Recovering Ancient DNA Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction

Investigations into aDNA offer a window into the past that modern DNA and paleontological studies alone cannot provide and help address the evolution and connections between hominids, domestication timelines, the analysis of populations over time, and general diversity. Progress in aDNA research has been inherently technology-driven, with modern molecular biology methods, such as the inventions of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), substantially increasing the analysis possibilities of aDNA. My research this semester has taken me along two parallel paths of investigation: literary research into aDNA and practical exposure to the laboratory techniques used in its analysis. My work in the lab exposed me to the utilization of PCR as a technique to amplify DNA regions that permits a doubling of the number of target molecules with each cycle. The PCR process is essential for studying aDNA samples since the DNA found on site is limited in quantity and quality. Under favorable conditions, DNA has survived for several millennia, though the length of time varies considerably between preservation environments. Its degradation and post-mortem chemical alterations make its quantification and amplification difficult. The major bottleneck in its research lies in DNA extraction from low-quality and quantity samples and contamination by exogenous current DNA. My practical lab experience was in the extraction process, PCR amplification of the pieces, and analysis with agarose gel electrophoresis using a plant-based system. I experienced firsthand the problems researchers encounter with PCR, such as insufficient amplification with a low amount of template, incomplete or incorrect amplification due to contaminants, and excessive smearing. Using parallel lines of evidence, such as aDNA studies and the fossil record, will aid us in new understandings concerning evolutionary history

Learning curves in bumblebee foraging (Bombus impatiens)

(TBD

Seeing Me: Influential Queer Black Men in Entertainment

Queer black men have had an incredible impact on society in many areas, from politics, fashion, and especially entertainment. However, they are often overlooked or disregarded. In recent years, there have been more who have gained the attention and recognition that they deserve. Jay Gaskin celebrates several influential queer black men in entertainment through a paper and presentation. And will discuss their backgrounds and why their representation matters for him and others within the LGBTQ community, particularly queer black men

Magneto’s Origin in the Holocaust and how it Influences His Character Today

Marvel\u27s Magneto was created in 1963, originally with no connection to the Holocaust. However that changed in the late 1970\u27s when his origin was reworked to make him a Jewish Holocaust survivor. That origin persists to this day and is explored in modern media produced by Marvel, both film and comic-wise

Content Analysis of Backyard Conservation Websites

Backyard conservation program websites are common, but it is unknown how effective they are. The purpose was to create a content analysis of the persuasive techniques/appeals that communication theory suggests are effective

Third Reich in Harry Potter: Fiction Imitating Fact

Nazi Germany makes an appearance in numerous forms of media, however none so popular across the world as the Harry Potter book series. This poster will be examining how J.K Rowling incorporates aspects of the Third Reich in her writing of the Harry Potter series

Finding gene candidates that interact with MarA to control hilA expression in Salmonella enterica

Salmonella is a well-known pathogen that is linked to food born illnesses common around the world. This pathogen can cause symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and chills in the host. One of the mechanisms Salmonella uses to infect its host’s epithelial cells deals with the S. typhimurium pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1). Expression of SPI-1 is activated in response to environmental signals that correlate with the ileum of the small intestine (low oxygen, high osmolarity, and neutral pH). HilA is the central activator of the SPI-1 complex, and when the transcription factor, MarA, is over-expressed in Salmonella, hilA transcription is repressed. It seems, though, that MarA does not directly cause hilA repression, and the proteins and/or other components that MarA interacts with to aid in repression of hilA are unknown. Here, I show several gene candidates that possibly interact with MarA and how I found them. These candidates include narP, csgA, and nfi. Through transposon mutagenesis, we were able to sequence different portions of the Salmonella genome that were interrupted in several different mutants. These sequences were then compared to the known genes in the Salmonella genome using the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. These results bring us a step closer to narrowing down a possible gene that is responsible for interacting with and aiding MarA-dependent in repression of hilA. These findings open a whole new horizon of possibilities in testing how different conditions and different drugs can target these multiple pieces to the puzzle that is Salmonella pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance

Socio-Demographic Risks Affect Executive Functioning

The goal of study 1 was to see if there was an association between average fixation durations in infants and socio-demographic risk. There were 102 infants (3.5 month old) that participated in the study. While infants were looking at stimuli, the researchers tracked their average fixation durations; their mothers took the socio-demographic risk scale (Rutter, 1979; Sameroff, 2000). This scale shows the mothers cumulative risk score by giving points to mothers based on their socio-demographic circumstances. Mothers received a point if they were, below median maternal education, below median estimated family income, or a racial minority. Results showed that the higher the socio-demographic risk score for the mothers, the higher the average fixation durations in infants. The goal of study 2 was to see if there was an association between academic performance and average fixation durations. There were 67 undergraduates who participated in the study. Participants self reported their GPA and took the same eye tracking procedure as study 1. Results showed that the lower the GPA the higher the average fixation durations

UMSL Bulletin 2023-2024

The 2023-2024 Bulletin and Course Catalog for the University of Missouri St. Louis.https://irl.umsl.edu/bulletin/1088/thumbnail.jp

The Life and Music of Hazel Felman

At the turn of the 20th century, a new generation of American women began to make their mark on the male-dominated industry of classical music. The sexist policies which historically barred women from entering music conservatories had loosened, offering greater access to formal music education and producing America’s first great wave of professional female composers, performers, and conductors. Today, very few of these women would find their work exalted in the canon of western classical music, much of it having gone critically unappraised, underperformed, and haphazardly preserved. This thesis examines the life and music of Hazel Felman (1892 - 1974), a composer and arts patron from Chicago who between 1916 and 1945 maintained a vibrant career in the classical music industry, collaborated with many notable 20th century literary and musical personalities, produced hundreds of compositions, and yet remains virtually unknown today. Included in this thesis are the first-ever biography of the composer and an annotated catalogue of her surviving music. In the absence of an existing biography of Felman, biographical information was synthesized from primary source materials – letters of correspondence, newspaper articles, and performance reviews. In addition to the biography and catalogue, the project includes a live performance of several of Felman\u27s surviving compositions, to be featured at the Undergraduate Student Research Symposium. Some of these pieces were never published, and most have not been performed since the 1930\u27s. This research fills a gap left by the historic suppression of female creativity and highlights the need for music historians to shift their attention to the neglected corners of the classical genre, which are cluttered with minority-created music unduly forgotten as ephemera