| Description |
This paper, written and submitted in compliance to the University of Utah Honors Program in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Honors Degree of Bachelor of Science, answers the question; Do Mimulus species exhibit temperature induced variations in their enzyme synthesis? Three Mimulus species; verbenaceus, cardinalis and repestris were chosen for the study because they gave distinct seasonal differences in their enzyme synthesis. The research project was designed to test what effects, if any, temperature would have on enzyme synthesis. A clone member from each of the three species was subjected to six growth conditions: 740F for 72 and 120 hours, 980F for 72 and 120 hours, and 380F for 72 and 120 hours. Young leaves were collected from each species at the 72 and 120 hour marks. Enzyme synthesis was checked by the starch gel electrophoresis process. After the electrophoresis process was completed, six enzyme systems were checked for variations in their staining patterns. The six enzyme systems checked were: Leucine Amino Peptidase, Acid Phosphatase, Glutamic Oxalic Transaminase, Alcohol Dehydrogenase, Glucose 6-PO Dehydrogenase, and Glutamate Dehydrogenase. The staining results unmistakably found temperature induced variations in the enzyme synthesis in all three Mimulus species. A second project could and should be done to explain how these temperature induced variations are taking place. |
