Cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides has been a successful invasive species in North America for over 100 years, residing in human dwellings and subsisting on a polyphagous insect diet. The arrival of a congener, Pholus manueli has led to competition between the two spiders for a very similar niche. While P. phalangioides is much larger in […]
B10: RNA interference of the fmr1 gene in the cricket Acheta domesticus: Impact on locomotory and sensory functions
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a genetic disorder that is a leading cause of autism spectrum disorder. The fmr1 gene encodes an RNA binding protein called Fragile X Mental Retardation protein (FMRP). Loss of gene function results in the loss of this protein. While much research has been done to increase our understanding of the […]
C94: Effects of Shading on Mosquito Larval Survivorship
Climate change is increasing average temperatures and precipitation in northeastern North America, which is increasing mosquito habitat. Understanding more of their biology is essential to building effective management solutions to mitigate the spread of these potential disease vectors. Mosquito larvae develop in water and are susceptible to damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, larvae can […]
B01: Evaluating the serial homology of abdominal gills and wings in the giant mayfly, Hexagenia limbata
Despite the morphological novelty of the wing among insects, its evolutionary origin is still a highly controversial topic among the scientific community. Recently, some evo-devo studies have started shedding new light onto this hotly debated topic. However, these studies have used highly derived insects as their models, and therefore it is yet to be determined […]
C07: Examination of a bidirectional homeotic transformation in Tribolium castaneum
The forewings and hindwings of an insect often have different structural and functional identities. In beetles, forewings (called elytra) act as protective shields, while the hindwings are used for flight. The Hox gene, Ultrabithorax (Ubx), has a major role in forewing/hindwing differentiation during insect development. Removal of Ubx function causes a homeotic transformation of the […]
B17: What prevents the wing master gene, vestigial, from making wings everywhere?
During organismal development, some genes occupy the top of a gene regulatory network, orchestrating the development of a certain tissue type or organ. These genes are often called “master regulator genes”. One such gene is vestigial (vg), which is often considered ‘necessary’ and ‘sufficient’ to orchestrate the formation of wings (i.e. wing master gene). When […]
C01: In-vivo Imaging of Newt Lens Regeneration: Novel Insights in Molecular, Cellular, and Functional Mechanisms
Adult newts are amazing animals that are able to regenerate many parts of their body. Lens regeneration is one of the most significant among all other forms of regeneration in the newt since the lens is able to repeatedly regenerate a perfectly functional lens regardless of injury, frequency of lens removal, or newt’s age. Optical […]
C45: Communicating Research to Public Audiences
The research being conducted in this study is an interdisciplinary project focused on the idea of communication to the public. This is all centered on the question of what skills are needed for researchers to effectively communicate their ideas with the public. The relevance of this study relates to all fields because if researchers are […]
CS1-01: Quantifying Pigmentation in ImageJ of Cisco Fish Exposed to Varying Degrees of UV Radiation
Lake Michigan is becoming more transparent and now has potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation penetrating to deeper depths of the lake–leading to differential changes in fish abundances. Only fish that have innate mechanisms of protection will be able to mitigate damage from exposure to UV radiation. One way species can reduce damage from UV radiation […]
A44: Improving the Academic Success of Bridges Scholars in STEM Disciplines
Mentoring relationships are important to the academic success of many STEM students across the country. These relationships open up opportunities to participate in labs that can give students the necessary experience to be successful after college. How has Miami University and the Bridges Scholars program contributed to the success of STEM students and how can […]