Cyanobacteria, among the oldest organisms on Earth, played a crucial role in the development of complex life by oxygenating the Earth’s atmosphere. Cyanobacteria are promising candidates for use in biotechnology applications, including the production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other valuable chemicals, so studying these organisms can result in new ways to harness their potential. By […]
B09: RNAi v. CRISPR: Comparing Efficiency of Loss-of-Function Analysis
RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR/Cas9-genome editing have revolutionized biology by enabling loss-of-function analyses with relatively simple procedures. Although both RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 lead to functional loss of the targeted gene, these two methods are fundamentally different. RNAi targets mRNA at the post-transcriptional level, leading to the reduction (i.e. knockdown) of the target gene function. On […]
B11: Gaining Insights into the World of Freshwater Isopods
Isopod crustaceans of the family Asellidae are one of the most widespread freshwater crustacean groups. Members of the family occur throughout North America, and occupy a wide range of habitats (wetlands, streams, surface springs, caves). However, they are not well studied, with very little known about their evolutionary history and biogeography. Here we aim to […]
B64: Comprehensive Examination of Elytron Mutants in the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum
As members of the order Coleoptera, a highly diverse group of insects, the red flour beetle has specially modified wings called elytra for protection. While the wing gene network in other model organisms, such as D. melanogaster, is well studied, the genes that make up the wing gene network and relationships between these genes remain […]
C17: A Comprehensive Study of Mouse Lens Epithelial Explant Development
The lens is a useful tissue to study development because it is very simple, and self-containing. The lens is made of only two cell types; epithelial cells, and fiber cells. The epithelial cells are cuboidal and aligned in a single row along the anterior edge of the lens and they mature into the long transparent […]
C01: Molecular analysis of pendulum mutants presenting with defects in heart valve and outflow tract development
Unidirectional blood flow, controlled by valves within the heart, is an essential component for proper and efficient heart function. 30% of patients exhibiting a congenital heart defect present with defects in these valves resulting in decreased heart function. In zebrafish, valve formation occurs at the atrioventricular canal (AVC) and outflow tract (OFT). The signaling pathways […]
B19: Examining Sex Differences in Ethanol Consumption Using the Four Core Genotypes Model
Previous research has shown that female rodents have higher rates of alcohol consumption than males, but the mechanisms underlying these behavioral differences have yet to be uncovered. Here, we used the Four Core Genotype mouse model along with Intermittent Access to evaluate the effects of gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes on drinking habits. Four Core […]
A54: Characterizing the Role of NHE11 in Mammalian Sperm Physiology Using CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Edited Mice
Sodium Hydrogen Exchangers (NHEs) are a family of proteins which are important for maintaining the pH of a cell. A few NHEs have been found to be essential for the function and fertility of sperm cells. One of these in particular, NHE11, is exclusively expressed in the sperm and testes. NHE11 is also the only […]
A55: The Impact of Methylation on the Epigenetic Regulation of the SLC9B1 gene
DNA methylation is a critical mechanism for the epigenetic control of tissue differentiation in organisms, particularly when it comes to the development of sperm and testes. There is little information, however, concerning specific methylation patterns and their effects on these regions. One gene of interest is SLC9B1, which codes for NHA1, a sodium-hydrogen exchanger that […]
B14: Characterizing the Role of NHE11 in Mammalian Sperm Physiology Using Crispr/Cas9 Gene Edited Mice
Sodium Hydrogen Exchangers (NHEs) are a family of proteins which are important for regulating the pH of a cell. Previous studies have found certain NHE proteins to be essential for sperm cell motility and fertility. There still remains one completely uncharacterized NHE protein: the NHE11 protein. Work in our lab has found that in mammals, […]