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- Bacteriophages--Genetics; (2)
- Fusarium--Genetic engineering; CRISPR-associated protein 9; (2)
- Acetylation (1)
- Cargo (1)
- Catostomidae--Genetics; Catostomidae--Genome mapping; Catostomidae--Evolution; (1)
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- Cell-cell fusion (1)
- Cholesterol (1)
- DNA--Conformation; Protein binding; (1)
- EF1-α (1)
- Hybrid (1)
- Hybrid index (1)
- ITS (1)
- KLP-4 (1)
- Lice--Genetics; Thomomys bottae--Parasites; (1)
- Lipid (1)
- Lipid transfer protein (1)
- Microtubules (1)
- Ozark minnow--Genetics; Ozark minnow--Morphology; (1)
- Pleistocene (1)
- Sea star (1)
- Spiders--Genome mapping; Nondestructive testing; Nucleotide sequence; (1)
- Stability (1)
- Tetrahymena thermophila (1)
- YSP1-2 (1)
Articles 1 - 12 of 12
Full-Text Articles in Genetics and Genomics
Identifying The Role Of Cholesterol And The Cholesterol Transfer Protein, Ysp1-2, In Cell-Cell Fusion In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Natasha D. Kusibab
Identifying The Role Of Cholesterol And The Cholesterol Transfer Protein, Ysp1-2, In Cell-Cell Fusion In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Natasha D. Kusibab
Honors Program Theses
A cell’s shape directly affects how it behaves as one’s structure directly correlates to its function. The shape of cells and organelles is driven in part by the lipid bilayer that makes up their membranes. The process by which cells systematically adjust the types of lipids in membranes to facilitate changes in membrane shape remain uncertain. In our research, we aimed to address this issue by studying the role of lipid transfer proteins in the ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophilia. Specifically, we focus on the process of cell-cell fusion during mating in Tetrahymena as this requires a drastic change in membrane shape …
Bacillus Bacteriophage Q11 May Have A 5' Covalently Attached Protein, Emily Cornelius
Bacillus Bacteriophage Q11 May Have A 5' Covalently Attached Protein, Emily Cornelius
Honors Program Theses
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that specifically parasitize on bacteria and are found almost everywhere. Phages Phi 29 and Q11 are both small phages found in soil that attack Bacillus hosts. Previous Phi 29 studies verified a covalently bonded protein at the 5’ end of its double-stranded linear DNA. Q11 may have a similar 5’ terminal protein, which blocks complete sequencing of that DNA region. Because Q11 and phi29 are both small short-tailed phages that infect similar hosts, it could be possible the proteins are structurally similar. In previous work, I have attempted to use restriction endonuclease and exonuclease enzyme digests …
The Effects Of Intercalating Molecules On The Polymer Properties Of Dna, Joseph Tibbs
The Effects Of Intercalating Molecules On The Polymer Properties Of Dna, Joseph Tibbs
Honors Program Theses
This project used Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging to examine the effects of different intercalation conditions upon the elastic properties of intrinsically straight DNA molecules. Three intercalating molecules (chloroquine, ethidium bromide, and acridine) were used to demonstrate the dependence of persistence length and mean polymer extension on the intercalator type. It was found that all three intercalators significantly increased persistence length, and that this effect was most pronounced for ethidium bromide. In addition, an analysis of the normal bending modes of the static molecules corroborated these results. The only intercalator which resulted in significant extension of the DNA polymers was …
Editing Fusarium Graminearum Using Crispr/Cas9, Grace Marie Sack
Editing Fusarium Graminearum Using Crispr/Cas9, Grace Marie Sack
Honors Program Theses
Fusarium graminearum is a pathogenic fungus that causes scab or Fusarium head blight disease in barley and wheat. Alternative approaches to protect barley from this devastating disease are badly needed. In recent years, an RNA-guided genome-editing system known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), has become a popular method for genome modification (Jinek et al., 2012). We applied CRISPR/Cas9 technology in an effort to make F. graminearum less infectious. We used CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids constructed by a former UNI student (Akers, 2019) to mutate three genes in F. graminearum. One of the genes ( …
Construction Of A Target-Specific Crispr-Cas9 Vector For The Purpose Of Introducing Mutations Into The Fum1 Gene Of Fusarium Verticillioides, Jennifer Petsche
Construction Of A Target-Specific Crispr-Cas9 Vector For The Purpose Of Introducing Mutations Into The Fum1 Gene Of Fusarium Verticillioides, Jennifer Petsche
Honors Program Theses
In molecular biology, CRISPR-Cas9 is a useful gene editing tool that takes advantage of a powerful cleaving enzyme and DNA sequences found in prokaryotes. In this study, a target-specific CRISPR-Cas9 vector containing an RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease specific for the FUM1 gene was constructed for the purpose of introducing mutations into the FUM1 gene of Fusarium verticillioides. Plasmids pFC332 and pFC334 were isolated. A guide RNA sequence was designed and amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with pFC334 as the template. Sticky ends were created through restriction enzyme digestion of pFC332. These pieces were combined using Uracil-Specific Excision Reagent (USER) …
Identification Of Genome-Linked Bacillus Bacteriophage Proteins, Katherine Dyer
Identification Of Genome-Linked Bacillus Bacteriophage Proteins, Katherine Dyer
Honors Program Theses
Small viruses that can infect bacteria, called bacteriophages, can be found in the soil. These viruses are being examined as a potential treatment against bacterial infections when antibiotics are not available or non-effective. Before viruses can be used as a medical treatment, they must be studied extensively. Previous attempts to sequence the terminal end of the genome of a bacteriophage QCM-11 (Quartz-Crystal-Microbalance-11: Q11) resulted in error. It is thought that a covalently bound protein may be attached to Q11’s DNA, blocking sequencing of the genome from the 5’ end. Proteins bound to the DNA of phages is not unheard of, …
The Physical Interactions Of Klp-4 & The Effects Of Microtubule Acetylation, Lindsey Wright
The Physical Interactions Of Klp-4 & The Effects Of Microtubule Acetylation, Lindsey Wright
Honors Program Theses
Our nervous system propagates signals by releasing neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft between two adjacent neurons. The transport and delivery of such neurotransmitters within the neuron is reliant on microtubule structure and motor proteins present. The direction of motor protein transport is dictated by the inherent polarity of microtubules. Kinesin-3 motor proteins, such as KLP-4 found in Caenorhabditis elegans, use this polarity to travel in an anterograde direction towards neurotransmitter exocytosis sites. Thus, KLP-4 is associated with the maintenance of neuron functionality. The klp-4 (ok3537) allele results in a large, in frame deletion within the cargo-binding domain of the motor …
Genetic Variation Within A Broadly Distributed Chewing Louse Genus (Thomomydoecus), Clarissa Elizabeth Bruns
Genetic Variation Within A Broadly Distributed Chewing Louse Genus (Thomomydoecus), Clarissa Elizabeth Bruns
Honors Program Theses
No broad study has been conducted to examine the genetics of Thomomydoecus species and their patterns of geographic variation. Chewing lice and their parasite-host relationships with pocket gophers have been studied as a key example of cophylogeny (Demastes et al., 2012). Despite this, genetic data on interspecific and intraspecific variation in Thomomydoecus is unexplored, and prior studies consisted within the narrow frame of one complex or species and its relative host gopher. This project collected, and analyzed genetic data, then generated phylogenetic trees. Many of the existing relationships between Thomomydoecus species was confirmed, and there were a number of unexpected …
Rates And Patterns Of Evolution In A Duplicated Genome In The Family Catostomidae, Megann Michelle Schmidt
Rates And Patterns Of Evolution In A Duplicated Genome In The Family Catostomidae, Megann Michelle Schmidt
Honors Program Theses
Whole genome duplication (WGD) is a process in which the entire genome of an organism is duplicated, making redundant genes which are subject to unique evolutionary forces. Various modes of selection create different genetic fates such as retention of ancestral function, development of new function, or loss of function. Because of these differing fates, WGD is hypothesized to be a major driving force behind diversification. In this project, DNA sequences from fish species in the family Catostomidae were examined to observe patterns of evolution following a known WGD. Gene trees were generated for 179 loci to determine the amount of …
Further Description Of Hybridization In The Sea Stars Asterias Rubens And Asterias Forbesi Through The Application Of Species-Specific Genetic Markers, Callie Bateson
Honors Program Theses
Hybridization occurs when two separate species reproduce to form hybrid offspring. If the hybrid offspring backcross with individuals of their parental species, the subsequent offspring may have varying amounts of the parental genomes, if viable. Following the retreat of the Last Glacial Maxima 20,000 years ago, two sea star species, Asterias forbesi and A. rubens came into secondary contact in the Gulf of Maine where they began to hybridize. Previous research in our lab studied the frequency of hybridization at four locations along the east coast (Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Hampshire, and New York) using morphological identifications as well two …
Primer Efficacy In The Dna Barcoding Of Spiders, Rhennetta Jo Bork
Primer Efficacy In The Dna Barcoding Of Spiders, Rhennetta Jo Bork
Honors Program Theses
DNA barcoding is the process of amplifying a 650 base pair segment of the sequence of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase (COI), and amplifying this gene with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It is used to help identify and distinguish animal species and also to help determine genetic differences in species. DNA barcoding can be especially useful when working with spiders since they tend to be very small and hard to distinguish. However, achieving a DNA barcode can be difficult and thus techniques to improve the method of DNA barcoding can be helpful. This research looked into the different …
Uncovering Morphological Variation In Light Of Genetic Data Within The Ozark Minnow, Notropis Nubilus, Sara Katherine Holmes
Uncovering Morphological Variation In Light Of Genetic Data Within The Ozark Minnow, Notropis Nubilus, Sara Katherine Holmes
Honors Program Theses
It has been hypothesized that the modern distribution of the Ozark minnow was shaped by the fragmentation of a widespread ancestral population by periodic glaciations during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene eras (Berendzen et al., 2010). Today, the species comprises three distinct genetic clades that are: upper Mississippi and northern Ozarks, western Ozarks, and southern Ozarks. In light of this hypothesis, the objective of this study is to determine if the morphology of the fish displays differences that parallel the genetic variation. One way to determine these morphological differences within a population is to look at the geometric morphometrics …