Biology Commons^™

Replicability And Recurrence In The Experimental Evolution Of A Group I Ribozyme, Martin M. Hanczyc, Robert L. Dorit

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

In order to explore the variety of possible responses available to a ribozyme population evolving a novel phenotype, five Tetrahymena thermophila group I intron ribozyme pools were evolved in parallel for cleavage of a DNA oligonucleotide. These ribozyme populations were propagated under identical conditions and characterized when they reached apparent phenotypic plateaus; the populations that reached the highest plateau showed a near 100-fold improvement in DNA cleavage activity. A detailed characterization of the evolved response in these populations reveals at least two distinct phenotypic trajectories emerging as a result of the imposed selection. Not only do these distinct solutions exhibit …

Energetics Of Larval Swimming And Metamorphosis In Four Species Of Bugula (Bryozoa), Dean E. Wendt

Biological Sciences

The amount of energy available to larvae during swimming, location of a suitable recruitment site, and metamorphosis influences the length of time they can spend in the plankton. Energetic parameters such as swimming speed, oxygen consumption during swimming and metamorphosis, and elemental carbon and nitrogen content were measured for larvae of four species of bryozoans, Bugula neritina, B. simplex, B. stolonifera, and B. turrita. The larvae of these species are aplanktotrophic with a short free-swimming phase ranging from less than one hour to a maximum of about 36 hours. There is about a fivefold difference in larval volume …

Delivering Copper Within Plant Cells, Edward Himelblau, Richard M. Amasino

Biological Sciences

Two genes recently identified in Arabidopsis thaliana may be involved in sequestering free copper ions in the cytoplasm and delivering copper to post-Golgi vesicles. The genes COPPER CHAPERONE and RESPONSIVE TO ANTAGONIST1 are homologous to copper-trafficking genes from yeast and humans. This plant copper-delivery pathway is required to create functional ethylene receptors. The pathway may also facilitate the transport of copper from senescing leaf tissue. In addition, several other genes have been identified recently that may have a role in copper salvage during senescence.

A Biochemical Mechanism For Nonrandom Mutations And Evolution, Barbara E. Wright

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

An Est-Enriched Comparative Map Of Brassica Oleracea And Arabidopsis Thaliana, Tien-Hung Lan, Terrye A. Delmonte, Kim P. Reischmann, Joel Hyman, Stanley P. Kowalski, Jim Mcferson, Stephen Kresovich, Andrew H. Paterson

Faculty Publications

A detailed comparative map of Brassica oleracea and Arabidopsis thaliana has been established based largely on mapping of Arabidopsis ESTs in two Arabidopsis and four Brassica populations. Based on conservative criteria for inferring synteny, “one to one correspondence” between Brassica and Arabidopsis chromosomes accounted for 57% of comparative loci. Based on 186 corresponding loci detected in B. oleracea and A. thaliana, at least 19 chromosome structural rearrangements differentiate B. oleracea and A. thaliana orthologs. Chromosomal duplication in the B. oleracea genome was strongly suggested by parallel arrangements of duplicated loci on different chromosomes, which accounted for 41% of loci …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Peter M. Grant

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

The Occurrence Of The Freshwater Clams, Musculium Partumeium (Say) And Pisidium Casertanum (Poli) (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae), In The Hawaiian Islands, Albert J. Burky, Carl M. Way, Skippy Hau, M. Eric Benbow

Biology Faculty Publications

Sphaeriid clams were collected from an ancient, continuously cultivated taro pond complex at Ke‘anae Peninsula, Maui. Both species are known for adaptations for temporary pond habitats and could have been initially introduced by the earliest Hawaiian settlers transported with moist taro root stock from other areas of Oceania.

Expression Of Smooth Muscle Myosin Light Chain 17 And Unloaded Shortening In Single Smooth Muscle Cells, Thomas J. Eddinger, A. A. Korwek, Daniel P. Meer, Jennifer J. Sherwood

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

These experiments were performed to test the hypotheses that myosin light chain 17 (MLC₁₇) a and b isoform expression varies between individual vascular smooth muscle (SM) cells and that their expression correlates with cell unloaded shortening velocity. Single SM cells isolated from rabbit aorta and carotid arteries were used to measure unloaded shortening velocity and subsequently were analyzed via RT-PCR for MLC₁₇ a and b mRNA ratio. The MLC_17b/a mRNA and protein ratios from adjacent tissue sections correlate very well (R² = 0.68), allowing use of the mRNA ratio to predict the protein ratio. …

Reflections On Scientific And Religious Metaphor, Ursula Goodenough

Biology Faculty Research

The importance of scientific conflicts for theology and philosophy is difficult to judge. In many disputes of significance, prominent scientists can be found on both sides. Profound philosophical and religious implications are sometimes said to be implied by the new theory as well. This article examines the dispute over natural selection between Richard Dawkins and Stephen Jay Gould as a contemporary instance of such a conflict. While both claim that profound philosophical conclusions flow from their own alternative account of evolution, I suggest that the implication is not as great as is claimed and that the alleged implications have as …

Effects Of Elevated Carbon Dioxide And Nitrogen Fixation On A Legume-Based System: A Test With Soybean And The Soybean Looper, Pseudoplusia Includens, Angela M. Spickard

Masters Theses

Wild-type and non-nodulated soybean were grown at 367 ± 10 ppm [ambient] and 756 ± 10 ppm [elevated] CO₂ to determine whether nitrogen fixation could minimize the effects of elevated CO₂ on plant nutritional and defensive chemistry. Relative to non-nodulated soybean, wild-type soybean had higher concentrations of leaf nitrogen and proteinase inhibitors, as well as lower C:N ratios and lower phenolics. Elevated CO₂ resulted in decreased leaf nitrogen and proteinase inhibitor contents, and increased C:N ratios and phenolics in both soybean strains. Constitutive levels of phenolics and proteinase inhibitors occurred as predicted by the Carbon/Nutrient Balance hypothesis …

Identification Of Human Rap1: Implications For Telomere Evolution, Bibo Li, Stephanie Oestreich, Titia De Lange

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

It has been puzzling that mammalian telomeric proteins, including TRF1, TRF2, tankyrase, and TIN2 have no recognized orthologs in budding yeast. Here, we describe a human protein, hRap1, that is an ortholog of the yeast telomeric protein, scRap1p. hRap1 has three conserved sequence motifs in common with scRap1, is located at telomeres, and affects telomere length. However, while scRap1 binds telomeric DNA directly, hRap1 is recruited to telomeres by TRF2. Extending the comparison of telomeric proteins to fission yeast, we identify S. pombe Taz1 as a TRF ortholog, indicating that TRFs are conserved at eukaryotic telomeres. The data suggest that …

Protozoan Free Colonies Of Lepidoptera, Kingston L. H. Leong

Biological Sciences

A method for the establishment and maintenance of colonies of Lepidoptera which are free of contamination with protozoa is provided. The colonies consists of individuals capable of breeding and producing viable, noncontaminated butterflies.

Sickle Cell Disease: Animal Models And Gene Therapy, Francesca M. Mellion

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

Sickle cell disease is a worldwide health problem in countries ranging from its origin, Africa, to the United States of America. The understanding of sickle cell disease dates to Zimbabwe in the 1940's. Sickle cell trait is the term used to describe healthy unaffected carriers (heterozygous) of the genetic condition known as Sickle Cell Disease. It is estimated that there are about 100,000 genes in the human body and each of them codes for a different trait. About 5,000 of these genes are known to carry mutations serious enough to cause genetic diseases. This research deal with sickle cell mice …

Effects Of Forced Weaning On Mother-Daughter Associations And Reproduction In Bison (Bos Bison), Jennifer S. Brookshier

Biology

While the social organization of ungulates has received much attention, the nature and extent of the mother-daughter association is still not fully known for some species. In bison, mothers and daughters have a long-term association that may extend beyond the age of weaning. This association is believed to facilitate the daughters' social integration into the herd. I compared the mother-daughter association for 29 yearling females that were forcibly weaned from their mothers to that of 19 yearling females that were naturally weaned. Forcibly weaned yearlings did not reassociate with their mothers following winter separation, while naturally weaned yearlings associated with …

Sexual Dichromatism In Bohemian Waxwings, James Brian Burns

Biology

If a species of birds is monomorphic, how do individuals identify members of the opposite sex? Birds may use cues in the ultraviolet wavelengths (350-400 nm), which are invisible to humans. This thesis presents evidence of sexual dichromatism in Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus). The strongest differences occurred in the tail coverts, the yellow tail tips, and the red waxy tips of the secondaries. Like other birds, waxwings derive colors from diet-based pigments and from synthesized colors. Because these color types differ in origin, each could provide different visual information about a bird's condition. This led to the testing …

Effects Of Carbohydrate Foods On Foraging Decisions Of The Parasitoid Bathyplectes Curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Helen Spafford Jacob

Biology

In a series of field and laboratory experiments, I explored the trade-off between self-maintenance and current reproduction for the parasitoid Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson)(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), an economically important natural enemy of the alfalfa weevil, the most significant pest in forage alfalfa. Floral nectars, pea aphid honeydew, and artificial foods such as sugar sprays are likely to assist B. curculionis in meeting its self-maintenance needs. Once these needs are met then B. curculionis females may be more likely to search for hosts to parasitize. However, these foods must not only be available, but accessible, of high quality, and detectable, to be of …

The Utilization Of Steep Slopes By Desert Tortoises (Gopherus Agassizii) In The Western Mojave Desert, Ty J. Gardner

Biology

Desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) were located on steep slopes at three sites in the western Mojave Desert. These sites were located at: 1) the rifle range of the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, California, 2) the southern boundary of the Fort Irwin National Training Center, California, immediately west of Manix Tank Trail, and 3) the Lava Range of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. Additionally, a valley site at the Sand Hill range of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, was included for comparison. Study tortoises were found on slopes …

Snfa, The Dictyostelium Discoideum Snf1/Ampk Protein Kinase, Sandy Sung

Biology

SNF1/AMPK protein kinases are a conserved group of eukaryotic serine/threonine protein kinases that mediate a variety of stress responses, including the response to nutrient deprivation. This report describes the isolation of snfA, the Dictyostelium discoideum SNF1/AMPK ortholog, and an examination of snfA protein function. snfA is a single copy gene that encodes a predicted 80.5 kD polypeptide. A single 2.8 kb snfA transcript was present at nearly constant levels during vegetative growth and all stages of development. The predicted snfA protein consists of three domains: an amino terminal kinase domain that is highly conserved in other SNF1/AMPK protein kinases, …

Contributions Of Domain Four Segment Four Charges To Sodium Channel Activity, Jennifer L. Abbruzzese

Biology

Ionic currents flowing through voltage-gated sodium (Na⁺) channels generate the rising phase of action potentials. This process is essential for normal cellular excitability and it is important to investigate the structure/function relationships that allow Na⁺ channels to change conformations in response to membrane potential. The Na⁺ channel skeletal muscle (SkM) α subunit is made of four homologous domains (DI-IV), with six transmembrane segments (S1-6) in each domain. One transmembrane segment in the channel, segment four in domain four (DIVS4), appears to make critical contributions to several aspects of channel activity. In this study, wild type (WT) …

Fisheries Research Report No. 119 - Final Report, Frdc Project 95/037: The Biology And Stock Assessment Of The Tropical Sardine, Sardinella Lemuru, Off The Mid-West Coast Of Western Australia, Daniel J. Gaughan, Ronald W. Mitchell

Fisheries Research Reports

Exploratory fishing for the tropical sardine, Sardinella lemuru, offshore of Geraldton on the midwest coast of Western Australia in the early 1990s, led to the establishment of a developmental purse seine fishery in this region. This fishery showed potential for substantial expansion, but as there was no information on S. lemuru in WA there was a need to undertake research during the developmental period. The biology and fishery for S. lemuru in WA were therefore investigated over a three year period between July 1995 and June 1998 with the aim of providing stock assessment advice.

The biology of S. lemuru …

Fisheries Research Report No. 121 - Synopsis Of The Biology And Exploitation Of The Blue Swimmer Crab, Portunus Pelagicus Linnaeus, In Western Australia, Mervi I. Kangas

Fisheries Research Reports

This report summarises the existing studies which have provided information on the biology, population characteristics and exploitation of the blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus, in Western Australia. Gaps in the existing knowledge are also highlighted to assist in targeting new research initiatives. Portunus pelagicus matures at about one year and in temperate regions females mate only once a year. This is because mature crabs moult only once a year. It appears from studies to date that Western Australian crabs are one genetic population. This is being further investigated. Migration of the blue swimmer crab occurs between estuaries and the ocean …

Outcrossing Rate And Inbreeding Depression In The Perennial Yellow Bush Lupine, Lupinus Arboreus (Fabaceae), Pamela Kittelson, John L. Maron

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Little is known about the breeding systems of perennial Lupinus species. We provide information about the breeding system of the perennial yellow bush lupine, Lupinus arboreus, specifically determining self-compatibility, outcrossing rate, and level of inbreeding depression. Flowers are self-compatible, but autonomous self-fertilization rarely occurs; thus selfed seed are a product of facilitated selfing. Based on four isozyme loci from 34 maternal progeny arrays of seeds we estimated an outcrossing rate of 0.78. However, when we accounted for differential maturation of selfed seeds, the outcrossing rate at fertilization was lower, ∼0.64. Fitness and inbreeding depression of 11 selfed and outcrossed families …

The Impacts Of A Nonindigenous Marine Predator In A California Bay, Edwin D. Grosholz, Gregory M. Ruiz, Cheryl A. Dean, Kim A. Shirley, John L. Maron, Peter G. Connors

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Coastal marine ecosystems worldwide are being altered rapidly by the invasion of nonindigenous species. Unlike terrestrial and freshwater systems, the impacts of an invading species have never been quantified on multiple trophic levels for a marine food web. We measured the impact of the nonindigenous green crab, Carcinus maenas, on a coastal marine food web in central California and found that this predator exerted strong “top-down” control, significantly reducing the abundances of several of the 20 invertebrate species monitored over a 9-yr period. Densities of native clams, Nutricola tantilla and Nutricola confusa, and native shore crabs, Hemigrapsus oregonensis, showed 5-fold …

Integrating Development With Evolution: A Case Study With Beetle Horns, Douglas J. Emlen

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Aspects Of Insect Conservation: Community Effects Of Habitat Patch Edge, Area, And Shape, Sharon L. Osowski

Biology

The findings of this study have implications for such conservation issues such as habitat fragmentation, reserve planning, and habitat conservation and ecosystem management. This study attempted to answer questions, using an empirical study, on aspects of habitat fragmentation. Current theory about reserve design suggests that: 1) larger areas have higher diversity/abundance than smaller areas; 2) square patches have higher diversity/abundance than linear patches; and 3) patches with hospitable matrices have higher diversity/abundance than inhospitable matrices. This study also adds to the knowledge regarding invertebrate responses to fragmentation. The experimental design was a split-plot multifactorial study. The edge factor had three …

Molecular And Morphological Identification Of An Endophytic Fusarium Isolated From Wheat And Characterization Of Its Laccases In Comparison To Affiliated Fusarium Isolates, Sun Il Kwon

Biology

A fungal isolate present as a seed endophyte caused disease in wheat and other cereals when grown under stressed conditions. The isolate was identified as a member of the Asian clade of the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex in the genus Fusarium, members of which are known as plant pathogens and producers of mycotoxins. The closest relative to the fungus was Fusarium proliferatum, although none of the previously described species was identical in all morphological and molecular phylogenetic characters. At least six laccase isozymes were detected in mycelial extracts or from extracellular culture filtrates of the Fusarium-wheat isolate. …

Stomatal Responses In Intact Leaves: Stomatal Interactions Within An Areole, Freya W. Denne

Biology

The objective of this project was to study the interactions among adjacent stomata in response to environmental conditions. Fully expanded and intact leaves from cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) plants grown in a controlled-environment greenhouse were clamped to a microscope stage for observation. Changes in stomatal apertures in response to changes in photon flux density (PFD) and evaporative demand (Δw, the water vapor mole fraction gradient between leaf and air) were measured. Increases in PFD elicited no significant coordinating responses among stomata. Responses of stomata to decreases in PFD were suggestive of coordination, but not conclusive. However, stomatal …

Teaching The Ethics Of Biology, David Harris Phd, Carol K. Johansen

Faculty Publications

Discusses the basic principles of ethics and ethical decision making as applied to biology. Ethical issues associated with biology; Theoretical basis of ethical decision-making; Models of ethical decision-making; Social implications of scientific experimentation and discovery.

Altered T Cell-Mediated Immunity And Infectious Factors In Autism, Yong Hu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three major questions were addressed in this dissertation: 1) Do immune abnormalities associated with autism primarily alter CD4+ T cell-mediated or humoral immune responses? 2) Are specific T cell clones expanded in autism? 3) Which, if any, infectious agents play a role in autism?

CD4+ T cell-mediated (Th1) or humoral (Th2) immune responses can be distinguished on the basis of the cytokines expressed. CD4+ T-cells secrete interleukin type 2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ, whereas a Th2 response is associated with secretion of interleukin type 4(IL-4). mRNA extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear nuclear cells (PBMC) showed significantly increased levels of IL-2 and …

Effect Of Multiple Founder Events On Genetic Variation: Transplanted Populations Of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis), Bernadette N. Graham

Biology

The use of reintroductions has become a widely used tool in the conservation of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). In an effort to reestablish populations of bighorn sheep in Utah, 23 individuals from two existing populations in British Columbia, Canada, Tranquille and Harper Ranch, were transplanted to Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake of Utah. The two British Columbian populations had been founded from a native population near William's Lake, also in British Columbia. Small transplanted populations may have lower levels of genetic variation relative to the source population due to the chance loss of alleles following the …