Systematics and Genetic Variation Among the Cryptic Sub-Species Complex of Two- Lined Salamanders Eurycea bislineata

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Eric Swenson and Dr. Keith Crandall, Zoology DNA sequence analysis can be a very powerful tool to examine the evolutionary history of many different species of organisms. One of the most useful benefits is determining species lineage and evolutionary relationships. In this study we attempted to examine the phylogenetic relationship of Eurycea bislineata, an east […]

Locating Chondrocyte-specific Enhancer Elements in the First Intronic Region of the Col11a2 Gene

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Steven Alan Smith and Dr. Laura Bridgewater, Zoology Osteoarthritis is one of most prominent illnesses that plague our world today. It involves the degeneration of cartilage between joints due to a reduction of collagen fibrils. The type XI collagen gene (Col11a2) is one of a few genes responsible for the production of the collagen fibrils. […]

The Separation of Suspected Subspecies of Cutthroat Trout Using Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

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Becky A. Shiozawa and Professor R. Paul Evans, Zoology Current mitochondrial DNA techniques using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) are still unsuccessful in determining phylogenetic relationships between subspecies of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki), such as the relationships between Snake River finespot cutthroat trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Bear River Bonneville cutthroat trout and Yellowstone cutthroat […]

Premature Onset of Osteoarthritis Due to a Col11a1 Gene Mutation

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Victoria Ryder and Dr. Robert Seegmiller, Zoology Introduction Cartilage collagen mutations can alter the load-bearing properties of articular cartilage (AC), possibly leading to premature osteoarthritis. AC consists mainly of types II, VI, IX, X, and XI collagen.1 Collagen fibrils in AC are heteropolymers of types II, IX, and XI collagen2. Type II is the major […]

Antibiotic Resistance in Escherichia-coli Isolates from Guatemala

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Troy Russon and Dr. Ronald Leavitt, Microbiology Introduction It is estimated that at least one-half of all antibiotic use in the United States is inappropriate.1 Physicians often prescribe broad spectrum antibiotics when the disease causing bacterial strain could be targeted specifically. Also, patients are prone to expect prescriptions for antibiotics even when their infections are […]

In Vitro Effects of Follicular Dendritic Cells on Proliferation of HIVinfected T cells

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Jesse Rowley and Dr. Gregory Burton, Microbiology Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS, has eluded successful treatment since its discovery in the early 1980s. HIV is a retrovirus that infects and eventually destroys CD4+ T cells. In HIV infected individuals it is believed that during the longest phase of infection (latency) most viral […]

Preliminary Phylogeneic Analyses of the Erotylidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Erotylidae) based on Molecular Data

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James A. Robertson and Dr. Michael F. Whiting, Zoology The Cucujoidea, a very diverse beetle superfamily, includes mycophagous and wood consuming beetles. Within the Cucujoidea is the family Erotylidae (pleasing fungus beetles). The Erotylidae includes 125 genera and approximately 2,500 species, and has a worldwide distribution. Erotylids are known for their striking coloration, including black […]

Ancient Egyptian Textiles: A Genetic Look Into 2000-Year-Old Egyptian Communities

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Shaun Odell and Dr. Scott Woodward, Microbiology In the mid 1980’s archeologists from BYU began excavating a 2000-year-old burial site in Northern Egypt called the Fag-el-Gamous cemetery. This cemetery contains the remains of roughly 350,000 individuals who had been buried there between 200 BC and 400 AD during the Greco-Roman period of Egyptian history. The […]

Preventing Salmonella and Other Bacterial Contamination in Poultry Using a High-Adhering Strain of Escherichia Coli

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Jeffrey P. North and Dr. Ron Leavitt, Microbiology In 1928 Alexander Fleming revolutionized the world with the discovery of penicillin. Penicillin and the antibiotics discovered thereafter revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases. Equipped with these miracle drugs, scientists thought the battle against pathogenic bacteria was won. However, bacteria began to evolve to meet the antibiotic […]

Selenium Regulation of NF-κB Binding in Cancerous Human Prostate Epithelial Cells

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Wayne K. Nelson and Dr. Merrill Christensen, Food Science and Nutrition According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed nonskin cancer in men. In 1997 alone, it is estimated that 209,900 men were diagnosed as having the disease. Prostate cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer related death […]