Speaker: Patricia Hayes
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Biology
Time: 3:10 PM
Location: Trustee Hall 117
Supervisors: Dr. Jerry Brand and Dr. Jimmy Mills
Title: Molecular and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Cyanobacterial Order Oscillatoriales Based on Sequence Analysis from the 16S – 23S ribosomal RNA Internal Transcribed Spacer Region.

Abstract: For many years the classification and phylogeny of cyanobacteria has been based on morphological, physiological, and cytological criteria. Unfortunately, inaccurate identification into specific taxa can result from culturing and environmentally induced changes among cyanobacterial strains, making classification difficult. More recently molecular techniques have been employed to help resolve problems present in current taxonomical schemes. In this study, the 16s to 23s rRNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) was used to investigate the genetic heterogeneity among 16 different strains of cyanobacteria within the order Oscillatoriales. Cyanobacterial specific primers were used to amplify extracted genomic DNA from cultures obtained form the University of Texas Culture Collection. DNA Sequences were determined for all strains and used within a multiple alignment in order to create a neighbor joining tree to aid in strain comparison. The tree points to the need for further revision in the order and may indicate that some species from the genus Oscillatoria, Lyngbya, and Phormidium are incorrectly placed into their particular genus. The ITS region is also shown to be a successful indicator of sequence similarities between different strains of cyanobacteria.