Inflammation: A Key Component of the Immunosuppression Observed in Aggressive Breast Cancer?

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Bryan Swanson and Dr. Kim O’Neill, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation are current treatments used to combat cancer. Future treatments may directly involve the cancer patient’s immune system. The immune system has the potential to destroy tumors. This destructive potential is orchestrated by small secreted proteins called cytokines and chemokines. These proteins […]

Identifying Selection in the ANGPTL4 Gene using TreeSAAP

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Jeffrey Staples and Dr. Keith Crandall, Biology Introduction Geneticists have successfully identified the sources of many diseases that are inherited according to Mendelian rules (e.g. cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease). However, not all diseases are caused by one faulty gene; these so-called complex diseases (e.g. asthma, obesity, and diabetes) result from any number of mutated […]

Mice show Decreased Muscle Strength bearing a Targeted Inactivation of nBmp2

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Alina Schmidt and Dr. Laura Bridgewater, Microbiology and Molecular Biology An important secreted growth factor, bone morphogenic protein 2 (Bmp2), is involved in mesoderm formation, heart development, neurogenesis, skeletal development, axis formation, and muscle development 1 and is a member of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins. Members of the TGF-β superfamily are commonly known as […]

Phylogenetic Relationships Among Samples of the Dusky Shrew, Sorex monticolus, Emphasizing Utah Localities

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Rustin Reed and Dr. Duke S. Rogers, Department of Biology We examined relationships among samples of the Dusky shrew (Sorex monticolus) in the Intermountain West, concentrating on Utah locations with the aim of clarifying the distribution of two continental groups identified in a recent study by Demboski and Cook (2001). Genealogies were derived from mitochondrial […]

Antioxidant Interactions in Strawberries exhibit Synergism and Antagonism

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Joshua Reber and Dr. Tory Parker, Dietetics and Food Science Epidemiological evidence has shown, on average, that those who consume more servings of fruits and vegetables have lower relative risk for cardiovascular disease and some cancers (Lee et al., 1991; Hertog et al., 1993; van’t Veer et al., 2000). As a result, a great deal […]

An Analysis of Genetic Complexity

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Gabriel Proulx and Dr. Keith Crandall, Biology Department Sequencing genomes still requires considerable equipment and resources. While a full sequencing of all known species is obviously the end goal, analyzing ESTs, short sequences of expressed genes, can suffice in the meantime as an easier and less resource-intensive method to mapping out a species’ expressed genes. […]

Factors Affecting Folic Acid Stability in Micronutrient Fortified Corn Tortillas

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Kirk Oler The previously submitted grant application outlined research methods that would use ORCA funding. This report is a follow up to the initial ORCA grant application. First, a brief recapitulation of the grant application will be provided. Second will be a description of the actual research with any deviations from the application. Third, the […]

The Effect of Mechanical Tenderization on the Internal Cooked Color of Beef Eye of Round Steak

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Amanda Nordquist and Maria Carter with Drs. Frost Steele and Laura Jefferies, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of mechanical tenderization on the internal cooked color of beef steak, and specifically to determine if it exhibits premature browning during cooking because of the mechanical tenderization. The […]

Inflammation and Apoptosis in Developing Dmm, cho, and sedc Articular Cartilage: The Role of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR)

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Caitlin Nichols and Dr. Laura Bridgewater, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Dmm, cho, and sedc mutations in mice collagen genes activate unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways in developing cartilage tissues. The inflammation or cell death triggered by the UPR may contribute to the […]

Intraspecific Life History Variation in the Knife-edged Livebearer Alfaro Cultratus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) from Costa Rica

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Lacey Nay and Dr. Jerry Johnson, Biology A species’ life history traits, including growth and reproduction, follow patterns of natural selection. Evolution is driven by natural selection which, in short, can be described as the ability of an organism to conform to its environment (Pianka 2000). Individuals possessing those traits that are more favorable in […]