Category: Biological Sciences
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New antimicrobial agents on the block: Testing synthetic drug compounds on surrogate organism Mycobacterium aurum
By Aiddah Rotich Faculty Mentor: Dr. Theresa Grana Abstract With the rise of global infections involving drug-resistant tuberculosis, first line drugs are at risk of becoming less effective in treatments leading to the need for new synthetic compounds. Therefore, a robust system of drug testing procedures is needed to test their efficacy against the airborne…
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Myotube and endothelial cell coculture optimization to determine the effect of DM1 on angiogenesis
By Emily Boyd, Abigail Powers Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ginny Morriss Abstract Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by CTG repeats and results in muscle wasting. Increased concentration and inactivation of platelet derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ) has been reported in a mouse model of DM1 and in DM1 patient muscles.…
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Myotube and endothelial cell coculture optimization to determine the effect of DM1 on angiogenesis
By Emily Boyd Faculty Mentor: Ginny Morriss Abstract Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by CTG repeats and results in muscle wasting. Increased concentration and inactivation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ) has been reported in a mouse model of DM1 and in DM1 patient muscles. PDGFRβ is involved in…
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Investigating Methionine Restriction–Induced Pyroptosis as a Mechanism for Enhanced Chemotherapy Response in TNBC
By Brooke Martin Faculty Mentor: Laura Sipe Abstract Investigating Methionine Restriction–Induced Pyroptosis as a Mechanism for Enhanced Chemotherapy Response in TNBC Authors: Brooke Martin, Mallory Thompson, Advisor: Laura Sipe, PhD Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks targetable hormone receptors, making chemotherapy the primary treatment option, therefore investigating ways to make chemotherapy more effective is of clinical…
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Discovering Gene Function in Phage Zapner
By Lucca Muta and Emily Wills Faculty Mentor: Theresa Grana Abstract SEA-GENES, a Howard Hughes research initiative, is an evolution of the SEA-PHAGES project, which sequenced and annotated the genomes of many bacteriophages. SEA-GENES expands on this project to determine the functions of genes coded by specific phages. In various trials of cytotoxicity assays, we…
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Sex or Survival: Does Wounding Elicit a Somatic Reproductive Tradeoff in Narnia femorata Males?
By Lillian Burbulis Faculty Mentor: Lauren Cirino Abstract Animals must partition resources into life history traits resulting in tradeoffs because resources are finite. A tradeoff is the allocation of resources to one trait over another. Life history theory states that energy is allocated in a hierarchical fashion. For example, somatic maintenance should be a higher…
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CRISPR Cas-9 Comparison for Inducing Genetically Engineered Mutation
By Anna Dobson, Yousef Kasim Faculty Mentor: Dr. April Wynn Abstract CRISPR Cas-9 is a genetic engineering technology that is used to edit genomes, such as the bacteria E. coli. The LacY and LacZ genes in E. coli help break down the sugar lactose into glucose and galactose. Genetics students use CRIPSR to edit the…
