School of Biology Undergraduate Research Option Theses
The Research Option offers students majoring in biology the opportunity for a substantial, in-depth research experience. Students are strongly encouraged at the end of their experience to work with their faculty mentor to develop a journal publication or conference presentation on the research in addition to the actual thesis.
All materials in SMARTech are protected under U.S. Copyright Law and all rights are reserved. Such materials may be used, quoted or reproduced for educational purposes only with prior permission, provided proper attribution is given. Any redistribution, reproduction or use of the materials, in whole or in part, is prohibited without prior permission of the author.
Recent Submissions
-
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Chronic Limb Ischemic Myopathy
Critical limb ischemia (CLI), the most advanced clinical manifestation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is associated with cycles of ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) that are thought to compromise the bioenergetics of ... -
In-Situ Water Quality Monitoring for Resource-Constrained Areas
Water-borne pathogens and unsafe water supplies are the cause of death for 1.7 million people every year [1]. Many of these people live in the developing world, where it can be difficult to manage water safety. The World ... -
Gastrointestinal Motility: Kinematic Properties of Segmentation Contraction
The kinematic processes of the small intestine play integral roles in overseeing the digestion and transportation of food throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Specifically responsible for governing the flow and digestion ... -
Catalytic abilities of the Schistosoma mansoni hammerhead ribozyme with mutated substrates in ice
The synthesis of biomolecules in an environment similar to a pre-biotic Earth within the field of evolutionary chemistry has applications in understanding abiogenesis and the evolution of early biological systems on Earth. ... -
Generalizing Disease Associations to Non-Studied Populations
This study determines whether risk allele frequencies (RAFs) for common diseases can be generalized in genome wide association surveys (GWAS) that are done in different populations other than the original study population. ... -
Genetics of Captive Naked Mole-Rat Populations
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015-06-30)The evolution of highly social behavior (eusociality) represents one of the major transition points in evolutionary history. Naked mole-rats (NMRs), Heterocephalus glaber, are one of the few known eusocial mammals, meaning ... -
Determining how Freshwater Copepods Follow Planar Dextran Trails
In this study two species of freshwater copepods, Hesperodiaptomus shoshone (H. shoshone), and Hesperodiaptomus arcticus (H. arcticus) will be used to determine how some species of freshwater copepods interact with planar ... -
Aggressive Phenotypes in Malawi Cichlids Associated with V1AR Variant
The cichlid model provides a great opportunity to explore diversity in behavioral phenotypes. Different groups of Malawi cichlids exhibit distinct patterns of behavior for a variety of scenarios, including aggressive ... -
Exploring Cichlid fish tooth regeneration turnover rates
Polyphyodonts are organisms who can continuously replace their teeth throughout their lives, yet this mechanism is extremely complex. There are many factors that can affect tooth density and turnover rate, including genetic ... -
Screening for the Functionality of RNA Templated Repair of Double-Strand Breaks in Saccharomyces Cerevisae
Double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA are detrimental, as they can cause mutations and genomic rearrangements, which in turn leads to cancer and other diseases. Recent research reveals that DSBs can be repaired by RNA-templated ... -
Neural Activation Patterns Arising From Gesture Recognition
The human brain is composed of a complex network of neurons that create a representation of the world through sensation and perception. This representation facilitates interacting with the environment and is thus vital ... -
A Study of the Relationship Between Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and Craniosynostosis
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015-06-30)INTRODUCTION: The high prevalence for craniosynostosis (1) indicates the need for genetic understanding and identification of molecular pathways involved in the premature fusion of the skull sutures. Due to the existing ... -
Designed Beta Hairpin Peptides as Models for Biological Metalloproteins
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015-06-30)Understanding the chemistry of metalloproteins can lead to innovative solutions to major problems in fields such as energy conservation and drug development. In nature, there are numerous biological proteins that use metal ... -
The Initiation, Multiplication, and Cryopreservation of Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh] Poir.) Embryogenic Tissue for Somatic Embryogenesis
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013-12-11)Fraser fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh] Poir.) is a coniferous tree native to the southern Appalachian Mountains in the United States. Due to its restricted native range in a high-elevation habitat and long reproductive process, ... -
Establishing a Working Protocol for Plasmid Cloning and shRNA Design in Endogenous Brachionus manjavacas Gene TRP7
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-07-18)Current transfection protocol in rotifers only allows for temporary transfection within rotifers and does not allow for the continuous knockdown of endogenous genes, thereby inhibiting the possibility of observing long-term ... -
Morphological Variation in Hemiphractus Fasciatus (Anura: Hylidae: Hemiphractinae)
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-07-18)We describe morphological variation within the species Hemiphractus fasciatus, with special focus on populations in Panama, and determined the two allopatric populations are morphologically distinct, suggesting that there ... -
Effects on the Pocillopora verrucosa microbiome when in contact with macroalgae under ocean acidification
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-07-18)Hard coral cover is in decline and this decline has generally coincided with macroalgal proliferation in coral reefs. Coral degradation can be caused by many variables but this study is focused on potential degradation due ... -
Changes in Nutrient Dynamics in the Gulf of Mexico due to Increase in Mississippi River Flow
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-01-25)The Gulf of Mexico underwent multiple environmental changes in 2010 and 2011, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and a large in increase of freshwater input from the Mississippi River. Both of these events had the ... -
The Effect of Environmental Factors on Bacteria Associated with Sphagnum Mosses
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-01-25)Sphagnum peat mosses play an important role in the global carbon cycle by sequestering carbon as biomass thorough photosynthesis. Biodegradation in the northern peatlands is slow in part due to acidic and nutrient-poor ... -
Finding Food in an Aquatic Desert: How cruising copepods detect their next phytoplankton meal
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2016-01-25)Copepods exist in an aquatic food desert where finding food is difficult given the constraints of their environment. They live in a three dimensional world and must filter 106 times their own body volume to cover their ...
RSS 1.0