Biology Commons^™

Modeling 3d Retinogenesis In Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Following Crispr-Mediated Crx Knockdown, Pooja Prasad

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

An emerging technology known as three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineering has allowed scientists to mimic tissues found in vivo. Previous studies indicate that it is possible to differentiate dissociated mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) into 3D retinal tissues in vitro (Bertacchi, 2015; Eiraku, 2012). The newly differentiated retinal tissues are said to encompass all of the major components found in retinal tissues. The generation of in vitro 3D tissues holds great potential in terms of patient-specific disease modeling. Although various diseases have been well-studied in animal models, there are limitations with regards to patient-specificity. The generation of animal models to study …

Attraction-Repulsion Forces Between Biological Cells: A Theoretical Explanation Of Empirical Formulas, Olga Kosheleva, Martine Ceberio, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Biological calls attract and repulse each other: if they get too close to each other, they repulse, and if they get too far away from each other, they attract. There are empirical formulas that describe the dependence of the corresponding forces on the distance between the cells. In this paper, we provide a theoretical explanation for these empirical formulas.

Regioselective Synthesis Of Biologically Active Pyrazolone Nucleosides And Their Benzoyl Analogues, Heba Ahmed Ghanim Aboukhousa

Philosophy Dissertations

Increasing incidence of anticancer and antimicrobial resistance are the most common concerns in the medical field. Cancer is a serious disease that can affect almost every tissue lineage in the human body and poses great challenges to medicinal science. In addition, many antibiotics have a tendency to becoming resistant and are prone to severe adverse effects after long term use. Hence, there is an urgent need to discover and develop novel antitumor drug molecules which could effectively inhibit proliferative pathways with fewer side effects. Also, increasing demand to synthesize novel antimicrobial agents that are active against resistant strains.

This research …

Vegetative Rapid Assessment And Habitat Quality Analysis Of Steidtmann Woods, Sarah Mae Bail

Honors Projects

Due to invasive species and the assumption of an unhealthy ecosystem, Steidtmann Woods is an underutilized piece of land owned by Bowling Green State University. However, the property had never been analyzed. The proposed hypothesis was that Steidtmann was indeed in destress and its ecosystem could benefit from intervention—removal of invasive species and supplementation of natives. Through a rapid vegetative analysis, data was collected in several regions of the woods to identify what navies and non-natives were present as well as to identify their proportions. With that data, the species evenness, richness, and diversity was calculated; first, with raw field …

Dietary Supplementation With Tart Cherries For Prevention Of Inflammation-Associated Colorectal Cancer In Mice, Ashlie Hunter

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The cherry fruit is a nutrient-dense food with comparatively low caloric content and significant amounts of key nutrients and bioactive food chemicals. Much of the health benefit of cherries is attributed to their high amounts of anthocyanins, which have anti-oxidant and anticancer properties that contribute to changes in cell signaling pathways involved in inflammation, carcinogenesis and angiogenesis. In this project, we aimed to determine whether dietary supplementation with tart cherries prevents colon tumor development in mice consuming a Western diet compared to a prudent diet. Previously, our research team developed the Total Western Diet (TWD) for mice to emulate typical …

Surface Display For Metabolic Engineering Of Industrially Important Acetic Acid Bacteria, Marshal Allen Blank

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) have unique metabolic characteristics that suit them for a variety of applications. They possess an arsenal of membrane-bound dehydrogenases in the periplasmic space that are capable of regiospecific and enantioselective partial oxidation of sugars, alcohols, and polyols. The resulting products are deposited directly into the medium where they are easily recovered for use as pharmaceutical precursors, industrial chemicals, food additives, and consumer products. Unfortunately, there has been little research towards improving AAB, as few molecular tools exist for metabolic engineering of these microbes. To this end, an original surface display system was developed to express recombinant …

The Bovine Rumen Microbiome Revealed By Different Fractions Of Rumen Contents, Ashlee L. Breakstone

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The bovine rumen microbiota is very important in terms of animal functionality and digestion. The fermentative capability of the rumen provides means for the digestion of complex plant material that is indigestible by humans. The rumen is the working ground for millions of microorganisms, primarily bacteria, to digest and ferment feed into volatile fatty acids and bacterial protein for the animal’s energy and protein needs, respectively. Of significant importance is the rumen microbiomes ability to conform to certain factors such as genetics, feed, or geographic location. These changes can have a direct measure on animal growth, health, and performance. The …

The Effects Of Mesopredator Presence On Population Abundances Of Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo Silvestris), James Mcmichen

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) has been an important game bird for the cultures and livelihood of peoples living in North America for centuries. Understanding how predation pressures affect wild turkey behavior can help us better manage turkey populations. I looked at three mesopredators: raccoons (Procyon lotor), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and coyotes (Canis latrans) to see how they influence turkey presence at the White Rock Ecosystem Recreational Area, northwest Arkansas. I employed the use of 16 Moultrie trail cameras to ennumerate wild turkey and mesopredators at 29 sites. I deployed the cameras during late winter and early …

Novel Effects Of Prefoldin Pathway On Intestinal Homeostasis Via Dietary Restriction In Drosophila Melanogaster, Jesse Simons

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The field of medicine research is embroiled in a battle against aging. Particular focus is on the extension of lifespan and health-span. Lifespan duration is affected by many factors, one of which is the maintenance of the intestines of the organism. Homeostasis of the intestines is controlled by the regulation of intestine cell apoptosis and intestine cell proliferation. My research explores the role of two protein subunits found in a complex which may have possible functions in the regulation of these processes. The overall complex is formed from six subunit proteins, some of which are known to assist in other …

Determination Of Seed Viability Of Eight Wild Saudi Arabian Species By Germination And X-Ray Tests, Turki A. Al-Turki, Carol C. Baskin

Biology Faculty Publications

Our purpose was to evaluate the usefulness of the germination vs. the X-ray test in determining the initial viability of seeds of eight wild species (Salvia spinosa, Salvia aegyptiaca, Ochradenus baccatus, Ochradenus arabicus, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Suaeda vermiculata, Prosopisfarcta and Panicumturgidum) from Saudi Arabia. Several days were required to determine viability of all eight species via germination tests, while immediate results on filled/viable seeds were obtained with the X-ray test. Seeds of all the species, except Sa.aegyptiaca, showed high viability in both the germination (98–70% at 25/15 °C, 93–66% at 35/25 °C) …

Converting Chemical Signatures In Vaterite Otoliths To Aragonite Otoliths In Steelhead Trout: Developing A Partition Coefficient, Jamie Justice

Honors Projects

Otoliths are small bones near the brain of teleost fish that aid in hearing and balance. Otoliths are typically composed of a polymorph of calcium carbonate called aragonite; however, when stressed, fish may transition to producing a less dense polymorph called vaterite. Otoliths are typically used in studies of fish natal origin or migration patterns because 1) otoliths grow concentrically around an origin (birth point), 2) the material in the otolith is not replaced over time, and 3) microelements (Sr and Ba) can be incorporated into the otoliths in proportion to elemental ratios in the water (i.e., when fish move …

Preliminary Investigation And Sequence Of The Hyaluronidase Gene In The Venom Of The Atlantic Sea Nettle (Chrysaora Quinquecirrha), Zachary A. Cropley

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Jellyfish cnidocysts contain many different venom proteins, each with unique functions that combine synergistically to achieve a more robust and toxic fluid. One of these proteins is hyaluronidase (EC 3.2.1.35), an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid, which is commonly found in the extracellular matrix of many multicellular organisms. Due to its wide application, this enzyme is also found in the venom of many arthropod and reptile families. Putatively, hyaluronidase aids in the dispersion of the other venom proteins as it perforates the matrix in the target tissue. This activity has been detected in Chrysaora quinquecirrha cnidocysts, but the gene …

Modelling The Role Of Chance In Mating Dynamics, Libby K. Boykin

Honors Theses

This undergraduate honors thesis examines the role of chance in mating dynamics, focusing on the popular measures of Is and OSR and whether or not they are accurate measures of sexual selection. The first chapter is an overview of sexual selection and how biologists typically measure it, and the second chapter describes the modelling scenarios we created to assess the interaction of Is and OSR with both chance and parental investment. Our results show that Is and OSR have indeed been used incorrectly, and that we should shift our focus to trait-based methods when measuring sexual selection.

Male-Biased Retrogenes In Drosophila Melanogaster: Integration Of Novel Genes Into Pathways Governing Sperm Development, Katherine Eng

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Sexual selection and co-evolution with the female reproductive tract drives the rapid evolution of the Drosophila sperm proteome. It is important to reveal the genetics underlying the rapid evolution, and understand that the sperm proteome often evolves via turnover in composition, including the incorporation of novel proteins. Retrotransposition is one mechanism that gives rise to novel genes; this process involves the mRNA from an ancestral gene being converted back to DNA and incorporated back into the genome. Genes originating through the processes of retrotransposition often acquire testis-specific expression, and a novel role in spermatogenesis. Further, in Drosophila, retrogenes with …

Anthropogenic Noise Changes Arthropod Abundances, Jessie P. Bunkley, Christopher J.W. Mcclure, Akito Y. Kawahara, Clinton D. Francis, Jesse R. Barber

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Anthropogenic noise is a widespread and growing form of sensory pollution associated with the expansion of human infrastructure. One specific source of constant and intense noise is that produced by compressors used for the extraction and transportation of natural gas. Terrestrial arthropods play a central role in many ecosystems, and given that numerous species rely upon airborne sounds and substrate-borne vibrations in their life histories, we predicted that increased background sound levels or the presence of compressor noise would influence their distributions. In the second largest natural gas field in the United States (San Juan Basin, New Mexico, USA), we …

Skeletal Muscle Pgc-1Β Signaling Is Sufficient To Drive An Endurance Exercise Phenotype And To Counteract Components Of Detraining In Mice, Samuel Lee, Teresa C. Leone, Lisa Rogosa, John Rumsey, Julio Ayala, Paul M. Coen, Robert H. Fitts, Rick B. Vega, Daniel P. Kelly

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator (PGC)-1α and -1β serve as master transcriptional regulators of muscle mitochondrial functional capacity and are capable of enhancing muscle endurance when overexpressed in mice. We sought to determine whether muscle-specific transgenic overexpression of PGC-1β affects the detraining response following endurance training. First, we established and validated a mouse exercise-training-detraining protocol. Second, using multiple physiological and gene expression end points, we found that PGC-1β overexpression in skeletal muscle of sedentary mice fully recapitulated the training response. Lastly, PGC-1β overexpression during the detraining period resulted in partial prevention of the detraining response. Specifically, an increase in the plateau …

Yeast Membrane Lipid Imbalance Leads To Trafficking Defects Toward The Golgi, Sara Elizabeth Woodman

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Protein recycling is an essential cellular process that involves endocytosis, intracellular trafficking, and exocytosis. In mammalian systems, membrane lipids (including cholesterol, sphingolipids, and phospholipids) play a pivotal role in protein recycling. To address this role in budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I utilized GFP-Snc1, a fluorescent marker for reporting the recycling pathway. Moderate to significant GFP-Snc1 recycling defects occurred upon overexpression or inactivation of phospholipid, ergosterol, and sphingolipid biosynthesis enzymes, indicating that homeostasis of membrane lipid levels is prerequisite for proper protein recycling. Expression of a truncated version of GFP-Snc1 that cannot be recycled from the plasma membrane revealed that abnormalities …

Surveys For Rare And Endangered Mussel Species In Kansas: Traditional Methods And Environmental Dna Analysis, Kaden R. Buer

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina) is one of the rarest freshwater mussel species in the state of Kansas. It historically occurred in the Kansas and Osage River systems in the state. The Mucket has been extirpated from most streams and rivers in Kansas where it historically occurred, and few specimens have been documented in recent years. The objective of my project was to determine the conservation status of the Mucket by conducting qualitative surveys in the Osage River system of eastern Kansas. My goals were to collect information that will aid in the recovery of the Mucket and to provide information …

Phylogenetic Distribution Of An Endogenous Strain Of Dahlia Mosaic Virus In Members Of Asteraceae, Keri L. Caudle

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

A newly discovered strain of Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV) called DMV-D10 was first observed in Dahlia variabilis in 2008. DMV-D10 does not induce visible symptoms of infection in the host plant, and is classified as an endogenous virus. Endogenous viruses like DMV-D10 have the ability to integrate their viral sequences into the host plant genome, which can be transmitted to offspring. No studies have examined the host range of DMV-D10 outside of the Dahlia genus. Because DMV-D10 has only been observed in Dahlia, the objective for this study was to determine if presence of DMVD10 follows an evolutionary relationship among …

Soxhlet Extraction Of Avocado Endocarp And Trituration Of Avocado Mesocarp For Biodiesel Production., Ifeoma Oraemesi

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Finding alternative sources of renewable energy is on the rise globally. Renewable sources of energy are advantageous because they are biodegradable, less toxic, and combust efficiently. More importantly, raw materials for these sources can be replenished. One alternative source of energy is biodiesel. Biodiesel is a fuel which consists of mono-alkyl esters of long-chained fatty acids obtained from vegetable oil or animal fats. They serve as efficient fuels to run diesel engines. Biodiesel is produced via transesterification of oils wherein glycerin is a by-product. Avocado (Persea americana) is a fleshy fruit with high lipid content, mostly monounsaturated fats, which amounts …

Polymorphism In The Prpc Prion Protein Gene In Pigs, Anuja Paudyal

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Protein coding regions of the PrPC gene in 51 pigs belonging to 3 breeds namely Hampshire, Yorkshire, Blue Butt Cross (blue spotted cross from a Hampshire X Yorkshire), and a wild pig were studied. These breeds are used nationwide for commercial purposes. The PrPC gene of the pigs that code for prion proteins were sequenced and studied. Deletions of the octapeptide (WGQPHGGG) were observed in 13 samples that belongs to the crossbreed Dark Cross sow 71 by Blue Butt Boar (Gummy bear). This hydrophobic repeat has been used in experiments as a model to investigate neurodegeneration in prion diseases. Also, …

Using Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling For Long-Term Conservation Planning Of Three Federally Listed Bats In North America, Mitchell L. Meyer

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

We are currently in a sixth mass extinction event in which the extinction rate is higher than it has ever been. This mass extinction event is caused by human influence on the environment. Biodiversity is worth conserving because of its many uses to humans. Bats are a diverse group of mammals that humans rely on for pest control services. The gray bat, northern long-eared bat, and Indiana bat are on the Threatened and Endangered Species List and are in need of conservation. I built species distribution models using occurrence records, climate data, and Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling technique. I predicted …

The Effects Of Environmental Variability And Latitude On Breeding Behaviors And Life History Traits Of Aves In North America, Elizabeth E. Tharman

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Breeding systems among Aves have garnered attention in the last several decades as many species considered monogamous have been found to exhibit an alternative breeding system such as polygyny, polyandry, cooperative breeding, or colonial nesting. My thesis focuses on assessing the correlations between type of breeding system and resource availability by using environmental variables as proxy variables. It also assess the correlations between life history trait variables and environmental variables. Both breeding system and life history traits are analyzed at the species and population levels while controlling for phylogenetic relationships and geographic location when appropriate. Breeding system among species was …

Post-Drought Survey Of Freshwater Mussels In The Saline And Smoky Hill Rivers With Emphasis On The Status Of The Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides Ferussacianus) And Effects Of Lowhead Dams On Growth Of The Pimpleback (Quadrula Pustulosa) In The Neosho River, Kansas, Andrew T. Karlin

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Study 1:Post-drought survey of freshwater mussels in the Saline and Smoky Hill rivers with emphasis on the status of the Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus) in Kansas. The Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus), considered a “Species in Need of Conservation” in Kansas, historically occurred across much of the state; however, recent studies suggest that the species is currently restricted to the upper Smoky Hill-Saline River Basin, and a survey emphasizing the status of the Cylindrical Papershell conducted in 2011 suggested its conservation status be elevated to endangered. Continuing drought since the completion of the 2011 survey raised concerns regarding the status of …

Development Of A Spermatogenesis Specific Gene Driver Using The Uas-Gal4 System, Jake Figaniak

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The goal of the project was to develop a tool that allows for targeted expression of genes in spermatogenesis. To do this the GAL4/UAS system was employed. This system places the coding region of the GAL4 gene under a tissue specific promoter, ProtamineB in this case. The construct is transformed into Drosophila melanogaster and crossed with an existing UAS-reporter strain to make visualization of successful transformants easy. Expression was searched for in the testes by dissection and various detection methods. Unfortunately no expression was seen in the testes despite the construct being successfully integrated into the genome. This information tells …

Potential Role Of Drg Macrophages In Chronic Pain, Scott A. Scarneo

All Theses And Dissertations

Persistent pain remains a significant burden on the US healthcare system with more than 100 million patients experiencing persistent pain annually. Complex etiology coupled with functional plasticity of cells involved often results in a chronic health concern with limited treatment modalities. To date, most work aimed at describing neuro-immune interactions in pain focuses on the site of injury, leaving the functional significance of resident tissue macrophages in the dorsal root ganglia largely unexplored in both uninjured and peripheral injury states. Here, we systematically evaluate the phenotype of naïve DRG resident tissue macrophages and compare to naïve spinal microglia and bone …

Molecular Subtyping Of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolates From The U.P. Community For The Presence Of Toxin-Encoding Genes, Carol I. Kessel

All NMU Master's Theses

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of human bacterial infections; however, humans can also be asymptomatically colonized with S. aureus. Asymptomatic carriers can potentially spread S. aureus infection to others. These infections can range from mild to severe. The pathology of a S. aureus infection is often dependent on which toxins are expressed and the virulence factors with which they are associated. One goal of this study was to isolate S. aureus from healthy, consenting adult volunteers who submitted nasal swabs for culture and qRT-PCR analysis to determine which strains are present in the community. This knowledge could …

Zebrafish As A Model Organism For Ovarian Specific Expression Of Transgenes, Paula Hernandez

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Infertility is a public health issue that affects a large portion of the human population. According to epidemiological studies, 20% of couples worldwide were infertile in 2015 (Turchi, 2015). To understand how to treat infertility and other reproductive disorders in humans, first the mechanism in which vertebrate reproduction occurs must be investigated in a model organism. The zebrafish, Danio reiro is a popular model for reproductive studies (Hill, 2005). For this reason, a transgenic zebrafish was generated with a plasmid that carried 1823 bp of the aromatase (CYP19a) promoter and the Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) gene. The EGFP gene …

Elucidating The Effects Of Thiamethoxam Neonicotinoid On Honey Bee Learning Using The Proboscis Extension Response, David J. Shepherd

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this study, the effects of the neonicotinoid pesticide, thiamethoxam, are examined through the Proboscis Extension Response (PER) in honey bees (Apis mellifera). PER is a form of classical conditioning applied to honey bees through scent and reward association which quantifies learning rates. Results between groups treated with thiamethoxam did not differ significantly from untreated control groups. Potential reasons for these results are discussed. The method and experimental apparatus for testing the PER assay are also discussed.

Divergent Allocation Strategies Between Annuals And Perennials In The Field, Genevieve Pilch

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Within a species, geographic populations often diverge as they adapt to their local environments. Such divergence can be an early step in speciation, especially when it results in reproductive isolation and a reduction of gene flow. In the wildflower Mimulus guttatus, local adaptation is observed with variation in life history strategies. Annual plants flower early and invest very little in vegetative growth, whereas perennials spend more time growing vegetatively before reproducing. My study investigates the genetic basis of these alternative strategies in the field using an F4 cross between parent populations representative of the two ecotypes. I grew 24 …