Stander Symposium: College of Arts and Sciences

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miR-137 targets Myc to regulate Development and Tumor Growth in Drosophila eye model

Rad Padma

During organogenesis, the regulation of gene expression controls the fundamental cellularprocesses like cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Among many gene regulatorymolecules, miRNA(s), a class of small non-coding RNAs, regulate more than one targetmRNA expression during development. To understand the molecular-genetic mechanism(s)regulating eye development, we employed a forward genetic screen to identify the miRNAinvolved in controlling patterning and growth in the Drosophila eye. We identified miR-137whose gain-of-function (GOF) in developing eye results in reduced eye phenotype and loss-of-function results in enlarged eye phenotype. We found that reduced eye phenotype isaccompanied with reduced expression domains of markers of retinal determination anddifferentiation and increased negative regulators of eye development like Wingless (Wg) andHomothorax (Hth). In the developing eye, Wg is known to block the progression of asynchronous wave of differentiation referred to as the Morphogenetic furrow (MF). The GOFof miR137 significantly downregulates the expression of dpp-lacZ, an MF marker. Usingbioinformatic approaches, followed by genetic experiments, we identified Myc as a target ofmiR-137 as the GOF of Myc can rescue reduced eye phenotype of miR-137 GOF or viceversa. Our data suggest a new role of miR-137 in targeting Myc in the developing eye todetermine eye size by regulating retinal- determination, -differentiation, and cellularhomeostasis. We tested GOF of miR-137 in RasV12 , scrib RNAi background, an establishedtumor model for oncogenic cooperation that results in neoplastic tumors. The GOF of miR-137 show a significant rescue of tumor phenotype in the eye along with a significantreduction in Myc levels. Our studies shed light on the role of miR-137 in tissue homeostasis,growth regulation, and development.
Misinterpreting Hippocrates: The Use of “Let Food Be Thy Medicine” in Modern Holistic Medicine

Laiba Lohani

This study looks at how modern holistic medicine misinterprets Hippocratic ideas, particularly through the popular phrase "Let food be thy medicine," which is often attributed to him despite its absence from his writings. While this phrase is frequently used by holistic practitioners to emphasize the role of diet in health, its historical accuracy and alignment with Hippocrates' teachings are questionable. The study explores how the misquotation of this phrase influences the promotion of food-based therapies and its broader implications for complementary and alternative medicine. Drawing on secondary sources, including scholarly works on Hippocratic medicine and research on holistic health trends, this study analyzes how Hippocrates' legacy is invoked in contemporary health discourse. Early findings suggest that modern practitioners use Hippocrates as a symbol of whole-body healing, despite the complexity and limitations of ancient Greek medicine. This pattern reflects a broader tendency to appropriate history to validate current health practices. Understanding these misinterpretations is crucial for recognizing how historical medical ideas are reshaped to support modern wellness narratives.
$Modeling Atmospheric Refractivity Using the Split-Step Method: Python Implementation$
Modeling Atmospheric Refractivity Using the Split-Step Method: Python Implementation

Nahom Worku

Understanding atmospheric effects requires accounting for atmospheric refractivity, the slowly varying large-scale component of the refractive index. Refractivity gradients can alter optical wave trajectories and introduce anisotropy effects. Standard wave optics approaches typically neglect these effects due to the complexity of their description, instead addressing refractivity impacts through ray-tracing methods. However, this simplification overlooks potential anisotropy effects caused by temperature gradients. Current descriptions of optical anisotropy remain ad hoc, and widely used non-Kolmogorov turbulence models lack predictive power in capturing these effects.This motivates a deeper investigation into the influence of temperature gradients—and consequently, refractivity distributions—on optical wave propagation in the atmosphere. As part of this effort, we developed a Python-based code based on the well known split-step technique to model refractivity effects. The refractivity is represented by the set of the phase screens. To validate the accuracy of our approach, we compared simulation results with published data. We conducted laser beam propagation simulations over distances ranging from 1 km to 10 km under standard US76 Atmosphere model conditions, considering an initial Gaussian beam with a 10 cm radius. The results demonstrated strong agreement with existing data. Additionally, we explored laser beam propagation in the presence of an Inverse Temperature Layer (ITL) with varying parameters, revealing significant laser beam intensity reshaping due to refractivity gradients.
Modeling Groundwater Flow in the Salar de Atacama

Isabelle Blackwell

The Salar de Atacama, a hyper-arid basin in northern Chile, is a critical region for lithium extraction, where brine mining operations have expanded rapidly. However, current mining regulations primarily address solid-state resource extraction, leaving brine-based lithium mining largely unregulated. This lack of oversight raises concerns about groundwater depletion and long-term environmental impacts. Understanding how bedrock properties influence groundwater flow is essential for assessing the sustainability of lithium extraction in the region.Currently, I am in the early stages of developing the necessary modeling skills and refining my research hypothesis. The first semester has been dedicated to learning groundwater modeling techniques and establishing a conceptual framework. Moving forward, the second semester will focus on designing simulations, selecting appropriate modeling tools, and refining methodologies. The third semester will involve executing numerical simulations to assess groundwater movement under varying hydrostratigraphic conditions. Finally, the fourth semester will synthesize the results, analyze trends, and evaluate the broader implications of bedrock influences on groundwater flow.By improving our understanding of groundwater dynamics in the Salar de Atacama, this research will provide insights into how lithium mining operations interact with regional hydrology. My poster presents progress to date and outlines the next steps in this study.
Modeling Honeybee Population Through Differential Equations

Reed Diller, Andrew Mosler

Honeybee populations are critical for global agriculture and are also a part of the food that we consume, yet they have been declining due to various factors including habitat loss, climate variability, pesticides, and parasitic infestations. This study (Romero-Leiton, Gutierrez, Benavides, Molina, Pulgarín, 2022) takes a detailed approach to modeling honeybee colonies through differential equations. Authors used mathematical models to explore equilibrium conditions for colony survival, and also included an analysis of USDA honey production data (1985–2019) with linear models to reveal a declining relationship between colony numbers and honey yield over time. These results show that stress induced death in the colonies significantly impacts the stability of the colony itself. This then leads to reduced honey production and potential colony collapse. In this work we present a comparison of numerical solutions of the mathematical model in (Romero-Leiton, Gutierrez, Benavides, Molina, Pulgarín, 2022) using Runge-Kutta methods. We use MATLAB’s built-in functions.
Multiplication and Division on An Abacus

Josephine Eckhart

This presentation will explore concepts of multiplication and division using the abacus, a Chinese counting tool used for performing arithmetic. We will discuss the basic mechanics of the abacus and break down the processes of addition and subtraction as well. Attendees will gain an understanding of how the abacus can be used to teach basic and advanced calculations to strengthen mathematical fluency. This session will also allow attendees to participate in a hands-on demonstration.
Nazi Germany's Abuse of Roman Architecture

Chase Kinder

My research project identifies the specific intentions behind Hitler’s and the Nazi party’s decision to design their new state buildings in the 1930s based on Roman architectural structures. Precisely clarifying these intentions allows us to understand why Hitler believed that a connection with the Roman Empire would validate his power in Germany and secure his vison for the world. My research process involved analyzing secondary sources from historians who examined Hitler’s plans for the Third Reich’s architecture and interpretated the designs of surviving Nazis structures. This approach allowed me to evaluate why Hitler chose ancient Roman architecture as the basis for Germany’s new architectural landscape and how he influenced his most important state architects, Albert Speer and Werner March, to construct structures like the Kongreßhalle and Reichssportfeld, that were similar to imperial Roman structures. I argue that Hitler instructed his architects to fulfill his vision, that Germany’s public architecture resembles structures from the Roman Empire, because he believed that Roman designs would establish Germany as the world’s most dominant nation and make the individual German citizen feel like they are united under one collective. Hitler’s attempt to unify the German people under his rule with architectural structures provides more insight into his larger plan for mass conformity to the Nazi party and also helps us recognize when contemporary world leaders use certain tactics that force individuals to submit to the masses.
Number of Spanning Trees

Jonathan West

This project is for the course MTH 466: Graph Theory and Combinatorics. A graph is a mathematical object that consists of two sets: a set of vertices and a set of edges. An edge joins two vertices and depicts a relationship between those vertices. A graph is said to be connected if, for any two vertices of the graph, there exists a sequence of edges that is a path between them. A subgraph of a graph is called a spanning tree if it is connected and contains every vertex of the graph while containing no cycles. This project will explore the process of determining the number of different spanning trees on a connected graph with labeled vertices. We will also consider the same question for unlabeled graphs and make a comparison between the two approaches.
Numbers Don't Lie: Forecasting the NBA Champion with Machine Learning

Jonah Mergler

Growing up in a family of devoted Flyers fans, I developed a deep appreciation for basketball, especially after watching Obi Toppin. The intensity, strategic plays, and constant innovation of the game fueled my passion. When choosing my capstone project, incorporating basketball was an obvious choice. Since college basketball was set to end before my presentation at Stander Symposium, I decided to focus on the NBA, where data is more accessible and player rosters remain stable for longer periods.This project utilizes machine learning and data analytics to predict the 2025 NBA champion by analyzing the last 20 years of team statistics alongside this season’s data. I compiled a dataset featuring key performance metrics, including wins, losses, field goal percentages, rebounds (offensive, defensive, and total), and steals, both for and against teams. Using this data, I developed predictive models to assess each team's likelihood of winning the championship.To classify potential champions, I employed supervised learning techniques such as logistic regressions, LDA, QDA, KNN, random forests, and gradient boosting. The model was trained and validated using historical NBA data spanning two decades. Additionally, I applied various feature selection techniques, including forward selection and LASSO, alongside in-depth exploratory data analysis (EDA) to determine the most significant predictors of championship success.This project aims to offer fans, analysts, and sports bettors a data-driven approach to forecasting the NBA champion. My findings highlight the power of machine learning in sports prediction, demonstrating how data analytics can uncover patterns that may not be immediately apparent through traditional analysis.
Online vs. In-Person Learning: A Comparative Analysis of Education in the Digital Age

Allison Andriole, Peter Dato, Megan Hayes, Patrick Proesel

The integration of technology into education has prompted significant debate regarding the effectiveness of online vs. in-person learning. This comparative analysis examines the differences, benefits, and challenges associated with each mode of learning in the digital age. The study explores aspects such as student engagement, and learning outcomes, drawing on recent research and real-world case studies. Online learning, characterized by its convenience and global reach, offers a more flexible learning environment, but often presents challenges in terms of student interaction and motivation. In contrast, in-person learning provides opportunities for direct interaction, hands-on experiences, and a structured learning environment, yet it may lack the flexibility that many learners seek. By considering various factors such as technological infrastructure, pedagogical approaches, and the needs of diverse student populations, the study offers valuable insights into how education systems can adapt to the evolving landscape of the digital age.
Optical Wave Propagation Model: Python Implementation

Aidan Augustus

Optical systems are widely used in free-space communications, military defense, and remote sensing. Analyzing the impact of atmospheric effects on their performance requires the ability to model and adjust key propagation parameters, such as optical path length, turbulence characteristics, and system properties. Simulations provide control over environmental conditions and enable testing of various optical system configurations. Our laboratory research is focused on analyzing atmospheric optical effects to support applications such as the development of optical sensing instruments and the mitigation of atmospheric distortions affecting laser systems. This requires extensive simulations and analysis of optical wave propagation in the atmosphere. Current project aims for testing a developed software package and verifying its accuracy and modeling capability. We implemented the well-known split-step method for the numerical integration of the parabolic equation, modeling a turbulent atmosphere using a series of phase screens. To validate the code accuracy, we conducted laser beam propagation simulations over distances ranging from 1 km to 20 km, considering an initial Gaussian beam with a radius between 5 mm and 20 cm. Simulations were performed under both turbulent and non-turbulent conditions. The results align with analytical predictions in weak and medium scintillation regimes, where theoretical models provide solutions with reasonable accuracy.
Original Sin or the Lack Thereof: Rousseau's Philosophical Anthropology

Jane Carney

Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s philosophical anthropology finds its roots in deeply theological territory. At the heart of his philosophy is the belief that man is essentially good but becomes corrupted by the influences of society. His strong belief in the innate goodness of humanity therefore led him to question Christian doctrines that appear to contradict that natural goodness. This then led him to object to the doctrine of original sin. Rousseau’s interpretation of original sin, and his subsequent rejection of it, shaped his broader political and philosophical thought, and is thus a vital piece of understanding Rousseau’s broader normative theory. Because he grounded his anthropology in the explicit rejection of Christian doctrine, understanding the theological implications of Rousseau’s anthropology requires that we understand both the teachings that Rousseau rejected, and his grounds for that rejection. This project contrasts Rousseau’s understanding of original sin and theory of human nature with Catholic and Reformed formulations of the doctrine of original sin at that time. To do so, we particularly focus on what Rousseau says about sin, what Rousseau says the Catholic Church says about sin, and what the Catholic Church actually says about sin. We examine a variety of primary and secondary literature on historical Catholic and Reformed teaching on original sin, focusing on the documents of the Council of Trent. In doing so, we shed light on the origins of his thought and the implications of a theological reading of Rousseau. This gives us a richer understanding of Rousseau as a thinker in his own right, of the interplay between theology and political theory, and, most importantly, of the many ways in which we approach the topic of human nature.
Pedestrian Early Collision Detection System

Jayanth Merakanapalli, Jayanth Paturi, Sushanth Singireddy

Pedestrian safety is a growing concern in urban and suburban areas, where pedestrian-vehicle collisions can result in serious injuries. This research focuses on developing an early collision detection system that leverages dash cam video footage to predict potential pedestrian-vehicle accidents before they occur. The system utilizes advanced video processing techniques, including zooming, center distortion correction, and cropping, to enhance detection accuracy. By analyzing frame-by-frame motion and trajectory patterns, the system assesses the risk of a collision and provides timely alerts to drivers, allowing them to take preventive action.A key feature of the proposed system is pedestrian trajectory prediction, which estimates a pedestrian’s future movement based on historical motion data. The model evaluates pedestrian paths relative to approaching vehicles and determines the likelihood of an imminent collision. The study is conducted using a dataset of dash cam videos capturing real-world pedestrian-road interactions, where vehicles stop before a collision occurs.The research aims to contribute to the advancement of driver-assistance technologies by enhancing collision prevention mechanisms. By integrating pedestrian trajectory prediction with dash cam-based monitoring, the system provides an additional layer of safety for drivers and pedestrians.
Politics and Prejudice: The Impact of Policy on Religious Communities

Anthony Arroyo, Aidan Callero, Peter Carroll, Brooklyn Garon

This presentation is a literature review that focuses on the impact of government policies and political events and the prejudice faced by religious groups. Drawing on contemporary research it examines how legislation, political rhetoric, and social movements have influenced public perception of religion, and how politics have marginalized or empowered groups. This presentation aims to foster a deeper understanding of how political landscapes can shape religious identities, discrimination, and intergroup relations.
Powering Pollinators: Visitation and Abundance of Pollinators in a Solar Prairie Buffer Zone

Madison Blythe, Caroline Deerwester, Madelyn Moore, Emily Walker

Renewable energy, including solar energy, is becoming more prevalent across the U.S.. Creating sites for solar arrays can be damaging to ecosystems due to the need to clear and remove vegetation. One of the techniques to minimize ecological impact in these solar arrays is the formation of solar prairies beneath and surrounding the panels. Since these are novel ecosystems, their affect on wildlife has not been studied extensively. Pollinator species are of special interest due to their implications for agriculture and ecosystem services. To increase the knowledge of pollinator usage of a solar prairie, we investigated insect pollinator visitation at the University of Dayton’s solar prairie (Curran Place). To test this, we categorized the solar array at Curan Place into full sun, partial shade, and full shade microclimates and conducted point counts at randomly selected Canada goldenrod stalks. We recorded the number of flowering heads present on each of these stalks. Pollinator visitation rates were recorded over one-minute intervals, and visitors were classified into major pollinator groups, including bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. To better understand which bees and wasps are pollinating Canada goldenrod at Curran Place, we used passive netting to collect various specimens in each microclimate and identify them to the genus level. Our data found that pollinator visitations were higher in microclimates that contained Goldenrod stalks with more flowering heads, as well as increased visitations on days with warmer temperatures. Our findings contribute to an understanding of how microclimate factors shape pollinator distributions, with implications for habitat management and pollinator conservation with the increasing climate for solar energy.
Predicting the Home Field Advantage in the NFL

Samuel Limbert

Home-field advantage has always been an important talking point used to predict the outcome of NFL games. This project aims to develop a predictive model for forecasting NFL home team victories using different machine learning techniques. By analyzing historical game data, team performance metrics, player statistics, weather conditions, and betting odds, this project seeks to identify the key factors that contribute to predicting NFL games. Various machine learning algorithms including, logistic regression, quadratic discriminant analysis, and linear discriminant analysis are utilized to determine the most accurate predictive approach.
Predictors of Desistance in Antisocial Behavior from Childhood to Adolescence: A Prospective, Longitudinal Investigation

Julia Butler, Daniel Georgesen, Kari Powers, Grace Schneider, Oluwayemisi Tayo-Ayorinde

Childhood conduct problems are a reliable predictor of delinquency in adolescence. However, many children desist in their antisociality between these periods. Much work has been done to identify risk and protective factors for antisociality in childhood and adolescence, but less is known about the factors that predict discontinuities in antisociality. This study examined a wide range of dispositional, familial, peer, and sociodemographic factors that might predict desistance in antisociality from childhood to adolescence. Prospective links from these variables to patterns of continuity versus discontinuity in antisociality from childhood to late adolescence were tested in a large, socioeconomically diverse sample of adolescents from across the United States.
Preschool Attendance Post-COVID related to Child Executive Functioning Skills and School Readiness

Kaitlyn Hripko

Child executive functioning skills and school readiness have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, working to reduce rates of early childhood education attendance. This paper will delve into the relationship between early childhood education (ECE) and school readiness, including executive functioning (EF) development, demographic information, socioeconomic status (SES), and school attendance rates post-COVID for early childhood education, in relation to EF skill development. Previous research has claimed that individuals who have attended early childhood education typically yield greater results of executive functioning skills and school readiness in working memory, inhibition, and cognitive processing, and greater ECE attendance post-COVID, if individuals are of a dominant social group, and have a high familial SES. Participants and research methods include data collection and analysis of material (such as child assessments and KRA data) from child executive functioning skills in math, reading, and vocabulary, collected from the Preschool Promise Research Assessors Program. Once precise data analysis and computations are conducted, our findings aim to predict that children who score higher on school readiness and EF skill development, will likely have more access to resources in their environment, and further will be more likely to attend early childhood educational programs post-COVID. Findings in this study are applicable to many facets of early childhood education, recognizing some children may have systemic and demographic barriers that prevent them from developing proper EF skills. We must work to implement solutions and strategies to ensure resources are available to boost learning, school readiness, and ECE attendance post-COVID in all children, including children who may be experiencing systemic and demographic barriers. We aim to critically evaluate this dilemma through a culturally sensitive lens.
Punxsutawney Power: Groundhogs Go Solar

Andrew Bumps, Rodrigo Del Rincón Martínez, Elizabeth Divish, Gretchen Sackman, Victoria Scachitti

This study investigates the activity of groundhogs (Marmota monax) within the solar panel prairie of native grasses and wildflowers at Curran Place at the University of Dayton. The environment was split into three microhabitats where burrows were found: under the solar panels, in the aisles, and the buffer area. Six burrows were monitored over a two week period using motion activated cameras to determine if groundhogs had a preference of what burrow locations they used. It was hypothesized that burrows under solar panels would have the highest amount of activity (detections). Results showed that groundhogs show no preference between microhabitats and remain largely unaffected by the presence of solar panels. An ANOVA test found no statistically significant results, likely due to limitations such as time constraints, lack of replications, different camera angles, and uneven amounts of microhabitat cameras. The study concluded that groundhogs may not be significantly impacted by the presence of solar panels if other environmental factors are consistent.
Racial and Socioeconomic Impact on Police Use of Force

Samantha Carnes

Police use of force has been a topic that is all over the news and other forms of media, especially with well-known cases such as that of George Floyd. George Floyd was a black man who died at the hands of police officers during an arrest in May 2020. Cases such as this have led people to start asking questions and have caused a lot of tension between minority groups and the police. Many have begun to point out trends in police use of force, noticing that particular groups of people are more vulnerable to falling victim. This begs the question: Are race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status factors that contribute to a police officer’s decision to use force? This is the focus of my research project, where I analyze the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities (SISFCF) dataset to determine if there is a relationship between race and/or socioeconomic status to police use of force.
Radicle Restoration: Growing Native Plant Seedlings for Changing Landscapes

Madelyn Moore

In the wake of great anthropogenic change in the landscape across eastern North America, there is a need for ecological restoration. Forests, in particular, are struggling due to the decline of previously dominant tree species and the need to protect the understory from persistent invasion. Forests cannot follow the typical path of natural development through secondary succession due to the interference of invasive species. Invasive species thrive in disturbed habitats, and they have a variety of adaptations that allow them to outcompete native species. Invasive species removal alone leads to their return to previously invaded sites. Instead, invasive removal should be coupled with native planting, and some of these natives can take niche spaces and provide resistance to reinvasion. To give native species as much advantage over invasive species as possible, high amounts of care should be taken in the production of saplings for restoration. Collecting localized seeds ensures that the saplings will be adapted to soil and weather conditions similar to those of the restoration site. Potted saplings with straight, healthy root systems perform better than bare-root saplings under transplant stress. With these ideas in mind, the goal of this project is to start up a native sapling repository for key woody species for use in future restoration projects. This project is based in Ginny’s Garden Greenhouse at the University of Dayton and involves seed collection, germination, and sapling management for a variety of native woody species. Some species include oaks (Quercus), buckeyes (Aesculus), hickories (Carya), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), paw paw (Asimina triloba), and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Over one hundred seedlings have been germinated since the project's inception, and over two thousand seeds have been collected for the advancement of this project. Outplanting for the project will begin in the spring of 2025.
Reason, Revenge, and Ruin: Masculinity Unraveled in Poe’s Dupin, Montresor, and "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Abdulrahman Alzahrani

Edgar Allan Poe’s fiction does not merely depict masculinity—it dissects it, revealing its contradictions, fragilities, and shifting dimensions. This project examines how Poe constructs masculinity through the figures of C. Auguste Dupin, Montresor, and the narrator of “The Tell-Tale Heart”, each of whom embodies a distinct yet interwoven facet of male identity. Dupin’s intellect asserts dominance through analytical mastery, positioning reason as the ultimate form of power. Montresor, bound by honor and vengeance, operates within a rigid framework of masculine control, his calculated violence reflecting an obsessive need to maintain authority. Meanwhile, the narrator of “The Tell-Tale Heart” epitomizes masculinity’s descent into instability—his obsession with control spirals into self-destruction, exposing the fragility beneath his performance of power. Through a close analysis of “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”, “The Purloined Letter”, “The Mystery of Marie Rogêt”, “The Cask of Amontillado”, and “The Tell-Tale Heart”, this study interrogates how Poe deconstructs traditional ideals of masculinity, revealing it as a construct that is neither fixed nor infallible. Poe’s characters do not simply embody strength or weakness; they exist in the space between, caught in the tension between dominance and collapse, reason and madness. This project ultimately argues that Poe’s portrayal of masculinity is not a celebration but an autopsy—an unflinching examination of power’s instability and the inevitable unraveling that follows its pursuit.
Recentering the Human in Migration: A Season in France

Lila Acott

Too often, the mainstream, typical narrative of migration is reduced to images of anonymous swarms of people on overcrowded boats arriving on European shores, posing a risk to sovereign borders and as a looming threat to national security. This presentation examines how Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s film, Une Saison en France (translated “A Season in France”), critiques major narratives about immigration and the faults of immigration systems while simultaneously humanizing the lived experience of immigrants. Haroun challenges such stereotypes by focusing on the case of the Mahadjir family, refugees from the Central African Republic, who seek asylum in France. In many ways, the film highlights the stress and difficulties of immigration regarding housing, security, and legal status. All the while, the audience is immersed into their daily lives, becoming familiar with each character’s wishes, hopes, and dreams. As a result, Haroun humanizes the Mahadjirs and creates space for a connection to be built between the characters and the audience. Ultimately, A Season in France, critically exposes the difficulty of the immigration system for its erasure of migrants often to the most extreme degree, forcing many to disappear.
Re-evolution of keratinized mouthparts in the tadpoles of two microhylid frogs

Jacob Szafranski

Within the family Microhylidae, only two genera are reported to have keratinized mouthparts: Scaphiophryne of Madagascar and Otophryne of South America. Based on our current understanding of the frog tree of life, it is possible that these two lineages have independently "re-evolved" keratinized mouthparts after the ancestor of microhylids lost these feeding structures. To evaluate this hypothesis, we are 1) generating histological data for both genera to confirm that the cellular microanatomy of the jaw sheaths is comparable to other tadpoles, typically defined by a stacked column of proliferating cells and 2) using phylogenetic comparative methods to evaluate whether these lineages re-evolved keratinized jaw sheaths in violation of Dollo’s law of irreversibility. This law posits that a complex trait lost over evolutionary time cannot be regained in the same form. This project will provide new insights into the constraints and flexibility of trait evolution in anurans.
Refining an in vitro approach to study the interactions between transcription factors and the DNA-binding sites that regulate gene expression

Joseph Kash, Devon Seibert

The regulation of gene expression is essential to animal development, physiology, and behavior. Mutations that alter gene expression are a major contributor to phenotypic variation, including evolutionary diversity, disease risk, and genetic disease. Hence understanding the molecular mechanism by which regulation occurs and evolves is of high interest. One general mechanism by which gene expression is regulated is through the selective interaction of transcription factor proteins with short DNA sequences that function as binding sites in the gene regions where control is imparted. These interactions have been traditionally studied in vitro through the production and purification of proteins and testing their interaction with potential binding site sequences in Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays or EMSAs. While effective, the traditional methods have been hit or miss, costly, and tedious. This research project is exploring different purification strategies and EMSA methods to make the characterization of transcription factor binding sites more efficient.