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Articles 1 - 12 of 12
Full-Text Articles in Genetics and Genomics
A Review Of How Bioinformatics And Genome Sequencing Are Affecting Precision Medicine, Taylor S. Hickey
A Review Of How Bioinformatics And Genome Sequencing Are Affecting Precision Medicine, Taylor S. Hickey
Honors Theses
Advancement in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics methods have been affecting biomedical research through precision medicine, especially in the area of cancer. Vaccine therapies can be developed using neoantigens that target specific mutations in tumors. The goals of this research are to identify mutations that lead to cancer and then define subpopulations in which patients can easily be identified. The future goal is to have targeted vaccines that are specific to each subpopulation ready to be used in treatment of their cancer. Limitations to reaching these goals have been due to tumor heterogeneity, cancer location, and difficulty in creating neoantigens for …
The Effects Of Temperature And Mito-Nuclear Interaction On Male Fertility In Drosophila., Violetta Bakunina
The Effects Of Temperature And Mito-Nuclear Interaction On Male Fertility In Drosophila., Violetta Bakunina
Honors Theses
The (simw501);Ore genotype is a strain of Drosophila melanogaster that has impaired mitochondrial function as a result of a disrupted interaction between a mitochondrially-encoded tRNATyr and the nuclear-encoded synthetase that aminoacylates mt-tRNATyr. We hypothesized that disruption of mitochondrial protein synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in this genotype decreases mitochondrial translation and results in the sterility of (simw501);OreR males at 28oC. The results of Mitotracker staining showcased the reduced Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI), which confirms that sterility has an energetic basis, yet also that mature sperm function is compromised. Cytological dissection of male gonads …
Literature Review Of Human Hdr Syndrome With Gata3 Haplo Insufficiency, Olivia Ambursley-Gries
Literature Review Of Human Hdr Syndrome With Gata3 Haplo Insufficiency, Olivia Ambursley-Gries
Honors Theses
This literature mining project is regarding mutations that cause hearing loss in patients with human hypo parathyroid, deafness, and renal dysplasia (HDR) syndrome caused by a mutation in the GATA3 gene. The disease is unique; not all diagnosed individuals present with all symptoms of the triad. Van Esh et al. found that the haploinsufficiency of the GATA3 is found on chromosome 10p14-p15 (ref.1). The focus of this work is to condense the literature on GATA3 haploinsufficiency correlating to human HDR syndrome. Due to the lack of global healthcare access, it can be assumed that many cases remain undiagnosed; 180 have …
A Summary Of Current Research Into Neurodegenerative Disorders Using Drosophila Melanogaster, Chase Cortese
A Summary Of Current Research Into Neurodegenerative Disorders Using Drosophila Melanogaster, Chase Cortese
Honors Theses
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease are characterized by damage to neural cells causing widespread neurological deficits. Historically, these diseases were deemed as inevitable declines in cognitive and neurological function that occurred with aging. Recent research has revealed, however, that these diseases have molecular bases allowing potential clinical intervention. The groundbreaking discoveries have been made using differing model organisms, which can replicate the phenotype and physiological cause of these disorders. One major model organism that has been used is the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. They have served various roles in elucidating gene pathways and neurophysiological bases seen in these diseases. …
Multi-Generational Effects Of ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure On Gene Expression In Liver Tissue, Kayla Lovitt
Multi-Generational Effects Of ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure On Gene Expression In Liver Tissue, Kayla Lovitt
Honors Theses
Cannabis is the most commonly used, cultivated, and trafficked illicit drug worldwide. Increased availability and acceptance of cannabis and cannabinoid-containing products provide the necessity for understanding how these substances influence aging. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to concentrations of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (0.08, 0.4, 2 µM) during embryonic-larval development, the effects on aging were measured 30 months later and in the offspring of the exposed fish (F1 generation. We observed results indicating a biphasic and hormetic effect. Treatment with the lowest concentration of THC significantly increased egg production, while higher concentrations resulted in impaired …
Assay Development For Isolation And Characterization Of Anticancer Properties Of Marine Fungi, Kyra Ricci
Assay Development For Isolation And Characterization Of Anticancer Properties Of Marine Fungi, Kyra Ricci
Honors Theses
Metabolites from fungi have potential use in the drug discovery process and have been used in the past to develop therapeutic agents for human use. Initial characterization of potential therapeutic properties of fungi is thus an important first step in identifying novel therapeutic compounds. In the present study, marine fungi were isolated from Myrtle Beach and assayed for anticancer properties using the soft agar colony formation assay in a 3D in vitro cellular environment. Many species were isolated from environmental samples, displaying unique morphologies and growth patterns. To optimize the soft agar assay in a six-well cell culture plate for …
Investigating The Role Of Free Radicals In Huntington's Disease Using Drosophila Melanogaster, Jennifer Libov
Investigating The Role Of Free Radicals In Huntington's Disease Using Drosophila Melanogaster, Jennifer Libov
Honors Theses
During normal cell metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced as a byproduct of oxidative phosphorylation. ROS are utilized in the cell as a signaling molecule and can be maintained at healthy levels by cellular antioxidants. However, when the cell experiences oxidative stress due to environmental or genetic conditions, levels of ROS can exceed healthy levels and inhibit necessary life functions by damaging biomolecules and cellular structures. This loss of function can lead to physiological decline and neurodegeneration, such as in diseases like Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and, potentially, Huntington’s disease. The following experiments use the model genetic organism …
Molecular Evolution Of Insecticidal Spore-Forming Bacteria, John Pool
Molecular Evolution Of Insecticidal Spore-Forming Bacteria, John Pool
Honors Theses
Molecular methods are increasingly being used to determine the phylogeny of microorganisms. This research was intended to determine phylogenetic relationships for bacteria of the species Bacillus thuringiensis and other members of the Bacillus cereus group. Each strain was analyzed by its sasp-B gene sequence to determine its species classification and relation to other strains studied. Results of this study indicated that according to the sasp-B gene tree, the species Bacillus thuringiensis is a paraphyletic with respect to both Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis. Some unexpected results and implications for species designations are also discussed.
Characterization Of Metal-Regulated Genes In Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Melanie Pearson
Characterization Of Metal-Regulated Genes In Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Melanie Pearson
Honors Theses
One side effect of today's industrialized world is increased levels of heavy metals in the environment. Many of these metals are necessary for biological function as trace elements, but at higher concentrations are toxic. Other metals, such as cadmium, are not beneficial at any level, and have only deleterious effects on living organisms. Cadmium is primarily thought to interfere with normal biological function of proteins. Human exposure to cadmium appears to primarily damage the kidneys, but may also affect the liver, lungs, immune system, and central nervous system. Bacteria, however, have developed several methods for handling toxic heavy metals: cation …
Oral Cancer Screening, Damon Omar Watson
Oral Cancer Screening, Damon Omar Watson
Honors Theses
Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx have increased throughout the decades. Since oral cancer represents a small percentage of the total cancers in the United States, it is often overlooked. Though this is the case, the results of this cancer can be devastating. To address this issue, an Oral Cancer Screening was organized on August 14, 1996 at the West Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo. This was a joint collaboration between the author, the West Michigan Cancer Center, and the Kalamazoo Valley Dental Society. This event allowed research to take place concerning the data obtained. Confidential results and information …
The Effects Of Strain Differences On The Binding Of Concavalian A To Mouse Sperm, Lisa A. Mckay
The Effects Of Strain Differences On The Binding Of Concavalian A To Mouse Sperm, Lisa A. Mckay
Honors Theses
The current study, lectins were used as genetic probes to determine the phenotype of the sperm from different strains of mice. Lectins are proteins of non-immune origin, which bind to specific carbohydrates (McCoy, 1986). Being that virtually all cell membranes contain carbohydrate components, lectins have been used to identify all types of cells. In this study, a biotinylated lectin Concavalian A (Con A) derived from Canavalia ensiformis, was used and binding was detected using an avidin-biotin peroxidase (ABP) complex technique. The object of the current research was to 1) determine if mouse strain differences have an effect on lectin binding, …
Experimentation To Develop Procedures To Be Used In The Investigation Of The Effects Of Restriction On The Unmodified Dna Of The Bacteriophage Lamda, John Haynes
Honors Theses
The results of experimentation approximately twenty years ago with variuos bacteriophages by Ralston and Krueger16, Anderson and Felix1, Luria and Human12, and by Bertani and Weigle2 have shown that the host range of a given phage depends directly on the bacterial strain on which the phage has last propagated. This event came to be known as host-induced modification or host-controlled variation. As this phage host range is controlled by the host environment and can be altered from one generation to another it has, according to Luria, made microbiology "the last stronghold of Lamarckism" …