Exploring the Structure-Function Relationship in RNA Biochemistry

A Bioinformatic Look at Iron Uptake in Insects
Emily Ragan, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Students will perform BLAST searches, make phylogenetic trees, identify putative orthologs, and investigate secondary structure elements of 5' untranslated regions (UTRs). The sequences used will be related to iron uptake in insects.

Effect of Vitamin C Abundance on Chloroplast DNA Integrity in Plants
Jeffrey Shaver, University of Arkansas at Ft. Smith
Our long-term research goal is to understand the impact that Ascorbic Acid (AsA, Vitamin C) levels have on the abundance of reactive-oxygen species (ROSs) and the maintenance (i.e. structural integrity and abundance) of chloroplast DNA, and their role in plant and human health. Towards attaining this goal, the overall objective of this application is to utilize low and high AsA Arabidopsis mutants to test for a relationship between AsA level, ROSs abundance, and organelle DNA (orgDNA) maintenance during organelle and plant development. Our central hypothesis is that high-AsA plants will maintain and low-AsA plants will degrade their orgDNA relative to wild-type plants, because increased AsA levels in organelles during leaf development will reduce ROS-mediated damage and subsequent degradation of unrepaired orgDNA.

Bugs on Drugs: Sublethal Effects of Pharmaceutical Compounds on Aquatic Insects
Kristofor Voss, Regis University

Applied Metagenomics
Stokes Baker, University of Detroit Mercy
The long-term objective of the proposal is to develop a metagenomics course that will support the goals of the ReBUILDetroit program at the University of Detroit Mercy. Genomics technologies are now revolutionizing biomedical research due to advancements in next genera¬tion sequencing (NGS) technologies. As a result, undergraduates that have significant exposure to metagenomics will be better prepared to enter graduate school. To meet the objective, high-impact activities that have been shown to increase retention among underrepresented minorities (URM) and women will be built into the pedagogical approaches. A new course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) course, entitled "Applied Metagenomics", will be created where undergraduates will be conducting authentic research that directly impacts their local community. Students will work on common projects and write laboratory reports in a cooperative manner within their learning communities. This course will advance public health because a diverse pool of future biomedical researchers will gain expertise in an emerging technology. The course involves using 16S rRNA metagenomics to evaluate the potential public health impacts of ponds found in city parks. The students will collect samples, isolate bacterial DNA, and make 16S rRNA gene libraries. A new NGS technology (the MinION by Oxford Nanopore, Oxford UK) will be used to sequence the students' libraries. The students will use the supercomputing resources provided by Argonne National Laboratory to publicly archive their data (thus directly contributing to the scientific community) and to analyze their data. The effectiveness of the instructional materials and pedagogies will be evaluated using standardized instruments and contemplation writing assignments. The results and instructional materials will be disseminated in peer-reviewed venues.

Climate change related shifts in ecosystem services
andrew harwood, Clark College
This CURE allows students to explore how climate change affects local and migratory wildlife habitat useage patterns, and the associated ecosystem services migrating wildlife such as salmon provide to Pacific Northwest communities.

Nontraditional use of Silver Diamine Fluoride Applications in Patients of Need.
Amy Ewing Johnson, Clark College
A longitudinal study by which students implement and analyze the application of silver diamine fluoride on more nontraditional (permanent versus deciduous) tooth surfaces diagnosed with dental decay, where patients have no better viable option after fully informed patient consultation with a dental hygienist and diagnosis from a dentist. Essential to the study is the follow up evaluation on the efficacy of treated surfaces over a long period of time (3-5 years) to better determine the reliability and stability of silver diamine fluoride application as a stop gap restorative option for patients who can not access or afford traditional restorative methods in dentistry.

Do everyday chemical or environmental exposures affect the cellular and molecular integrity of XXX?
Karin Streifel, Regis University

Power of Place CURE - The POP CURE Boulder Apple Project
Lisa Corwin, University of Colorado at Boulder
Our CURE program combines CURE best practices with practices shown to build civic engagement through Place-Based Learning (PBL). Across several CURE courses, we investigate a local system, Boulder's Historic Apple Trees, which are a valued historic, cultural, and biological resource in Boulder and surrounding counties. Many apple trees in and around Boulder County originated from historic orchards and have potential to be rare cultivars that do not exist in modern apple production. In addition to their cultural and historic value, these cultivars, which have survived the harsh environmental conditions in central Colorado, could contain valued genetic resources that could be useful in agricultural practices. Research is needed to unlock the value of the Boulder Apples and allow both the local and scientific community to benefit from these resources. Specifically we need to: - Map where apple trees are located in and around Boulder (Project LOCATE) - Determine environmental influences along the urban-wildland gradient (Project GRADIENT) - Identify the genetic variety/cultivar of trees (Project CULTIVAR) - Compare tree growth and physiology across cultivars (Project TRAIT), and - Graft trees to preserve these genetic and cultural resources (Project PRESERVE). This CURE specifically aims to characterize the physiological responses of different historic apple tree cultivars to environmental stressors (Project TRAIT). For the first iteration of Project TRAIT, we are focusing on different cultivars' growth and physiological response to drought. Students will induce different levels drought stress across cultivars, using grafted and potted replicates of five cultivars to start. They will measure and compare the cultivars' growth and physiological responses to environmental drought manipulations. The second iteration of this CURE will characterize different cultivars' responses to fertilization. A similar approach will be taken to determine the effect of different levels of NPK fertilization. Results from these studies will not only inform the scientific literature in fruit production, but will also be useful to residents of central and northern Colorado, who have an interest in locally produced food and cider production and in Colorado history.

BERT: Beaver Ecosystem Research Team 1
Jamie Crait, University of Wyoming