2007 Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (MU)
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The MU Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum showcases the creative and scholarly activities that undergraduates have been engaged in over the summer. All students engaged in scholarly or creative activity with a faculty mentor are invited to present their work.
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Item Interactions of gender, age, and reporter on different domains of behavioral autonomy [abstract](University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2007) Yoon, Yesel; Campione-Barr, Nicole, 1976-; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2007 : University of Missouri--Columbia)Autonomy "pertains not to freedom from others, but freedom to carry out actions on one's own behalf while maintaining appropriate connections to others" (Collins et al., 1997) and is a central task of adolescence. The process of adolescents obtaining autonomy occurs through a series of conflicts and negotiations with parents. Previous research shows that while parents and adolescents agree that issues pertaining to moral (e.g. taking money from parents, lying) and prudential (e.g. drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes) domains remain up to parents to decide well into late adolescence, and personal issues (e.g. choosing own clothes, how to spend allowance) are up to adolescents to control very early on, issues that are on the boundary between personal and conventional (cursing, manners, and chores) or prudential domains cause the most conflict and have the greatest discrepancy in parent and adolescent's perceptions of control. The present study examined whether there was an interaction between the different domains of behavioral autonomy with the reporter (parents versus adolescents), and the adolescents' grade and gender. Participants in the study were 118 adolescents and one of their parents; adolescents were evenly divided by grade (7th & 10th) and gender. Three different measures were used to assess behavioral autonomy: ideal family decision-making, actual family decision-making, and a sorting task assessing the breadth of personal domain. Generally, the present study found that adolescents claimed the most autonomy over personal and multifaceted issues and more autonomy over conventional issues than both prudential and moral issues. Also, adolescents claimed more autonomy than their parents were willing to grant, and girls and 10th graders claimed more autonomy than boys and 7th graders. Findings were further discussed based on interactions among autonomy domain, reporter, and adolescents' gender and grade.Item Wading in the gene pool: Female preference for long mating calls in gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) [abstract](University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2007) Yi, Si Yol; Gordon, Noah M., 1968-; Gerhardt, H. Carl; Welch, Allison; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2007 : University of Missouri--Columbia)Female gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) exhibit a clear preference for long mating calls. Moreover, the expression of this preference varies. The "good genes" model of sexual selection suggests that this is because females with extreme preferences mate with males with the most exaggerated traits, so their offspring will carry the genes for the extreme values of both trait and preference. Another possible explanation for variation in preference is that females in good physical condition will be better able to travel longer distances to find a longer calling male, resulting in a stronger call preference. We assessed the preference strength of lab-reared female frogs that are the offspring of short and long-calling fathers. We manipulated the condition of these females by placing them on a high and low feeding treatment. Frogs were tested in an anechoic chamber to determine preference strength, which was measured by using unequal playback levels of synthetic mating calls. We defined preference strength as the amount that the intensity of a long call can be reduced relative to the short call before the female prefers the shorter call. We found that preference strength was not significantly affected by father's call length, family, food treatment, or weight. Additionally, the response time for testing showed no relationship with either preference strength or weight. While there were no trends in the data, our sample size was small. Further testing with a larger sample size will give us a better idea of whether or not preference strength is affected by male call length or condition. Alternatively, female preference might be linked to variables we did not measure, such as age or past experience.Item Characterization of soybean genes involved in soybean cyst nematode (SCN) resistance [abstract](University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2007) Yeckel, Gregory; Ithal, Nagabhushana; Nettleton, Dan; Recknor, Justin; Wu, Xiaolei R.; Nguyen, Henry T.; Mitchum, Melissa G.; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2007 : University of Missouri--Columbia)The expansion of the soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) across soybean producing regions of the United States shows no signs of slowing. Resistant soybean germplasm has been used as the primary strategy to manage this pest. However, soybean resistance against SCN is derived from a narrow genetic base and repeated plantings have selected for populations of SCN that can break the resistance. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of soybean resistance is critical for designing novel strategies to improve crop plant resistance to SCN. To identify genes potentially involved in SCN resistance, we previously coupled laser capture microdissection with microarray profiling to compare gene expression profiles of nematode feeding cells induced in resistant and susceptible near-isogenic lines (NILs) of soybean. We identified 390 soybean genes that were differentially expressed between the resistant and susceptible NILs. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) pools of soybean DNA were then screened for the presence of a subset of these genes. Three genes, believed to be involved in soybean stress and defense responses, were selected for further functional studies. Full-length gene and cDNA sequences have been isolated using genome walking and RACE PCR approaches. To gain insight into the regulation of each gene, the endogenous promoter sequences are being isolated and fused to the GUS reporter gene for expression studies. RNAi and overexpression constructs will be used to test the function of these genes in resistance to SCN.Item Chromosomal evolution in Brassicacae: Allopolyploidy, aneuploidy and transgene transmission [abstract](University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2007) Wright, Kirsten; Ellis, Nathanael; Waheed, Omar; Xiong, Zhiyong; Rehman, Maqsood; Stewart, Neil; Pires, J. Chris; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2007 : University of Missouri--Columbia)Polyploidy is a eukaryotic phenomenon common to plants that serves as an evolutionary mechanism for speciation. Diploid species undergo polyploidization through single genome duplication (autopolyploidy) or by the hybridization of genomes from two or more distinct progenitor species (allopolyploidy). Aneuploidy can arise where offspring possess extra or fewer chromosomes than their progenitors. Over successive generations, changes in chromosomal number and rearrangement can lead to speciation or differentiation of ecotypes within a species. Using advanced molecular cytogenetics and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), we can distinguish chromosomes and genomic markers among different ecotypes and species. In the agricultural industry where genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are used, aneuploidy and homoeologous recombination of transgenic elements presents a potential mechanism of moving transgenes from GMO crops into the genomes of wild diploids. These wild diploids then have the potential to become "superweeds" that can disrupt ecological systems. The goal of this study was to investigate the movement of a transgene from an allopolyploid to a diploid in controlled greenhouse crosses. Transgenic Brassica napus allopolyploid plants (AACC) were backcrossed to natural Brassica rapa (AA) recurrently over three generations. We examined each of the three backcross generations for chromosome number and gene transmission. Molecular cytogenetic analysis was performed on flower buds from each backcross, chromosome numbers were recorded and gene transmission was analyzed by PCR. As expected, we found aneuploidy in Brassica napus x Brassica rapa hybrids suggesting potential for homoeologous recombination of transgenes into non-transgenic diploid species. Surprisingly, despite aneuploidy, we also found a high rate of both germination and transmission of the transgene into wild Brassica rapa, suggesting the need to find safe sites in Brassica napus to insert transgenes.Item Synthesis of a prosthetic group for radiolabeling of Melanoma targeting peptide Re-CCMSH [abstract](University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research, 2007) Wolf, Mark; Zhang, Xiuli; Quinn, Thomas P. (Thomas Patrick), 1961-; University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research; Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2007 : University of Missouri--Columbia)There is currently no cure for malignant melanoma and the best hope for a patient is early diagnosis and surgical excision. A promising approach to early cancer diagnosis is the use of radiolabeled peptides for tumor imaging. Dr. Quinn's lab has developed a cyclized peptide analog of alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone called ReCCMSH which binds to over expressed melanocortin-1 receptors on the tumor cells. A common radioimaging technique in nuclear medicine is positron emission tomography (PET). The radionuclide, fluorine-18, is widely used as a labeling agent for PET studies because of its 110 minute half life and low energy and is thus a good candidate for radiolabeling of our peptide. However, direct fluorination of the peptide is not possible. To radiolabel the peptide, a prosthetic group must be developed that can be attached to the peptide and act as a fluorine acceptor. This prosthetic group must not alter the biological properties of the peptide including receptor affinity, rapid body clearance, and absence of side reactions. The organic synthesis of this prosthetic group was the focus of my research. Previous attempts at radiolabeling of the conjugated peptide have been inefficient multi-step syntheses and thus impractical. For my research, a benzyl aldehyde was modified through a series of reactions to create carboxyl-3-cyano-4-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium triflate. This compound can be coupled to the end of the peptide and subsequently radiolabeled in one efficient step. The peptide was synthesized via solid phase peptide synthesis and cyclized via rhenium metal coordination. The actual radiolabeling of the conjugated peptide along with the in vivo biodistribution studies on mice will be pursued over the next academic year.