Developmental Biology Commons^™

Transcriptional Regulation Of Stem Cell Function In The Drosophila Central Nervous System, Amalia S. Parra

Biology ETDs

Development of multicellular organisms depends on coordination of various molecular mechanisms to ensure proper tissue size and structure. This is accomplished through intrinsic and extrinsic cues that regulate cell growth and proliferation both spatially and temporally. These well-coordinated signals are present from early developmental stages and remain active throughout development to ensure tissue structure is appropriate for function. This is particularly important in early cell types that form specialized lineages such as stem cells or those found throughout the body such as epithelia. While much progress has been made in understanding growth regulatory mechanisms, several fundamental aspects remain unknown. This …

Gonads Without Glp-1: Silencing Glp-1 In The Male Somatic Gonad In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Matthew Titus

Undergraduate Theses

In C. elegans, the gene glp-1 encodes for a Notch receptor called GLP-1, one of two found in C. elegans’ genome. The gene has been previously implicated in the development of the hermaphroditic germline as well as playing a role in the mitosis/meiosis decision. Genetic screening has further identified it as potentially playing a role in the development of the male somatic gonad, making it an ideal candidate for a reverse genetic. We did this by silencing glp-1 and observing if any alterations to the gonad’s phenotype occur.

Normally this could be done by performing a gene knockout. …

Understanding The Expression And Role Of Pros-1 In The Male Gonad Of C. Elegans, Jack Bozik

Undergraduate Theses

The gene pros-1 is a transcription factor that is highly expressed within neuronal sheath cells, glial cells, and excretory canal cells. pros-1 plays a role in cell determination of those cell types in the nematode C. elegans, which promotes organismal development. But the degree to which pros-1 presence is important is still not fully understood, because there are many genes involved in development that when mutated or damaged can result in unexpected phenotypes or even total loss of function to a certain developmental mechanism. What makes pros-1 valuable to research is that it is a functional homologue to a …

Does Oxybenzone Affect The Development Of Sea Urchins Up To The Gastrula Stage, And What Do We Do About It?, Claire Crozier

Honors Projects

Understanding the effects of anthropogenic factors, such as oxybenzone, on sea urchins is extremely important to protect the growth of coral reefs- the ocean’s hotspot for biodiversity. Spawning of sea urchins, Lytechinus variegatus, was induced and eggs were fertilized in different concentrations of oxybenzone contaminated water. 48 hours later, data was collected underneath a light microscope. Observations of the data indicate that oxybenzone negatively affects sea urchin development up until the gastrula stage. Using both my data and knowledge from standing literature, I decided to write a policy analysis paper to answer the question “what should we do regarding sunscreen …

Consciousness, Evolution, And The Self-Organizing Brain, Karen Seymour

Journal of Conscious Evolution

While evolution is guided by natural selection, it is internally driven by self-organizing processes. The brain encompasses these complementary forces and dynamics of evolution in both its structure and dynamics by embodying a historical record of the factors that have shaped it throughout its evolutionary past, as well as by being shaped by selective parameters in real time. Self-organization is evident in not only the brain’s structure and form, but also in the processes that support consciousness. From the convergence of complex structure and the novelty-generating dynamics of chaos that both characterize the brain arises the experience of explicit consciousness, …

Effects Of Withania Somnifera On Zebrafish, Diyari Bekhtyar

Student Works

Withania somnifera (commonly known as Ashwagandha), is a plant in which its root powder is sold as a dietary supplement. It is being commonly used as an anti-anxiety supplement to combat stress. While the sale of Withania somnifera is widely accessible and available throughout the U.S., it is concerning that a number of teens and young adults are taking this supplement without consulting a physician. Previous studies and claims conclude that Withania somnifera has both neuroprotective and antiinflammatory properties in human neuronal cells. We have chosen to test Withania somnifera’s effects on early embryonic development using Danio rerio, zebrafish, as …

Examining The Reproductive Ecology Of Terrapene Ornata In Western Nebraska, Katie Brighton, Keetan Munsell

2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference

Understanding the reproductive ecology of any species is vital for determining intraspecific variation in individual fitness, modeling population growth or persistence potential, and developing effective conservation strategies. The reproductive ecology of many species has been extensively studied (particularly in mammals); however, other taxonomic groups including many ectotherms has not been well documented. One such ectotherm is the ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata), which, to our knowledge, has never had its reproductive ecology extensively examined, especially in the field. In this study, we examined the reproductive ecology of ornate box turtles over a six-week period in a mixed shortgrass prairie in …

Neurogenetic Function Of Host Cell Factor-1, Victoria Lynn Castro

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Neural precursor cells (NPCs) are the stem-like cells of the developing brain. These cells differentiate into the differentiated cell types of the central nervous system. If disruption occurs in the number of total NPCs formed or their survival, various disorders including learning disabilities, behavioral problems, or epilepsy can occur. This dissertation describes how the HCFC1 gene controls the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs. HCFC1 encodes for a transcriptional co-factor that regulates the growth and metabolism of stem cells, including NPCs. Mutations in HCFC1 cause cblX syndrome, a neural developmental disorder that affects the nervous system and causes microcephaly, epilepsy, and …

Immunohistochemical Investigation Of Wwp1 Expression During Embryonic Heart Development And Its Implications For Cardiac Aging, Savannah L. Bowers

Senior Theses

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality globally, with the aging population being most vulnerable. Cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts mediate pathophysiological changes of cardiac aging including interstitial fibrosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, lethal arrhythmias, and eventual culmination in heart failure. Interestingly, subclinical congenital heart disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, originating in embryonic development, induce accelerated cardiac aging. The diverse developmental origins of cardiac fibroblasts suggest that perturbations in gene expression within this heterogeneous cell population during embryonic heart development have significant consequences for cardiac aging. Previous studies implicate the E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP1, a post-translational regulatory protein, in accelerated cardiac aging. …

Effect Of Soil Microbes On The Growth Of Two Santa Monica Mountain Fern Species During Early Gametophyte Development, Chase Kerstein, Kaitlin Gartrell, Donna Nofziger

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The fern life cycle alternates between two distinct phases: a diploid sporophyte phase and a haploid gametophyte phase. The mature gametophyte is an independent, single-cell layer structure that is photosynthetic. Much of the research on the early development of gametophytes takes place in sterile conditions while research into the effects of the soil microbiome on gametophyte development has not been well characterized. This study examines the interaction between the soil microbiome and early development of two Santa Monica Mountain fern species, Woodwardia fimbriata (Wf) found in riparian streams and Dryopteris arguta (Da) which grow in the chaparral understory. Spores from …

Intellectual Disability Related To De Novo Germline Loss Of The Distal End Of The P-Arm Of Chromosome 17: A Case Report, Eden Pope, Matthew Huertas, Amar Paul, Braden Cunningham, Matthew Jennings, Ryan Perry, Stephanie Chavez, John A. Kriak, Kyle B. Bills, David W. Sant

Annual Research Symposium

Hypothesis/Purpose: In this report we present a case of a 20-year-old female with congenital intellectual disability, stunted growth, and hypothyroidism. Competitive genetic hybridization (CHG) revealed a loss of 17p13.3, and the deletion was not present in either parent. This deletion has not previously been characterized, but mutations on the p-arm of chromosome 17 are responsible for Miller-Dieker Syndrome and Isolated Lissencephaly Sequence, both of which share symptoms in common with the patient.

Methods: Peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used for karyotyping and competitive genetic hybridization (CHG). Bioinformatic analysis was carried out using the Genome Data Viewer (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/gdv).

Results: Karyotype was …

Production And Characterization Of Monoclonal Antibodies To Xenopus Proteins, Brett Horr, Ryan Kurtz, Ankit Pandey, Benjamin G. Hoffstrom, Elizabeth Schock, Carole Labonne, Dominique Alfandari

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Monoclonal antibodies are powerful and versatile tools that enable the study of proteins in diverse contexts. They are often utilized to assist with identification of subcellular localization and characterization of the function of target proteins of interest. However, because there can be considerable sequence diversity between orthologous proteins in Xenopus and mammals, antibodies produced against mouse or human proteins often do not recognize Xenopus counterparts. To address this issue, we refined existing mouse monoclonal antibody production protocols to generate antibodies against Xenopus proteins of interest. Here, we describe several approaches for the generation of useful mouse anti-Xenopus antibodies to multiple …

A Brief Overview Of Triple A Syndrome, Jamaal Khan

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Triple A Syndrome, also known as AAA Syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by any mutation in the AAAS gene on chromosome 12q13, whose main function is to code for the WD-repeat family regulatory protein, ALADIN. It typically occurs as a group of diseases that are characterized by alacrima, Addison's disease, and achalasia. Alacrima can be defined by a decrease in the amount of tears produced while achalasia is nerve damage in the esophagus that can cause difficulty swallowing. Lastly, Addison's disease is the insufficient production of cortisol and aldosterone produced by the adrenal cortex. There is no …

Methylene Blue Inhibits Cromakalim-Activated K+ Currents In Follicle-Enclosed Oocytes, Dmytro Isaev, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Georg Petroianu, Dietrich Ernst Lorke, Murat Oz

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The effects of methylene blue (MB) on cromakalim-induced K⁺ currents were investigated in follicle-enclosed Xenopus oocytes. In concentrations ranging from 3–300 μM, MB inhibited K⁺ currents (IC₅₀: 22.4 μM) activated by cromakalim, which activates K_ATP channels. MB inhibited cromakalim-activated K⁺ currents in a noncompetitive and voltage-independent manner. The respective EC₅₀ and slope values for cromakalim-activation of K⁺ currents were 194 ± 21 µM and 0.91 for controls, and 206 ± 24 µM and 0.87 in the presence of 30 μM MB. The inhibition of cromakalim-induced K⁺ currents by MB was not …

Comparison Of In-Vitro 3d Human Embryoids With Current Models For Gastrulation, Jin Park

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Gastrulation is an early morphogenetic process that is conserved across most metazoans and lays out the future body plan through the formation and shaping of the three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Despite its importance, not much is known about the events surrounding human gastrulation that occurs in utero due to ethical and technical limitations on studying human embryos. Therefore, many researchers have devised protocols for creating in vitro models of gastrulation using embryonic stem cells. Initially starting with mouse embryonic stem cells, the field of in vitro embryo models has advanced rapidly, with protocols using human embryonic stem …

Quantification Of Nuclear Dynamics During Epithelial Remodeling, Noah De Leeuw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The morphogenesis of developing tissues is contingent on an extensive array of rearrangements in cellular shape, position and identity at large and small scales. One commonly used process to reshape tissues is the cell intercalation-driven elongation of a tissue in a common axis, in which rows of epithelial cells undergo oriented intercalation in a directional fashion. In most models of intercalation, cells are treated as homogeneous objects directed in their shape changes by cortical forces localized along cell-cell interfaces or tricellular junctions. However, less attention has been paid to how inhomogeneities in mechanical resistance of their own internal structures affects …

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. …

Analysis Of A Cathepsin Protease In Normal Development And Tumor Metastasis In Drosophila Melanogaster, Lindsey Fannin

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Cysteine cathepsins are an important class of fifteen proteases with involvement in normal development and tumor progression. To better understand their contribution to these processes, the cathepsin L protease in Drosophila melanogaster was studied. In part one of this project, the role of this cathepsin in the normal development of Drosophila wings was analyzed. The GAL4/UAS-system and RNAi were used to downregulate this cathepsin in various regions of the wing and progeny were inspected for phenotypic irregularities. An abnormal phenotype of curved wings was found and hypothesized to be a result of apoptosis. Further experimentation will be required to prove …

Gestational Vulnerability To Ozone Air Pollution - A Placental Story, Vishnupriya Alavala, Sarah Brent, Russell Hunter, Matthew J. Campen, Andrew Ottens

UROP Posters

About 99% of the global population resides in areas with air pollution surpassing World Health Organization standards. Air pollution is associated with adverse neonatal health outcomes such as low fetal birth weight and an increased risk for maternal pre-eclampsia. A particularly reactive air pollutant is ozone, which forms reactive oxygen species that induce cellular damage. Research exists on the dispersion of reactive oxygen species through the bloodstream leading to fetal vulnerability during pregnancy, specifically via the placenta. Yet, placental and fetal development is a temporal process with varied susceptibility to negative gestational outcomes.

To addressing this gap, our laboratory utilized …

Ros And Sfk Signaling Is Required For Development Of Hematopoietic Stem Cells In Zebrafish, Bradley Williams, Erich Damm

UROP Posters

ROS and SFK signaling is required for development of hematopoietic stem cells in zebrafish

Bradley Williams and Erich Damm

Background

Hematopoiesis is the process in which the myriad of mature blood cell types, including erythrocytes and leukocytes, develop from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) throughout the life of an organism. In vertebrates, HSCs originate from endothelial cells lining the floor of the dorsal aorta. This process is referred to as the endothelial to hematopoietic transition and is likely controlled in part by molecular signals from neighboring cells. Investigation into the molecular signaling mechanisms controlling the development of HSCs is critical to …