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Diversification in plant feeding insects : patterns of host-plant specialization and mating signal evolution inferred from species-level phylogeny and population genetics
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2009)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Speciation yields two reproductively isolated groups capable of living in sympatry without cross-fertilization. Thi inability to hybridize is caused ...
Heterochrony of floral and mating system characters between Nicotiana longiflora and N. plumbaginifolia
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
The evolution of selfing is one the most fascinating and common trends observed in flowering plants. Selfing flowers are often smaller than their outcrossing relatives, with reduced reproductive effort. The selfing species ...
Examination of exogenous estrogenic chemical exposure and altered fetal nutrition in the CD-1 mouse fetus
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2009)
My dissertation examines two issues related to disruption of fetal growth: exposure to exogenous estrogenic chemicals and altered nutrition. My first set of studies was aimed at manipulating isoflavones in feed on serum ...
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 ...
Identification and characterization of M cells in the mammalian conjunctiva
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
The M cell is a morphologically and functionally distinct epithelial cell found in the follicle associated epithelium (FAE) above organized lymphoid tissue at distinct locations along mucosal surfaces. By sampling antigens ...
Raptor and wading bird migration in Veracruz, Mexico : spatial and temporal dynamics, flight performance, and monitoring applications
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
. I evaluated the use of migration counts to monitor populations and obtained annual estimates of population change for five species over a 10-year period. In those five species, who meet both an a priori accuracy target goal and the assumptions of a...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Insights into phototropic signaling : a study of the unusual attributes of a hyper-phototropic mutant
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
by describing a hyper-phototropic mutant -- hph, through a series of directed experiments. The primary goal of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of the phototropic signal progression from stimulus to response. While the original hph mutant...
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 evolutionary significance of developmental plasticity in the communication system of Neoconocephalus triops (Orthoptera: tettigoniidae)
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
The katydid Neoconocephalus triops is a tropical species that extended its distribution range to North America. In North America, males display developmental plasticity in mating calls between reproductive generations: the ...
Characterization of an in vitro neural stem cell niche with educational component : stem cells and society
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] We describe a novel neural stem cell (NSC) culture system, derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells, that maintains and expands a population of neural ...
A multi-scale investigation of ecologically relevant effects of agricultural runoff on amphibians
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
Modification of landscapes for agricultural production can introduce agrochemicals into surface waters and degrade aquatic habitats used by many amphibians for breeding and larval development. Although many ecotoxicological ...
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 ...
Tumor-initiating cells in malignant brain tumors
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2009)
Stem cells have the unique ability to differentiate into the many specialized cells of the body. During adulthood, stem cells remain in the organism and maintain the ability to repair and replenish injured or dead cells ...
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 ...
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 ...