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Weed versus wildflower : mating system ecology in a taraxacum native-exotic contact zone
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)
Closely related plant species often exhibit differences in ploidy level, mode of reproduction, and traits related to reproduction. Differences in ploidy levels are often associated with mating system differentiation, ...
Dissecting the genetic basis of carbohydrate partitioning in maize and sugarcane
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)
Carbohydrate partitioning, the process by which carbohydrates synthesized in the photosynthetic source tissues (mature leaves) are mobilized to non-photosynthetic (sink) tissues, such as roots, seeds, and developing organs ...
(Socio-)ecological tools and insights for a changing climate
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)
In one way or another, climate change is impacting all social, economic, and ecological systems on the planet. Scientists worldwide warn of catastrophic and irreversible damage to social and ecological systems in absence ...
Uncovering the genetic architecture and metabolic basis of amino acid composition in maize kernels using multi-omics integration
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)
Seeds are a major source of protein in human and livestock diets. Cereal grains are some of the most consumed seeds by both humans and livestock worldwide, with maize, wheat, and rice alone accounting for ~70% of the total ...
Neuroscience tools in novel contexts: developing thermogenetics in Drosophila and decoding autonomic activity in mouse major pelvic ganglion
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)
Animal research models provide the opportunity to decode neural activity via the ability to precisely stimulate and record neural events associated with quantifiable circuit and behavioral outputs (Bernstein et al., 2012; ...
An all-consuming conundrum : drivers of seed predation in tallgrass prairies
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)
Post-dispersal seed predation is a determinant of seed availability for species establishment, and ultimately, community structure. For example, species with high intrinsic fitness and competitive ability may not remain ...
Hormonal and genetic control of leaf and vein development in maize
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)
Grasses (Poaceae) have successfully colonized diverse terrestrial ecosystems and impacted human civilization by producing the bulk of world food supply. The grass leaf is distinct for having a sheathing base and strap-like ...
The blue light responses and lifetime fitness of a hyper-phototropic mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Optimal plant growth and development hinges on the plant's ability to absorb sunlight. Because plants are sessile, they have evolved a variety of ...
Characterization of the relationship between radiographic grading and biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)
"Osteoarthritis (OA) is a whole-joint degenerative disease, affecting more than 25% of the adult population. Currently, OA is most commonly diagnosed based on radiographic documentation. However, radiographic grading is ...
Dissecting the genetic basis of learning, memory, and thermal tolerance in a multi-parental population of fruit flies
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021)
Learning, memory, and thermal tolerance are complex traits that are fundamental survival skills in many species. For example, small poikilotherms " like Drosophila melanogaster, have evolved physiological mechanisms to ...
Signals, cues, and information use in foraging decisions of herbivorous insects and a leaf-folding plant
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2023)
[EMBARGOED UNTIL 12/1/2024] Group living organisms rely heavily on cues and signals from other group members to make decisions. I studied how foraging decisions are influenced by communication in two species of plant-feeding ...
Coupling, membrane conductance, and ion channel mRNA profiles in the establishment and maintenance of network activity in the crustacean cardiac ganglion
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021)
Neural networks produce critical rhythmic behaviors throughout an animal's lifespan, despite growth, differing environments, and changes in physiological state. This requires networks which balance stability in their ...
Molecular dissection of the roles of RNA processing proteins in meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)
The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa is a model organism for the study of genome defense and epigenetic mechanisms. N. crassa utilizes meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA (MSUD) to silence unpaired genes during sexual ...
Genetic and hormonal regulation of meristem initiation and maintenance pathways during maize vegetative and reproductive development
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021)
Plant development is driven by pools of undifferentiated stem cells called meristems. Meristems have two functions, to divide producing cells that will replenish the stem-cell niche, and cells that will differentiate into ...
Unveiling glial pathways involved in neuronal communication
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)
Glia have been understudied throughout time largely because of a lack of basic understanding. Early experiments showing that glia do not respond with action potentials after an electrical stimulation, like their neuronal ...
Disturbance and restoration ecology : exploring biological and human dynamics
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)
As scientists, when we study ecology, we study relationships. From a strictly biological sense, we look at relationships between organisms--how they interact, compete, and develop at different scales. We also look at how ...
The genetic and physiological basis of total energy budget in different nutritional environments
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)
Organisms need to adapt to dynamic environments over time. An organism consumes and stores a finite amount of resources that are used for all daily tasks. In order to survive and thrive, they must allocate these finite ...
Intervertebral discs : metabolic responses to load, injury, and pro-inflammatory stimulation
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)
Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a significant cause of back pain and disability. Factors such as trauma and magnitude and frequency of loading are associated with IVD degeneration. However, the ...
Brassicales to Brassica : integrating phylogenomics and population genomics
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)
The Brassicales are an economically important order of flowering plants. Many crop species such as kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, canola oil, capers, and papaya, as well as the model plant organism, Arabidopsis ...
Low-level laser therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the dog
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI--COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] In veterinary medicine there is increasing interest in the use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of pain in dogs with OA. ...