PAS Kinase Interactions

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Steven Sowa and Dr. Julianne Grose, Microbiology Goal To discover the substrates of PAS kinase. Introduction Signal transduction pathways are critical to the function of a cell. Correct signals help the cell to manage its resources effectively while improper or inactive signals contribute to cancer and many other human diseases. One protein involved in signal […]

The Misapplication of DNA Barcodes to Taxonomic Classification

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Taylor Southwick and Dr. Keith Crandall, Department of Biology Main text The classification of organisms into different taxa is a central issue in biology. If similar organisms are grouped together, then comparative analyses can be used from the genome to the systems level to understand how they work, both biologically and behaviorally. There are two […]

A Multiplex Real-time PCR Assay for Rapid Detection and Differentiation of Burkholderia mallei, B. pseudomallei, and B. thailandensis

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Chinn-Woan Shih and Richard Robison, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology Main Text As stated in the proposal, my focus has been with three bacterial species of Burkholderia: mallei, pseudomallei, and thailandensis. Burkholderia mallei is the causative agent of glanders, an abscess-forming infection that is predominantly found in the equine population and is capable of […]

Quantification of Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus Gene Expression in Infected Humanized Mice

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Mark Rowan and Dr. Bradford K. Berges, Microbiology & Molecular Biology Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV) is a prevalent disease around the world. Some Sub- Saharan African countries have infection levels as high as 40 percent. Usually the effects of this disease are not fatal unless the infected person has already been infected with HIV or […]

A Study of Biological Photonic Crystals in the Effects of Beta Amyloid on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Alzheimer’s: Internal Opal Scale Structures of Iridescent Beetle Species in the Cerambycidae Family

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Andrew Romney and Dr. Sterling Sudweeks, Physiology & Developmental Biology For the past two years, I have worked in Dr. Sterling Sudweeks’ research lab experimenting with neurotransmitter receptors that are implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. When functioning normally, these receptors act as ion channels which open upon binding nicotine or acetylcholine and are […]

A Study of Biological Photonic Crystals in the Internal Opal Scale Structures of Iridescent Beetle Species in the Cerambycidae Family

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Lauren Richey and Dr. John Gardner, College of Life Sciences Main Text A photonic crystal is a periodic structure that confines, manipulates, and guides photons. Such structures affect the propagation of electromagnetic waves by defining allowed and forbidden frequency bands known as photonic band gaps. Therefore, a photonic crystal can be thought of as the […]

Operation Smile

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Stephanie Richards and Professor Barbara Lockhart, Excercise Science The main goal of our research was to investigate and gain a better understanding of the perception that local inhabitants of Bolivia have regarding medical aid received in their country. To accomplish this task we surveyed and interviewed those who are most directly affected by this aid, namely […]

Resolving Genetic Relationships within Shrimp-like Decapods and Tracing the Phylogenetic Significance of Morphological Traits within Caridea (Crustacea: Decapoda)

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Jennifer Rasmussen and Dr. Keith Crandall, Biology Department Chair Main Text Shrimp-like decapods–including sergestoids, penaeoids, carideans, procaridids, and stenopodideans–are a species-rich and morphologically diverse group of crustaceans. Some taxa, such as the penaeoids and carideans, are economically important, bringing in billions of dollars each year to world fisheries. The economic importance of this group, together […]