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2013

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Articles 181 - 210 of 1508

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Anti-Cancer And Anti-Microbial Activity Of Selected Hawaiian And Sonoran Desert Plant Species, Christopher Wickstrom, Dr. Rex Cates Oct 2013

Anti-Cancer And Anti-Microbial Activity Of Selected Hawaiian And Sonoran Desert Plant Species, Christopher Wickstrom, Dr. Rex Cates

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Previous research into the anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties of certain plant species provided the basis of this project. Plants from various parts of Hawaii and the Sonoran Desert in Arizona had been obtained through interviewing of traditional medicinal practitioners in those areas. The plants were then screened at BYU for any significant inhibition of cancer and/or microbial growth. Significant inhibition was shown by any plant that inhibited cancer tissue or microbial growth by more than 50% over a 24 hour growing period. From the original stock of plants, 20 exhibited significant growth inhibition against one or more of the selected …

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The Use Of Stable Isotopes To Determine The Physiology And Ecology Of Reptiles, Jessica Makin, Kent Hatch Oct 2013

The Use Of Stable Isotopes To Determine The Physiology And Ecology Of Reptiles, Jessica Makin, Kent Hatch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stable isotope research is becoming more widely used in physiological ecology. Atoms of the same atomic number but different atomic weights are called isotopes. Nitrogen (N) has two isotopes, 14N and 15N, with the latter being the heavier isotope. The assumption is that 14N is excreted at a higher rate than 15N. It is also thought that this should cause an increase in 15N of the protein tissues and preferential excretion of 14N of an animal when the animal is in the process of breaking down proteins.

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Evaluating Network Phylogenetic Reconstruction Methods Using Computer Simulations, Steven Woolley, Dr. Keith Crandall Oct 2013

Evaluating Network Phylogenetic Reconstruction Methods Using Computer Simulations, Steven Woolley, Dr. Keith Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In my quest to evaluate the efficiency and accuracy of currently used phylogenetic network reconstruction methods, I have learned several valuable lessons applicable to nearly any research endeavor. I have successfully elucidated some of the conditions that affect the accuracy of two popular software programs for intraspecific phylogenetic inference. Below, I will give a brief background, followed by a description of the specific methods that I used in my evaluations. Finally, I will describe and validate the conclusions that I have drawn from my research, and discuss some things that I would have done differently and will do in the …

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Bioassays On Ethnobotanical Plants With Potential Activity Against E. Coli, Staphlococcus Aureus, Candida Albicans, And Hela Cancer Cells, Ryan David Huish, Dr. Rex G. Cates Oct 2013

Bioassays On Ethnobotanical Plants With Potential Activity Against E. Coli, Staphlococcus Aureus, Candida Albicans, And Hela Cancer Cells, Ryan David Huish, Dr. Rex G. Cates

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During a three month period, ethnobotanical interviews were conducted to identify and collect plants traditionally used to treat skin and mouth infections. Plant parts (i.e. inner bark, young or mature leaves, fruit, etc.) specific to the native informants’ knowledge were collected and preserved in 100% ethanol to maintain the chemical integrity in the field. Methanol and hexane extracts from these plants were tested against microbes in established laboratory bioassays. The total number of plants showing significant activity in these tests was lower than expected. Each plant’s actual potential to inhibit microorganisms may not accurately be represented by this research due …

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A Comparison Of The Phylogeny And Drumming Characteristics In Isogenoides, Christian James Hoybjerg, Dr. Michael F. Whiting Oct 2013

A Comparison Of The Phylogeny And Drumming Characteristics In Isogenoides, Christian James Hoybjerg, Dr. Michael F. Whiting

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Isogenoides is a genus of Plecoptera (stoneflies) from the family Perlodidae. The genus is composed of seven separate species and is endemic to North America. Each species has a limited distribution and a distinct system of courtship behavior. The male taps his abdomen on the substrate with a specific “drumming” pattern until he attracts a mate. The female will respond with her own drumming pattern and, in most species, the male confirms the acceptability of the female with a final, distinct answer. This behavior has been hypothesized as both a barrier to cross-species mating and as a mechanism of speciation. …

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Dentistry And Oral Health In The Post-Soviet Ukraine, Matthew S. Slivka, Dr. Bill Hess Oct 2013

Dentistry And Oral Health In The Post-Soviet Ukraine, Matthew S. Slivka, Dr. Bill Hess

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the summer of 2003 I spent six weeks visiting and observing 20 different dentists in the Ukrainian cities of Kiev and Donetsk. Upon leaving for the Ukraine, my study was organized so as to focus on learning and understanding the country’s current system of oral health care. To do this, I planned on observing and interviewing dental practitioners, focusing on aspects of practice such as price, availability, sanitation, materials and instruments used, and procedures performed. Many of the dentists I visited with were willing and eager to assist me in my study, but I also came across many who …

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Codon-Degeneracy Model: A Sliding Window Approach To Detecting Selection, Joshua K. Sailsbery, Dr. David A. Mcclellan Oct 2013

Codon-Degeneracy Model: A Sliding Window Approach To Detecting Selection, Joshua K. Sailsbery, Dr. David A. Mcclellan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Detecting selection on a molecular level has a wide range of applications. Knowing the selection that has occurred may lead to reconstruction of phylogeny trees, better understanding of the changes a given protein is experiencing due to evolutionary time, and pharmaceutical applications.

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Phylogeny Of The Freshwater Crayfish Genus Euastacus And Their Coevolution With Ectosymbiotic Temnocephalans, Heather C. Shull, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Oct 2013

Phylogeny Of The Freshwater Crayfish Genus Euastacus And Their Coevolution With Ectosymbiotic Temnocephalans, Heather C. Shull, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Euastacus crayfish are endemic to the rain forests of the eastern coast of Australia. There are now 43 known species distributed throughout Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Unfortunately many species inhabit areas where human growth, activity, and environmental modification threaten, limit or decrease their population size or natural range (Horwitz 1995; Merrick, 1997). The well being of these crayfish is important because many of these crayfish exist as keystone species in their community. Crayfish are polytrophic and therefore transform energy between a variety of levels and are important for the breakdown of debris (Turvey and Merrick, 1997; Parkyn et …

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The Phylogenetic Relationship Among Endangered Malagasy Astacoides Crayfish, Cynthia Del Carmen Penaflor Diaz, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Oct 2013

The Phylogenetic Relationship Among Endangered Malagasy Astacoides Crayfish, Cynthia Del Carmen Penaflor Diaz, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Freshwater crayfishes are taxonomically distributed among three families; two Northern Hemisphere families, Astacidae and Cambaridae and one Southern Hemisphere family, Parastacidae,which includes the Astacoides species. The phylogenetic relationships among the freshwater crayfish families and their relationships to lobster-like ancestors has generated considerable debate for at least 100 years. Because of this ongoing debate, the phylogenetic position of Parastacidae is unresolved. This study represents the first step in exploring the genetic resources of the endangered Malagasy Astacoides crayfish, and is the first large-scale phylogenetic analysis of this complex group. The results of this project will provide a phylogenetic estimate of relationships …

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The Phylogeny Of The Ephemerellidae (Ephemeroptera) Based On Molecular And Morphological Data, Jonathan Osborne, Dr. Michael Whiting Oct 2013

The Phylogeny Of The Ephemerellidae (Ephemeroptera) Based On Molecular And Morphological Data, Jonathan Osborne, Dr. Michael Whiting

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A prior analysis of the families of Ephemerelloidea, based on 49 morphological characters, supported Ephemerellidae diverging basal to all other Ephemerelloid families (McCafferty and Wang, 2000). The family Ephemerellidae contains twenty genera in two subfamilies (McCafferty and Wang, 2000) and comprises the largest family among the pannote mayflies. Members of this family are distributed throughout Holarctic and Oriental regions.

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Conservation Implications Of Chukars (Alectoris Chukar) In The United States, Randy T. Larsen, Dr. Jerran T. Flinders Oct 2013

Conservation Implications Of Chukars (Alectoris Chukar) In The United States, Randy T. Larsen, Dr. Jerran T. Flinders

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Chukar (Alectoris chukar) is a medium-sized gallinaceous bird native to the Middle East and Asia first released in North America in 1893 in Illinois (Cottam et al. 1940). The sheer scale of subsequent releases is astonishing. Between 1931 and 1970 over 800,000 birds were released in 41 states (Hawaii included) and six Canadian provinces (Christensen 1970). Many of the initial introductions failed; however, wild populations were noted in a few western states as early as the 1940’s (Christensen 1996). Currently, persistent self-sustaining wild populations are found in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and …

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Determination Of Hla Epitopes, Bethany S. Fredline, Dr. Keith Crandall Oct 2013

Determination Of Hla Epitopes, Bethany S. Fredline, Dr. Keith Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

On June 5, 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its first warning about a relatively rare form of pneumonia among a small group of young gay men in Los Angeles. Eventually the pneumonia was connected to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, better known as AIDS. The causative agent of AIDS was a human retrovirus later known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The HIV/AIDS epidemic has contributed to the death of 22 million people since its emergence roughly twenty years ago. Currently, 42 million people worldwide are living with either HIV or AIDS.

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Virulence Of Entomopathogenic Nematodes To The Citrus Root Weevil: A Comparison Between Indigenous And Commercially Produced Nematodes, Douglas Adolphson, Dr. Byron Adams Oct 2013

Virulence Of Entomopathogenic Nematodes To The Citrus Root Weevil: A Comparison Between Indigenous And Commercially Produced Nematodes, Douglas Adolphson, Dr. Byron Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The citrus root weevil is a major pest of citrus crops in Florida and the Caribbean. Currently, entomopathogenic nematodes are being used as an insecticide against the weevil. The nematodes carry bacteria inside of them as they enter the weevil. Once inside, they release the bacteria that kill the weevil; thus providing the nematodes with nutrients to grow and replicate. These commercially produced nematodes introduce foreign organisms into the ecosystem, which could have damaging effects in the long run.

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Orca: Dna Repair, Clinton Morgan, Derek Mitchell Oct 2013

Orca: Dna Repair, Clinton Morgan, Derek Mitchell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Receiving an ORCA allowed me the time and means to learn how to do research. I personally only receive a portion of the award, so I will report what I personally have done. The most that I accomplished can be seen less in the results of my research and more in me. I have gained many wonderful skills and experiences through doing this research. These include research skills as well as working with a mentor.

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Cytotoxicity Of Thirty-Six Moroccan Plants Against Four Cancer Cell Lines And 3t3 Cells, J. Aukai Riordan, Dr. Rex G. Cates Oct 2013

Cytotoxicity Of Thirty-Six Moroccan Plants Against Four Cancer Cell Lines And 3t3 Cells, J. Aukai Riordan, Dr. Rex G. Cates

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It is not hard to believe that eighty percent of the populations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America rely principally on traditional medicine for their primary source of health care. However, many people do not realize that many of the best-selling pharmaceuticals in the Western world are derived directly from medicinal plants. Considering this great potential, it is unfortunate that scientists have only tested a small percent of plants for medicinal activity. At a time when pathogens are developing immunity to traditional antibiotics and when many new and terrifying ailments are cropping up across the world, there is an intense …

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Inferring Demographic Events From Population Level Phylogenies, Steven Woolley, Dr. Keith Crandall Oct 2013

Inferring Demographic Events From Population Level Phylogenies, Steven Woolley, Dr. Keith Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

While I initially proposed to perform a rather thorough comparison of methods designed to infer population level demographic events, during the course of my research, I took a different direction. In order to reliably infer such events, it is first essential to have an accurate phylogeny. Since there was no consensus in the literature about what method or algorithm provides the most accurate reconstruction of the evolutionary relationships of nucleotide data from a population sample, I devoted most of my efforts to a large-scale comparison of the methods commonly used to infer phylogenies from such samples.

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The Final Report On The Effect Of Iodoacetate On Plasmodium Falciparum, - - Oct 2013

The Final Report On The Effect Of Iodoacetate On Plasmodium Falciparum, - -

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The first part of my experiment was to find the lowest concentration of iodoacetate that would kill the parasite. First, I made a stock solution of .1 molar. From the stock solution six different dilutions were made: 10mM, .1mM, .05mM, .01mM, .005mM, and .001mM. These different dilutions were placed in 96 well plates with the parasite. Control group was also placed in the same 96 well plates. After incubating the plate for twenty-four hours, 3H-phenyalanine was incorporated. After another twenty-four hours, the plate was harvested and the amount of incorporated radioactivity was determined.

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Landscape Genetics Of The Troglophilic Crayfish Cambarus Tenebrosus, James Bradley Finlay, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Oct 2013

Landscape Genetics Of The Troglophilic Crayfish Cambarus Tenebrosus, James Bradley Finlay, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There has always been a fascination with the great diversity of species that exist on the earth. For my project I chose to investigate this diversity phenomenon by examining the intraspecific relationships between populations of the freshwater crayfish currently considered Cambarus tenebrosus (Hay, 1902) taxonomically (by morphology). This crayfish species is found continuously throughout the central lowlands of the United States (Taylor 1997). C. tenebrosus is unique among other crayfish due to its ability to thrive in a cave environment as well as surface streams and springs. By studying these organisms one can more fully understand the effects that human …

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The Crayfish Identity Crisis: A Morphological And Genetic Assessment Of Biodiversity, Matthew R. Carpenter, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Oct 2013

The Crayfish Identity Crisis: A Morphological And Genetic Assessment Of Biodiversity, Matthew R. Carpenter, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Among the most endangered animal groups of North America is the freshwater crayfish. Their survival has been hindered by rapid growth in the human population, water pollution, and habitat degradation. The American Fisheries Society has estimated that 50% of freshwater crayfishes are in need of conservation measures (Taylor et al. 1996). However, only 1% is currently protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Because crayfish are at the center of invaluable research as top predators, nutrient recyclers, and bio-indicators of our water quality, it is important that conservation measures are taken.

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A Systematic Classification Of Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) Of The Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (Gsenm), Utah, Mark Robert Nelson, Dr. C. Riley Nelson Oct 2013

A Systematic Classification Of Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) Of The Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (Gsenm), Utah, Mark Robert Nelson, Dr. C. Riley Nelson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mycetophilidae (fungus gnat) is a species-rich family of flies, existing on every continent but Antarctica, which has received little documentation on a global basis and no documentation in Utah (Vockeroth, 1981). In the most recent and comprehensive catalog of flies in North America only about sixty of the thousands of fungus gnats known are predicted to be found in Utah (Laffoon, 1965). My mentor, Riley Nelson, and I believe that this figure is likely a gross underestimate that will be rectified, in part, with the conclusion of my study. Not only will my research document the known fungus gnats in …

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Pioneer Lizards: Speciation In South America, Cameron R. Turner, Dr. Jack W. Sites Oct 2013

Pioneer Lizards: Speciation In South America, Cameron R. Turner, Dr. Jack W. Sites

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Understanding the processes by which new species are formed is a primary objective of evolutionary biology. My project aimed to contribute to this understanding by measuring the genetic and geographic structure of a population of South American lizards, Liolaemus koslowskyi. Previous research (1) had provided evidence for a trend of more complex genetic structure in northern versus southern ends of distribution ranges in several lizard complexes of the genera Liolaemus and Cnemidophorus in temperate South America. L. koslowskyi is limited to the extreme northern end of the genus’ distribution and by sampling its entire range I would be able to …

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An Objective Means Of Diagnosing Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa Using 15n/14n And 13c/12c Ratios In Hair, Kent A. Hatch, Morgan A. Crawford, Amanda W. Kunz, Steven R. Thomsen, Dennis L. Eggett, Stephen T. Nelson, Beverly L. Roeder Oct 2013

An Objective Means Of Diagnosing Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa Using 15n/14n And 13c/12c Ratios In Hair, Kent A. Hatch, Morgan A. Crawford, Amanda W. Kunz, Steven R. Thomsen, Dennis L. Eggett, Stephen T. Nelson, Beverly L. Roeder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

An objective means based on the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of five hairs per individual is presented for distinguishing between individuals with anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa from non-clinical individuals (i.e. clinically normal controls).

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Development Of Software Program For Organizing Dna Sequence Data From Genbank, Heather Vernon, Dr. David Mcclellan Oct 2013

Development Of Software Program For Organizing Dna Sequence Data From Genbank, Heather Vernon, Dr. David Mcclellan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Nucleotide sequence data on GenBank (a government sponsored repository located on http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/) is organized in a flat file format that can be accessed by searches. Obtaining a large volume of sequences from GenBank is a tedious process because the sequence data must be extracted from the flat files for every sequence. The goal of this project was develop a java program to upload many sequences from GenBank in one file, extract the gene names to allow the user to group synonyms, and save the data into either tab-delimited or FASTA format for easy importation into other sequence manipulating programs. This …

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A Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Genus Habromys (Rodentia: Muridae), Christopher Funk, Dr. Duke Roger Oct 2013

A Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Genus Habromys (Rodentia: Muridae), Christopher Funk, Dr. Duke Roger

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Habromys (crested-tailed mice) is a rodent genus that historically has not been analyzed well enough to be accurately classified. Before 1980, Habromys had been relegated as a subgenus of Peromyscus (deer mice), a closely related genus. As a subgenus, Habromys consisted of only three arboreal species living in the cloud forests of Southern Mexico and Central America (P. simulatus, P. lophurus, and P. lepturus – Hooper and Musser, 1964; Hall, 1981; Musser, 1969). Despite the distinct morphological features of Habromys, it remained as a subgenus due to small sample size and limited morphological analysis. Upon more closely examining its morphology, …

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Functional Comparisons Of Lta And Tnf-A Gene Protein, Raymond Gram Ii, Dr. David Mcclellan Oct 2013

Functional Comparisons Of Lta And Tnf-A Gene Protein, Raymond Gram Ii, Dr. David Mcclellan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

TNF-a is a cytokine released by activated macrophages and lymphotoxin alpha (LTA) is a cytokine released by activated lymphocytes. Both proteins act as modulators of the immune response and competitively bind to the same protein receptors TNFR-1 and TNFR-2. The protein sequences themselves are 35% identical and 50% homologous to one another.

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The Effects Of Stage Of Reproduction On Survival Of The Livebearing, Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia Affinis), Jacob Michael Condon, Dr. Mark C. Belk Oct 2013

The Effects Of Stage Of Reproduction On Survival Of The Livebearing, Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia Affinis), Jacob Michael Condon, Dr. Mark C. Belk

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Reproduction is costly not only in terms of energy allocated to form embryos (allocation costs), but also because of a potential decrease in the probability of survival of the female as a result of reproduction (viability costs).

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The Cftr Protein: Evolution And Disease, Adam Allred, Dr. David Mcclellan Oct 2013

The Cftr Protein: Evolution And Disease, Adam Allred, Dr. David Mcclellan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The principal aim of my research has been to aid in the understanding of complex molecular pathologies by identifying evolutionary patterns that maintain the structural and functional integrity of a particular protein product. A disease phenotype often results when such delicate patterns are disturbed. The Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR), an epithelial chloride channel, has proven to be an especially worthy vehicle for understanding the link between molecular evolution and human disease. Aberrant functioning of this physiologically important channel results in cystic fibrosis, the most common lethal genetic disorder among European-derived populations.

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The Effect Of Celecoxib On 17-Estradiol (E2) Treated Mcf-7 Cells Using The Enzyme Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay (Elisa), Jason Kinyon Oct 2013

The Effect Of Celecoxib On 17-Estradiol (E2) Treated Mcf-7 Cells Using The Enzyme Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay (Elisa), Jason Kinyon

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There has been evidence that shows inhibiting Cyclo-oxygense 2 (COX-2) enzymes may decrease angiogenic factors such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), which may prove beneficial in halting angiogenesis and metastasis, stopping cancer progression. It has been shown that there is a significant positive correlation between COX-2 and VEGF mRNA expression in breast cancer specimens. 17b-Estradiol (E2) has shown to increase VEGF production by binding to estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cell lines such as MCF-7. The COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib can be added to E2 treated MCF-7 cells to determine its effect on VEGF production using the Enzyme Linked Immunoabsorbent …

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The Effects Of A Restoration Project On The Feeding Habits Of Local Trout Populations In The Provo River System, Lance Bastian, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa Oct 2013

The Effects Of A Restoration Project On The Feeding Habits Of Local Trout Populations In The Provo River System, Lance Bastian, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the fall of 1999, the state of Utah began to implement a plan involving several diversions of the Provo River. Over the course of the next several years, there arose a heated debate between the state, local ecologists and local fisherman with regard to the trout populations that inhabit the river. The fishermen claimed to be pulling out overly skinny fish, and the restoration project was blamed. Many claimed that debris from the project had washed down the river and settled on the feeding areas of the local species of insects and gastropods. As a result, these primary prey …

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Reversible Inactivation And Desiccation Tolerance Of Silicified Viruses, James R. Laidler, Jessica A. Shugart, Sherry L. Cady, Keith S. Bahjat, Kenneth M. Stedman Oct 2013

Reversible Inactivation And Desiccation Tolerance Of Silicified Viruses, James R. Laidler, Jessica A. Shugart, Sherry L. Cady, Keith S. Bahjat, Kenneth M. Stedman

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Long-distance host-independent virus dispersal is poorly understood, especially for viruses found in isolated ecosystems. To
demonstrate a possible dispersal mechanism, we show that bacteriophage T4, archaeal virus Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus Kamchatka, and vaccinia virus are reversibly inactivated by mineralization in silica under conditions similar to volcanic hot
springs. In contrast, bacteriophage PRD1 is not silicified. Moreover, silicification provides viruses with remarkable desiccation
resistance, which could allow extensive aerial dispersal.

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