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Nature vs. Nurture: Examining the Impact of a Manipulated Environment

Nature vs. Nurture: Examining the Impact of a Manipulated Environment. Allison N. Frando*, Dr. Fidelma O’Leary, St. Edward’s University. Purpose. Personal Interest Behavioral Neuroscience NPY-1 Neuropeptide Y Receptor Controls behavioral processes Inability to test human subjects.

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Nature vs. Nurture: Examining the Impact of a Manipulated Environment

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  1. Nature vs. Nurture: Examining the Impact of a Manipulated Environment Allison N. Frando*, Dr. Fidelma O’Leary, St. Edward’s University

  2. Purpose • Personal Interest • Behavioral Neuroscience • NPY-1 • Neuropeptide Y Receptor • Controls behavioral processes • Inability to test human subjects

  3. What are C. elegans? • Microscopic nematodes • 1mm in length • Short lifespan • Hermaphroditic • NPR-1 • Neuropeptide Receptor 1 • Involved in aggregation and social behaviors • Analogous to NPY-1 in humans

  4. Research Question Can Environment Override Genetic Coding in C. elegans?

  5. Strains • Transgenic strains: • N2 Wildtype • AX 301 Solitary • High npr-1 activity • SD 1891 Social • Low npr-1 activity • Feeding behaviors

  6. Methods: Treatments Preferred Social Manipulated x8 Preferred x8 Solitary Manipulated

  7. Lifespan Assay • Age Synchronization • FLDR Plates (8 Worms) • Monitor Survival 4 HOURS

  8. Lifespan Data: Social Strain Number of C. elegans Number of Days

  9. Lifespan Data: Solitary Strain Number of C. elegans Number of Days

  10. Fertility Assay • Age synchronized • Day Five • Count Eggs Laid • Recounted larvae next day 4 HOURS

  11. Fertility Assay Data

  12. Anecdotal Data Social in preferred environment Social in manipulated environment

  13. Conclusions • Environment seems to override genetics • Shorter Lifespan • Decreased Fertility • Future Research • GFP – Quantification of Consumption • Additional anecdotal data

  14. Works Cited http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v458/n7242/full/nature07886.html http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867400816098 http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001237 http://www.jove.com/video/3362/visualization-caenorhabditis-elegans-cuticular-structures-using http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1004156 http://www.ncrna.org/glocal/cgi-bin/hgGene?org=C.+elegans&hgg_gene=C39E6.6&hgg_chrom=none&db=ce2

  15. Acknowledgements • Dr. Richard Kopec • NSF STEP Grant #0969153 • Dr. Fidelma O’Leary • Olivia O’Keefe • Cassandra Boduch • Gilbert Rivera

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