
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive form of brain cancer, results in a median survival of 12–15 months. For decades, researchers have explored the effects of clinical and molecular factors on this disease and have identified several candidate prognostic markers. In this study, we evaluated the use of multivariate classification models for differentiating between subsets of patients who survive a relatively long or short time. Data for this study came from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a public repository containing clinical, treatment, histological and biomolecular variables for hundreds of patients. We applied variable-selection and classification algorithms in a cross-validated design …
Identify Novel Mutants Defective In Bract Suppression, Dr. Clinton Whipple
Identify Novel Mutants Defective In Bract Suppression, Dr. Clinton Whipple
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Progress has been achieved in most of the five research objectives. In some cases we have modified our original aims in the light of what can be reasonably expected of inexperienced undergraduates. Details of each aim follow:
Co-Amplification Of Mitochondrial Pseudogenes, Dr. Michael Whiting
Co-Amplification Of Mitochondrial Pseudogenes, Dr. Michael Whiting
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Funding was received from the BYU ORCA mentorship program during 2011 to support undergraduates performing research in my lab, under the mentorship of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and myself. During 2011, this funding provided direct support for 6 undergraduates who are in various stages of completing research projects. The following report focuses on undergraduate achievements, but also provides summary data for graduate students and other lab participants.
Combining Demographic And Life History Data To Test The Reproductive Value Hypothesis In Livebearing Fishes, Dr. Mark Belk
Combining Demographic And Life History Data To Test The Reproductive Value Hypothesis In Livebearing Fishes, Dr. Mark Belk
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The proposal was to conduct a large-scale mark-recapture project on a livebearing fish in Utah lake to evaluate size and sex-specific mortality rates of this population. The experiment was begun in mid- summer by marking over 1000 individual mosquitofish. All fish were returned to the lake alive after marking. In the original design we would recapture fish at two later intervals – late summer and early spring. At the late summer recapture time we recaptured individuals over a four day period with an intensive effort involving several undergraduates and graduate students. We recaptured only one marked individual out of the …
Byu Students Identify Genetic Factors That Modulate Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Levels And Influence Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Dr. John Kauwe
Byu Students Identify Genetic Factors That Modulate Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Levels And Influence Risk For Alzheimer’S Disease, Dr. John Kauwe
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Successful enrollment in and completion of graduate programs requires a constellation of skills. Students must be prepared to plan and execute experiments, present their findings both verbally and in manuscript form and interact effectively with senior scientists in the field of their choice. In this Mentoring Environment Grant (MEG) I will mentor four undergraduate students, (David Patty, Matthew Bailey, *Iulianna Sambur and Mo Lee) as they develop skills in study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, presentation and networking while identifying genetic factors that modulate protein levels and influence Alzheimer’s disease.
Using Cooperative Learning Groups To Research Speciation In Central American Fishes: Integrating Field Work, Molecular Phylogeography, And Video-Playback Behavior Assays, Dr. Jerry Johnson
Using Cooperative Learning Groups To Research Speciation In Central American Fishes: Integrating Field Work, Molecular Phylogeography, And Video-Playback Behavior Assays, Dr. Jerry Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
This mentoring environment grant was awarded in 2010 and was intended to spent over a two year period. The purpose of the project was to provide up to six students with an opportunity to participate in three different research aspects of a single research problem related to understanding speciation. Here I report on the outcomes of this project, specifically addressing the five points requested by the ORCA for MEG final reports.
Amphibians And Reptiles As Model Systems: Phylogenetic Research For Undergraduates, Dr. Jack Sites
Amphibians And Reptiles As Model Systems: Phylogenetic Research For Undergraduates, Dr. Jack Sites
Journal of Undergraduate Research
This award provided $20,000 to support of molecular phylogenetic work on a number of projects, including those related to my long-term focus on the “deep history” relationships of squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes), and the second more recent emphasis on phylogeographic (“shallow history”) studies of frogs and lizards. This second focus is in large measure a direct consequence of the NSF-PIRE project housed here at BYU (“Speciation in Patagonia: Establishing Sustainable International Collaborations in Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation Biology”; www.patagonia.byu.edu). In this project we focus on comparative phylogeography of selected co-distributed species in Patagonia. My lab is in charge of …