Browsing PhD Dissertations - DO NOT EDIT by Title
Now showing items 52-71 of 132
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GENETIC BASIS OF MELANIN PIGMENTATION AND SEXUAL DICHROMATISM IN DOMESTIC PIGEONS
(2016-12-09)Deciphering the genetic basis of pigmentation in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) affords a unique opportunity to connect microevolution to macroevolution. Domestic pigeons have far greater phenotypic diversity than other ... -
Genetic Determinants Of Reproductive Isolation In Xenopus
(Biology, 2007-09-17)Haldane's rule states that in F1 interspecific hybrids the heterogametic sex (XY or ZW) suffers the most dysfunctional effects of hybridization. Frogs of the genus Xenopus have ZW sex determination yet hybrid males are ... -
GENETIC INNOVATION THROUGH GENE DUPLICATION IN DROSOPHILA
(2021-08-13)Among several mechanisms, whole gene duplication is one of the major sources for the generation of new genes. A large portion of young genes that emerged through whole gene duplication in Drosophila are specifically expressed ... -
GENOMIC STRUCTURE AND DIVERSITY IN NEOTROPICAL HERPETOFAUNA: THE ROLE OF DEMOGRAPHIC HISTORY AND GENE FLOW
(2021-08-03)The effects of genetic introgression on species boundaries and how they affect species’ integrity and persistence over evolutionary time have received increased attention. The increasing availability of genomic data has ... -
GLOBULAR DOMAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF RESTRICTION-LIKE-ENDONUCLEASE BEARING LONG INTERSPERSED NUCLEOTIDE ELEMENTS
(2017-08-09)Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements (LINEs) are a major group of eukaryotic transposable elements that have profoundly influenced and sculpted eukaryotic genome structure and function. LINEs replicate within the host ... -
Growth and stress response mechanisms underlying post-feeding organ regenerative growth in snakes
(2017-08-24)Snakes represent an emerging model in biological research and provide a valuable system for studying multiple extreme phenotypes unparallel to those seen in mammals. Recently, snakes have become increasingly used in studies ... -
The Herpetofauna Of The Virunga Mountains With Emphasis On Two Species of Albertine Rift Endemic Treefrogs Of The Genus Leptopelis.
(Biology, 2010-07-19)I present a short description of the biodiversity crisis, the Albertine Rift as a biodiversity hotspot, and a literature review of the taxonomy of the genus Leptopelis. I then present a list of the reptiles and anurans ... -
How Herbivores Affect Plant Growth, Community Structure And Litter Decomposition In Alaskan Tundra: Implications For Responses To Climate Change
(Biology, 2008-09-17)Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have caused higher air temperatures in the Arctic. Because arctic organisms are temperature limited, warmer conditions lead to higher decomposition and nutrient ... -
Identifying the Distinct Adaptive and Plastic Gene Expression Patterns and Microbial Indicators that Mediate Coral Disease Resistance
(2022-05-18)Infectious diseases are an increasing threat to coral reefs, resulting in altered community structure and hindering the functional contributions of disease susceptible species. While forecasting disease outbreaks based on ... -
Impacts Of Anthropogenic Disturbances And Drought On Breeding Bird Abundance And Diversity In The Rolling Plains Ecoregion Of Texas
(Biology, 2013-10-22)Bird species, especially grassland species have undergone widespread decline in arid grasslands due to anthropogenic disturbance such as different land use including cattle grazing and agriculture and addition of physical ... -
Impacts of landscape and past climate on patterns of hybridization and genetic diversity in Plestiodon tetragrammus and P. multivirgatus
(2021-03-26)Past hybridization plays an important role in evolution of taxa. We use multiple phylogenetic approaches including single gene sequencing and high-through put sequencing to address the effects of past hybridization in the ... -
Insertion Mechanism of Long Interspersed Elements (LINEs) and the role of the Linker Domain
(2018-08-27)Long Interspersed Elements (LINEs), also known as non-Long Terminal Repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons are major group of transposable elements ubiquitous in eukaryotic genomes and are known to altogether influence the ... -
Insights into the genomic and metabolic adaptations of Termite Associated Verrucomicrobia strains using functional and comparative genomics
(2016-12-16)The symbiotic gut organisms of termites play an important role in lignocellulose digestion and other related metabolic processes. Previous studies on Diplosphaera colitermitum TAV2, a Verrucomicrobium isolated from the ... -
Insights into the role and regulation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response during pathogen infection
(2021-11-08)Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles known for their role in energy production, apoptosis, aging, calcium signaling and others. Due to their essential nature, mitochondria are often under attack by numerous ... -
Insights Into The Transmission Of Helitrons And Their Impact On The Genome Architecture Of Myotis Lucifugus, The Little Brown Bat
(Biology, 2011-03-03)Probably the most dynamic proportion of multicellular eukaryotic genomes is composed of teeming populations of parasitic mobile DNA, called transposable elements (TEs). Helitrons are rolling circle TEs that have a limited ... -
Intra-specific Variation Across A Small Temperature Difference In The Spider Rabidosa rabida (Araneae: Lycosidae) From The Mountains In Arkansas
(Biology, 2011-07-14)Temperature affects all levels of biological organization and ultimately affects multiple aspects of ecological performance and fitness. Generalist arthropod predators are ectothermic and are strongly affected by temperature ... -
INVESTIGATING GENE EXPRESSION CHANGES IN DAPHNIA: THE ROLE OF EMS-INDUCED MUTATIONS AND REPRODUCTIVE MODES
(2022-08-03)Gene expression variation is a common source of phenotypic variation between species. Understanding how changes in gene expression are associated with a particular phenotype will aid in understanding the molecular basis ... -
INVESTIGATING THE MICROEVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES THAT PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN BIODIVERSITY AND TRAIT NOVELTY
(2021-08-02)Gene flow, mutation, selection, and genetic drift influence patterns of speciation, adaptation, and biodiversity. In the age of genomics, we have been increasingly able to understand the interplay between these ... -
Investigation of the Evolution and Structural Basis of Caspases: Insights into Conformational Dynamics, Stability and Allostery
(2023-05-01)Caspases, a class of cysteinyl proteases, are well known for their roles in apoptosis or programmed cell death. However, at lower levels of activation in the body, they also play other non-apoptotic roles in cell proliferation, ... -
Learning to Swim: An Exploration of the Terrestrial to Aquatic Transition in Elapids (Squamata: Elapidae)
(2021-12-20)Elapidae is an extremely diverse family of venomous snake that have a nearly global distribution. To conquer such wide swaths of territory the initially fossorial snakes evolved many successful strategies pertaining to ...