Other Genetics and Genomics Commons^™

Wild Mice With Different Social Network Sizes Vary In Brain Gene Expression, Patricia C. Lopes, Barbara König

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Appropriate social interactions influence animal fitness by impacting several processes, such as mating, territory defense, and offspring care. Many studies shedding light on the neurobiological underpinnings of social behavior have focused on nonapeptides (vasopressin, oxytocin, and homologues) and on sexual or parent-offspring interactions. Furthermore, animals have been studied under artificial laboratory conditions, where the consequences of behavioral responses may not be as critical as when expressed under natural environments, therefore obscuring certain physiological responses. We used automated recording of social interactions of wild house mice outside of the breeding season to detect individuals at both tails of a distribution …

A Strategic Plan To Thread Genomics Competencies Into Undergraduate Curriculum, Holly Mathis

Dissertations

Problem: Genomics in undergraduate nursing education has experienced slow adoption in the United States. Various approaches have been proposed but do not address barriers to successful implementation.

Methods: A strategic plan was developed to increase the amount of genetics and genomic content in the curriculum of an undergraduate nursing program. A gap analysis was performed on the curriculum revealing a paucity of content. A SWOT analysis informed the strategic plan, which included a faculty education program using the ANA/ISONG’s Essentials of Genetic and Genomic Nursing: Competencies, Curricula Guidelines and Outcome Indicators (2^nd ed.) (2009) as a foundation.

Results: Faculty …

Effects Of Aurora Kinase C Expression On Retina Pigmented Epithelial Cell Migration, Proliferation, And Anchorage Independent Growth, Justin Bejar

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Cancer is a common and deadly disease in the United States with 1,806,590 new cancer cases in 2019 and 606,520 cancer deaths projected in 2020. These deaths are primarily due to the uncontrolled cell proliferation and migratory nature of the disease. Many cancer cells express genes normally restricted to meiotic cells. For example, Aurora Kinase C (AURKC) is known to regulate chromosome segregation in meiotic cells yet it is expressed in many different types of cancer, such as breast, prostate, colorectal, liver, cervical, thyroid, and testicular cancers. As a means to study the function of AURKC, an …

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 …

Analyzing The Effect On Ligand Sensitivity For Xenopus Tropicalis Mc1r, Mc3r, Mc4r, And Mc5r As A Result Of Coexpression With Gallus Gallus Mrap1 In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Avery Niemann, Robert Dores

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Some melanocortin receptors and the accessory protein MRAP1 have been found to interact in novel ways when co-expressed in the same cells following stimulation with either ACTH (1-24) or αMSH. These interactions have been seen for mammalian, bird, and some bony fish melanocortin receptors. Such analysis has not been done yet on the amphibian melanocortin receptors, MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R. To this end, this study was done on the effects regarding ligand sensitivity for ACTH (1-24) and αMSH, when the MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R paralogs of the amphibian, Xenopus tropicalis were expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells either …

Landscape Genetics Of Salamander Populations At Mammoth Cave National Park, Jackson Resser

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Habitat connectivity affects the distribution of genetic diversity among populations by influencing the movements of individuals and the resulting pattern of gene flow across landscapes. It has become evident that amphibians are experiencing a period of worldwide population declines brought about by environmental change. An understanding of the effects of habitat structure on landscape connectivity is important for developing effective amphibian conservation strategies. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of landscape characteristics on gene flow and population structure of the marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA. Salamander larvae were …

Spatial And Temporal Genetic Structure Of Winter-Run Steelhead (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Returning To The Mad River, California, Steven R. Fong

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Distinct populations of steelhead in the wild are in decline. The propagation of steelhead in hatcheries has been used to boost population numbers for recreational fisheries and for use in conservation. However, hatchery breeding practices of steelhead can result in changes in genetic structure. I investigated the genetic structure of winter-run steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) returning to the Mad River, California, where a hatchery has been used enhance production for recreational fisheries since 1971. Genetic variability in Mad River steelhead was evaluated using 96 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among 4203 individuals, including the Mad River and nearby locations, and …

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 …

Floral Trait Architecture In Crop Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Under Drought Conditions, Lauren Segarra

All Master's Theses

Longer and more intense droughts are predicted to become more common in the coming century due to anthropogenic climate change. Drought can reduce crop yield and decrease food security. In order to mitigate the negative effects of drought on crop production, it is important to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that promote drought stress resistance in crop plants. Floral traits impact yield, especially in oilseed crops such as sunflower (Helianthus annuus), but their susceptibility to drought stress is understudied. The goal of this study was to describe the floral trait architecture of H. annuus crop lines under drought versus …

Environmental Dna Is An Effective Method To Monitor Species In Various Freshwater Habitats, Kayleigh Mullen

All Master's Theses

This research investigated the use of DNA shed from individuals into the environment (eDNA) to monitor three amphibian species and two trout species associated with habitat intersected by Interstate-90 in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. This included a large catchment area within creeks and nearby wetlands historically affected by I-90, including sites where significant habitat improvements had been made. Species-specific primers were used to detect three focal amphibians of varying local abundance and two focal trout species. This study showed successful detection of species across both lentic and lotic systems throughout the study area through efficient multiplexing (detection of multiple species in …

Validation Of Ninein As An Ethanol-Related Quantitative Trait Gene: Reassessment, Design, And Functional Validation Of Reference Genes For Qpcr Analysis Of Brain Tissue In Mice, Jessica L. Jurmain

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a method for quantifying gene expression has led to an increased demand for standardization of data analysis methods to ensure accurate reporting and robust, reproducible results. The exponential nature of qPCR amplification results in the potential magnification of what are usually very small sources of error. Relative gene expression calculations circumvent this issue by normalizing target gene expression data to within-sample expression of a previously validated, stably expressed reference gene or genes. Multiple studies discussed herein have found that qPCR data are more reliable and reproducible when multiple reference …

Diet, Weight Management, Physical Activity And Ovarian & Breast Cancer Risk In Women With Brca1/2 Pathogenic Germline Gene Variants: Systematic Review, Adriana M Coletta, Susan K Peterson, Leticia A Gatus, Kate J Krause, Susan M Schembre, Susan C Gilchrist, Banu Arun, Y Nancy You, Miguel A Rodriguez-Bigas, Larkin L Strong, Karen H Lu, Karen Basen-Engquist

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Women with pathogenic germline gene variants in

METHODS: We searched Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL, PubMed, and clinicaltrials.gov up to October 3, 2019. We identified 2775 records and included 21.

RESULTS: There is limited evidence related to these factors and ovarian cancer risk. For breast cancer risk, evidence suggests higher diet quality, adulthood weight-loss of ≥10 pounds, and activity during adolescence and young-adulthood may be linked with decreased risk. Higher meat intake and higher daily energy intake may be linked with increased risk.

CONCLUSIONS: There is not enough evidence to suggest tailored recommendations for dietary habits or weight management among women …

Plasticity And The Impact Of Increasing Temperature On A Tropical Ectotherm, Adam A. Rosso

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Organisms may respond to climate change through behavior, genetic adaptation, and/or phenotypic plasticity. Tropical ectotherms are thought to be especially vulnerable to climate change because most have a narrow range of thermal tolerance while living close to their upper thermal tolerance limits. Additionally, many tropical species live in closed-canopy forests, which provide homogenous thermal landscapes that prevent behavioral compensation for stressfully warm temperatures. Finally, tropical ectotherms are thought to have decreased capacity for phenotypic plasticity because they have evolved in thermally stable environments. We tested gene expression patterns and phenotypic plasticity in the Panamanian slender anole by a) measuring changes …

Analysis Of Changes In Genes That Lead To Antibiotic Resistance In Klebsiella Pneumoniae 43816, Jasmine R. Anderson

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for nosocomial infections such as blood stream infections, meningitis, and septicemia. Clinical isolates confirm K. pneumoniae is increasingly antibiotic resistant (AR) making treatment more difficult. While bacterial exposure to antimicrobial substances is a known cause of the AR phenotype, there still exists gaps in knowledge about the genetic changes responsible for this fitness change. The laboratory Klebsiella pneumoniae 43816 (ATCC 43816) was exposed to sublethal concentrations of Cephalothin for a 14-day period. At the end of the experimental treatment, the adapted population acquired clinical antibiotic resistance along with phenotypic and morphological changes. The …

Error In Dna Mixture Analysis: Why The Application Of Forensic Dna Is Not A Perfect Science, Rachel Bisbee

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Ever since the first use of DNA evidence in 1986, it has been heavily relied on in court as a means of both convicting felons and exonerating wrongfully imprisoned people. It is a valuable tool in investigations, but like everything else, is not perfect. There have been studies on the accuracy of DNA mixture interpretation in the past with varying results. This is because mixture interpretation is a complicated process that is not always as specific as would be ideal. This study attempted to determine if two students with the exact same education in forensic science and, more specifically, DNA …

A "Choose-Your-Own" Classroom-Based Activity That Promotes Scientific Inquiry About Rna Interference, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

RNA interference (RNAi), the process that results in the degradation of a target gene’s mRNA, is a fundamental part of eukaryotic gene regulation and is also an important molecular technique that allows for experimental manipulation of gene expression without altering DNA sequences. Despite the importance of RNAi, there have been relatively few lecture-based activities designed to teach about the consequences of this process and counter common misconceptions. I present here an inquiry-based activity that is centered around a “choose your own experiment” design where students generate hypotheses and critically evaluate their ideas by choosing several simulated experiments. The activity presents …

Gmr36a08, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 49927

• ID - GMR36A08
• Location - 2R: 18120673, 18124576
• Base pairs - 3903

Gmr40e08, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 41238

• ID - GMR40E08
• Location - 2R: 18162090, 18165058
• Base pairs - 2968

Gmr36a10, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 49373

• ID - GMR36A10
• Location - 2R: 18116788, 18120701
• Base pairs - 3913

Gmr39h01, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 50066

• ID - GMR39H01
• Location - 2R: 18153797, 18156108
• Base pairs - 2311

Gmr42e10, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer

• ID - GMR42E10
• Location - 2R: 18133506, 18137474
• Base pairs - 3968

Gmr41c04, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer

• ID - GMR41C04
• Location -2R: 18143594, 18147064
• Base pairs - 3470

Gmr42h01, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 48150

• ID - GMR42H01
• Location - 2R: 18158419, 18162751
• Base pairs - 4332

Gmr35a04, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer

• ID - GMR35A04
• Location - 2R: 18125755, 18128365
• Base pairs - 2610

Gmr41h07, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 46241

• ID - GMR41H07
• Location - 2R: 18150920, 18154671
• Base pairs - 3751

Gmr41f05, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 50133

• ID - GMR41F05
• Location - 2R: 18139042, 18142672
• Base pairs - 3630

Gmr40c05, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 45682

• ID - GMR40C05
• Location - 2R: 18141630, 18144381
• Base pairs - 2751

Gmr40c09, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer

• ID - GMR40C09
• Location - 2R: 18132203, 18134987
• Base pairs - 2784

Gmr42a07, Anuradha Venkatakrishnan Chimata, Oorvashi Roy Puli, Amit Singh

DVE Enhancer Sequences Utilized in GMR Line

dve enhancer 45284

• ID - GMR42A07
• Location - 2R: 18146520, 18150306
• Base pairs - 3786

The Role Of Multidrug Resistance Regulators Mara, Soxs, Rob And Rama In Regulating Virulence Traits In Salmonella Enterica, Srinivas Thota

Dissertations

Enteric pathogens sense numerous signals specific to the anatomical location in the intestine and integrate them with the complex regulatory networks to temporally and spatially regulate their virulence genes. MarA, SoxS, Rob and RamA are homologous transcription factors that belong to AraC family of proteins in Salmonella enterica that primarily were thought to be involved in rendering antibiotic resistance to bacteria by up regulating efflux pumps and down regulating outer membrane porins. The fact that these transcription factors respond to the same intestinal compounds that regulate virulence genes in Salmonella motivated us to look for other roles of these transcription …