Bermuda Land Snails make up a genus called Poecilozonites that is endemic to Bermuda and is extensively present in its fossil record. These snails were also integral to the creation of the theory of punctuated equilibrium. The DNA of mollusks is difficult to sequence because of a class of proteins called mucopolysaccharides that are present in high concentrations in mollusk tissue, and are not removed with standard DNA extraction methods. They inhibit Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) and interfere with Next Generation Sequencing methods. This paper will discuss the DNA extraction methods that were designed to remove the inhibitory proteins that were tested on another gastropod species (Pomacea canaliculata). These were chosen because they are invasive and while they are not pulmonates, they are similar enough to Bermuda Land Snails to reliably test extraction methods. The methods that were tested included two commercially available kits: the Qiagen Blood and Tissue Kit and the Omega Biotek Mollusc Extraction Kit, and one Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) Extraction method that was modified for use on mollusk tissue. The Blood and Tissue kit produced some DNA, the mollusk kit produced almost none, and the CTAB Extraction Method produced the highest concentrations on average, and may prove to be the most viable option for future extractions. PCRs attempted with the extracted DNA have all failed, though it is likely due to an issue with reagents. Further spectrographic analysis of the DNA from the test extractions has shown that they were successful at removing mucopolysaccharides. When the protocol is optimized, it will be used to extract DNA from the tissue from six individuals from each of the two extant species of Bermuda Land Snails. This DNA will be used in several experiments involving Next Generation Sequencing, with the goal of assembling a variety of genome data. These data will then be used to a construct reference genome for Bermuda Land Snails. The genomes generated by this project will be used in population genetic analyses between individuals of the same species, and between individuals of different species. These analyses will then be used to aid in conservation efforts for the species.

This thesis aimed to create a curriculum for college students to increase their health insurance literacy and to evaluate the impact of the curriculum on participants' confidence. The curriculum for college students consisted of pre-recorded presentation slides covering six health insurance topics, pre- and post-tests, and evaluation questions. Canvas was used to house the curriculum. At the time of evaluation, a total of 12 participants had completed all aspects of the curriculum. The curriculum was evaluated through questions provided at the end of each module. It was found that participants felt the curriculum to be clear and helpful. Moreover, participants reported an increase in confidence, decreased confusion, and were interested in learning more about health insurance such as enrollment. Both the creation of a curriculum and the impact on participants' confidence was successful. At a later point in time, an analysis of the pre- and post-tests will be assessed to determine if the curriculum was effective at increasing health insurance literacy.

Living a healthy and balanced life can be difficult for college students at Arizona State University due to the barrier of high cost of healthy food. To understand more about this problem we conducted research on the Tempe campus through surveys and virtual focus groups. We discovered that the cost of healthy food is one of the main barriers preventing students from eating healthy. We also learned that the students would be more willing to eat healthier if they could access healthy foods at a more reasonable price. Our solution to this problem was Eunoia, a service that allows students to receive discounts on healthy food and incentivize them to eat healthier in the future. Our company creates an innovative relationship between our customers, their private health insurance companies and local grocery stores throughout the Phoenix Metro area. Students at Arizona State University will be able to purchase healthy food items discounted by up to 30%. These discounts will be funded by their health insurance companies as well as the local grocery stores they purchase from. Our business model allows our customers to live healthier lives while also providing value to partnered health insurance companies and grocery stores. Once we established our business model, we spoke with students at Arizona State University and representatives from health insurance companies. Through these demographics, we received positive feedback and early traction with our idea. Our goal is to be able to implement our product in the Arizona State University community and then expand this product into a more general market to help all people live a pure and balanced life.

Our cells need constant fuel and oxygen for the body to work properly and maintain cellular function. In high altitudes tissue oxygen levels fall and the body must work against this hypoxic challenge to maintain energetics and limit oxidative stress. Mammals living at high altitudes are challenged to sustain thermogenesis and aerobic exercise despite reduced amounts of available oxygen. Enhancements in oxidative capacity and oxygen diffusion capacity of skeletal muscle may be necessary to compensate for insufficient oxygen supply in tissues. Hypoxic conditions can cause a switch from aerobic metabolism to anaerobic metabolism. Due to previous research of Graham Scott and colleagues on “Adaptive Modifications of Muscle Phenotype in High-Altitude Deer Mice” and the SMack Lab at Arizona State University, the question of how low atmospheric oxygen levels affects the enzymatic activity in the gastrocnemius muscle of Gelada Monkeys compared to Rhesus Macaque Monkeys was researched. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured in the gastrocnemius tissue of 6 Gelada Monkeys (highland) and 6 Rhesus Macaque monkeys (lowland). LDH was expected to be greater in Gelada tissue samples due to heightened anaerobic metabolism in the presence of limited available oxygen in high altitude environments. Results showed higher LDH in Rhesus Macaque samples compared to Gelada samples, but this difference was not statistically significant. Despite nonsignificant data, this experiment is insightful into the effects of Hypoxic adaptation in skeletal muscle enzymatic activity in primates.

Cells have mechanisms in place to maintain the specific lipid composition of distinct organelles including vesicular transport by the endomembrane system and non-vesicular lipid transport by lipid transport proteins. Oxysterol Binding Proteins (OSBPs) are a family of lipid transport proteins that transfer lipids at various membrane contact sites (MCSs). OSBPs have been extensively investigated in human and yeast cells where twelve have been identified in Homo sapiens and seven in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The evolutionary relationship between these well-characterized OSBPs is still unclear. Reconstructed OSBP phylogenies revealed that the ancestral Saccharomycotinan had four OSBPs, the ancestral Holomycotan had five OSBPs, the ancestral Holozoan had six OSBPs, the ancestral Opisthokont had three OSBPs, and the ancestral Eukaroyte had three OSBPs. Our analysis identified three clades of ancient OSBPs not present in animals or fungi.