Zion Hubbard

LCT Variations and Crohn's Disease

The project was about how LCT variations influence the development of Chron’s disease.

Lactose Intolerance Influences the Development of Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth

Lactase is an enzyme found within the small intestine that breaks down lactose sugars when digested. Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products and is highly nutrient-dense, providing a wide range of essential micronutrients. However, the Lactase enzyme can mutate due to altered DNA sequences, leading to malfunction. This malfunction prevents lactose from breaking down when it enters the digestive system.

The Role of MCM6 Gene Mutations In The Inheritance and Onset of Lactose Intolerance Variations

Congenital lactase deficiency is the inability of newborns to digest their mother’s breast milk, leading to an early development of lactose malabsorption. The MCM6 gene contains a regulatory element that regulates the LCT gene, which produces lactase in the small intestine. Mutations in the MCM6 gene cause changes in the LCT gene.

The Dairy Dilemma: How Genetics Determines Lactose Intolerance Variants in the World

The malfunction of the LCT gene complex is caused by polymorphic mutations, single-nucleotide variants. Each region exhibits different levels of phenotypic deviation from lactose intolerance due to LCT gene polymorphisms. Genetic polymorphisms of the LCT gene complex were observed in international and interstate data. Research articles were used to gather data from international regions to identify SNP variants in the LCT gene. Northern European and Middle Eastern countries have a higher prevalence of lactose non-persistence, specifically the -13910 C/T and -22018 G/A polymorphisms. Interstate data was gathered using the NIH’s All of Us database. The participants were organized into cohorts based on phenotypic traits, demographics, and SNP variants, with a focus on the -13910 C/T and -22018 G/A SNPs. The cohorts were analyzed to determine the prevalence of lactose intolerance in each ethnicity within the United States. The European race has a higher prevalence of lactose non-persistence alleles in north-eastern states. Understanding how genetic variation in the United States contrasts with that in other countries can help us understand the evolutionary niches that shaped the LCT gene across different populations.

Odorant-Stimulated Hygienic Behavior Reveals Differential Susceptibility of Varroa mite Infestations, Inducing Gene Expression Changes of Apis mellifera

My research focuses on the interspecific relationship between Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and the parasitic Varroa mites. The main goal of my thesis project is to reduce honeybees' susceptibility to RNA viruses transmitted by Varroa mites by studying hygienic behavior. By stimulating behavior with odorant volatiles, I can determine which bee possesses specific proteins that may relate to hygienic behavior, and then analyze how those proteins function by examining their gene expression. Furthermore, examining the mitochondrial DNA of each hygienic honeybee will determine whether the expressed genes are lineage-specific.