Effect of Common Fragile Site Flexibility Peaks on Mitotic Recombination in Yeast Valerie Sponyoe Non presenting co-author: Quinn Ellison Anne Casper, faculty mentor
Common fragile sites (CFS) are areas of the chromosome that are susceptible to DNA breakage when placed under replication stress. CFS breaks near tumor suppressor genes can lead to cancer. Previously, we have shown that in cells under replication stress, breaks at a yeast fragile site stimulate homologous recombination (HR) events that lead to loss of heterozygosity. We hypothesize that a sequence motif called a flexibility peak found in human fragile sites also will stimulate HR. To test this hypothesis, we have inserted this flexibility peak into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This organism allows us to view the effects of this sequence on mitotic recombination. Poster group 1 /// Room 310 /// 9–11:10 a.m.
The Coaggregation of Human Gastrointestinal Bacteria Natalie Michelle Stoynoff
Daniel Clemans, faculty mentor The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is teeming with billions of microbes, some of which are essential to the development of the immune system and the production of metabolites that humans need to survive. The nature of this unique ecosystem and how bacteria impact it are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to better understand how bacteria interact with each other within the human GI tract. Coaggregation is the cellular interactions between genetically distinct bacteria. We present data about on the specific coaggregation interactions between select GI tract microbes and the nature of the molecules that mediate those interactions. Poster group 1 /// Room 310 /// 9–11:10 a.m.
Are You in Your Right Mind? Handedness in the Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) Jessica A. Twydell
Cara Shillington, faculty mentor “The right half of the brain controls the left half of the body; this means only left handed [scorpions] are in their right mind.” Lateralization is the localization of activity to either the right or left side of the brain. Handedness is characterized by the dominant limbs in animals such as crabs, horses, and parrots. This is the first study of this trait in scorpions. Through a series of five trials per individual, captive scorpions were offered one cricket. Handedness was determined by various measures of claw preference during feeding. Results suggest that scorpions display lateralization and handedness by preferentially feeding with their dominant claw. Poster group 2 /// Room 310 /// 1:30-3:40 p.m.
abstracts /// COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 55