2020 Abstracts

Jackson, Erin; Root, Jerry; Kelly, Jessen (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Root, Jerry (College of Humanities, Department of World Languages and Cultures) Kelly, Jessen (College of Fine Arts, Department of Art and Art History)

Approximately 250 extant manuscripts of the Romance of the Rose contain illuminations. The depicted scenes and motifs within these works follow established patterns, a notion that created several iconic scenes from the Romance that can be seen in nearly every illuminated manuscript. Issues of representation and interpretation of the Old French text come to light through the depictions in the images. Inversely, the conversation created between these aspects of the manuscripts emphasizes the ways in which the illuminations inform the understanding of the text. Scholarship focuses predominantly on the former of these visual-textual relationships, and considering the influence of the images on textual understanding will provide new insight into the creation of one of the most highly-produced manuscripts of the Medieval period. These relationships are examined through the depictions of the reoccurring Narcissus scene within the Romance. This research will result in the completion of an interdisciplinary Honors Thesis for both French and Art History. The Romance research focuses on the analysis of series of images throughout the manuscripts available in the Digital Library of Medieval Manuscripts run by John Hopkins University. This is accomplished through a combination of literary and art history approaches to form a more holistic understanding of the visual-textual relationship within the Romance of the Rose manuscripts.

Sommers, Taryn; Veon, Raymond (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Veon, Raymond (Caine College of the Arts, Art and Design Department)

A literature search of research and academic journals suggests that there are few critical examinations of LDS visual culture in visual culture research. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the types of gender roles portrayed in contemporary LDS visual culture, the visual codes used to represent these gender roles, and the degree to which the representations of gender used in LDS visual culture align with findings in related visual culture studies. The result of this study will be a description of the current visual strategies used by the LDS church to represent gender roles, a thematic analysis of these visual strategies, and suggestions for future research into the ways that the LDS church visually defines gender in relation to existing trends and themes in visual culture research. The scope will include: “Mormon Ads,” images used in the LDS magazine, “Ensign,” and conference memes used during the years 2016-2019. This will contribute to the field of visual culture and gender studies by examining the visual codes used by the LDS church to portray the role and status of males and females as represented in current LDS visual culture, determining the strategies used in these representations, and discussing the potential research implications of these findings in light of themes in visual culture gender studies. Some research questions are: What visual codes are used in the representation of males, females, and mixed-sex groups in current LDS visual culture? What types of roles and status do these visual codes convey pertaining to the representation of males, females, and mixed-sex groups in current LDS visual culture? What extent do the results of investigating the above research questions align with other research findings in gender and visual culture studies? The methods used in this research will be 1) an inventory of discrete visual codes (e.g. color use, affect/expression, clothing/dress, setting, etc.) used in the LDS visual culture samples, and 2) a separate thematic analysis of the sample will also be conducted. The results of both methods will be compared, analyzed, and discussed in light of current trends in visual culture gender research. While the results of this research are expected to demonstrate that LDS visual culture will emphasize and reinforce traditional gender roles of females as mothers and homemakers and males as leaders and providers, it is hoped that this study will reveal strategies related to gender role representation unique to LDS culture.

Desdames, Chloe; Smith, Mick (Salt Lake Community College)
Faculty Advisor: Seaboch, Melissa (Salt Lake Community College, Anthropology)

Spider monkeys (genus Ateles) is one of the many endangered species in Costa Rica and they can now only be found in very few places due to deforestation. It is important for conservation reasons to know what forest types spider monkeys prefer. According to prior research in Surinam, Mexico, and Bolivia, Ateles prefers primary forests (undisturbed, high canopy) over secondary forests (degraded, lower canopy). Ateles are frugivores and their habitat preference depends highly on fruit availability. Fruit is more abundant in primary over secondary forests. This goal of this study was to determine whether spider monkeys in Costa Rica have a similar habitat preference. I hypothesize that spider monkeys will be found more often in high canopy primary forests compared to secondary forests. This research was conducted at La Selva Biological Station in northeastern Costa Rica. La Selva is a protected lowland tropical rainforest consisting of both primary forest (55%) and secondary forest in various stages of regeneration. I conducted a census of Ateles geoffroyi by walking established trails, with markers every 50 meters, in May 2019. Whenever a spider monkey was spotted, the trail name, nearest meter marker, and forest type were recorded. On a census of 9 trails, five Ateles groups were located, with four of the sightings being in primary forests. My hypothesis, that Ateles geoffroyi would be found in primary over secondary forests, was supported because 80% of the sightings were in primary forests. This is especially significant because, of the 20.5 kilometers censused, only 4.6 km censused (22%) were in primary forests with the remaining 15.9 km (78%) in secondary forests. This preference for primary forests agrees with prior studies on Ateles in other Neotropical forests. This highlights the importance of conserving primary forest for the well-being of spider monkeys.

Bursell, Madeline; Dikow, Rebecca; Johnson, Warren; Koepfli, Klaus-Peter; Frandsen, Paul (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Frandsen, Paul (Life Sciences, Plant and Wildlife Sciences)

Due to decreasing costs in genome sequencing, conservation genomics is a field that has experienced immense growth over the last few years. By comparing whole genome data within threatened and endangered populations, we can estimate important elements in conservation such as levels of homozygosity and demographic histories that reveal the level of endangerment of a species. This information informs conservation priorities and captive breeding programs. In the present study, we focus on two species of clouded leopards: Neofelis nebulosa and Neofelis diardi. N. nebulosa is a species of clouded leopard that lives in mainland southeast Asia. N.diardi inhabits the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. While these two species were initially thought to be a single species, evidence, such as differences in fur color and sizes of cloud markings, hint that they have diverged into two species. To shed more light on the genomic differences between them, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated whole genomes from both species. With genomes, we will explore differences in demographic histories, variation in blocks of homozygosity, and generate a whole genome phylogeny with other large cat species. Using these analyses, we share insights that will inform the conservation status of the two species.

Allen, Sierra; Meyer-Ficca, Mirella; Wandersee, Miles (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Meyer-Ficca, Mirella (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department)

Niacin, a component of vitamin B3, is necessary for the synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). NAD+ is an essential coenzyme in several metabolic processes, including those that regulate glucose and fat homeostasis in the body. Niacin is available to humans in its dietary form through foods such as meat, various legumes, nuts and vegetables. Niacin deficiency has been linked to health problems including age-related decline of cognitive abilities, as seen in Alzheimer's disease, and impaired dermal repair. In cases of extreme niacin deficiency, individuals may even develop pellagra, a disease characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia. Recent studies in niacin deficient mice indicate that niacin deficiency impairs proper glucose metabolism. Compared to mice with adequate niacin levels, niacin deficient mice experience a significant loss of total body weight and body fat and have impaired glucose regulation in response to insulin. We hypothesize that these metabolic defects result from inadequate levels of NAD+ preventing the conversion of lactate to pyruvate in the gluconeogenesis pathway, which in turn results in decreased blood glucose levels. Another potential explanation is that niacin deficiency results in decreased glycogen stores in the liver, also impeding glucose production. To test these hypotheses, we are studying the relationship between dietary niacin and glucose metabolism in a transgenic mouse model with acquired niacin dependency that accurately represents human niacin metabolism. Results of this study will contribute to better understanding of niacin's role in proper glucose metabolism, with important implications for diabetes and other glucose-related diseases, particularly in populations with limited access to quality food.

Garg, Varun (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Balagurunathan, Kuberan (University of Utah, College of Pharmacy; Medicinal Chemistry)

Heparin is a widely-used blood anticoagulant medicine that is used in surgeries and in treatment of circulatory system illnesses. Heparin is currently harvested from live pigs before they are slaughtered. There are many problems with the current production process of heparin. On a chemical level, the drug can be easily and accidentally altered due to its complex chemical nature. In addition, the environmental impact of the pigs that need to be raised on farms and fed is immense. These reasons and more are why bioengineering approaches towards the artificial synthesis of Heparin need to be researched. One of the major obstacles in the synthesis of heparin is the production of Low Molecular Weight (LMW) Heparosan, a chemical precursor. The research goal is to find methods to increase LMW Heparosan yields to a point where those same yields can be used to conduct further exploration into Heparosan oligosaccharide precursors. These oligosaccharides are useful in further understanding heparin structure-function relationships and will eventually help in the goal to find a commercially viable, cost and time effective method of heparin production. Using shake flask bacterial cultures, LMW Heparosan was produced while adjusting variables such as bacterial density at induction and incubation time to maximize yield. Once a sufficient yield was obtained, oligosaccharide structures spliced from the LMW Heparosan were classified for further research. The initial shake flask experiments showed increased yield and purity of Heparosan for each successive trial. Further work is required to scale up production of LMW Heparosan to a mass-market synthetic Heparin but the research conducted shows a promising method to synthesize and improve yields to make that possible.

Bonnie K. Baxter (Westminster College)
Faculty Advisor: Baxter, Bonnie (Westminster College, Biology)

Gypsum is a calcium sulfate mineral in a hydrated form. NASA's Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity, found veins of gypsum deposited by water in 2011(Figure 7), and gypsum has been detected on Mars as early as 2005 by the ESA's Mars Express Orbiter. On Earth, gypsum is formed in hypersaline environments, in minerals left behind when water evaporates and it can trap microorganisms in fluid inclusions. Gypsum obtained from Great Salt Lake was used to develop a method to extract halophilic archaea and culture it in the lab. Our studies show that the mineral was difficult to dissolve in aqueous microbiological media. We tested various methods of dissolution involving mechanical crushing and tested solvents including microbiological media. We also employed a variety of cultivation methods. We will present data on best practices for obtaining halophilic microorganisms from gypsum samples. The method obtained could be used to isolate potential microorganisms present in gypsum samples from Mars.

Clarke, Eliza; Williams, Stephanie; Payne, Andrew; Obray, J Daniel; Yorgason, Jordan; Steffensen, Scott (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Steffensen, Scott (Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Psychology)

Dopamine (DA) transmission is a key player in the rewarding aspects of ethanol as well as ethanol dependence. The current dogma is that DA transmission is increased during ethanol exposure via the inhibition of ventral tegmental area (VTA) GABA neurons and that excitation of VTA GABA neurons during withdrawal results in decreased DA transmission. Microglia, the major neuroimmune effector in the brain, may be a key mediator in this process by releasing cytokines following activation. It is also thought that BDNF may mediate this effect. We evaluated the effect of ethanol on cytokine concentrations in the VTA and nucleus accumbens (NAc), and found that low dose ethanol (1.0 g/kg) decreased interleukin (IL)-10 levels, but high dose ethanol (4.0 g/kg) increased IL-10 levels. We also used standard cell-attached mode electrophysiological techniques to evaluate the effects of select cytokines and BDNF on VTA neuron firing rate in vitro. We found no change in firing rate in response to IL-6 and BDNF, but an increase in firing rate in VTA DA neurons in response to IL-10. Consistent with the changes in firing rate, optically-evoked IPSCs were also found to be decreased in response to IL-10. Ex vivo voltammetry and in vivo microdialysis were done to determine whether IL-10 can directly result in an increase in DA release. Although ex vivo voltammetry showed no change in DA release, IL-10 increased DA release in vivo. These findings suggest that the rewarding and/or addictive effects of ethanol may be mediated by cytokines, specifically the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10.

Lemmon, Skyler; Chaston, John (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Chaston, John (Life Sciences, Plant and Wildlife Sciences)

Over the course of the last year, I have dedicated most of my time in the lab to learning about CRISPR/Cas9 and practicing the laboratory techniques that are necessary to make genetic changes in Drosophila melanogaster. Here I aim to expand on that expertise by applying CRISPR to study a genetic question: how the microbial composition of the D. melanogaster microbiome is affected by the modification of 4 specifically selected genes in flies from Florida and Maine. For each of the selected genes, the Florida fly allele will be put into the Maine fly genome and the Maine fly allele will be put into the Florida fly genome. The microbiome composition of these two new flies will be compared against the original lines in a factorial design. Embryos will be injected with the necessary plasmids for a double-stranded cut to take place. After injection, homology dependent repair that will incorporate the new allele. Sanger sequencing will be used to screen for successful knock-in of the allele. Finally, the concentrations of each type of bacteria found in the microbiota of the flies will be measured and compared against the flies from which the allele came from.

Marchant, Nathan; Marchant Erik; Elison, Weston; Herring, Jacob; Yang, Haokun; Tessem, Jeffrey; Hancock, Chad (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Hancock, Chad (Brigham Young University; Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science); Tessem, Jeffrey (Brigham Young University; Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science)

Purpose: To analyze the effect of the Nr4a3 gene on respiratory capacity of mitochondria in skeletal muscle of mice on a normal or high fat diet.

Methods: Nr4a3-/- and WT mice were fed a normal chow (NC) or high fat diet (HF) for at least 20 weeks. After euthanasia, soleus muscle was harvested and wet weight was measured and prepared for respirometry. Mitochondrial respiration was evaluated using an Oroboros Oxygraph Respirometer. Respiratory capacity comparisons were made with a two-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison test.

Results: Oxygen consumption is reported as pmol/(s*mg wet tissue) and statistics are represented as mean ± SEM. In the WT male mice there was a decrease in coupled complex I supported respiration in HF vs. NC diet (25.9 ± 7.3 vs. 64.5 ± 5.0, p=0.004). In the HF WT group there was also a decrease in uncoupled respiration (61.4 ± 15.0 vs. 107.8 ± 7.1, p=0.0004) compared to NC WT. In female mice there was also a decrease between HF WT and NC WT in complex I (28.2 ± 3.7 vs. 57.4 ± 5.7, p=0.0005) and uncoupled respiration (87.1 ± 7.1 vs. 119.4 ± 8.9, p=0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between the WT NC mice and either of the Nr4a3-/- groups. Coupled complex I and uncoupled respiration states in both Nr4a3-/- groups were not significantly different from WT.

Conclusion: Feeding mice a high fat diet impairs proper mitochondrial function in muscle when compared to a normal chow diet. The decrease in respiration from the HF diet is dependent upon the function of the Nr4a3 gene, as no decrease was observed in Nr4a3-/- mice.

Wilson, Seth; Taylor Adam; Bursell, Madeline; Frandsen, Paul; Stewart, Russell; Steeneck, Amy (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Frandsen, Paul (Brigham Young University, Plant and Wildlife Sciences)

Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) have evolved to produce silk with adhesive and elastic properties in aqueous environments. The silk is used in several ways by different species within the order such as case making, retreat making and using the silk as an anchor in the stream. Previous research on caddisfly silk has focused on understanding the evolutionary changes in the H-fibroin gene, the main protein found in caddisfly silk, which underlies the structural transformation behind these phenotypic properties that allow for diverse usage of the silk across the order (Ashton et al. 2013). Understanding the genetic foundation of the silk is crucial to understanding the phenotypic interactions that determine the unique qualities of caddisfly silk. An accurate assembly of the caddisfly genome will allow us to resolve the H-fibroin gene that plays an integral role in the formation of the caddisfly silk. Next-generation sequencing, Oxford Nanopore, and PacBio will allow us to sequence long reads that can span repetitive regions of the genome. These regions have made it difficult to resolve the H-fibroin gene as there are many repetitive motifs found in the gene. We will combine this next-generation sequencing with second-generation sequencing, Illumina and Sanger Sequencing to optimize the assembly. In this study, we used a combination of next-generation sequencing technologies to assemble the complex H-Fibroin gene in order to look at the underlying genetic structure of the silk protein. We identified unique repetitive motifs in the gene that contribute to the silk's adhesive strength and elasticity when in aqueous environments.

Errigo, Isabella; Abbott, Benjamin; Reimer, Jessica; Glenn, Jeff; Chaney, Robert; Freeman, Andrew; Frei, Rebecca; Howe, Peter, Mendoza, Daniel; Kelly, Kerry; Summers, Laura; Johnston, James; Carter, Thom; Bratsman, Samuel; Stacey, Audrey; Wilson, Derrek; Lange, Leslie (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Abbott, Benjamin (Life Sciences, Plant and Wildlife Sciences)

Recent medical and economic research has found that air pollution causes much more damage to our health and economy than previously understood. Globally, 16% of all deaths are attributable to air pollution—15 times more than from all wars and other forms of violence. However, translating these research findings into policy and behavior change at local levels remains a major challenge, partially because of mismatch between the spatial scale of the air pollution research (often national or global) and governance frameworks (typically multi-scale from local to regional). Here, we tested the effectiveness of expert assessment as a tool to resolve research-policy mismatch. We distributed a questionnaire to over 80 researchers living in Utah, asking for quantitative estimates of human health and economic costs of air pollution, and recommendations for what policy actions would be most effective at reducing those costs. Expert responses of air pollution costs varied widely, but were consistently higher than recent public health studies, indicating that experts were including a more complete suite of factors, or that they were biased. We discuss the response of Utah policymakers to these results and present a framework of involving local researchers to increase the assimilation of data into decision making.

Edvalson, Logan; Davis, Morgan; Busath, David (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Busath, David (Life Sciences, Physiology & Developmental Biology)

A significant research focus in influenza pathogenesis has been directed towards growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their respective phosphorylation cascades. Several recent studies have implicated RTK signaling cascades, that are classically associated with cancer, with increased viral titer. A portion of these studies have focused on early segments of the signaling cascade while others' efforts focus in the late segments. Experiments performed in our lab have identified two receptor pathways—PDGF and VEGF—that, when the receptor inhibited, reduces the efficiency of the influenza virus. These data were achieved using compounds, and variants of compounds, already approved for human use in cancer. Although the drug oseltamivir is already approved for influenza treatment, there is concern for the development of viral drug resistance. The introduction of several types of infection blockers similar to the ones identified by our, and others, laboratories can mitigate viral resistance; like the introduction of several types of antibiotics has reduced bacterial resistance. We hypothesize that these pathways work in multiple parts of the infection cycle ranging from viral endocytosis to the budding off of new virions. Experiments are now under way to determine the specific interactions in these pathways that are important in the viral life cycle.

Stoner, David; Clark, Debbie; Bufton, Ali (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Stoner, David (S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, Wildland Resources Department)

A challenge facing Utah mule deer is habitats with older shrubs and little to no regeneration of young plants, or habitats being replaced with cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)—both in critical winter ranges. Forested habitats provide cover but when there is little understory, there isn't enough forage. Hunting funds the management of big game animals. If there is inadequate funding, there will not be funding for habitat. Thus population objectives will not be met. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) may alter activity schedule during the hunting season by selecting restricted hunter access areas, including agricultural lands. Here we test the hypothesis that deer alter activity schedules in space (accessible and WILD sites) and time in response to human presence. We defined WILD as being further than 100 meters away from a human or OHV trail, or road. Our research question asks if accessible roads have an effect on mule deer activity schedule in response to hunting pressure, as indexed by access differences. We predicted that increased human activity during the hunting season would cause reduced deer activity during daylight. We expect more deer detections in September, less in October (hunting season), and an increase in November during the rut. Spatially we expect higher buck detection rates in remote areas, with no change in activity schedule, or are active in the day. The study area is in the Bear River Range east of Logan, Utah. We are using Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) Sampling Design. We used camera trap data from October 2017 through December 2017 to measure (1) detection rates of bucks (photos/camera-day), and (2) activity times (diurnal, crepuscular, or nocturnal) by sex-age class. We controlled for habitat type by grouping cameras within common elevation bands and plant communities. Reduced hunter success may result in decreased hunting interest with economic implications for mule deer conservation.

Olsen, Lindsey; Frandsen, Paul (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Frandsen, Paul (Life Science, Plant and Wildlife)

Trichoptera (caddisflies) have evolved to become the most diverse, exclusively aquatic insects, yet many of the genomic changes that contribute to Trichoptera's the success of this order of insects are still unknown. Trichoptera and Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) are reciprocally monophyletic meaning that they both share their most recent common ancestor. Despite being closely related, Trichoptera have evolved into the most diverse, exclusively aquatic insects, whereas, Lepidoptera have evolved to become a diverse, almost exclusively terrestrial insect (Holzenthal et al. 2007). Trichoptera and Lepidoptera are the subjects of scientific inquiry because they are both capable of spinning silk. Trichoptera produce silk as larvae and use it to make cases or fixed retreats. Trichoptera silk is of particular interest because its properties allow for it to be an underwater adhesive. While other research has focused primarily on the evolution of Trichoptera silk, little research has been done to identify the evolutionary innovations that allowed Trichoptera to adapt and diversify in an aquatic environment. Our research focuses on identifying the genomic basis of their evolutionary innovations. We report the genome annotation of four newly sequenced Trichoptera species Hesperophylax magnus, Parapsyche elsis, Philanisus plebeius, and Rhyacophila brunnea. These annotations will reveal levels of homozygosity, conserved elements, and gene duplications. We then conducted a genome-wide search for gene family expansions and retractions using CAFE, in order to identify genomic regions that could contribute to Trichoptera's unique qualities and evolutionary history.

Holzenthal R. W., R. J. Blahnik, A. L. Prather, and K. M. Kjer, 2007 Order Trichoptera Kirby, 1813 (Insecta), Caddisflies*. Zootaxa 1668: 639—698. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1668.1.29

Johnson, Erik; Johnson, Ellie; Johnson; Jerald (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Johnson, Jerald (Brigham Young University, Biology)

It seems counterintuitive that organisms should evolve handedness (or what we might more broadly refer to as "lateralization"). Individuals who can forage equally well with both hands, who can kick equally well with both feet, who can detect stimuli and orient equally well in both directions, and so on—these individuals should be favored relative to those who are either right handed or left handed. Yet in humans, and in several other species, handedness is common, but we still no very little about why. Here we explore this question using a tropical freshwater fish species with an unusual anatomy. Males have a modified fin—the gonopodium—that they use to internally inseminate females. Interestingly, males are either right or left handed for this structure, which terminates with either a dextral or sinistral twist. In this study, we ask a simple question: is there a link between male gonopodium morphology and male behavioral lateralization. We use a detour test approach to determine how males approach different stimuli, turning either to the left or right to more clearly see each type of stimulus. We focus on how males approach potential mates, predators, and novel items. We predict that males with a dextral gonopodium will orient differently than those with a sinistral gonopodium, consistent with the idea that there is link between behavioral lateralization and morphological handedness. If true, it would suggest that reproductive morphology could be linked to brain and behavioral lateralization in vertebrates.

Thatcher, Spencer; Eyere, Gloria (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: O'Brien, Erin (College of Science, Engineering, and Sciences; Biological Sciences Department)

Dwarf bear-claw poppies (Arctomecon humilis Coville) are an endemic species of wildflower in Washington county Utah. These poppies only flower for about a month during the summer. There are currently seven known locations where these poppies are found. Conservation efforts to protect these populations includes research to understand the reproductive success of each site. Populations with low reproductive success may indicate the need for additional efforts or interventions to save this unique species. Four specific locations were monitored over a three-year period. Poppies in these areas were tagged and studied during their flowering seasons and individual inflorescences were bagged and collected to determine struggling locations and their correlating issues related to population decline. Seeds were split into two groups: immature and mature and were weighed and counted. A large percentage of immature seeds may indicate a resource or pollinator issue for the population. A low overall seed production may indicate that a resource limitation or other stressor is reducing the population viability.

Ekpo, Idongesit; Yates, Joshua; Tessem, Jeffery; Hill, Jonathan (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Tessem, Jeffery (Life Sciences; Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science); Hill, Jonathan (Life Sciences, Physiology and Developmental Biology)

By the year 2040, an estimated 642 million people are expected to have diabetes globally. Diabetes results from an elevation of metabolic stressors, such as glucotoxicity, lipotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Current treatment methods for diabetes are not curative and do not help us understand its pathogenesis. A more effective method involves exploring the pathogenesis of diabetes by probing the genetic variation involved in diabetes so that we can understand the disease better and develop curative methods to combat it. Gene therapy is a method for determining genetic variation in disease and CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool that can be used. Because of its convenience, CRISPR-Cas9 has been used to create many forward genetic screens. We use the CRISPR-Cas9 tool to create a knockout forward genetic screen of all the genes in the INS-1 Ꞵ-cell line that are required for _-cell survival of metabolic stressors. We hypothesize that the gene knockouts generated by the CRISPR-Cas9 system will help us identify genes that are involved in the mechanistic pathways of these metabolic stressors. Here we present the results of our forward genetic screen.