Search
Now showing items 1-20 of 46
Drug resistance in D. discoideum: isolation of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide resistant mutants
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005)
The drug 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) displays both carcinogenic and antitumor effects, a well known characteristic of many chemotherapeutic drugs. In addition 4NQO shares a similar operating mechanism with the commonly ...
Ecological conditions of secondary sexual dimorphism in salix glauca : fundamental and realized dimorphic niche
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
This thesis explores the dimorphic niche of ecological conditions hypothesis as the selective force behind secondary sexual dimorphism in Salix glauca, a dioecious willow shrub. The dimorphic niche hypothesis predicts trait ...
Multi-scale investigations of gray treefrong movements: patterns of migration, dispersal, and gene flow
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005)
The movement of individuals within and among populations has been recognized as an important determinant of the persistence of species. Fragmentation of terrestrial landscapes has exacerbated the need to understand the ...
The role of the AP-1 adaptor complex in trafficking between the trans-Golgi Network and endosomal system
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005)
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae it is generally accepted that there are two routes for trafficking of proteins from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the vacuole. One involves direct transport from the TGN to the vacuole. The ...
Mechanisms of call recognition in three sympatric species of Neoconocephalus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) : asymmetrical interactions and evolutionary implications
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
Scientists have debated the hypothesis of reinforcement. Nevertheless, recent empirical and theoretical work have dispelled doubts about its existence. Reinforcement is most often studied by establishing one of its predicted ...
The role of terrrestrial habitat in the population dynamics and conservation of pond-breeding amphibians
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
I used both demographic modeling and experimental field research to evaluate the role of terrestrial habitat in the population dynamics and conservation of pond-breeding amphibians. I began by using literature data to ...
Quantitative biological studies at cellular and sub-cellular level
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
We developed a translational magnetic tweezers for quantitative measurements at cellular and sub-cellular level. In the cellular studies, multiple membrane tethers were extracted simultaneously under constant force transduced ...
Behavioral choice and demographic consequences of wood frog habitat selection in response to land use
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
Land use is a pervasive form of disturbance affecting natural systems on Earth. My dissertation research is set within the context of a large scale project referred to as Land-use Effects on Amphibian Populations (LEAP), ...
Noise and signal transmission properties as agents of selection in the vibrational communication environment
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
Members of the Enchenopa binotata species complex (Hemiptera: Membracidae) are host-specific phytophagous insects that communicate by sending vibrations through their host plants. Successful communication depends on the ...
Centromere function and evolution in maize (Zea mays)
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
A dispensable supernumerary chromosome present in maize, the B chromosome, was the focus of many centromere studies. First, I examine the variation in copy number of centromeric elements and other repeats among different ...
The interploidy hybridization barrier in Zea Mays L.
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
The failure of endosperm development due to interploidy crosses could be due to two reasons, neither of which has been studied on its own. 1) There is an imbalance of inherited imprinted loci in the endosperm (HAIG and ...
The biology of the Florida scrub endemic millipede: Floridobolus penneri
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
Even though millipedes provide a number of important ecosystem services, the group overall is understudied and nowadays largely ignored in the USA. Most millipedes that are well-studied occur in temperate, mesic environments, ...
Differential roles for hedgehog signaling in motor neuron development
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
Induction of neurons in the correct number and location is essential for the proper development and function of a nervous system. Signaling mediated by the Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins plays a vital role in ...
Conservation and ecology of breeding landbirds in a riparian restoration context
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
While $14 to $15 billion have been invested in 37,000+ river and stream restoration projects in North America since 1990, only 10% are monitored for biological function. My work examines factors that affect landbird ...
Nectar in nicotiana : pollinator associations, sources of variation, and evolutionary consequences
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
Nectar is the primary floral reward offered by plants to attract pollinators. Pollinators often exhibit a preference for certain types of nectars over others. If pollinator preferences for certain nectar traits are strong ...
Evolution of signal frequency in Neoconocephalus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) : a study of perceptual and environmental sources of selection
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Mate-attraction signals offer an ideal opportunity to examine the sources of selection that shape traits and trait diversity, as they are very diverse ...
Sphingolipid metabolic enzymes modulate anticancer drug resistance
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] One of the most challenging aspects of cancer therapy today is the problem of drug resistance. The aim of our research is to understand the molecular ...
Effects of riparian buffer width on stream salamander populations in the southern Appalachian Mountains
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
Salamanders in the Appalachian region have been extensively studied, but the majority of research assessing the impacts of logging has focused on terrestrial species that are not dependent on stream habitats for egg ...
Spinal cord injury induces changes in ion channels of reticulospinal neurons in larval lamprey
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
After spinal cord injury in larval lamprey, RS neurons regenerate their axons (Davis and McClellan, 1994a,b), restore synaptic contacts and most of the original locomotor functions (McClellan, 1998). It was previously ...
Chromatin-level regulation of the maize purple plant1 gene
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
In eukaryotes, gene expression is controlled at the chromatin level by mechanisms that are not yet well understood. This study addressed some of the unanswered questions about chromatin-level gene regulation. In maize, the ...