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Mitochondrial DNA damage in C. elegans sperm as a function sperm activity

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Date Issued:
2003
Summary:
Several models for the evolution of maternal inheritance of mitochondria predict that the sperm mitochondria undergo oxidative damage and pose a threat to the developing embryo. Here, I test the hypothesis that the sperm are damaged by reactive oxygen species generated by aerobic sperm activity. In my first experiment, I found no significant difference in fecundity between worms fertilized by old versus young sperm, suggesting that the sperm nuclear genome is not affected by the extent of sperm activity. In my second experiment, I found that sperm mitochondrial DNA has deletions, indicating damage, but this damage does not accumulate with sperm activity. However, problems with PCR amplification resulted in little experimental data, preventing a conclusive test of the hypothesis.
Title: Mitochondrial DNA damage in C. elegans sperm as a function sperm activity.
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Name(s): Willis, Joel P.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree Grantor
Volin, John C., Thesis Advisor
LaMunyon, Craig W., Thesis Advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Issued: 2003
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 74 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Several models for the evolution of maternal inheritance of mitochondria predict that the sperm mitochondria undergo oxidative damage and pose a threat to the developing embryo. Here, I test the hypothesis that the sperm are damaged by reactive oxygen species generated by aerobic sperm activity. In my first experiment, I found no significant difference in fecundity between worms fertilized by old versus young sperm, suggesting that the sperm nuclear genome is not affected by the extent of sperm activity. In my second experiment, I found that sperm mitochondrial DNA has deletions, indicating damage, but this damage does not accumulate with sperm activity. However, problems with PCR amplification resulted in little experimental data, preventing a conclusive test of the hypothesis.
Identifier: 9780496219216 (isbn), 13083 (digitool), FADT13083 (IID), fau:9947 (fedora)
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2003.
Subject(s): Caenorhabditis elegans
Worms--Spermatozoa
Worms--Genetics
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13083
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.