As a learner centered and discovery driven institution, Western Michigan University values the research of its faculty. The following articles, posters, etc. showcase some of the research interests of faculty members and graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Posters from 2020
Inactivation of the Catalytic Domain of the UNC-82 Kinase in Striated Muscle in the Nematode C. elegans Causes Dominant Wasting and Death Without Perturbing Muscle Cell Structure or Function, Matthew Kornas, Mohamed Abohajar, Wenceslao Martinez, NaTasha Schiller, and Pamela Hoppe
Application of an α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist in the Adult Mammalian Retina Causes Retinal Pigment Epithelium Mediated Neurogenesis and Regeneration in a Murine Glaucoma Model, Sarah E. Webster, N. C. Sklar, M. K. Webster, David M. Linn Jr., and Cindy L. Linn
Posters from 2019
Molecular Phylogenetics and Diversification of South American Darters (Characiformes: Crenuchidae), Kimberly Foster, Nathan K. Lujan, Rebecca M. Everts, Brian L. Sidlauskas, Hernan Lopez-Fernandez, and Devin D. Bloom
Exploring Patterns and Drivers of Acoustic Diversity During the Dawn Chorus, Sharon Gill, Nate Fuller, Kathleen M. Baker, and Maarten J. Vonhof
Posters from 2018
The Effects of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide on the Expression of Nerve Growth Factor and Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Cardiac Cells, Gabriel Almeida Alves
A Plant-Derived Zinc-Finger Protein Increases Light Tolerance and Cell Growth in Cyanobacteria, Yan Lu
Analysis of Functional Redundancy between Two Plastid-Targeted Iron-Sulfur Carrier Proteins, Manasa Satyanarayan
Microglial/ Macrophage Response Patterns Following Damage to the Olfactory Bulb in Adult Zebrafish, Susanna Var
Posters from 2017
Characterization of a Neuroprotective Retinal Synapse After Inducing Glaucoma in Long Evans Rats, Cynthia A. Cooley-Themm
The Impact of Anthropogenic Noise on Avian Communication and Fitness, Erin Grabarczyk
The Effect of Road Salt Runoff on Lake Methanogens and Methane, Emily Irene Sprague
Posters from 2016
Planarian 'Vision': A Combination of Ocular and Dermal Phototransduction, Taylor Birkholz
Plasticity of Mitral Cell Dendritic Morphology in the Adult Zebrafish Olfactory Bulb Following Chemical Deafferentation, Joanna Dickens
Proliferation of Retinal Neurons in a Mammalian Model, Mark Webster
Posters from 2015
The Role of an RNA-Binding Protein in Photosynthesis and RNA Editing, Justin B. Hackett
Patterns of olfactory bulb cell genesis are altered with long-term partial deafferentation in adult zebrafish, Darcy M. Trimpe
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Factors Influence Parasite Burden in the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus), Maarten Vonhof
Posters from 2014
Bioremediation of Crude Oil Spills Impacts Microbial Communities and the Magnetic Susceptibility of Sediments, Carol L. Beaver, Anja Williams, Estella Atekwana, Gamal Abdel Aal, Farag Mewafy, Lee Slater, and Silvia Rossbach
To What Extent is the Established Conceptual Framework of Animal Behaviour Portrayed in Textbooks?, Andrea M. K. Bierema and Renee S. Schwartz
Inositol Transport and Catabolism in Sinorhizobium meliloti, Ee Leng Choong, Mary Thwaites, and Silvia Rossbach
Establishing a Planarian Eye Ablation Assay: A Closer Look at Eye Regeneration, Michelle Deochand
Characterization of Microorganisms from Alfalfa Seeds Inoculants, Benedicte Diatta, Kalianna Kennoy, and Silvia Rossbach
Investigating Microbial Biodegradation of Ionic Liquids, Kathryn M. M. Docherty
Partial Characterization of Two Overlapping Open Reading Frames in the Frog Virus 3 Genome, Karim Essani
Identification of Plague Cellular Targets, John R. R. Geiser
Understanding Signaling Behavior of Songbirds in Noisy Soundscapes, Sharon Gill
GDNF Content and NMJ Morphology Are Altered in Recruited Muscles Following High-Speed and Resistance Wheel Training, Amy Morrison Gyorkos and John M. Spitsbergen
Parallel Integration of Visual Inputs Evoking Discrete Motor Patterns Leading to coordinated Avoidance Behaviors, John Jellies
The Role of Thylakoid Zinc-Finger Proteins in Photosynthesis, Yan Lu
Is a Mutation in the Cell Cycle Gene CDC20 Causing the Zombie Mutant Phenotype in Zebrafish?, Damir Museav
Is Specter a Mutation in the Cell Cycle Gene Cyclin B1?, Tetiana Petrachkova, Amber Bard, Jyotika Singh, Laura Bakke, Rachel Warga, and Don Kane
Electrical Stimulation Has Opposing Effects on Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Voluntary and Involuntary Muscle, John-Mary Vianney and John Spitsbergen
Posters from 2013
HSV in Cervical Cancer, Bruce Bejcek
GDNF's Expression in Slow- and Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers are Dependent on Exercise Intensity, Amy Morrison Gyorkos
Distribution and Prevalence of Keystone Parasite in the Eastern United States, Steven L. Kohler, Elaine R. Cooper, and Michael J. Wiley
Mapping the Microglia/Immune Response to Two Methods of Olfactory Bulb Deafferentation in Zebrafish, Amanda K. McKenna
Posters from 2012
Functional Annotation of Aromatic Amino Acide Biosynthesis-related Genes in Nannochloropsis Oceanica, Teresa J. Clark
Effect of Varying Exercise Intensities on GDNF Expression and Neuromuscular Junction Morphology, Amy Morrison Gyorkos, Monica J. McCullough, and John Spitsbergen
Injury-Induced Degeneration and Regeneration of the Adult Zebrafish Olfactory System Affections Morphology, Function, and behavior, Taylor R. Paskin
Posters from 2011
Purkinje Cell Association with Microglia/Macrophages in Degenerating Cerebellum of Multiple System Atrophy Patients, Ashley A. McKinney
Research from 2010
Short Term Voluntary Exercise Alters GDNF Protein Expression in Rat Spinal Cord, Monica J. McCullough and John Spitsbergen
Cholinergic Neurons Regulate and Utilize GDNF Secreted by C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cells in Culture, John-Mary Vianney and John M. Spitsbergen
Research from 2008
Cholinergic Neurons Regulate and Utilize GDNF Secreted by C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cells in Culture, John-Mary Vianney and John Spitsbergen
Research from 2006
Passive Stretching Decreases Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Skeletal Muscle and Is Dependent upon Acetylcholine Receptor Activation, Nathan G. Peplinski and John M. Spitsbergen
Research from 2004
Changes in GDNF Protein Content of Skeletal Muscle Following Involuntary Exercise are Long Lived, Kyle R. Kinnell, Monica J. Czarnopys, and John Spitsbergen
Research from 2003
Exposure of Nervous System Cells to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Results in Significant Alterations in Levels of Expression of Neurotrophic Factors, Charles F. Ide, Jay C. Means, Trisha M. Basford, and John Spitsbergen