Ryan Williamson and Dr. Jeff Edwards, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology The hippocampus is a region of the brain that mediates learning and memory formation by changing the properties of synapses within its circuitry [2]. The plastic nature of these synapses allows the brain to alter how sensitive one neuron is to stimulation from […]
Search Results for: regulation
The Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita homozygous Mutant: A Model for the Mechanism of Osteoarthritis
David Macdonald and Dr. Robert Seegmiller, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology Articular cartilage is a hard-wearing and specialized form of hyaline cartilage which allows for an almost frictionless surface during joint movement (Ofek et al. 2008). These unique characteristics are primarily due to chondrocyte secretions, and the composition and properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) (Buckwalter and […]
Assessing the Effects of the IRF5 Exon 1B on Translation
Jared Lambert and Dr. Brian Poole, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology With our lab’s previous finding revealing a hairpin folding structure in exon 1B (IRF5 risk allele), not found in the other first exons, this project was focused towards more fully understanding the role of IRF5 exon 1B’s hairpin structure and its effect on […]
Identifying Proteins that Interact with Human PAS kinase
Tacie Hall and Dr. Julianne Grose, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology When PAS kinase is knocked out in mice placed on high-fat diets, these mice show such symptoms as decreased weight gain, hypermetabolic phenotype, decreased liver triglyceride accumulation, and retained insulin sensitivity when compared with their wild type littermates.1 These symptoms are highly associated […]
Premature Osteoarthritis in the Temporomandibular Joint of Heterozygous Disporportionate Micromelia Mice
Jason Farrell and Dr. Robert Seegmiller, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study, as also summarized in the proposal for this research grant, was to analyze the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of mice with a specific collagen defect, Disproportionate Micromelia. Examining these joints was done to provide an […]
MDCK Gene Expression During EMT
Jason Burton and Professor Marc Hansen, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. This is mostly due to a lack of understanding into the function of cancer and the different mechanisms it uses to spread. The process by which cancer cells detach from the […]
A Little Help for My Friends: Do Foreign Aid Donors Reject NGOs in Favor of their Blatantly Corrupt Allies?
Nicholas Jones and Dr. Darren Hawkins, Department of Political Science Our research examines whether donor countries care about the quality of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) when giving foreign aid to poor countries. When donor states give foreign aid to recipient states, such the US giving foreign aid to Uganda, the donor states must choose what is […]
Emotion-Related Conflict Adaptation in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Daniel Bjornn and Dr. Michael Larson, Department of Psychology Conflict adaptation is a neurological process that reflects the adjustment of performance on tasks when conflict is detected on previous trials. Conflict in this instance refers to the simultaneous activation of multiple response options. When conflict is detected, such as on an incongruent trial on Stroop […]
Neurophysiological Substrates of Alcohol Addiction
Dr. Scott Steffensen, Department of Psychology Completion of Academic Objectives Research in my lab is dedicated to the elucidation of brain substrates underlying drug addiction. Elder Boyd K. Packer has stated, “It is my conviction, and my constant prayer, that there will come through research, through inspiration to scientists if need be, the power to […]
Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-Products (RAGE) Mediates Particulate Matter-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation
Dr. Paul Reynolds, Department of Physiology & Developmental Biology Academic Objectives Met and Results Observed Funding available through this MEG award has provided an opportunity for me to meet many academic objectives I’ve determined to be important in the early stages of my faculty appointment at BYU. First of all, I have been able to […]