Biology Commons^™

Explorehope Summer Camps: Amazing Animal Abilities, Hannah Sturgeon, Alyssa Archer, Ashley Lauraine

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Did you know that mice can hear sounds that humans cannot? Or that birds and bees can see colors we can only dream of? ExploreHope is an organization on the Hope College campus that has been hosting summer camps for elementary to high school level students for 27 years. The ExploreHope Amazing Animal Abilities camp for students in grades 6 through 9 will explore the many incredible sensory abilities of animals. This camp will teach participants about a vast variety of sensory systems observed across the animal kingdom including the visual, auditory, and olfactory systems, mechanoreception and kinesthetics, and the …

The Effects Of Vasopressin On Aquaporin-1 Expression And Localization In The Presence And Absence Of Vacm-1/Cul5, Parker Friend, Rachel Amicucci

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

The vasopressin-activated calcium mobilizing (VACM-1/Cul-5) protein plays a role in the E3 ubiquitin ligase system which is involved in the destruction of specific proteins. Our focus is on the impact that the (VACM-1/Cul-5) protein has on other proteins' expression and localization within human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). One of the proteins of interest to us is aquaporin-1 (AQP1). AQP1 is a water transporter that impacts cell growth and angiogenesis. To evaluate how the presence of VACM-1/Cul5 impacts AQP1, cells with and without the VACM-1/Cul5 gene are analyzed in the presence of increased vasopressin. VACM-1/Cul5 is knocked out of the …

Hormetic Modulation Of On Mtor Mitochondria Cross Talk For Mitigation Of Cellular Aging, Mahalakshmi R

Theses and Dissertations

Cellular aging is a gradual process involving structural and functional deterioration of cells. Mitochondria, the biological clock in cells, are known to play a crucial role in the progression of cell aging. According to the mitochondrial free radical theory of aging, oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria produces free radicals, such as, reactive oxygen species (ROS), which lead to oxidative stress in cells. This, in turn, results in mitochondrial dysregulation, and eventually causes degeneration of cellular components, thereby propagating cell aging. However, it is to be underscored that aging, at its core, is a multifaceted phenomenon that involves a number of …

Evaluation Of Seizure Recognition And First Aid Training Course And Improving Self-Efficacy Related To Medical Emergencies In Mississippi, Anna Katherine Herrington, Collin Earl Wayne Crawson, Daniel Robert Zuckerman

Honors Theses

Within recent years, there has been increased attention to the growing physician shortage across the United States. This shortage has placed substantial strain upon regions of lower healthcare access, particularly those of rural regions such as much of the state of Mississippi. As rural healthcare providers are placed under more strenuous conditions, they encounter issues of increased patient volume, lack of a trauma team, or adequate transportation to higher-level care facilities. These issues may exacerbate the present inequities in cost of living, access to adequate healthcare, and the distress caused by these concerns. Individuals with epilepsy are one cohort with …

Chemical-Mediated Mate Attraction In Clover Root Curculio; Sitona Hispidulus (F.), A Below Ground Pest, Kristin Leutgeb

Student Research Symposium

Few control options

• Registration of broad-spectrum soil fumigant insecticides discontinued
• Effective monitoring is time- and resource-intensive

Crop damage from feeding on root nodules by soil-dwelling CRC larvae

• Nodules are a symbiotic relationship between the plant and rhizobia, which provide nitrogen to the plant host
• Curculionid beetles can sense the nodules

Mating by pheromones. CRC produces contact and volatile chemicals for mating and egg laying (oviposition).

• Utilize pheromone during active mating above ground

Effects Of Fungal Biopesticide Doses On Mortality In Bumble Bees, Colton Burris

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Agricultural practices often include the use of pesticides to produce meaningful crop yields. While the pesticide may be used to target “pest” insects (e.g. thrips, aphids, whiteflies), it can also have negative effects on important pollinating insects such as bees. Neonicotinoid pesticides have been found responsible for widespread decline in bee biodiversity, and were even banned in Europe (Sgolastra et al. 2020) . Beauveria bassiana, sold as Botanigard, on the other hand, is a fungal biopesticide that is marketed to be a safer alternative for bees, and has been found to have other possibly harmful effects to the inner …

A New Genetic Tool For Quorum-Sensing Ba, Amelia Markwell

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This current research project focuses on the use of cell-to-cell communication in Bacterial Strain competition, specifically in soybean plants. Soybean plants are a high-yield crop produced here in the midwest, bringing in more than 8 billion dollars in monetary output for our state. The lab work focuses on one specific bacteria strain farmers commonly find in soybeans; this is called Bradyrhizobium japonicum. This nitrogen-fixing bacteria improves plant growth drastically. Cells have a way of communicating with each other in order to share information and adjust gene regulation accordingly. This is known as quorum sensing. My research last year focused on …

Molecular Genetics And Phylogeny Of Bigmouth Shiner, Notropis Dorsalis, James Ramette, Patrick Appiah, Shila Koju, Jacqueline Kluba, Heath St, Dennis, Christian Bigler, Robert Hrabik, David D. Duvernell

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

The study of North American freshwater ichthyofauna reveals a diversity shaped by the continent's geologic past and the extensive effects of Pleistocene glaciation on river systems. Ericymba dorsalis (Bigmouth 69 Shiner) is a minnow species with a broad distribution in the Mississippi River basin from Wyoming to New York. Despite exhibiting consistent morphological features across its range, the species' widespread northern distribution suggests the potential existence of multiple, genetically distinct lineages. This research tested the hypothesis that separate drainage systems harbor genetically distinct groups of E. dorsalis. Our results identified five clades, each associated with major drainages. Populations of the …

Silent Bystanders Facing Bias. Is Silence Always Harmful, Sophie Firle

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

In STEM, women face bias that lowers their sense of belonging, identity safety, and self-esteem. These biases often occur in daily interactions with male peers in STEM, such as subtly sexist comments that doubt women's competence in STEM. A previous study that we conduction titles "Effects of Ally Confrontation on Target Outcomes" tested whether a subtly sexist comment that was confronted by a male ally would help increase women's sense of belonging, identity safety, and self-esteem relative to when a male bystander remained silent and did not confront the comment. We found that confrontation does help women feel better than …

Phytoremediation Of Nonpoint Source Pollution, Tylor Cheatham

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Stormwater can bring high concentrations of nutrients into urban ponds resulting in eutrophic conditions and subsequent algal blooms. These 91 blooms can lead to hypoxic water that will ultimately cause fish deaths and loss of recreation. Often, the majority of urban stormwater flows into local ponds through an inlet, which provides a target area for nutrient removal methods. One method being explored by researchers is the use of floating treatment wetlands (FTWs). FTWs are floating mats with plants anchored to them, allowing the roots to be suspended in the water column for nutrient removal. Our previous research focused on optimizing …

Effects Of Reproduction On Senescence In Local Species, Nathan Smith

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Understanding the impact of reproduction on the aging process within species populations remains an ongoing challenge in ecological and evolutionary research. In this study, we aim to clarify the relationship between reproduction and senescence using agent-based modeling using wild species data sets. Our objectives include investigating how variations in reproductive rates influence the lifespan and aging trajectories of individuals within populations, as well as identifying potential mechanisms underlying these effects. We will employ agent-based modeling to simulate populations and explore the dynamics of reproduction and senescence using publicly available datasets of local wild species. By manipulating parameters related to reproductive …

Modality's Effect On Aesthetic Ratings Of Poetry, Jessica Frame

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Previous research has shown that vividness of evoked imagery is the strongest contributor to aesthetic pleasure for poetry. However, it is 114 unknown whether modality of the poem has an effect on the relationship between vividness and aesthetic appeal, as past work has only used written poems. In this study we want to evaluate rating of vividness, valence, arousal, and aesthetic appeal based on the modality in which poems are presented (listening only, reading only, or combined). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three modalities: text-only (N=81 ), audio-only (N=74), or combined audio/text (N=78). Our results showed that …

Water Quality Profiles In Two Rolla Ponds: Implications For Nutrient Management, Tylor Cheatham

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems is a growing global issue due to anthropogenic inputs. One of the main issues associated with eutrophication is fish death. Eutrophic waters can lead to algal blooms, resulting in hypoxic conditions where there is not enough oxygen to support the oxygen-breathing organisms like fish. This can happen in lakes or where rivers meet the ocean. These hypoxic conditions are a concern for lake managers and people who make a living fishing in waters that are now experiencing fish death. One method to target the oxygen levels in lakes is adding aerators. Because of how dynamic ecosystems …

Biosensors For Antibacterial Medical Applications, Ryan Fagan, Shelby Wallen

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Healthcare associated infections are significant concern in medicine and as antibiotics are becoming less effective, we need new alternative methods to treat them. We are testing various materials that can be used to prevent infections in healthcare settings and in wound treatments. These materials include bioactive glass and modified hydrogel materials. From these studies we've learned these are effective in killing bacteria and preventing infections. The goal of this project is to determine the mechanism at which these materials kill bacteria. Our approach is to construct biosensor strains that can indicate bacterial stress response to antimicrobial agents. We have used …

Competition Or Prey: C. Elegans Populations In The Presence Of P. Pacificus, Charles Greene, Elena Zobel, Andrea Scharf

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

The predatory and territorial behaviors of the model organism P. pacificus provides a useful opportunity to study territorial defensive behaviors and optional predatory behaviors in relation to availability of preferred food sources. P. pacificus will be grown with C. elegans in shared cultures, in which E. coli will be placed and used to feed both species of worm. The number of predation events and territory defense events by P. pacificus against C. elegans will be recorded and tracked at differing levels of food concentrations. One potential issue is the different mouth morphs found in P. pacificus, with the stenostomatous (in …

Microbial Matrix: Genetic And Chemical Aspects Of Cell-Cell Communication, Amelia Markwell, Sophia Nicolette Militante

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This research project focuses on looking at different quorum-sensing positive strains in bradyrhizobium japonicum, a species of legume-root bacteria found in soybean plants across the Midwest. Soybean plants are a high-yield crop produced here in the midwest, bringing in more than 8 billion dollars in monetary output for our state, making it Missouri's economic engine. Our objective, is to use different chemical testing methods to distinguish genetic differences between negative strains. This can be done through polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis, and gene editing. Our goal has been to PCR amplify a fine-tuned promoter then clone it into the gene. …

The Influence Of Sensory Modality On Aesthetic Judgments Of Poetry, Jessica Frame, Kendra Mehl

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Previous research has shown that vividness of evoked imagery is the strongest contributor to aesthetic pleasure for poetry. However, it is 19 unknown whether modality of the poem has an effect on the relationship between vividness and aesthetic appeal, as past work has only used written poems. In this study we want to evaluate rating of vividness, valence, arousal, and aesthetic appeal based on the modality in which poems are presented (listening only, reading only, or combined). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three modalities: text-only (N=81 ), audio-only (N=74), or combined audio/text (N=78). Our results showed that …

Simulating Inter-Species Competition In C. Elegans, Kevin Lai

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

In biological research, understanding the life cycles of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is pivotal for insights into developmental biology, genetics, and population dynamics. Our project builds on Worm-Pop, a Python-based multi-agent simulation of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) , to enhance its capabilities in simulating survival strategies, reproductive success, and genetic drift. The current model simulates a uniform population without inter-agent interactions. I plan to introduce multiple species of worms into the simulation to study competitive dynamics and determine which variants are most successful under various conditions. Pheromones significantly influence C. elegans behavior, affecting mating, foraging, and social interactions. To address …

Mathematical Analysis Of C Elegans Population Dynamics, Erik Bergstrom

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Understanding how populations fluctuate is important for understanding how evolutionary pressures have shaped the life histories of species, such as reproductive patterns and aging. A laboratory ecosystem consisting of Caenorhabditis elegans and Escherichia coli and wormPOP, a simulation of this laboratory ecosystem, developed by Scharf and colleagues (Scharf et al., 2022) provides an opportunity to better understand population dynamics by tracking individual simulated worms and computing the emergent population dynamics. However, the output data consist of curves with peaks and troughs that are challenging to analyze and that were hypothesized to fit the mathematical definition of chaotic behavior. This project …

Cytokinesis And Dbf2, Katharine Gray, Katie Shannon

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

During cell division, the cytoplasm must be divided between the parent and daughter cell. The Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) is a signaling pathway that allows a dividing cell to exit mitosis and complete cytokinesis. Obf2 is a MEN protein kinase in yeast, which provides a simplified model for studying this conserved pathway. By regulating Dbf2s' activity through phosphorylation mutants, its effect on cytokinesis can be studied. Cells were viewed under a microscope, to visualize division errors. Yeast cells that fail to complete cytokinesis will form chains, as the budding daughter cells fail to separate from their parents. Chains of 3 …

Evaluation Of Phosphorus Uptake Within Aquatic Plants For The Use Of Nutrient Removal, Grace Willbanks

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Stormwater runoff from urban areas can lead to excess nutrients, such as phosphorus or nitrogen, in our waterways. These waste nutrients can lead to overgrowth of algae and plants, deoxygenation of ponds and streams, and death of the aquatic life in these important ecosystems. Currently, floating treatment wetlands are being used to combat these excess nutrients, combining a floating element with an absorptive media, either man-made or natural aquatic plants, into a model to float on an impacted lake. In this research project, multiple small-scale microcosm level experiments were run with different native aquatic plants to test their uptake ability …

Insect Collection Methods At Fort Leonard Wood, Sage Wood, Miranda Ragland, Robin M. Verble

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This project is part of a larger survey examining the terrestrial insect diversity at Fort Leonard Wood in summers 2021 and 2022. The data analyzed in this poster includes specimens collected during the 2022 collection period. This project attempts to elucidate the most effective method of insect collection at Fort Leonard Wood, as well as any hotspots of insect presence or diversity on the base. Specimens were collected using hand and net collection, Lindgren funnel trapping, leaf litter sampling, and three colors of pan trapping (blue, yellow, white). Specimens were processed in the lab, pinned, sorted, and identified. Preliminary analysis …

Stream Fungal Biodiversity And Leaf Decomposition, Vale Miller

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

CURRENTLY ONGOING PROJECT We are investigating the possible impact of aquatic fungi biodiversity on leaf litter decomposition and respiration. Four different species of aquatic fungi were placed into flasks with leaf cores (A, B, C, and D), one with no fungi as a control, and one with all four species in equal amounts (ABCD). So far, there seems to be little to no effect on respiration between the species and similar results in the flasks with all four species. Based on this information, biodiversity has yet to show a significant impact in leaf respiration and little to no effect on …

Xenobiotic-Lnduced Developmental Neuropathology, Lindsay Schneider

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

As new drugs and pollutants are introduced, a larger subset of people are exposed. The question that arises is whether exposure of a pregnant woman to drugs/pollutants will have negative effects on the neurobiology of her unborn child. We are establishing a screen to test the effects of drugs and pollutants on the developmental neuropathology of the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. The roundworm has 302 neurons that are structurally similar to human neurons, and defects in single neurons can be detected by impairment in their neural behaviors such as chemotaxis towards an attractant. Using a chemotaxis assay, we can investigate …

Wild Worms Vs. Lab Worms In A Laboratory Ecosystem, Alexis Winner

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans lives artificially in labs since the 1970s. The question at hand is how well adapted the so-called wild-type strain is to these lab conditions. We developed a laboratory ecosystem based on wild type C. elegans and E. coli as food resource to investigate the impact of mutations that affect life history traits. In this project, we explore whether the observed population dynamics reflect wild C. elegans populations. In more detail, we compare the population dynamics of wild type worms and worms collected recently in different parts of the world.

Effect Of Morphology As A Function Of The K-Index On The Drug Loading And Release Profiles In Polyurea And Poly(Isocyanurate-Urethane) Aerogels, Kamden J. George, Stephen Y. Owusu, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

This study explores the potential to predict the drug loading and release profiles of aerogels based on their morphologies: a milestone in drug delivery research which can help save time and cost invested in formulating new aerogel drug carriers and cut-down evaluation of the drug delivery capabilities of aerogels to a few experimental runs. Polyurea (PUA) and poly (isocyanurate-urethane) (PIR-PUR) aerogels were used as model systems while 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and paracetamol (PM) were used as model drugs. These model systems were chosen because they can be synthesized into different morphologies identified by the so-called K-index (contact angle:porosity). The model drugs …

Dynamics Of Laboratory Nematode Populations, Erik Bergstrom, Andrea Scharf

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Understanding how populations fluctuate is important for understanding how evolutionary pressures have shaped the life histories of species, such as reproductive patterns and aging. A laboratory ecosystem consisting of Caenorhabditis elegans and Escherichia coli and wormPOP, a simulation of this laboratory ecosystem, developed by Scharf and colleagues (Scharf et al., 2022) provides an opportunity to better understand population dynamics by tracking individual simulated worms and computing the emergent population dynamics. However, the output data consist of curves with peaks and troughs that are challenging to analyze and that were hypothesized to fit the mathematical definition of chaotic behavior. This project …

Are Pheromones Necessary To Survive?, Galayna Baur

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans) is a species of nematodes widely found on rotting plant material due to the presence of their primary food source, bacteria. These animals utilize pheromones for communication to signal larval stages to enter the dauer phase-a survival strategy enabling them to withstand periods of minimal to no food availability, thereby regulating their population size. This study investigates the role of pheromone signaling in population dynamics and survival strategies of C. elegans using a population dynamics experiment. We employ two strains: N2, a laboratory strain with intact pheromone signaling, and a mutant strain lacking the ability to signal …

Ordinal-Level Biomass Of Insects Collected On And Off Prairie Dog Colonies, Colby Cook, Chad Zerr, Lorelei E. Patrick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Ordinal-level Biomass of Insects Collected On and Off Prairie Dog Colonies

Colby Cook, Chad Zerr, and Lorelei Patrick

Recent work has shown that bats in Colorado and Kansas are more active over prairie dog colonies. It is hypothesized that the reason for this is increased abundance and richness of insects found on colonies versus off colonies. Sampling from 2022 indicated that insect biomass was not different between location types, but suggested that the relative abundance of insect orders may differ. Additional insect sampling was conducted in 2023. Light traps were deployed on the same nights, one on a prairie dog …

Survival And Growth Of Early Stages Of Solanum Spp. After Insect Herbivory, Aj Hammond

Student Research Symposium

• Early survival and performance are key life-history traits that account for the variation in individual fitness and shapes population dynamics (Fig 1).
• The early stages of a plant’s life cycle (Fig 2a) are usually the most critical, being vulnerable to pressures such as herbivores and parasites more than later stages.
• Questions: How do natural enemies impact early survival and regrowth of plants?