Developmental Biology Commons^™

Connecting Genotype And Phenotype: Investigating The Functional Morphology And Molecular Architecture That Influences Craniofacial Divergence Using Lake Malawi Cichlid Fishes, Leah Delorenzo

All Dissertations

Connecting genotype and phenotype to better understand how species evolve has been a goal of evolutionary developmental biologists over the last 50 years. This dissertation aims to connect genotype and phenotype of the craniofacial skeleton within the adaptive radiation of Lake Malawi cichlids to fortify our understanding of the functional, genetic, and epigenetic factors that contribute to craniofacial divergence. I start with a functional approach using 2D geometric morphometrics to assess craniofacial shape across the Lake Malawi cichlid radiation to bolster our knowledge of the bone phenotypes that are important to niche specialization and are functionally relevant. Next, I use …

The Role Of The Transcription Factor Cebpa In Regulating Lung Alveolar Type 2 Cell Fate In Vivo, Dalia Hassan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Cell plasticity can extend across all possible cell types, yet it naturally diminishes as cells progress through differentiation. This plasticity can be reactivated during injury repair, engaging developmental flexibility. Our investigations reveal the critical role of the transcription factor (TF) CEBPA, specific to lung alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells, in modulating AT2 cell plasticity within the mouse lung. We demonstrate that CEBPA constrains AT2 cell plasticity by promoting the AT2 differentiation program and recruiting the lineage-specific TF NKX2-1. Without CEBPA, AT2 cells, in both neonatal and mature, show a diminished AT2 program; however, only neonatal cells re-activate the SOX9 progenitor …

Qualitative Assessment Of Human Embryonic- And Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neural Stem Cells Under Cgmp Methods, Michelle Hernandez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Neural stem cell therapies represent a promising tool for the development of regenerative medicine and are being tested in clinical trials for several neurological disorders. However, the clinical applicability of stem cell therapies is dependent on the implementation of current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) to ensure the quality, safety, and consistency that stem cell products need to meet FDA regulatory requirements. As such, there is a need for a shift to xeno-free methodologies so experimental conditions are cGMP compliant. The purpose of this study is to test a GMP compatible production method to generate multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) from …

Regulation Of Embryonic Eye Regrowth In Xenopus Laevis, Dylan Guerin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Regrowth of lost organs and tissues is an amazing ability that some animals possess. For regrowth to be considered full, the organism must regrow the organ or tissue to a state that is structurally and functionally similar to that which was lost. The ability of an organism to regrow lost or damaged tissue varies among animals, both in the mechanisms utilized to achieve regrowth, and in what body parts can be regrown. Potentially even closely related species can vary wildly in regenerative ability. Therefore, regenerative research can look to other tissues and organisms for direction in elucidating the mechanisms through …

The Anatomical Embodiment Of Morning Routines In The Reduction Of Anxiety: An Intervention, Natalie Wright

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The topic under investigation is whether physically embodying a morning routine that was designed through the lens of Laban Bartenieff Movement Analysis (LBMA) will reduce daily symptoms of individuals diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Since morning routines play a significant part in one’s preparation for the day, I created an individualized LBMA morning routine for a specific client to embody. In addition to the routine, the client documented the process of their anxiety levels on a weekly basis. This client was a white, female, 19-year-old, lesbian college student who was previously diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The movement analysis …

The Impact Of Mutations In The Arabidopsis Apetela (Ap3) Gene, Hazel R. Frans, Tara Phelps-Durr

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of this research is to understand the molecular functioning of the Arabidopsis thaliana Apetela (Ap3) gene. We created mutations in two sites of the gene, AP3-3 and AP3-5. These are predicted to change AP3 protein structure, which may result in a mutated flower. Analyzing the effects of new mutations allows an understanding of protein formation both in plants and humans.

Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students, Ive N. Muse, Shraddha Patel, Linda Fuselier

Undergraduate Research Events

Undergraduate reproductive biology courses are traditionally taught in a reductive manner, prioritizing a binary understanding of sex which oversimplifies reproductive behaviors and reproductive system development across diverse taxa. Although this binary approach to lessons on reproduction is intended to benefit students in learning foundational human reproductive concepts, it does not teach the most recent research in reproductive biology, which identifies reproductive variation as the norm. We designed and implemented a lesson on reproductive biology informed by the most current and accurate research and compared it to a traditionally taught biology lecture for first year majors. Students who received the experimental …

Ultrabithorax, Abdominal-A And Abdominal-B Form Heterodimers And Homodimers In Living Cells By Bifc, Rubén Montalvo Méndez, Gustavo Jiménez-Mejía, Diana Reséndez-Pérez

Research Symposium

Background: Hox genes encode transcriptional factors that regulate the expression of specific target genes along the anterior-posterior axis determining the segment identity during embryonic development. These master genes are expressed in the same order in which are located in the third chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. As it was previously reported the interaction of neighboring Hox proteins as Scr-Antp and Antp-Ubx and one of the mechanisms for Hox protein regulation is protein-protein interaction, we determined the heterodimer formation of Ubx with AbdA and AbdB as well as the homodimer formation of these proteins in living cells which in turn could …

Species Delimitation Of Slimy Salamanders, Plethodon Kisatchie And Plethodon Mississippi, Across The Lower Mississippi River, Brock Hunter Stevenson

Master's Theses

Species are fundamental units of biodiversity yet delimiting species can be challenging. Slimy Salamanders of the Plethodon glutinosus species complex are a classic example of cryptic species for which species boundaries and relationships have proved difficult to determine. Once thought to be a single species ranging across the eastern United States, protein analysis revealed high genetic divergences among geographically distinct groups of populations, leading to 16 species being recognized within the group. Two of these species, the Louisiana Slimy Salamander (Plethodon kisatchie) and the Mississippi Slimy Salamander (Plethodon mississippi), are closely related but occur on opposite sides of the Mississippi …

Investigating The Mechanisms Through Which Autophagy Controls Lipid Levels In Cyst Stem Cells., Jared Langdon

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

With an increase in the average age of the American population, incidents of age-related diseases and illnesses are rising across healthcare communities. Addressing these pathologies with a focus towards novel treatments warrants further research into their mechanistic origins. Lipid build up within cells has been correlated with increased risk for certain pathologies, namely Alzheimer's disease and type-2 diabetes (Demarco, 2020). In this study I aimed to investigate the origin of the increase in lipids, specifically we consider the effects of lipid build up on the maintenance of stem cell populations.

Panorama Of Human Embryo-Derived Cells In Biomedicine And Progress In Their Research And Regulation, Jianchao Gao, Yaojin Peng, Wei Wei, Shuang Lu, Chenyan Gao

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Since the establishment of the first human diploid cell line derived from aborted fetal tissue in the 1960s, human embryoderived cells have been widely used in biomedical field and significantly contributes to improving human health. In recent years, human pluripotent stem cells, including human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), have shown great therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine, and thus received great attention from governments and the public. However, due to various factors such as history, culture, religious beliefs, ethics and morality, research and application involving human embryo-derived cells have been controversial worldwide. This study explores the history and progress of human …

Ras/Mapk Signaling Mediates Adipose Tissue Control Of Ovarian Germline Survival And Ovulation In Drosophila Melanogaster, Tancia Bradshaw, Chad Simmons, Rachael Ott, Alissa Richmond Armstrong

Faculty Publications

From insects to humans, oogenesis is tightly linked to nutritional input, yet little is known about how whole organism physiology matches dietary changes with oocyte development. Considering that diet-induced adipose tissue dysfunction is associated with an increased risk for fertility problems, and other obesity-associated pathophysiologies, it is critical to decipher the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking adipose nutrient sensing to remote control of the ovary and other tissues. Our previous studies in Drosophila melanogaster have shown that amino acid sensing, via the amino acid response pathway and mTOR-mediated signaling function within adipocytes to control germline stem cell maintenance and ovulation, …

Role Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Signaling In Diet-Enhanced Bone Elongation, Cassaundra A. White

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Childhood obesity has increased precipitously to the point that almost 20% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 have been diagnosed with obesity. While obesity is a complex metabolic disorder, one contributing factor is diet, particularly a diet high in fat. Among many problems associated with diet-induced obesity, the impact on skeletal health is often overlooked. In addition to increased stress on the skeleton due to excess weight, obesity also disrupts the endocrine and immune systems that, in turn, can secondarily alter skeletal growth. Obesity during the early years of childhood is particularly detrimental because the skeleton is …

An Updated Outline For Clearing And Staining Of Preserved Specimens, Sadie E. Smith

Honors Theses and Capstones

This protocol outlines a enhanced clearing and staining procedure for persevered specimens, focusing on the visualization of cartilage and bone in small taxa. With origins from O. Shultze's diaphonization methodology in 1897, the process of clearing and staining improves the clarity and contrast of intricate tissues. It is essential for studies in developmental biology, histology and anatomy. This protocol covers the key steps of the process while detailing the materials, solutions and estimated timeline for each step pertaining to specific taxa. The aim of the protocol is to standardize and provide guidance for procedures in the Biological Sciences department at …

The Effects Of The Clinically Relevant Synthetic Progestin, 17-Α-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate, On Neural Development And Behavior., Paige L. Graney

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The synthetic progestin, 17-α -hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) has beencommonly prescribed during gestation to reduce preterm delivery in individuals at risk (Meis et al., 2003). In singleton pregnancies, 17-OHPC treatment begins during the second trimester, around gestational weeks 16-20, and continues until the end of the third trimester, around week 37 (Berghella, 2012). Although the fetus is not directly administered 17-OHPC, previous research demonstrated that 17-OHPC was transferred from the maternal unit to the fetal unit of the placenta in situ, was detectable in maternal and fetal blood up to 44 days following the last injection (Caritis et al., 2012; Hemauer …

The Biobehavioral Effects Of Embryonic Exposure To Neural Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In Zebrafish, Dalton J. Anderson

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to improve understanding of the neurodevelopmental effects of embryonic exposure to elevated inflammation and oxidative stress induced by the antipyretic drug acetaminophen (APAP). Our study was the first to examine the interactive effects of APAP and inflammation in zebrafish embryos and how the treatments affect brain development and larval behavior. Experimental groups of zebrafish larvae were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation, APAP, or LPS + APAP and larval behavior was analyzed using Ethovision automated behavioral tracking software. We also measured changes in whole-brain Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (GSK3B) and GSK3B phosphorylation, …

Functional Investigation Of Shaggy, An Inhibitor Of Canonical Wnt Signaling, In The Tardigrade Hypsibius Exemplaris, Raul A. Chavarria

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tardigrades have a highly simplified anteroposterior (AP) axis. The mechanisms that regulate the development of this secondarily simplified AP axis are not known. In many animals, the canonical Wnt (cWnt) signaling pathway regulates primary axis establishment through antagonistic interactions with inhibitors of cWnt signaling. This study investigated the roles of shaggy, an inhibitor of cWnt signaling, in regulating development in the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. Gene expression patterns of shaggy and other components of the cWnt signaling pathway were analyzed alongside markers of anterior and posterior identity using Hybridization Chain Reaction in situ in H. exemplaris. RNA interference …

Functional Analyses Of The Polycomb-Group Genes In Sea Lamprey Embryos Undergoing Programmed Dna Loss, Cody Saraceno

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

During early embryonic development, the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) undergoes programmatic elimination of DNA from somatic progenitor cells in a process termed programmed genome rearrangement (PGR). Eliminated DNA eventually becomes condensed into micronuclei, which are then physically degraded and permanently lost from the cell. Previous studies indicated that many of the genes eliminated during PGR have mammalian homologs that are bound by polycomb repressive complex (PRC) in embryonic stem cells. To test whether PRC components play a role in the faithful elimination of germline-specific sequences, we used a combination of CRISPR/Cas9 and lightsheet microscopy to investigate the impact …

Prenatal Androgen Exposure Reduces Ovarian Function, Marlee Weets

All Master's Theses

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive and endocrine disorder, being the leading cause of infertility for females of reproductive age. The etiology of PCOS is not fully known, although it is hypothesized that there is a genetic, epigenetic, and environmental component to the disease. One of the environmental influences that can cause an abnormal reproductive phenotype similar to PCOS is prenatal exposure to excess androgens (male sex hormones). Previous studies have shown that prenatal exposure to androgens in mice can cause a PCOS-like ovarian phenotype similar to people with PCOS. To examine how prenatal androgen exposure causes …

Transcription And Translation Regulation Of Germ Cell To Maternal Transition, Noor Kotb

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In sexually reproducing organisms, the process of gametogenesis produces mature eggs and sperms required for fertilization to occur. The egg's quality is crucial for the healthy development of the next generation, making oogenesis a tightly regulated process with multiple benchmarks. To investigate the intricacies of oogenesis, we utilized the Drosophila oogenesis system as our primary model. This choice was motivated by several factors. Firstly, the process of egg development in Drosophila is conserved across species, making it a valuable proxy for understanding oogenesis in other organisms, including humans. Secondly, Drosophila melanogaster has long been established as a powerhouse in genetic …