Category: Biological Sciences
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The Role of Magnesium in Promoting Skeletal Muscle Cell Viability in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
By Jessie Bronski Faculty Mentor: Ginny Morriss Abstract Myotonic dystrophy 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disease that affects a variety of organ systems characterized by muscle weakness and wasting. DM1 is caused by expanded CTG repeats in the 3’ untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. Nonaffected individuals carry fewer than 35…
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THE EFFECTS OF GROUP VERSUS INDIVIDUAL HOUSING AND SEX SEGREGATION ON WHOLE BODY CORTISOL AND ANXIETY BEHAVIOR IN ADULT ZEBRAFISH
By Arlie Scott, Daniel Johnson Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dianne Baker Abstract Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are traditionally housed in mixed-sex shoals (MSS) in laboratory settings to mirror their natural social environment, a practice which is believed to be the most optimal housing method for the species. To test the impact of housing arrangements on anxiety-related behavior…
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Effects of isolation and co-housing on cortisol levels and anxiety- like behavior in female zebrafish
By Arezo Mansoor and Caroline Kim Faculty Mentor: Dianne Baker Abstract Effects of isolation and co-housing on cortisol levels and anxiety- like behavior in female zebrafish Authors: Arezo Mansoor, and Caroline Kim Abstract Cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone, is synthesized from cholesterol and released through the hypothalamic pituitary interrenal (HPI) axis, which is functionally analogous to…
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Neurological Phenotypes of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 in Drosophila melanogaster
By Carleigh Wood Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ginny Morriss Abstract This research investigated Drosophila melanogaster’s ability to serve as a model organism for the neurological phenotypes of Myotonic Dystrophy Type I (DM1). DM1 is caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. DM1 leads to symptoms of muscle weakness and wasting, as well as…
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The Effect of Embryonic Bisphenol B Exposure on the Reproductive Development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
By Jamie Volk Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dianne Baker Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA), a common component of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is a well-established endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) linked to adverse reproductive outcomes. In response to increasing regulatory restrictions, structurally similar analogs such as bisphenol B (BPB) have been introduced into consumer products, despite limited toxicological…
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The Effects of Perfluoroundecanoic Acid on the HPT Axis in Zebrafish
By Ashlynn Peszko Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dianne Baker Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of environmental pollutants of which many have been deemed endocrine disruptors. However, less is known about the long-chain variants in this family, in particular the chemical perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA). Based on previous PFAS research, I hypothesize that…
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Restoring Useful Filed of Vision in Drosophila Using RNAi Knockdown of the eys Gene and Duloxetine Treatment
By Camille Jacome Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ginny Morriss Abstract Retinitis pigmentosa is the gradual degeneration of photoreceptor cells in the retina that causes vision loss over time. Mutations in the eyes shut homolog (eys), a protein coding gene necessary to support the photoreceptor cells, can lead to this condition. Earlier research has shown that Duloxetine,…
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Cisplatin-Induced Immunogenic Cell Death Delayed Tumor Onset in a Preclinical Model of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
By McKenzie Cheynet, Mohammad Ali Hassan, Evan Fisher Faculty Mentor: Laura Sipe Abstract Some cancer treatments, such as specific chemotherapies, are immunogenic and can stimulate a robust immune response, while others fail to effectively engage the immune system. Enhancing the immunogenicity of chemotherapy is critical, not only to improve direct tumor cell killing but also…
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Character Displacement Caused by Closely Related Native and Invasive Species
By Daniel Martinez Faculty Mentor: Dr. Bradley Lamphere Abstract Invasive species living with closely related relatives pose an interesting question for community ecology: How do these species coexist? Typically, in nature, when two closely related species evolve together, they will segregate their niches to reduce competition. We can observe how species reduce competition in sympatric…
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Methionine Restriction Enhances Platinum-Based Chemotherapy-Induced Immunogenic Cell Death in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells
By Mallory Thompson Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Sipe Abstract When cancer cells are treated with chemotherapy, they can release Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) as they die that can alert and engage the immune system, a process known as an immunogenic cell death (ICD). The dying cancer cell can release certain molecules, like ATP, that immune…
