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Articles 61 - 90 of 323
Full-Text Articles in Biology
Application Of Optical Trapping To Obtain Single-Source Str Profiles From Forensically Relevant Body Fluid Mixtures With Modified Dna Analysis Workflow, Benjamin J. O'Brien
Application Of Optical Trapping To Obtain Single-Source Str Profiles From Forensically Relevant Body Fluid Mixtures With Modified Dna Analysis Workflow, Benjamin J. O'Brien
Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects
Current methods of mixture separation in forensic DNA laboratories typically deconvolute the mixture after analysis using statistical analysis or probabilistic genotyping. To save time and effort of labs already backlogged, a method to separate mixtures on a cellular level before analysis needs to be developed. Optical trapping is a method that uses a focused 1064 nm laser to manipulate cells. Previous research has shown that approximately 50 spermatozoa or 15 leukocytes from a liquid sample are required to produce a full STR DNA profile. It was found that the number of spermatozoa required remains constant when the method of sample …
Non-Destructive, Rapid Differentiation Of Cell Types Relevant To Sexual Assault Investigations Utilizing Morphological And Autofluorescence Signatures, Taylor R. Moldenhauer
Non-Destructive, Rapid Differentiation Of Cell Types Relevant To Sexual Assault Investigations Utilizing Morphological And Autofluorescence Signatures, Taylor R. Moldenhauer
Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects
Current methods for confirming the presence of spermatozoa in sexual assault samples can be time-consuming and often lack sensitivity; however, this remains the most definitive test for the presence of semen. Additionally, male DNA can be deposited without the presence of intact sperm as may be the case with seminal fluid from vasectomized individuals or sexual activity where seminal fluid is not recovered (e.g., perpetrator wears a condom, penetration without ejaculation, etc.). The ability to detect bodily fluids, as well as quantify their presence in a sample, could aid in forensic DNA analysis by limiting the amount of time performing …
The Heat Is On: Comparison Of Thermoregulatory Behavior In Parasitised Versus Unparasitized Caterpillars Of The Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca Sexta (L.) [Lepidoptera: Sphingidae], Jessica M. Johnston
The Heat Is On: Comparison Of Thermoregulatory Behavior In Parasitised Versus Unparasitized Caterpillars Of The Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca Sexta (L.) [Lepidoptera: Sphingidae], Jessica M. Johnston
Theses and Dissertations
Insect thermoregulatory research has demonstrated evidence of variation occurring within and among species with respect to infection, pathogens, and parasitism, but few studies have examined differences in thermoregulatory behavior in a host-parasite system with a coevolved symbiotic virus. I investigated the role of parasitism by Cotesia congregata (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on the thermoregulatory behavior of Manduca sexta (L.) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) using an experimental design in a thermal gradient chamber and a complementary observational field study on wild M. sexta collected from tobacco farms. Parasitism and larval age were not found to have a significant effect on the preferred body temperature …
The Functional Importance Of Methyl Cpg Binding Domain Proteins 2 And 3 In Regulating Fetal Hemoglobin Expression In Human Adult Erythroid Cells, Alexander Azzo
The Functional Importance Of Methyl Cpg Binding Domain Proteins 2 And 3 In Regulating Fetal Hemoglobin Expression In Human Adult Erythroid Cells, Alexander Azzo
Theses and Dissertations
Humans undergo two developmental switches in the predominantly expressed β-like globin chain during embryogenesis and fetal development. The first switch from embryonic (ε) to fetal (γ) occurs around week 5 of embryonic development, while the second switch from fetal to adult (β) globin occurs shortly after birth. By adulthood, fetal hemoglobin represents only 1-2% of total hemoglobin in the blood. As sufficiently elevated levels of fetal hemoglobin are beneficial for improving clinical outcomes in sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia, the mechanisms that enforce silencing of fetal hemoglobin expression postnatally are of great clinical significance. The methyl-CpG binding domain protein MBD2 …
A Study On The Mechanism Of Clp290 Restoration Of Kcc2 And Neuroprotection After Traumatic Brain Injury, Ekaterina Stepanova
A Study On The Mechanism Of Clp290 Restoration Of Kcc2 And Neuroprotection After Traumatic Brain Injury, Ekaterina Stepanova
Theses and Dissertations
The research of this thesis investigated the mechanism of action for the therapeutic compound CLP290, which our laboratory has previously demonstrated to reverse degradation of the protein potassium-chloride co-transporter 2 (KCC2) and restore neuronal function following modeled traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the rat. The loss of membranous KCC2 from the plasma membrane after TBI worsens the excitation/inhibition imbalance common in neurotrauma. Addressed here were the specific aims to: 1) assess that CLP290 treatment restores the functional oligomeric form of KCC2 to the neuronal plasma membrane as necessary to provide chloride homeostasis; 2) investigate the signaling mechanism by which CLP290 …
Sphingolipids In Cancer Health Disparities And As Prospective Targets For Cancer Therapy, April E. Boyd
Sphingolipids In Cancer Health Disparities And As Prospective Targets For Cancer Therapy, April E. Boyd
Theses and Dissertations
Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer both in the United States and worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancers. However, lung cancer disparities are not shared equally across racial groups, with large differences between African American and Caucasian populations. Advances in research have revealed roles of lipid mediators in cancer biology and disease progression, but sphingolipid alterations in tissues should be explored further. To address this, using mass spectrometry (MS), extensive sphingolipidomic characterization of NSCLC tumors and adjacent uninvolved tissues from African American and Caucasian patients were performed. This study revealed that NSCLC …
Interspecific Gene Flow Potentiates Adaptive Evolution In A Hybrid Zone Formed Between Pinus Strobiformis And Pinus Flexilis, Mitra Menon
Theses and Dissertations
Species range margins are often characterised by high degrees of habitat fragmentation resulting in low genetic diversity and higher gene flow from populations at the core of the species range. Interspecific gene flow from a closely related species with abutting range margins can increase standing genetic diversity and generate novel allelic combinations thereby alleviating limits to adaptive evolution in range margin populations. Hybridization driven interspecific gene flow has played a key role in the demographic history of several conifer due to their life history characteristics such as weak crossability barriers and long generation times. Nevertheless, demonstrating whether introgression is adaptive …
Synaptic Plasticity In A Visual Cortical Region Induced By Early-Deafness, John M. Kay
Synaptic Plasticity In A Visual Cortical Region Induced By Early-Deafness, John M. Kay
Theses and Dissertations
When organisms learn and adapt to their environment or lose a sensory modality, neurons in the brain undergo a cellular process called ‘plasticity.’ This thesis explores the loss of a non- visual system (early deafness) and how it can affect visual plasticity. To examine this question, Golgi-stained cortical neurons were studied from the visual region PLLS from early-deaf cats and their hearing controls. Dendritic spine density and dendritic spine diameter are well-known indicators of synaptic plasticity and these neuronal features were measured using light microscopic techniques and Neurolucida. Within the visual PLLS, the mean spine density for the deaf cats …
The Influence Of Breeding Density On Female Aggression, Parental Care, And Ornamentation In A Secondary-Cavity Nesting Warbler, Elsa B. Chen
The Influence Of Breeding Density On Female Aggression, Parental Care, And Ornamentation In A Secondary-Cavity Nesting Warbler, Elsa B. Chen
Theses and Dissertations
Tradeoffs between individual survival and reproductive success associated with aggressive behaviors are a driving force of evolution, but these tradeoffs are often overlooked for aggressive conspecific interactions between females. For avian males, it is well documented that more aggressive individuals tend to provide less parental care. In the few studies that address this in females, the tradeoffs seem to be more context-dependent, varying due to factors such as predation pressure and habitat quality. The relationship between female ornamentation and aggression is similarly understudied, but evidence suggests that both aggression and ornamentation are important traits involved in social selection – the …
The Utilization Of Eukaryotic Cell Types In Microbiomes For Semen, Vaginal Fluid, And Menstrual Blood Identification Using 18s Rdna, Ines Benaissa
The Utilization Of Eukaryotic Cell Types In Microbiomes For Semen, Vaginal Fluid, And Menstrual Blood Identification Using 18s Rdna, Ines Benaissa
Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects
The accurate identification of body fluids is vital for crime scene investigation and forensic analysis. While many body fluids can be presumptively identified, there is a lack of confirmatory testing for verification. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if body fluids (menstrual blood, vaginal fluid, and semen) could be differentiated based on their eukaryotic microbial communities. The target area of interest was the V9 hyper-variable region of 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA). The samples were extracted, barcoded using a duel-index strategy, and PCR amplified before undergoing high throughput sequencing using the Illumina Miseq FGx instrument. The samples …
Development Of A Quantitative Pcr (Qpcr) Based Method For Studying Temporal Dna Degradation In Waterlogged Bone, Isis Thornton
Development Of A Quantitative Pcr (Qpcr) Based Method For Studying Temporal Dna Degradation In Waterlogged Bone, Isis Thornton
Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects
Human activities are often centered around the presence of water, thus it is not surprising that there are many water-related human deaths. Accumulated degree days (ADD), and other aquatic variables may affect DNA retrieval from waterlogged bone. Calcium and collagen in bone can inhibit the PCR necessary to produce an STR profile; the current solution is a time-consuming organic extraction. While there are examples of research on DNA degradation in terrestrial bone over time, there has been little work done on submerged bone samples and they are usually limited to case studies. The major aim of this study was to …
Socially Regulated Neural Circuits Activation Via Endocannabinoid And Dopaminergic Signaling In Zebrafish, Choongseok Park
Socially Regulated Neural Circuits Activation Via Endocannabinoid And Dopaminergic Signaling In Zebrafish, Choongseok Park
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Evolutionary Relationships Of Courtship Songs In The Parasitic Wasp Genus, Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Justin P. Bredlau, Karen M. Kester
Evolutionary Relationships Of Courtship Songs In The Parasitic Wasp Genus, Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Justin P. Bredlau, Karen M. Kester
Biology Publications
Acoustic signals play an important role in premating isolation based on sexual selection within many taxa. Many male parasitic wasps produce characteristic courtship songs used by females in mate selection. In Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), courtship songs are generated by wing fanning with repetitive pulses in stereotypical patterns. Our objectives were to sample the diversity of courtship songs within Cotesia and to identify underlying patterns of differentiation. We compared songs among 12 of ca. 80 Cotesia species in North America, including ten species that have not been recorded previously. For Cotesia congregata, we compared songs of wasps originating from …
Interaction Of Seed Dispersal And Environmental Filtering Affects Woody Encroachment Patterns In Coastal Grassland, Natasha N. Woods, Benjamin L. Dows, Evan B. Goldstein, Laura J. Moore, Donald R. Young, Julie C. Zinnert
Interaction Of Seed Dispersal And Environmental Filtering Affects Woody Encroachment Patterns In Coastal Grassland, Natasha N. Woods, Benjamin L. Dows, Evan B. Goldstein, Laura J. Moore, Donald R. Young, Julie C. Zinnert
Biology Publications
Encroachment of woody plants into grasslands has occurred worldwide and includes coastal ecosystems. This conversion process is mediated by seed dispersal patterns, environmental filtering, and biotic interactions. As spatiotemporally heterogeneous, harsh environments, barrier islands present a unique set of challenges for dispersal and establishment. Environmental conditions act as filters on dispersed seeds, thereby influencing encroachment and distribution patterns. Seldom have patterns of propagule dispersal been considered in the context of woody encroachment. We quantified dispersal and post‐dispersal processes of an encroaching woody population of Morella cerifera relative to directional rate of encroachment and observed distribution patterns on an Atlantic coastal …
Fluvastatin And Microrna-146a Alter Interleukin-33 Mediated Mast Cell Functions., Marcela Taruselli
Fluvastatin And Microrna-146a Alter Interleukin-33 Mediated Mast Cell Functions., Marcela Taruselli
Theses and Dissertations
Mast cells are tissue-resident immune cells known as effector cells for the innate and adaptive immune systems. Mast cells contribute to host defenses against parasites such as large roundworm parasites, bacterial pathogens, and toxins, and participate in wound healing, but they are mostly known for their role in allergic diseases. It has been well established that during allergic diseases, mast cells are stimulated by IgE cross-linkage to release proinflammatory mediators. However, a newly discovered cytokine, IL-33 has also been implicated in allergic disease. Recently, IL-33 has been implicated as a driver of several Type I sensitivities and previous studies have …
Facilitative And Competitive Tradeoffs Between Morella Cerifera Seedlings And Coastal Grasses, Michael N. Sinclair
Facilitative And Competitive Tradeoffs Between Morella Cerifera Seedlings And Coastal Grasses, Michael N. Sinclair
Theses and Dissertations
Morella cerifera is a rapidly expanding native shrub on the Virginia barrier islands which displaces other native coastal species and may interrupt normal sediment dynamics. Barrier islands are considered stressful environments with low nutrients, high solar load, and frequent drought and salt exposure; facilitation often dominates in stressful environments according to the Stress Gradient Hypothesis. The objective of this project was to understand the importance of species interactions with grasses on the growth and physiology of M. cerifera at the seedling life stage through both field and lab experiments. Grasses provided ~1.3°C insulation to shrubs during winter freeze events and …
Manufactured By Nature: Growing Generatively Designed Products, Mohammad Jawad
Manufactured By Nature: Growing Generatively Designed Products, Mohammad Jawad
Theses and Dissertations
Mass production and assembly lines are yesterday’s manufacturing methods. They have exhausted Earth’s resources and limited the possibilities of design in terms of both form and material, prompting designers to search for new processes. A new generation of making includes biomimicry-inspired technologies such as 3D printing and parametric simulation, which have transformed the production paradigm. Utilizing nature as industry, this thesis explores the possibility of “growing” designed objects by employing nature’s own processes and resources. It integrates bio materials, generative design and additive manufacturing to produce objects for a post-industrial world. The project outcomes employ natural minerals, crystallization and 3D …
Assessment Of Microbial Carbon Processing And Its Implications To The Carbon Budget Of Lake Superior, Lindsey Michelle Koren
Assessment Of Microbial Carbon Processing And Its Implications To The Carbon Budget Of Lake Superior, Lindsey Michelle Koren
Theses and Dissertations
Over the past few decades, there has been increased research focus on carbon cycling within aquatic systems, especially with the changing global climate. Inland waters play a major role in the global carbon cycle, but the fundamental features remain poorly understood, particularly the large lakes of the world. Our experimental approach assessing the carbon budget of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake by area, provides spatial and temporal variability that has been previously overlooked but may be critical to our understanding on the biogeochemical processes controlling the lake. Multiple stations were chosen across the lake, both nearshore and offshore, to …
Spatial Genetic Structure And Local Adaptation Within And Among Foxtail Pine (Pinus Balfouriana Subsp. Balfouriana) Populations Located In The Klamath Mountains, California, Rebecca D. Piri
Theses and Dissertations
Foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana) is a subalpine conifer endemic to California, notably separated into two disjunct subspecies. Previous studies have described the northern subspecies,Pinus balfouriana subsp. balfouriana,as having an uncommonly high level of genetic differentiation and no discernible spatial patterns in phenotypic variation. This study seeks to characterize the spatial genetic structure and patterns of selection of the northern subspecies (Pinus balfouriana subsp. balfouriana) using genome-wide data and to identify the influence of ecology and environment on the unique genetic patterns. I show that genetic differentiation among populations is much less than previously estimated …
Preconditioning Of The Tumor Microenvironment By Means Of Low Dose Chemotherapies For An Effective Immunotherapy Of Breast Cancer, Hussein F. Aqbi
Preconditioning Of The Tumor Microenvironment By Means Of Low Dose Chemotherapies For An Effective Immunotherapy Of Breast Cancer, Hussein F. Aqbi
Theses and Dissertations
Breast cancer mortality is mainly due to distant recurrence of the disease arising from dormant tumor cells established by cancer therapies. Patients who initially respond to cancer therapies often succumb to distant recurrence of the disease. It is not clear why people with the same type of breast cancer respond to treatments differently; some escape from dormancy and relapse earlier than others. In addition, some tumor clones respond to immunotherapy while others do not. We investigated how autophagy plays a role in accelerating or delaying recurrence of neu overexpressing mouse mammary carcinoma (MMC) following adriamycin (ADR) treatment, and in affecting …
Spatial And Temporal Distributions Of Larval Clupeid Fishes In A Tidal Freshwater Marsh Complex, Philip Reid Anderson
Spatial And Temporal Distributions Of Larval Clupeid Fishes In A Tidal Freshwater Marsh Complex, Philip Reid Anderson
Theses and Dissertations
Tidal freshwater wetlands provide valuable ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, coastal flood control, and reproductive habitat for early life stages of economically and ecologically important fishes. The nutrient rich environments that tidal freshwater wetlands occur in support high levels of primary productivity of phytoplankton and vegetation that provide essential reproductive habitat for anadromous clupeid fishes (Alosa spp., Brevoortia tyrannus) in Chesapeake Bay tributaries. Seasonal retention of clupeid eggs and larvae within tidal freshwater habitats may enhance early growth, survival, and year class strength. The primary goal of the present study was to characterize the relative importance of …
Mechanisms Underlying Production Stability In Temperate Deciduous Forests, Shea B. Wales
Mechanisms Underlying Production Stability In Temperate Deciduous Forests, Shea B. Wales
Theses and Dissertations
A persistent and reliable future terrestrial carbon (C) sink will depend on how stable forest production is under more variable climate conditions. We examined how age, forest structure, and disturbance history relate to the interannual variability of above-ground wood net primary production (NPPw). Our site in northern Michigan spans two experimental forest chronosequences and three late successional stands; the chronosequences have distinct disturbance histories, originating following either clear cut harvesting (“Cut Only”) or clear cut harvesting and fire (“Cut and Burn”), and range from 21 to 108 years old. Annual NPPw was estimated using dendrochronology and site specific allometric equations. …
The Role Of Sphingosine Kinase 2 In Alcoholic Liver Disease, Eric K. Kwong
The Role Of Sphingosine Kinase 2 In Alcoholic Liver Disease, Eric K. Kwong
Theses and Dissertations
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide characterized by the accumulation of lipids within the liver, inflammation and the possibility of progressing to cirrhosis and liver failure. More importantly, there are currently no effective treatments for ALD and liver transplantation remains the only therapeutic option for end-stage liver disease. Previous studies have shown that ALD is a result of a combination of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, lipid metabolism dysregulation and inflammation. It has been previously reported that alcohol disrupts gut microbiota homeostasis and causes increased endotoxins that contribute to the pathology of ALD. However, …
Regulatory T Cells Promote Breast Cancer Progression Through Inhibiting Classical Activation Of Macrophages, Nicholas M. Clark
Regulatory T Cells Promote Breast Cancer Progression Through Inhibiting Classical Activation Of Macrophages, Nicholas M. Clark
Theses and Dissertations
Transient ablation of regulatory T cells has been shown to be effective at hindering tumor growth and metastasis in murine breast cancer model. Based on our lab’s previous work, we have demonstrated that NK cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells were not required for the protective effect of Treg cell ablation. However, we also reported that CD4+ helper T cells and IFN-γ were required for the protective effect of Treg cell ablation. Furthermore, we observed that CD11B+ cells responded to Treg ablation therapy by up-regulating target genes of IFN-γ. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the connection between the myeloid …
Testing For Cryptic Diversity And Inference Of Population Structure In The Cosmopolitan Hoplonemertean Emplectonema Gracile (Nemertea), Paul L. Delaney Iv
Testing For Cryptic Diversity And Inference Of Population Structure In The Cosmopolitan Hoplonemertean Emplectonema Gracile (Nemertea), Paul L. Delaney Iv
Theses and Dissertations
Emplectonema gracile (Johnston 1837) is a hoplonemertean of marine intertidal hard-bottom communities and is distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Although possessing a planktonic larval stage in its life history, the range of such cosmopolitan marine invertebrate species is often explained by cryptic speciation and anthropogenic transport. The purpose of this study is to test for possible cryptic species using mtDNA markers (COI and 16S rDNA) and to investigate population structure in E. gracile over a portion of its geographic range using mtDNA markers and ddRADseq nuclear SNP data. The results of both phylogenetic- and tree-based species delimitation revealed that E. …
Effect Of Tidal Cycling Rate On The Distribution And Abundance Of Nitrogen-Oxidizing Bacteria In A Bench-Scale Fill-And-Drain Bioreactor, Joseph M. Battistelli, Rima B. Franklin, Aaron L. Mills
Effect Of Tidal Cycling Rate On The Distribution And Abundance Of Nitrogen-Oxidizing Bacteria In A Bench-Scale Fill-And-Drain Bioreactor, Joseph M. Battistelli, Rima B. Franklin, Aaron L. Mills
Biology Publications
Most domestic wastewater can be effectively treated for secondary uses by engineered biological systems. These systems rely on microbial activity to reduce nitrogen (N) content of the reclaimed water. Such systems often employ a tidal-flow process to minimize space requirements for the coupling of aerobic and anaerobic metabolic processes. In this study, laboratory-scale tidal-flow treatment systems were studied to determine how the frequency and duration of tidal cycling may impact reactor performance. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and epifluorescence microscopy were used to enumerate the key functional groups of bacteria responsible for nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), and N-removal efficiency …
Mechanisms Of Surviving Burial: Dune Grass Interspecific Differences Drive Resource Allocation After Sand Deposition, Joseph K. Brown, Julie C. Zinnert
Mechanisms Of Surviving Burial: Dune Grass Interspecific Differences Drive Resource Allocation After Sand Deposition, Joseph K. Brown, Julie C. Zinnert
Biology Publications
Sand dunes are important geomorphic formations of coastal ecosystems that are critical in protecting human populations that live in coastal areas. Dune formation is driven by ecomorphodynamic interactions between vegetation and sediment deposition. While there has been extensive research on responses of dune grasses to sand burial, there is a knowledge gap in understanding mechanisms of acclimation between similar, coexistent, dune-building grasses such as Ammophila breviligulata (C3), Spartina patens (C4), and Uniola paniculata (C4). Our goal was to determine how physiological mechanisms of acclimation to sand burial vary between species. We hypothesize that (1) …
Investigation Into The Role Of Manganese In The Growth Of The Opportunistic Pathogen Streptococcus Sanguinis, Brittany Spivey
Investigation Into The Role Of Manganese In The Growth Of The Opportunistic Pathogen Streptococcus Sanguinis, Brittany Spivey
AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship
While Streptococcus sanguinis plays a beneficial role in the oral cavity as a competitor of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, the bacteria that produce dental caries, it can cause deadly infective endocarditis if given the opportunity to colonize the vegetations that form over damaged endocardial tissue. Pre-existing heart conditions, surgery, and intravenous drug use predispose individuals to endocarditis. S. sanguinis growth and consequential virulence is significantly impeded by restriction to manganese. This is due to the resulting overwhelming oxidative stress and formation of reactive oxygen species which damage DNA and other cellular components. Manganese is essential for S. sanguinis proteins …
A Comparison Of Two Methods Of Quantifying Mating Success In Low Density Gypsy Moth (Lymantria Dispar) Populations, Alexandra Barry, Hannah Byrne, Derek M. Johnson
A Comparison Of Two Methods Of Quantifying Mating Success In Low Density Gypsy Moth (Lymantria Dispar) Populations, Alexandra Barry, Hannah Byrne, Derek M. Johnson
UROP Posters
The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a defoliating pest native to Europe and invasive to North America. The gypsy moth is subject to depressed mating success in low density populations, which may restrict spread of the forest pest. Research focusing on gypsy moth density as it relates to mating behavior has often used counts of males caught in pheromone-baited delta traps as a proxy to estimate the probability of female mating success. The purpose of this project was to determine whether pheromone trap counts provide accurate estimates of female mating success probability, by comparing data gathered from pheromone-baited …
Floral Symmetry Genes Elucidate The Development And Evolution Of Oil-Bee Pollinated Flowers Of Malpighiaceae And Krameriaceae, Farahnoz N. Khojayori
Floral Symmetry Genes Elucidate The Development And Evolution Of Oil-Bee Pollinated Flowers Of Malpighiaceae And Krameriaceae, Farahnoz N. Khojayori
Theses and Dissertations
Specialization on insect and animal pollinators is thought to be the driving force for the evolution of floral traits. Specifically in the New World (NW), the oil-bee pollination syndrome has led to the convergence of floral characters in two distantly related families of core eudicots, Malpighiaceae and Krameriaceae. Both families display a flag-like structure that establishes a zygomorphic flower and floral oil rewards in epithelial elaiophores. These traits work concomitantly to attract and reward female oil-bees that help fertilize these flowers and in return receive oils. The underlying genetics of floral zygomorphy were studied in several clades of core eudicots, …