Other Genetics and Genomics Commons^™

“Regression To The Mean”: The Confluence Of Eugenics And Statistics In The 19th And 20th Centuries, Emrys G. King

Pomona Senior Theses

The work of this thesis is twofold — first, qualitatively characterizing the confluence between the British eugenics and statistics movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and second, quantitatively analyzing the effect of this foundation on pedagogical materials in the growing field of statistics between 1880 and 1970. Towards the first goal, the history of the method of least squares, state statistics, and positive and negative eugenics are outlined, followed by a close reading of the foundational texts authored by Francis Galton and Karl Pearson that introduced linear regression. Towards the latter goal, English-language statistics textbooks published between …

Epigenetics And Character Virtue Development, David S. Moore

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

Current understandings of epigenetics offer some insights into the developmental origins of character virtues. Research on epigenetics has demonstrated that phenotypes depend on both genomic and non-genomic information for their development, and such is true for the development of character virtues as well. This conclusion offers significant support for the Developmental Systems perspective. Although researchers have not yet studied the role of molecular epigenetic factors in the development of character, the field of behavioral epigenetics has revealed how such factors contribute to psychological and other behavioral phenotypes in general. In particular, behavioral epigenetics research can highlight the plasticity of human …

Embracing Ai/Ml In Genetic Counseling: A Nationwide Survey On Program Leaderships’ Perspectives And Curriculum Integration, Kyla Holmes

KGI Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine the attitudes and preparedness of genetic counseling program directors and faculty leadership in incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) into their curricula and its effect on core competency proficiency. AI/ML has been instrumental in creating and maintaining vital analytical tools and models employed by genetic counselors (GCs). However, research on the attitudes of faculty leadership in charge of training future GCs is limited. A nationwide survey conducted between November 2022 and February 2023 gathered 15 respondents holding diverse academic positions in genetic counseling program curriculum development. The majority of respondents had encountered AI/ML in …

Polygenic Scores Ignore Development And Epigenetics, Dramatically Reducing Their Value, David S. Moore

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

Polygenic scores cannot elucidate the mechanisms that produce behavioral phenotypes (including “intelligence”). Therefore, they are unlikely to yield helpful interventions. Moreover, they are poor predictors of individuals’ developmental outcomes. Burt’s critique is well-supported by the details of molecular biology. Specifically, experiences affect epigenetic factors that influence phenotypes via how the genome functions, a fact that lends support to Burt’s conclusions.

Molecular And Systemic Epigenetic Inheritance: Integrating Development, Genetics, And Evolution, Robert Lickliter, David S. Moore

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

Currently, a central problem for theoretical biology is the integration of development with genetics and evolutionary theory. Through the late 20^th century, biologists held that animals resemble their ancestors strictly because of the transgenerational transmission of DNA. This view effectively wrote development out of evolutionary biology. However, many molecular and developmental biologists now understand that phenotypes—anatomical, physiological, and behavioral traits—are not determined by genes (i.e., DNA segments) alone; instead, they emerge epigenetically from developmental processes involving co-acting genetic factors, environmental factors, molecular epigenetic factors, and other non-genetic factors within organisms’ bodies. This insight forces a rethinking of biological inheritance. …

Cancer Genetic Counselors’ Perceptions Of Nutritional Recommendations, Breann Reinsch

KGI Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this research study is to understand the perspectives of genetic counselors who work with patients in the cancer setting and explore if nutrition is a consideration when counseling patients.

Background: Evidence on the influence of nutrition on cancer risk is increasing with retrospective cohort studies. The American Cancer Society states that smoking, body mass index (BMI), poor nutrition, and excess alcohol consumption are directly linked to cancer occurrences, therefore some cancers may be preventable through lifestyle changes (American Cancer Society, 2016). In cancer genetic counseling sessions, patients are often inquiring about nutritional recommendations. A majority of …

Antifungal Defense Molecules From Bacterial Symbionts Of North American Trachymyrmex Ants, Georgia Scherer

CMC Senior Theses

Defensive symbioses, in which microbes provide molecular defenses for an animal host, hold great potential as untapped sources of therapeutically useful antibiotics. Fungus-growing ants use antifungal defenses from bacterial symbionts to suppress pathogenic fungi in their nests. Preliminary chemical investigations of symbiotic bacteria from this large family of ants have uncovered novel antifungal molecules with therapeutic potential, such as dentigerumycin and selvamicin.

In this study, the bacterial symbionts of North American Trachymyrmex fungus-growing ants are investigated for antifungal molecules. Plate-based bioassays using ecologically-relevant fungal pathogens confirmed that these bacteria have antifungal activity. In order to purify and identify the antifungal …

The Potential Of Epigenetics Research To Transform Conceptions Of Phenotype Development, David S. Moore

Pitzer Faculty Publications and Research

Epigenetics remains an exciting subdiscipline of biology, generating discoveries and insights about development. Because epigenetic phenomena can draw attention to the dynamic, interactional, and probabilistic nature of phenotype development, epigenetics research could hasten the demise of both nature-nurture debates and reductionist, genetically determinist perspectives on phenotype development. However, new data alone will not inevitably transform conceptualizations of phenotype origins, because it remains possible to assimilate epigenetic phenomena into traditional conceptual frameworks; epigenetic discoveries could even strengthen biologically determinist conclusions if traditional conceptualizations are retained. Although epigenetics will not force conceptual transformation, epigenetics research encourages the dismissal of the nature-nurture dichotomy …