35th Annual Student Research Conference
The role of rpm-1 gene on Caenorhabditis elegans behavior when exposed to organophosphate pesticides
Tre'Andice A. Williams
Dr. Stephanie Maiden, Faculty Mentor
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a disorder millions battle with daily, causing dementia due to neurodegeneration. It is known that cholinergic neurons are responsible for cognition and memory, and organophosphate pesticides (OP) cause high levels of acetylcholine. Could patients with AD be more susceptible to the negative effects of pesticide exposure? PAM/Highwire/RPM-1(PHR) regulates neural development for important functions of synapse formation, axon guidance and termination (Giles, 2015). During axon guidance, cholinergic neurons use acetylcholine to send messages in the nervous system (Grill, 2016). By investigating PHR and the rpm-1 gene mutants, this study focuses on understanding how malathion can affect cholinergic neurons in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans by using an egg laying assay. According to findings, there is no significant difference in eggs laid between strains. Further research is needed to conclude the impact of pesticides on C.elegans behavior.
Keywords:
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 106-4
Location: MG 1000
Time: 9:15