Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo) is a large, basally branching, shallow-rooted, drought deciduous shrub native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts. Ocotillos, like all Fouquieriaceae, have gelatinous fibers (g-fibers), which typically occur in tensio . . .

∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s principal psychoactive component, is known to suppress resistance to bacterial, viral and protozoan infections. However, the effect of THC on resistance to fungal infections is unclear. Recently, we found tha . . .

The fitness of an organism depends on its energetics, which includes both the amount of energy entering the individual and the distribution of energy within the individual. The present thesis examined the energetics of a scleractinian coral during and . . .

Gastrulation is a fundamental process that mediates formation of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm in most animals. Revealing the mechanism of gastrulation will provide a better understanding of embryonic development. Due to its transparency, simplicity . . .

The differentiated state of somatic cells can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), leading to the reactivation of the inactive X chromosome (Xi) of female differentiated cells in the mouse. In somatic cells, the Xi is very stable . . .

Microarray data can be used to derive an understanding of the relationships between the genes involved in various biological systems of an organism, given the availability of web applications and databases of gene expression measurements from the comp . . .

Sarcoma 180, a mouse ascites tumor, was examined ultrastructurally using transmission electron microscopy. Its general fine structure, and the cell surface interactions occurring as a result of agglutination were examined. Three types of agglutinins w . . .

Stem cells are necessary for proper development, tissue homeostasis and regeneration while dysregulation of their activity leads to diseases such as diabetes, neurodegeneration and cancer. Yet, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive stem cel . . .

Various stages of developing sea urchin embryos were fixed and fractured open in order to study the structural nature of the blastocoel. Fine structural analyses revealed a voluminous, fibrillar, extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of collagen-like fi . . .

Metastatic spread of tumors in the breast account for over 95% of cancer-related deaths. Before cancer cells can survive in distant microenvironments, the tissues must be primed and acquire tumor-permissive properties. The primary tumor communicates w . . .

Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of 50 strains has shown that the fatty acid composition of the genus Simonsiella, a gliding bacterium found in the oral cavity of warm blooded animals, is not unlike that of some other Gram-negative bacteria and con . . .

A persistent challenge for ecologists is characterizing patterns of diversity in community structure, and understanding the importance of species interactions that shape communities across environments. Both foundation and invasive species have strong . . .

Introgression in Salvia apian and S. mellifera was studied in two parts, a geographical study and a study over a timespan of thirteen years. Samples taken from north-south and east-west transects throughout most of the sympatric range of the two speci . . .

A developmental reaction norm integrates three tightly linked factors of ontogeny, genotype, and environment to address the ability of an organism to deal with environmental change. This concept of organismic flexibility is termed plasticity, and is w . . .

Herbivorous fishes are an important component of the marine reef communities. They convert primary production directly into fish tissue. Grazing of algae by herbivores can also alter marine communities by impacting the growth, recruitment, and mortali . . .

A comparative assay of the transferrin binding ability of mouse embryo and teratocarcinoma cells was conducted using techniques of fluorescent antibody labelling. Five to six days after conception, developing blastocysts were removed from the uterine . . .

The development of the cranial and branchial skeleton of the surfperch Amphistichus argenteus, a member of the family Embiotocidae, is described, and phylogenetic and functional aspects of the skull development of this species are discussed. The earli . . .

X-linked dominant Chondrodysplasia Punctata (CDPX2) also known as Conradi-Hunermann-Happle Syndrome is a rare human genetic disorder resulting from disfunction of Emopamil Binding Protein (EBP). EBP is better known as Sterol isomerase (SI),which it ac . . .