Genetics and Genomics Commons^™

A Review Of Current Knowledge Concerning The Breeding And Summer Distribution Of The Cordilleran Flycatcher (Empidonax Occidentalis) In Mexico, Harold F. Greeney, Matthew J. Miller, Charles Van Riper Iii

Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University

The Cordilleran Flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis) is one of many North American birds whose distribution crosses the US–Mexican border and for which little is presently known about summer distribution and breeding biology south of this border. In addition, the Cordilleran Flycatcher presents ornithologists with a number of challenging questions surrounding its taxonomy, migration, distribution, population structure, and species limits. In particular, there remains a good deal of uncertainty concerning the species-level relationships, seasonal movements, and the wintering and breeding distributions of both recognized subspecies of Cordilleran Flycatcher in Mexico. Using field observations, a thorough review of the literature, and …

Identification And Characterization Of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Associated With Kudzu Root Nodules, Chasity Lawless, Michelle Zedonek, Debbie Curtis, Jonda Scharringhausen, Jared Bryant, Wendy A. Dustman, Alexandra M. Kurtz, Bekah Ward Dr.

Georgia Journal of Science

Pueraria montana, better known as kudzu, is an invasive species rapidly spreading throughout the southeastern United States. This plant can form root nodules which house nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing atmospheric nitrogen to be converted into biologically available forms of nitrogen for use by the plant host. Given the centrality of these bacteria to the spread of kudzu, isolates from nodules were characterized after collection from seven different locations across the metropolitan Atlanta area. Twenty-five isolates were grown on two different variants of nitrogen free media. Four different carbon sources were evaluated as well. Finally, growth under both aerobic and anaerobic …

Upregulation Of Humanized Hprt Housekeeping Gene In Malignant Tumors Hinders Use As An Endogenous Control, Abigail Felsted, Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our lab focuses on developing immunological techniques for diagnosing and treating cancer in a less invasive manner than current methods employ. New unique biomarkers are constantly needed to identify cancer in early stages in order to decrease mortality rates. When researching and publishing such biomarkers, many scientists use housekeeping genes such as glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) as positive controls. It is expected that housekeeping genes are expressed in all cells and have relatively consistent expression in all tissues both normal and malignant. As a member of the purine salvage pathway, HPRT recycles 90% of the free …

Combinatorial Genomic Data Refute The Human Chromosome 2 Evolutionary Fusion And Build A Model Of Functional Design For Interstitial Telomeric Repeats, Jeffrey P. Tomkins

Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism

Evolutionists allege that human chromosome 2 is the product of an ancient fusion event in an ancient hominid ancestor descended from apes. However, both the alleged site of fusion and the so-called cryptic centromere of human chromosome 2 are situated inside active genes negating the idea of fusion. Not only are the alleged genomic fossils of fusion representative of functional intragenic sequence, but they are also both highly degenerate versions of their supposed evolutionary beginnings, suggesting something other than an evolutionary origin. Given that these data strongly refute an evolutionary fusion scenario, it behooves creationists to propose an alternative model …

Integrated Regulation Of Class Ii Human Endogenous Retroviruses In A Breast Cancer Cell Line, Yingguang Liu, Tam D. Nguyen

Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are still regarded as foreign invaders by most biologists. Because of structural and positional homology of ERVs in human and ape genomes, they have been considered molecular evidences of common ancestry. Using a breast cancer cell line, we analyzed the regulatory features of a group of human endogenous retroviruses (HERV-K), and found that they contain multiple sequence motifs subjecting them to regulation by sex hormones, a stem cell-specific transcription factor (OCT4), and DNA methylation. Mutation of the OCT4 motif abrogates their response to sex hormones, while methylation of a progesterone-response element enhances receptor-binding. We also found that …

Adam And Eve, Designed Diversity, And Allele Frequencies, John C. Sanford, Robert W. Carter, Wes Brewer, John Baumgardner, Bruce Potter, Jon Potter

Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism

Theistic evolutionists present multiple genetic arguments against a literal Adam and Eve. One key argument asserts it would be impossible for a single human couple to give rise to the genetic diversity seen in the modern human population. This implicitly assumes Adam and Eve would have been created without internal genetic diversity. If this were true, all observed variations would have to arise recently via random mutations. This would require incredibly high mutation rates, logically leading to rapid extinction.

Yet, Adam and Eve could have been created massively heterozygous. We have argued for over a decade that they could have …

The Hero Organism And Heroism Science: A New Frontier Of Human Consciousness, Olivia Efthimiou

Heroism Science

In the context of a new science of heroism this article presents a brief history of the presence and study of heroism, and an outline of the key characteristics of the modern-day movement of heroism. The potentially wide-reaching impacts of the science of heroism are briefly discussed. The hypothesis of human beings as “hero organisms” is presented, before embarking on a discussion on what it means for each of us to be on our own hero’s journey.

The Search For A Hero Gene: Fact Or Fiction?, Olivia Efthimiou

Heroism Science

The radical entry of heroism research into scientific inquiry presents interesting challenges and possibilities for the study of heroism and the human condition more broadly. This ‘final frontier’ of the enduring phenomenon of heroism stands to offer remarkable, unprecedented, and controversial advances in our understanding of heroic and human behaviour. Is a genetic basis for heroism a real possibility? If so, what would its impacts be? Advances in genomics and increased interest in the fields of epigenetics and neuroplasticity might hold the key to its discovery. This article considers some of the leading emerging research in global health genomics and …

Tk1; Journey From The Cytoplasm To The Cell Membrane, Weston Burrup, Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Thymidine Kinase 1 is an enzyme involved in the synthesis of thymidine triphosphate, an essential DNA building block needed for cell replication. Previous research has shown an upregulated level of TK1 in the serum levels of cancer patients as well as on the cancer cell surface. Due to its’ abnormal presence on the surface of various cancer cells, it is being researched as a potential biomarker for future immunotherapies. In order to be a more reliable biomarker, we need a more in depth understanding of the mechanism of how this protein travels through the cell cytoplasm and eventually attaches on …

Killi-Data News (Winter), Tyrone Genade

Killifish Research Review

Valued readers, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you that this is the last issue of Killi-Data News. The good news is that we will be back as Killifish Research Review. The dissolution of Killi-Data International created a prob- lem: how can the newsletter of a defunct organization live on without that organization? But other additional problems were building in the background. The first issue numbered 15 pages. The previous issue was 28 pages. The number of killifish related papers is increasing while time on our end (the editorial team) is running out. It takes a lot …

Killi-Data News (Fall), Tyrone Genade

Killifish Research Review

Many interesting papers have been published over the last three months. The large volume of papers coupled with the start of the new college semester (and the workload it brings) delayed this issue of Killi-Data News. But better late than never—or so I hope! In this issue Richard van der Laan provides an insightful review of the recent Aphanius papers as to their taxonomic implications and questions. The systematic issues he raises show the importance of the Molecular project: we need to get more samples of the various cyprinodontiforme families to resolve unsettled systematic and taxonomic issues. In the Next …

Killi-Data News (Summer), Tyrone Genade

Killifish Research Review

Over the last three months several interesting and exciting pa- pers have been published. By now most of you have heard the Nothobranchius fish poo news emanating from the Valenzano lab. That paper is reviewed and certainly has repercussions for the health of our captive fish. Polaçik et al have published interesting data with ramifications as to how we breed and incubate annual killifish. The big news in this issue is the paper from the Reznick lab which Jean Huber reviews. The contents of that paper goes to the heart of the question of just what a killifish is. The …

Killi-Data News (Spring), Tyrone Genade

Killifish Research Review

This is the start of Killi-Data News’ second year. In this first issue of the year we have the usual review of research pub- lications as well as input from Martin Reichard on his lab’s Nothobranchius research. Martin is responding to my reviews of his lab’s work in the previous edition. I am serious about making sure the content in this newsletter is reliable but I erred in the previous edition and Martin has written extensively to correct my mistake in the section “Erratum”. This reply is welcomed and owed to readers. I must confess that I don’t know everything …

Killi-Data News (Winter), Tyrone Genade

Killifish Research Review

This is the fourth edition, and concluding issue of the first volume, of Killi-Data News and I am happy that it has been well received by readers. At 25 pages this issue is a bit thin- ner than the last but this is because we agreed to make the cut-off for submissions the 1 st of December so we could get this edition out by the New Year. This is an exciting edition full of new species descrip- tions and analyses that will keep taxonomists busy for years to come. Costa has given us two molecular phylogenies on Melanorivulus as …

Killi-Data News (Spring), Tyrone Genade

Killifish Research Review

This is the start of Killi-Data News’ second year. In this first issue of the year we have the usual review of research pub- lications as well as input from Martin Reichard on his lab’s Nothobranchius research. Martin is responding to my reviews of his lab’s work in the previous edition. I am serious about making sure the content in this newsletter is reliable but I erred in the previous edition and Martin has written extensively to correct my mistake in the section “Erratum”. This reply is welcomed and owed to readers. I must confess that I don’t know everything …

Analysis Of The Repair Of Topoisomerase Ii Dna Damage, Eric Goldstein

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

A large number of anti-cancer chemotherapeutics target DNA topoisomerases. Etoposide is a specific topoisomerase II poison that causes reversible double strand DNA breaks. This project analyses the repair of DNA damage induced by etoposide, a common anti-cancer chemotherapeutic. Through the comparison of two known DNA repair pathways, anti-cancer chemotherapy may become more cytotoxic. Double strand DNA break repair is mediated by either non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). NHEJ repairs through direct ligation of a double stranded break, whereas HR utilizes a homologous template to recover the wild type sequence. Reporter cassettes involving the expression of green fluorescent …

Computational Analysis Of Broad Complex Zinc-Finger Transcription Factors, Barbara Mascareno-Shaw

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Studies of transcription factors have provided important contributions toward understanding the cell morphology and developmental regulation of fruit flies based on sequence analysis of amino acid substitutions. In this report we describe the construction of four protein-DNA models based on two experimentally determined X-ray crystal structures (2DRP and 1A1H) using computational simulations of Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 zinc-finger DNA binding proteins. Once these models were constructed, 3 mutants were generated for the Z1/Z3 proteins. We evaluated the construction of the models and mutants against the templates using molecular mechanics (MM3) calculations in an attempt to determine the effect of …

First Record Of The Non-Native Pacu, Piaractus Brachypomus, In Lago Petén-Itzá, Guatemala, Central America, Diego J. Elias, Susan F. Mochel, Prosanta Chakrabarty, Caleb D. Mcmahan

Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University

We documented the first record of the non-native species Piaractus brachypomus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in Lago Petén-Itzá, Petén, Guatemala. One brined specimen was donated by a local fisherman in San Benito, El Petén. The captured specimen was reportedly collected in the southern basin of the lake. We used the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) to validate identity of the specimen. We hypothesize that the local aquarium trade is the most likely source of introduction of the non-native Pacu in Lago Petén-Itzá.

Documentamos el primer registro de la especie no nativa Piaractus brachypomus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) en el lago Petén Itzá, Petén, …

Why Doesn’T A Mother Reject A Genetically Different Fetus?, Devora Krumholtz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Many basic multicellular organisms possess some form of immune response to protect themselves against the invasion of foreign objects. It was not until British scientist, Peter Medawar proposed a fundamental question that changed the way researchers studied the maternofetal relationship. A fetus, being genetically different from its mother should be rejected by the maternal immune system, however, it is not. Researchers have since discovered and developed several mechanisms that aim to explain how the maternal immune system prevents fetal rejection. The formation of a mechanical barrier, general and local suppression of the maternal immune system, and a shift in cytokine …

Uvb Induced Mutation Of P53 In Non Melanoma Skin Cancer, Raizy Berger

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

There is a clear correlation between excessive sun exposure and the development of skin cancer. UVB radiation from the sun is potent, and as the ozone layer gets depleted, more UVB can reach Earth and cause cell damage. UV radiation causes DNA lesions, such as 6-4 photoproducts and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers are more abundant and take longer to be repaired and therefore are responsible for most of the mutation and DNA damage. These DNA lesions lead to mutation of the p53 gene. The signature mutation on p53 from UV radiation is a CC to TT mutation, which …