Genetics and Genomics Commons^™

Sperm-Mediated Effects Of Predation Risk On Reproduction In Male Threespined Sticklebacks, Shayne Kempfer, Erika Carlson, Jennifer Hellmann, Jason Keagy, Alison Bell

PRECS student projects

Threespined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, exhibit male-only parental care, but will decrease paternal care if exposed to predators while given care or if their mate has had prior experiences with predators. The offspring will experience lasting effects based on the experience of their parents (behavior-mediated transgenerational plasticity). While other studies have concluded that male exposure to predators prior to fertilization (sperm-mediated transgenerational plasticity) impacts offspring, whether sperm-mediated effects exist in sticklebacks, and for how many generations the effects persist is unknown. Courtship trials with both predator exposed and predator unexposed females with six male treatment groups shows significant impact of maternal …

Production Of Bioactive Isothiocyanates By Bacterial Myrosinase, Juan Isaiz, Xiaoji Liu, Michael J. Miller

PRECS student projects

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are bioactive products found in several plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family, and are produced as defense upon disruption of the tissue by herbivores or pathogens, but in humans they have shown anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

Although we know gut microbes can hydrolyze GSL into ITC, the mechanism is not known. With improved detection methods, the aim of this experiment is to explore whether the gut microbial myrosinase β-glucosidase found within the genome of E. coli Nissle 1917 can hydrolyze glucosinolates (GSLs) into detectable ITCs.

How Does Climate Change Affect Endophytic Fungi?, Amber Toussaint, Natalie Christian, Katy Heath

PRECS student projects

Plant-associated microorganisms can have major effects on plant health, but climate change can affect plant microbiomes. While it is unknown how climate change will affect aboveground plant-associated microorganisms, such as foliar endophytic fungi, we hypothesize that increased CO₂ concentrations will increase species richness and diversity in endophytic fungal communities, because increased plant photosynthesis under elevated CO₂ will increase the resources available to the fungi.