Biology Commons^™

A Tail’S Tale: Biomechanical Roles Of Dorsal Thoracic Spine Of Barnacle Nauplii, Emily Branam , '21, J. Y. Wong, B. K. K. Chan, Kit Yu Karen Chan

Biology Faculty Works

Many marine invertebrates have complex life histories that begin with a planktonic larval stage. Similar to other plankton, these larval invertebrates often possess protruding body extensions, but their function beyond predator deterrence is not well-documented. For example, the planktonic nauplii of crustaceans have spines. Using the epibiotic pedunculate barnacle Octolasmis spp., we investigated how the dorsal thoracic spine affects swimming and fluid disturbance by comparing nauplii with their spines partially removed against those with intact spines. Our motion analysis showed that amputated Octolasmis spp. swam slower, in jerkier trajectories, and were less efficient per stroke cycle than those with intact …

How Gata3 Affects Neuronal Survival In The Inner Ear, Hiba Ahmad

Honors Theses

Broadly speaking, Gata3 is a transcription factor involved in neurosensory specification and hair cell differentiation. Previous studies have shown that Gata3 null mutants do not develop neurons, so Gata3 appears to be necessary for neuronal survival. To better understand the role of Gata3 in spiral ganglion neurons of the inner ear, a Neurod1-cre model was used to conditionally knock out Gata3 at E9-E9.5, the timepoint when neuroblasts first begin to delaminate from the otic placode. The mutants used in this study were Nd1-cre: Gata3 f/f mutants. In situ was performed to determine gene expression within the cochlea, and immunohistochemistry was …

Interplay Between Mirnas And Lncrnas: Mode Of Action And Biological Roles In Plant Development And Stress Adaptation, Xianxiang Meng, Aixia Li, Bin Yu, Shengjun Li

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Plants employ sophisticated mechanisms to control developmental processes and to cope with environmental changes at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), two classes of endogenous noncoding RNAs, are key regulators of gene expression in plants. Recent studies have identified the interplay between miRNAs and lncRNAs as a novel regulatory layer of gene expression in plants. On one hand, miRNAs target lncRNAs for the production of phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs). On the other hand, lncRNAs serve as origin of miRNAs or regulate the accumulation or activity of miRNAs at transcription and post-transcriptional levels. Theses lncRNA …

Increasing The Frequency Of Periodic Spatial Disturbance Decreases Surface Attachment Protein Expression In Staphylococcus Aureus, Ivana M. Barraza

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause a variety of acute and chronic illnesses. The severity of these illnesses such as sepsis, necrotizing pneumonia, and toxic shock syndrome is measured through the virulence that S. aureus inflicts on its host. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is commonly associated with secondary infections and is challenging to treat given the limited selection of antibiotics that are effective against it. Accordingly, novel approaches to reduce S. aureus pathogenicity are required. S. aureus regulates pathogenesis through a cell-to-cell communication system referred to as quorum sensing. Effective communication determines the production of two broad …

208— Describing Genetic Diversity In A Non-Native Ant-Mimicking Spider, Cassidy Mills, Jennifer L. Apple

GREAT Day Posters

The ant-mimicking spider Myrmarachne formicaria (Salticidae) is a species native to Eurasia and was first identified in North America in 2001. It has since been found in many locations in the Northeast including western New York, western Pennsylvania, northeastern Ohio, and southern Ontario. Little is known about its introduction to North America and how it has dispersed since. By characterizing the mitochondrial genetic diversity of this species, we can learn about its introduction history and dispersal patterns in North America. Sequencing of a 600-bp mitochondrial DNA gene region spanning the 16s rRNA, leucine tRNA, and part of the ND1 gene …

Unsupervised And Supervised Learning For Rna-Protein Interactions And Annotations, Kateland Sipe

Honors Projects

This project analyzed the base and amino acid interactions and annotations through the use of unsupervised and supervised learning techniques. For unsupervised learning, clustering found the data was not able to be distinguished into clear groups which matched the original annotations through kmeans clustering and hierarchical clustering. For supervised learning, the use of random forest, glmnet, and deep learning neural networks were successful in creating accurate predictions. However, machine learning likely will not be able to replace the original complex program, but could be used for possible simplification.

307— Cooperation Of Selfish Genetic Elements In Stalk-Eyed Flies, Suhani Patel, Ben Mcpherson

GREAT Day Posters

SGEs are selfish genetic elements that increase the likelihood of their own transmission regardless of the host’s best interest. Transposable elements (TEs) and meiotic drivers are both types of SGEs. SGEs subsequently result in genetic conflict as they disrupt functional elements in the genome. We are working to better understand the cooperation of selfish genetic elements in Stalk-Eyed flies. Transposable elements are counteracted by small non-coding RNA molecules called piRNA. These RNA molecules work by reducing the expression of TEs by degrading TE RNA transcripts. Prior work in stalk-eyed flies has shown that TEs are expressed at a higher rate …

215— Schistosomiasis Infections In School Aged Children In Ghana, Katerina Pisciotta, Maia Mazzaferro

GREAT Day Posters

Schistosomiasis is a Neglected Tropical Disease caused by a parasitic blood fluke. There are currently over 240 million people affected globally. Humans become infected after coming into contact with water containing the infectious stage of the parasite. Our data consists of egg counts for Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni collected from school-aged children in Tomefa, Ghana, a marginalized informal community, between 2014 and 2019. Our research explores whether or not reinfections and continuous infections were occurring over the six-year period. Although the government conducts periodic mass drug administration, reinfections are likely given the social and environmental conditions in the community. …

281— Insect Soundscapes In Western New York, Sarah Metz, Mackenzie Bancroft, Dana Moukaled

GREAT Day Posters

Recent assessments of insect populations suggest significant declines in abundance and diversity across the globe. These assessments have not included western New York, so it is important to gain an understanding of the insect diversity and abundance in our local habitats, particularly grasslands. One noninvasive way to sample insect populations is to record the acoustic signals used by these animals. Male insects of several taxa advertise for mates in the late summer by producing species-specific vocalizations at potential breeding sites. We are using acoustic recordings to examine three local sites for their use by singing insects. Acoustic recordings collected during …

352— Investigating The Function Of Mhc Class I In Xenopus Laevis Tadpoles, Stephanie Alvarez Merlos, Annika Mounts

GREAT Day Posters

Xenopus laevis, is an excellent model organism for transgenesis and immunological research due to their large eggs and the similarities between mammalian and amphibian immune systems. MHC Class I is found on nearly all cells and educates T cells to recognize between self and non-self which is an essential immune system function. However, tadpoles don’t have detectable MHC Class I expression while adult frogs do. Despite this tadpoles are still immunocompetent; thus the role of MHC Class I in tadpoles is unknown. To investigate MHC Class I function we inactivated the corresponding gene in Xenopus laevis using CRISPR/Cas9. The …

Too Little Ph: How Freshwater Acidification Impacts The Abundance Of Macrophytes Consumed By Rusty Crayfish, Lauren Tucker, Paul Moore Dr., Jay Jones Mr.

Honors Projects

Anthropogenic activities such as the burning of fossil fuels result in increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration. High levels of atmospheric CO₂ cause chemical shifts in the carbon cycle. Changes in the carbon cycle due to increased CO₂ levels lead to ocean and freshwater acidification. Freshwater acidification is problematic for species that synthesize their own shells as well as species that use olfaction for decision-making. Rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) were subject to simulated freshwater acidification and fed two types of macrophyte, Chara (Chara braunii) and Myriopyllum (Myriophyllum sibiricum). A series …

Color Patterns In Amphibians, Zaizhen Xu, Nikki Parikh, Jasmine Kuo, Helena Czochanski, Muskaan Taneja, Makaila Gaff

Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference (PURCC)

No abstract provided.

Proteomic Analysis Of Alzheimer's Disease, Grace Reynolds

Celebration of Scholarship 2021

The use of public Alzheimer’s Disease proteomics data to analyze the difference between asymptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease and symptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease as it relates to disease progression and underlying disease processes.

Subterranean Movement Inferred By Temporary Emigration In Barton Springs Salamanders (Eurycea Sosorum), Nathan F. Bendik​, Dee Ann Chamberlain, Thomas J. Devitt, Sarah E. Donelson, Bradley Nissen, Jacob D. Owen, Donelle Robinson, Blake N. Sissel, Kenneth Sparks

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Student Research

Movement behavior is an important aspect of animal ecology but is challenging to study in species that are unobservable for some portion of their lives, such as those inhabiting subterranean environments. Using four years of robust-design capture-recapture data, we examined the probability of movement into subterranean habitat by a population of endangered Barton Springs salamanders (Eurycea sosorum), a species that inhabits both surface and subterranean groundwater habitats. We tested the effects of environmental variables and body size on survival and temporary emigration, using the latter as a measure of subterranean habitat use. Based on 2,046 observations of 1,578 individuals, we …

Sciadopitys Verticillata (Japanese Umbrella Pine), #1065-1067, Grace C. Kubat

BIO 140 Arboretum Project

Over the course of the 2021 spring semester, I observed a grove of Japanese Umbrella Pines. These trees are a part of the University's arboretum. In addition to making weekly observations, I researched the cultural significance of the Umbrella Pines. My research will hopefully contribute to future projects regarding the trees and help to enrich the University's arboretum project.

Optimization Of Grow-Out Of Bouldering Coral Microfragments: Land Vs. Offshore Nursery, Ashlee A. Steinberg

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Corals along the Florida Reef Tract and the wider Caribbean have been declining for decades. Low densities of adult colonies hinder the ability of corals to replenish themselves through sexual reproduction, thus reef managers are focusing on restoration actions that increase coral biomass. Microfragmentation is a way to quickly increase the biomass of bouldering corals by cutting the coral into small pieces which forces the coral to allocate its resources away from reproduction and back into growth, increasing its growth rate. This study assessed the optimal location for grow-out (land vs. offshore nursery) and its synergy with size of fragment …

Winter Skate (Leucoraja Ocellata) Neurocranium, Daulton J. Scharf, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Prepared Winter Skate Jaw

Lichen Delimitation Within The Collemataceae Family, Catherine Austin

Undergraduate Research Competition

Lichens are composed of fungal and algal or cyanobacterial components that participate in a mutualistic relationship. Recently, lichen-associated bacterial microbiomes have also been discovered to play a role in this relationship. Gathering information concerning lichen evolutionary relationships can bring more clarity to how lichens have evolved to be better equipped to house these bacterial communities. Specifically, this study aims to understand the evolutionary relationship between lichen species within different genera of the Collemataceae family. Broadening the taxa being studied from the Kosuthova et al. 2020 study to 20 total lichen species within the Collemataceae family, allows for a phylogenetic approach …

Assessing Biodiversity In Sea Turtles Using Coi Sequence Data, Zachary Lane

Undergraduate Research Competition

In this study I phylogenetically examined the mitochondrial locus cytochrome oxidase I (COI) from twenty-six marine turtles using Crocodylus porosus for an outgroup comparison. The main purpose of analyzing this locus is to access the utility of COI as an indicator of biodiversity within the family Cheloniidae (Sea Turtles). These analyses expand the number of taxa analyzed in Naro-Maciel et al. 2009, by including ten additional taxa. These taxa, will help increase phylogenetic resolution and the recognition of biodiversity patterns within sea turtles.

Homology Of A Maturase To The Heart Of The Nuclear Spliceosome, Isabella Becker

Undergraduate Research Competition

Structural and biochemical evidence links group II introns as evolutionary precursors of nuclear introns. The spliceosome binds and excises nuclear introns. Maturases are prokaryotic enzymes that aid group II intron excision. The evolutionary ties between group II introns and nuclear introns suggest a possible link between maturases and the nuclear spliceosome. Structural analysis of Prp8, a core enzyme of the nuclear spliceosome has demonstrated this link and revealed similarity to prokaryotic maturases. Maturase K (MatK) is a chloroplast group II intron maturase. Unlike prokaryotic maturases, MatK binds to multiple intron substrates suggesting possible evolution akin to the nuclear spliceosome machinery. …

Investigating The Effect Of The Wee-1.3 And Pam-1 Mutations On Meiosis After The Fertilization Of Oocytes In C. Elegans, Sophie Lear, Alex Bender

Biology Presentations

Currently, we are working with two genes: pam-1, which functions in the asymmetric division in meiosis and corresponding polarity, and wee-1.3, which functions in oocyte maturation. The mutation pam-1 is known to disturb embryo viability and reduces the hatch rate to 2% in the worms. However, a rescue mutation, wee-1.3, is known to bring the hatch rate up to 42% because polarity and asymmetry defects are suppressed. From previous research we know that during meiosis, the pam-1 mutation results in meiotic exit delays and other mutant phenotypes such as failure of meiosis II. Currently, we are imaging …

Winter Skate (Leucoraja Ocellata) Jaw, Krystal Renta, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Jaw prep from Winter Skate (Leucoraja ocellata)

Research Proposal: Clarifying Any Interactions Between Cytoskeletal Proteins And The Aminopeptidase Pam-1, Alexis Ayala

Biology Presentations

Caenorhabditis elegans is a transparent roundworm that functions as an ideal model organism for studying the complex processes that occur during embryonic cell division. The cell division process is comprised of distinct phases that ensure the development of a healthy and robust embryo. The cytokinesis phase is characterized by the formation of a contractile ring near the middle of the embryo. When this contractile ring constricts, the embryo can effectively divide into two cells. Recent work in the Lyczak laboratory has focused on better understanding how the aminopeptidase PAM-1 works in conjunction with cytoskeletal proteins to regulate the actomyosin cytoskeleton. …

Use Of Ultrasounds And Cystotomies In Diagnosing And Resolving Bladder Stones, Kirsten Cline

Biology Presentations

The use of ultrasounds are the most safe and effective way to detect bladder stones. Bladder stones are easy to detect with acoustic shadowing, a white bright twinkle effect, and heaviness. Cystotomies are one of the most common procedures to solve bladder stones with one of the lowest mortality and morbidity rates. Kiara, a one year old feline presented with UTI symptoms and was diagnosed with bladder stones. An ultrasound was used and a cystotomy was performed.

Barndoor Skate (Dipturus Laevis) Jaw Prep, Nathan P. Andrews, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Jaw Prep from Barndoor Skate (Dipturis laevis)

Crayfish And Climate Change: How The Growing Acidity Of Freshwater Lakes, Streams, And Ponds Negatively Impact The Nervous System Of Crayfish, Lauren Irmen

Honors Theses

The nervous system of crayfish, a freshwater crustacean, is largely regulated by the flow of calcium (Ca²⁺) ions in a cell across a concentration gradient that produces electrical impulses and controls movement (Krause et al., 1998). Crayfish obtain Ca²⁺ from their external aquatic environment. Therefore, rapid changes in the concentration of Ca²⁺ in freshwater environments may cause negative impacts to the neural system of crayfish and subsequently the freshwater food chain. These impact of altered Ca²⁺ levels may create hyperactive or hypoactive movement due to over-, under-stimulation, respectfully in the skeletal muscle of the crayfish, …

The Contribution Of The Pectoral Fins, Body, And The Ribbon Fin To Turning Maneuvers Of A Gymnotiform Swimmer, Olivia Hawkins

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Turning is an ecologically important maneuver in fishes as it is used in prey detection, predator avoidance, and to navigate complex environments. Fishes with traditional control surfaces primarily use body bending and pectoral fins to turn. However, little is known about how fishes with atypical control surfaces facilitate turning. This study investigated the weakly electric Black ghost knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons: Apteronotidae) with an atypical control surface, namely a ribbon fin. To investigate how a fish with an atypical control surface performs turning maneuvers, A. albifrons was filmed performing small and large turns and during steady swimming using high …

Density Dependent Growth Of Pseudomonas Fluorescens In The Presence And Absence Of C. Elegans Predation In Liquid Media, Jack Landmann

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the predator-prey relationship between C. elegans worms and P. fluorescens bacteria in liquid media. We were aiming to create a predation model of the relationship between these two species.

This study was performed through three experiments. Using 96-well plates, we were able to measure the change in optical density (OD) of these wells and calculate the growth rate. This growth rate was then graphed and analyzed. The first experiment contained P. fluorescens and KB liquid media, this study demonstrated that the bacterial population has a carrying capacity. We were also able to …

The Interconnectivity Of Parkinson's Disease And Type Two Diabetes Mellitus, Erica Olfson

Honors Scholars Collaborative Projects

This thesis is about the biochemical connection between Parkinson's disease and Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

Jen Schaefer’S 2021 Induction Ceremony Address: "Astrocytes, Allostasis And The Liberal Arts", Jennifer Schaefer

Phi Beta Kappa Lectures

This is the 12th cohort of students who have been inducted into the chapter, which now counts just under 800 members.

Jennifer Schaefer, associate professor of biology and the department chair at CSB/SJU who received Phi Beta Kappa recognition while attending St. Olaf College as an undergraduate student, speaks on “Astrocytes, Allostasis and the Liberal Arts” about the importance of the liberal arts for scientific advancement and in students’ lives as they leave CSB/SJU.

The group includes 42 seniors and 11 juniors, and they represent five countries and 11 states. Those selected are Phi Beta Kappa members for life, and …