Honors Theses
Date of Award
2007
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Biology
First Advisor
David Reed
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Genetic variation has been shown to positively correlate with the strength of the immune response, especially in vertebrates. Smaller populations have less genetic diversity than larger populations as a result of random genetic drift. We estimated heterozygosity levels for six populations, which were known to vary significantly in size^ using 15 microsatellite loci. We wished to see if generalized loss of genetic variation, as measured by a random sample of neutral loci, would correlate with levels of immune response to a physical challenge (needle prick). Experiments were performed using the wolf spider species Rabidosa rabida. Immune response was measured as the natural log of the ratio of the cell counts after wounding to before wounding. It was found that heterozygosity and the strength of the immune response were not significantly correlated with each other. However, the relationship (r^ = 0.44) was positive and approached significance. Thus, with a larger number of populations we expect that heterozygosity at neutral molecular markers would correlate significantly with immune response in this invertebrate model system.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Patrice Louise, "Genetic Variation and Immune Response in the Wolf Spider: Rabidosa rabida" (2007). Honors Theses. 2227.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2227
Accessibility Status
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