Biology Commons^™

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome In Relation To Anxiety And Cognitive Impairments, Lyndi Earnshaw

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a heterogeneous syndrome that is a form of orthostatic intolerance. When a patient with POTS stands their heart rate rapidly increases. Other symptoms that are caused by POTS are: lightheadedness, dizziness, chest pain, fatigue, heart palpitations, and rapid heart rate. There has been limited research on this syndrome, but there has been some evidence indicating that anxiety can be increased in patients, as well as cognitive impairments such as lower IQ and slower response time as well. Different cognitive tests will be conducted as well as anxiety testing through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), on …

Ccl21 Protein Leads To Advancements In Understanding Lung Transplant Rejection, Cecilie Elliott

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

: The hypothesis of this experiment is that with an increase of the chemokine CCL21, those who have had a lung transplant will have an increase in the overall survival rate. This process would occur by increasing the immune response to recognize a new organ as “normal” instead of foreign and dangerous. The specific aim of this study targets to reduce the rejection in post lung transplant subjects by increasing the amount of CCL21 by injecting the DC/CCL21 vaccination to express T and B cells more efficiently. Mice would be injected with an IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) cell line to …

It's High Time, Rana Haboush, Taylor Mattison, Angelica Romero

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Our Specific Aim is to discuss the major impacts of sea level rise. We display how art can be used to spread awareness by creating before and after posters of a well-known monument effected by sea-level rise.

The Role Of Genome Mapping In Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder, Emery F. Chittenden

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Genome mappings as a mechanism for diagnosis in bipolar disorder.

The Future Of Invasive Species, Taylor Clements, Tiffany Yun, Sam Kane, Aryana Dipippa

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

End of semester group project on the management of invasive species based on peer-review articles.

The Role Of Capsaicin And [6]-Gingerol In Preventing​ Cancer Through Altering Immunity ​, Emery F. Chittenden, Taylor Clements, Tessa E. Dewalt, Erica L. Harris

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Plastic Debris Found In The Loggerhead Sea Turtle's Digestive Tract & How It Effects The Reproduction Survival Rate, Taylor Clements

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

Observing The Cooperation Of Varroa Destructor And Dna Virus Amfv In The Onset Of Colony Collapse Disorder In Emerging Apis Mellifera, Rex Liggon

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The honey bee population is declining from the onset of a disorder known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which has been associated with climate change, increase use of insecticides, and parasite/viral communication. Much focus has been directed towards the communication between RNA viruses with the honey bee parasite Varroa destructor and their relationship to haemolymph levels in emerging worker bees, but their association with DNA viruses has been neglected. The study proposed is to closely observe whether parasite burden in combination with reduced haemolymph levels could increase viral replication of DNA virus AmFV in emerging honey worker bees. Since, haemolymph …

Better Gene, Better Beer, Caitlin Harris, Marcia Lanasa, Jess Cagnina

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Investigating the flocculation gene, Flo11, in different brewing yeast strains to determine variations that could be contributing to the different levels of flocculation in beer.

Restoring The Population Of Keystone Species In The Chesapeake Bay: How The Preservation Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Can Improve The Blue Crab Population, Christina Bell

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

A research proposal poster that describes the possible relationship between juvenile Blue Crab survival and submerged aquatic vegetation density.

The Use Hela Derived Telomerase On Nk Cells In The Treatment Of Ovarian Cancer, Juwairyah Gunter

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

A research proposal for a novel immunotherapy for treating ovarian cancer.

Punicic Acid As A Possible Supplemental Treatment For Adolescent Type I Diabetes, Murriel Grimes

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Investigating the potential for punicic acid to be combined with insulin to treat type I diabetes.

The Effects Of Pramipexole And Carbidopa-Levodopa On Blocking Abnormal Activity In Gene Lrrk2 Which Causes Loss Of Dopaminergic Neurons In Parkinsons, Tiffany Yun

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Parkinsons is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes damage to dopaminergic neurons in the brain that are essential for controlling movement. There is no cure for this disease but scientists have found sources of treatments that help control the symptoms like using dopamine agonists which mimic dopamine effects and Carbidopa-levodopa which is converted into dopamine. This study aims to identify the different effects of using Pramipexole and Carbidopa-levodopa on blocking the activity of the mutated gene LRRK2 which is known to result in the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson. This study could have three potential conclusions where there is a …

Von Willebrand Disease: The Viability Of A Technology-Based Diagnostic Modality, Theodore Gutches

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an autosomal inherited bleeding disorder in which a person is deficient, qualitatively and/or quantitatively, in an essential enzyme for the coagulation pathway, von Willebrand factor (VWF). Like many coagulation disorders, the disease is commonly classified into three subtypes that include varying degrees of severity. More specifically, type 1 is classified as a partial quantitative deficiency in the VWF, type 2 as a qualitative deficiency, and type 3 as a total deficiency. As to be expected, the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment of VWD in a clinical setting, either for surgical precautions or general care, …

The Comparative Role Of Tail Feathers In American Goldfinches (Spinus Tristis), Colin Dominick

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Investigating the aerodynamic effects of the tail in solo vs. interactive flight comparatively.

The Connection Between Emotional Stress And Developing Graves' Disease, Andrea Leigh Soles

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid and causes the overproduction of thyroid hormone. It also causes hyperthyroidism where the thyroid is essentially in hyperdrive. This study aimed to identify the effects of long-term emotional stress on the development of Graves’ disease. More specifically, it looked to see if this type of stress triggered the overabundance of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs), the antibodies that attack the thyroid, causing growth and the production of too much thyroid hormone. The expected outcome is that that the participants that have not been officially diagnosed with the disease …

Long-Term Aerobic Exercise Can Enhance Cognition And Delya The Onset Of Alzheimer's Disease, Juliana Gordon

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Aerobic exercise programs have been shown to enhance cognition, functional ability, and may be a great, cost efficient therapeutic strategy for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Can a long-term (15-year long) aerobic exercise program be used as a preventative therapeutic strategy to delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease? Some potential outcomes of this study could be that long-term aerobic exercise effectively delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in individuals at high risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and that long-term aerobic exercise will enhance cognition, functional ability, and decrease losses in hippocampal volume that occur due to aging.

The Role Of Genetics With Alcoholism And Its Effects On Genes Aldh2, Adh1b By Causing Mutations In The Genome, Erica L. Harris

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Alcohol use disorder, an illness described by harmful drinking patterns leading to negative ramifications both emotional and physical, has become more predominantly associated with genetics rather than behavioral. There are many factors that play into alcoholism, some being environmental, heritability, and now genetics related. There are two genes believed to be related to alcoholism, ADH1B and ALDH2. Alcoholism can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, cancer and necrosis. In efforts to understanding the role of genetics and alcoholism, a genome mapping evaluation would allow for researchers to understand the effect of alcoholism and the role of genes ALDH2 and ADH1B, …

Enhancement Of Macrophage Response O N. Gonorrhea Infection, Sandra Ghali

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

My project focuses on enhancing the natural immune response to gonorrhea infection via the engineering of bispecific lectins that attach gonorrhea to the immune cells and induces phagocytosis.

Cd47 Blockade Enhances Macrophage Efferocytosis Via A Process Requiring Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 1, Richard Anthony Maldonado

CUP Undergraduate Research

Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques are characterized by large necrotic cores caused by impaired clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) in the artery wall. Targeted antibody blockade of CD47 (CD47), an anti-efferocytosis protein, enhances efferocytosis and reduces plaque area in mouse models of atherosclerosis. LDL receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) is a pro-efferocytosis receptor whose deletion from macrophages accelerates atherogenesis. We recently found that CD47 requires macrophage LRP1 to limit atherosclerosis. Thus, we hypothesize that the enhanced efferocytosis caused by CD47 also requires macrophage LRP1. We conducted in vitro studies using wildtype (WT) and LRP1-/- macrophages as efferocytes and either Jurkat lymphocyte cells or WT …

Reliability Of Chronically Recorded Visually Evoked Potentials In Awake Mouse Visual Cortex: Effect Of Restraint Habituation, Mckenna D. Stocker

CUP Undergraduate Research

Visual function in mice can be quantified using electrophysiological methods. This can be done using chronically implanted electrodes that record visually evoked potentials (VEPs) from a population of neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) in order to estimate visual acuity. The inherently noisy environment of the brain presents a challenge, as the VEP signal is very small. Our goal is to optimize VEP recording procedures to produce the highest signal-to-noise ratio possible by investigating the role of restraint habituation. The approach we designed included three experimental groups: one in which the animals received regular stimulus exposure and no habituation, …

The Development Of A Low-Cost Air Quality Sensor Array For Mobile Platforms, Justin Taylor

CUP Undergraduate Research

The traditional method of measuring air quality uses large immobile sensors. These sensors can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. If small, low-cost sensors are proven reliable then they can be attached to a drone for air quality management. The K30 Carbon Dioxide sensor from CO2Meter.com was used for testing. The BME280 sensor from Adafruit was used to measure humidity and temperature. A Raspberry Pi was used as an electronic controller and the programming was written in Python. After testing was completed, the K30 Carbon Dioxide sensor was found inadequate for atmospheric testing. The BME280 was determined effective for air …

Characterization Of Psychromonas Aquimarina, A New Model Organism For Climate Change, Carrie Carpenter

Experiential Learning Projects

The current increase of average global temperature puts 25 to 35 percent of plant and animal species at an increased risk of extinction (Climate Change, 2018). Changing any environmental factor, such as increasing growth temperature, can significantly impact any organisms’ ability to survive. Because of the diversity of organisms on the planet, it is not feasible to study how each individually might adapt, but rather it is more efficient to study select organisms. This research focuses on a psychrophilic bacterium, Psychromonas aquimarina, which can survive in colder regions where most bacteria would not. This bacterium was chosen because climate change …

Identification Of Candidate Human Satellite Ii Rna Binding Proteins In A Human Cancer Cell Line, Anthony J. Velleca , '19

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Global And Gene-Specific Regulation In Freeze-Tolerant Anuran Dryophytes Chrysoscelis, Elizabeth Claire Sinnathamby

Honors Theses

Cope’s Gray Treefrog, Dryophytes chysoscelis, seasonally tolerates freezing. During this process, it is subject to cellular stress from factors such as metabolic starvation, DNA damage, toxin accumulation (from cellular metabolism), and the risk of protein misfolding. Preliminary transcriptome data indicates that many mRNA transcripts vary in relative abundance within hepatocytes of D. chrysoscelis during discrete periods of warm acclimation, cold acclimation, freezing, and thawing. Physiological changes that occur in this frog are likely the result of epigenetic regulation—an alteration in gene expression that does not influence DNA sequence. This modification in gene expression can be observed by the subsequent change …

The Genomic Basis For Colonizing The Freezing Southern Ocean Revealed By Antarctic Toothfish And Patagonian Robalo Genomes, Liangbiao Chen, Ying Lu, Wenhao Li, Yandong Ren, Mengchao Yu, Shouwen Jiang, Yanxia Fu, Jian Wang, Sihua Peng, Kevin T. Bilyk, Katherine R. Murphy, Xuan Zhuang, Mathias Hune, Wanying Zhai, Wen Wang, Qianghua Xu, Chi Hing Christina Cheng

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: The Southern Ocean is the coldest ocean on Earth but a hot spot of evolution. The bottom-dwelling Eocene ancestor of Antarctic notothenioid fishes survived polar marine glaciation and underwent adaptive radiation, forming >120 species that fill all water column niches today. Genome-wide changes enabling physiological adaptations and the rapid expansion of the Antarctic notothenioids remain poorly understood. Results: We sequenced and compared 2 notothenioid genomes - the cold-adapted and neutrally buoyant Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni and the basal Patagonian robalo Eleginops maclovinus, representing the temperate ancestor. We detected >200 protein gene families that had expanded and thousands of genes …

Study Guides And Videos For Openstax Biology, Chapters 5-7 (Egsc), Martiana Sega, David Chevalier

Biological Sciences Ancillary Materials

This set of videos and study guides for OpenStax Biology was created under an ALG Mini-Grant for Ancillary Materials Creation and Revision. Two videos on energy coupling and osmosis are included, along with study guides for chapters 5-8:

• Plasma Membrane
• Metabolism
• Cellular Respiration

All files are included in one .zip folder.

Engineering Repressors With Coevolutionary Cues Facilitates Toggle Switches With A Master Reset, Rey P. Dimas, Xian-Li Jiang, Jose Alberto De La Paz, Faruck Morcos, Clement T.Y. Chan

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Engineering allosteric transcriptional repressors containing an environmental sensing module (ESM) and a DNA recognition module (DRM) has the potential to unlock a combinatorial set of rationally designed biological responses. We demonstrated that constructing hybrid repressors by fusing distinct ESMs and DRMs provides a means to flexibly rewire genetic networks for complex signal processing. We have used coevolutionary traits among LacI homologs to develop a model for predicting compatibility between ESMs and DRMs. Our predictions accurately agree with the performance of 40 engineered repressors. We have harnessed this framework to develop a system of multiple toggle switches with a master OFF …

Genomic, Ecological, And Morphological Approaches To Investigating Species Limits: A Case Study In Modern Taxonomy From Tropical Eastern Pacific Surgeonfishes, Prosanta Chakrabarty

Faculty Publications

A wide variety of species are distinguished by slight color variations. However, molecular analyses have repeatedly demonstrated that coloration does not always correspond to distinct evolutionary histories between closely related groups, suggesting that this trait is labile and can be misleading for species identification. In the present study, we analyze the evolutionary history of sister species of Prionurus surgeonfishes in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), which are distinguished by the presence or absence of dark spots on their body. We examined the species limits in this system using comparative specimen-based approaches, a mitochondrial gene (COI), more than 800 nuclear loci …

Identification And Functional Testing Of Novel Interacting Protein Partners For The Stress Sensors Wsc1p And Mid2p Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Ednalise Santiago-Cartagena, Sahily González-Crespo, Vladimir Vélez, Nelson Martínez, Jamie Snider, Matthew Jessulat, Hiroyuki Aoki, Zoran Minic, Pearl Akamine, Inoushka Mejías, Luis M. Pérez, Brian C. Rymond, Mohan Babu, Igor Stagljar, José R. Rodríguez-Medina

Biology Faculty Publications

Wsc1p and Mid2p are transmembrane signaling proteins of cell wall stress in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When an environmental stress compromises cell wall integrity, they activate a cell response through the Cell Wall Integrity (CWI) pathway. Studies have shown that the cytoplasmic domain of Wsc1p initiates the CWI signaling cascade by interacting with Rom2p, a Rho1-GDP-GTP exchange factor. Binding of Rom2p to the cytoplasmic tail of Wsc1p requires dephosphorylation of specific serine residues but the mechanism by which the sensor is dephosphorylated and how it subsequently interacts with Rom2p remains unclear. We hypothesize that Wsc1p and Mid2p must …