http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/topic/7/biology Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Sun, 26 Apr 2026 05:16:41 -0400 Sun, 26 Apr 2026 05:16:41 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1946/an-assessment-of-the-origins-and-culpability-of-the-opioid-crisis-in-the-united-states By Connor D. Catalani - The use of synthetic opioids in the United States in the past 30 years has created an epidemic the likes of which our healthcare and law enforcement systems have never before encountered. Although some opioid analogs, like fentanyl, were developed with the intention of managing chronic pain, these potent drugs have, through their addictive qualities, trapped millions of Americans in a deadly cycle of dependency. This review addresses the major routes by which synthetic opioids are illegally shipped into the United States, where they are then sold to theAmerican public. By examining the origins... Fri, 11 Mar 2022 03:02 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1946/an-assessment-of-the-origins-and-culpability-of-the-opioid-crisis-in-the-united-states http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1914/eo-wilsons-sociobiology-and-the-marxist-response-a-critique-of-the-critics By Sharan K. Garlapati - Sociobiology is a sub-discipline of biology that aims to examine and explain social behavior in terms of evolution. It is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from disciplines including psychology, ethology, anthropology, evolution, zoology, archaeology, and population genetics (Wilson 2000). While the term "sociobiology" appeared at least as early as the 1940s, the concept itself did not gain significant recognition until the publication of Dr. E. O. Wilson's, Sociobiology: The New Synthesis in 1975. This book pulled together a vast body of zoology, ethology, and research from other disciplines... Tue, 05 Oct 2021 10:37 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1914/eo-wilsons-sociobiology-and-the-marxist-response-a-critique-of-the-critics http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1908/the-price-of-predatory-marketing-on-older-adults-a-perspective-on-prevagen-potency By Stephanie M. Jones - The calcium-binding protein apoaequorin has been studied for its possible indication to improve human cognition and memory. Faculty at Quincy Bioscience developed Prevagen with this in mind, claiming its apoaequorin-formulated supplement may decrease age-related memory loss. A summary of the pathway orally administrated apoaequorin would take in order to penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), with particular focus on digestive elements and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is presented. A discussion of the ethicality of the research and marketing practices of Quincy Bioscience in the... Mon, 20 Sep 2021 11:02 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1908/the-price-of-predatory-marketing-on-older-adults-a-perspective-on-prevagen-potency http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1853/the-brain-gut-and-consciousness-microbiology-of-our-mind By Radek Vana - We are never alone. And by this statement, I do not intend to argue for existence of some supernatural entities, aliens or God. We are never alone because we all share our bodies with trillions of symbiotic microorganisms that perform various physiological functions crucial for our health. In fact, they may be responsible for even more than that. Here, I present a view that the symbiotic microbiota is an important part of the complex system constituting our consciousness. By consciousness, I mean the type called phenomenal consciousness (Block 2002) which stands for the subjective experience of... Tue, 29 Dec 2020 12:10 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1853/the-brain-gut-and-consciousness-microbiology-of-our-mind http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1850/genetic-coevolution-transposable-elements-and-their-impact-on-disease-development-in-humans By Gillian K. McNeil - Transposable elements (TEs), also referred to as ‘jumping genes’, are sequences of DNA located in the eukaryotic genome that have the ability to mobilize. This functional mobilization allows TEs to insert at random positions throughout the genome. It is currently being investigated whether or not the genetic instability caused by these relocations has effectively promoted the development of diseases in human populations, including rare genetic conditions and various types of cancer. This paper will review the theorized system of evolution of TEs in the eukaryotic genome, and the potential... Mon, 14 Dec 2020 10:55 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1850/genetic-coevolution-transposable-elements-and-their-impact-on-disease-development-in-humans http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1828/humes-law-and-genetic-engineering-considering-the-possible-implications-of-positive-eugenics-in-light-of-our-horrific-past By Chad E. Brack - The eugenics movement of the 20th century epitomizes the danger that is possible when religion and science coalesce. Grounded in the emerging science of evolution and heredity, social Darwinists superimposed beliefs about social worth, racial superiority, and divine providence onto unbiased scientific research. Eugenicists combined religious and cultural ideas about inferior people with pseudoscientific justifications to impart their beliefs onto others in tangible ways. Vestigial eugenics practices still exist in modern American social systems, and new technologies are paving the way for a potential... Wed, 28 Oct 2020 08:30 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1828/humes-law-and-genetic-engineering-considering-the-possible-implications-of-positive-eugenics-in-light-of-our-horrific-past http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1813/the-use-of-ketamine-as-a-treatment-for-depression-and-alcohol-use-disorders By Brendan Kelleher - Ketamine, described by the chemical formula C13H16ClNO, is most commonly associated with adolescent and adult recreational drug users and ravers who abuse this drug to experience a euphoric and dissociative state. Although this drug is a federal schedule III controlled substance as a result of this abuse potential, ketamine has experienced a renaissance in clinical interest in recent years.1 Although clinical use of ketamine is controversial, it has become a focal point of pharmacological research due to its considerably diverse molecular targets and neurophysiological properties.2 In fact, recent... Sat, 10 Oct 2020 07:51 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1813/the-use-of-ketamine-as-a-treatment-for-depression-and-alcohol-use-disorders http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1631/causal-inference-to-ascertain-causes-of-metastasis-in-melanoma By Wesley Maddox - Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a cancer affecting melanin-producing cells in the skin. It is a fairly common type of cancer with approximately 70,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Unlike many other cancer types, it has a fairly high survival rate with only approximately 8,000 deaths each year (The Cancer Genome Atlas, 2015). Similarly, many melanomas are diagnosed only after metastasis because many of those melanomas stay on the skin or other pigmented tissues and never metastasize. Much of the research regarding this disease has recently focused on attempting to understand and predict metastasis... Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1631/causal-inference-to-ascertain-causes-of-metastasis-in-melanoma http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1507/genetics-pathology-and-potential-future-advances-in-the-study-of-huntingtons-disease By Matthew D. Rose - Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects around five people in every 100,000. It is caused by an increase in a polyglutamine region of the Huntingtin protein, resulting in a toxic gain of function mutation. However, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis, or even the exact role of the normal Huntingtin protein are not comprehensively understood. It is known that Huntingtin is ubiquitously expressed and has interactions with many different cellular components. Mutant Huntingtin has been extensively studied and its effects on cells noted but questions regarding... Tue, 13 Dec 2016 02:05 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1507/genetics-pathology-and-potential-future-advances-in-the-study-of-huntingtons-disease http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1558/species-conservation-in-a-globalized-world By Sharlene Engel - "The fundamental purpose of the US Endangered Species Act (ESA)," Wolf, Hartl, Carroll, Neel, and Greenwald (2015) say, "is not only to prevent extinction, but also to recover species to the point that they are no longer threatened or endangered" (p. 200). The ESA (1973) defines endangered species as "any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range", while a species is understood to be "any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range" (3.6; 3.19). As... Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1558/species-conservation-in-a-globalized-world http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1465/a-review-of-rehabilitation-protocols-following-acl-reconstruction By Daniel Indorato - The present study provided a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized control trials involving the effectiveness of various rehabilitation methods that have been implemented for the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The review of the literature revealed the following as evidence for effective ACLR rehabilitation: early intervention strategy focused on restoring ROM, muscle strength, and ligament stability with the utilization of CKC exercises. The literature supports the use of dynamic intraligamentary stabilization (DIS), which should also be implemented... Sat, 22 Oct 2016 03:16 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1465/a-review-of-rehabilitation-protocols-following-acl-reconstruction http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1432/the-importance-of-the-ras-raf-pathway-in-cancer-development By Gina M. Kelley - The Ras/Raf pathway is a crucial cell signaling pathway utilized by eukaryotic cells for growth and proliferation, and it is highly conserved amongst all eukaryotic organisms. Mutations in this pathway lead to uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cancerous cells, effectively giving them a major advantage over normally functioning cells. Not surprisingly, numerous specific mutations and epigenetic changes to these proto-oncogenes contribute to carcinogenesis in colon, skin, breast, lung, and other cancers. In this review, I explore the role of the Ras/Raf pathway in many different types of... Mon, 15 Aug 2016 05:51 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1432/the-importance-of-the-ras-raf-pathway-in-cancer-development http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1375/enhanced-resistance-training-performance-via-the-neutralization-of-lactic-acid-with-sodium-bicarbonate By Daniel Indorato - The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (SB) pre-exercise improved athletic performance during resistance training (RT) and reduced fatigue in male college students. SB has the efficacy to neutralize the acidity of lactic acid that is produced during intense exercise by increasing intramuscular pH levels. Effectively neutralizing lactic acid from the consumption of SB 120 minutes prior to RT would enhance the performance of the subject in 1-repetition maximum (1RM) and muscular endurance tests. Male college students performed 1RM and endurance tests... Tue, 08 Mar 2016 07:34 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1375/enhanced-resistance-training-performance-via-the-neutralization-of-lactic-acid-with-sodium-bicarbonate http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1355/challenges-to-mammal-migratory-route-conservation-in-north-america By Cyrene Krey - Mammal migration between seasonal ranges can consist of relatively short distance migrations of a single individual as well as massive migrations involving thousands of individuals in a population. Understanding the varying migratory habits among species requires detailed information of specific routes and stopover sites. Studying and preserving this behavior is vital but challenging, as both natural and anthropogenic threats exist to migrants. Disjointed management prevents comprehensive solutions from being implemented to protect migratory species in North America. Additional research that takes... Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:35 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1355/challenges-to-mammal-migratory-route-conservation-in-north-america http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1336/the-sixth-species-extinction-event-by-humans By Victor J. Nazarevich - The number of species becoming extinct has drawn a significant deal of attention from scientists and non-scientists alike. This research reviews recent literature citing evidence for the impact humans have had on our planet and how our biological systems are affected in both known species of flora and fauna as well as unknown species of flora and fauna, the latter lacking documentation as well as sightings by humans. Theoretical research is derived from previous research investigating the impacts of humankind's use of the land as well as population increases. Though there are many different definitions... Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:53 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1336/the-sixth-species-extinction-event-by-humans http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1335/impacts-and-assessment-of-the-endangered-snow-leopard-a-conservational-approach By Averil Jones - Overcoming the threats of the snow leopard with immediate action may be what will save this species from extinction. This report provides a brief overview both of the challenges faced by the snow leopard and the roles local people have taken in the decline and subsequent recovery of this apex predator. Panthera uncia lives across the high-alpine regions of Central Asia, with China containing most of their habitat. It is estimated that only 550,000 km2 of this territory is good quality habitat. These predators will adjust their territory size and range in accordance with their ungulate prey. Under... Wed, 20 Jan 2016 11:41 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1335/impacts-and-assessment-of-the-endangered-snow-leopard-a-conservational-approach http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1578/pollinating-prices-estimating-the-relationship-between-honeybee-population-and-almond-prices By Seth Taylor - This paper examines the potential effect of decreasing honeybee population on crop prices by estimating the relationship between honeybee population and the price of almonds over time. As a declining honeybee population becomes an increasingly salient issue, the public must be aware of the potential impacts that honeybee population loss can have on society, including rising crop prices. Understanding the economic impact that honeybee loss can have on consumers and industry is critical to limiting the severity of that impact over time. Using data on honeybee population and almond prices from the... Thu, 31 Dec 2015 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1578/pollinating-prices-estimating-the-relationship-between-honeybee-population-and-almond-prices http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1383/e-fluid-induces-inflammation-responses-in-lung-epithelial-cells By Hayley E. Tartell - Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) are devices that effectively deliver vaporized liquid nicotine to the lungs and are commercially available as a nicotine replacement therapy that is safer than conventional tobacco smoking. However, there is limited data available on the safety of E-cigarettes, and E-cigarettes currently do not fall under the regulation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This study investigates the potential inflammation effects of E-cigarettes by utilizing lung cell culture techniques. Lung cells (A549 cell line) were exposed to the liquid that is vaporized by E-cigarettes... Thu, 03 Dec 2015 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1383/e-fluid-induces-inflammation-responses-in-lung-epithelial-cells http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1313/the-epidemiology-pathogenesis-and-treatment-of-type-1-diabetes-mellitus By Ishita Aggarwal - Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic disease caused by autoimmune (type 1a) or spontaneous (type 1b) destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in insulin deficiency. It is generally diagnosed in children before 20 years of age and is oftentimes fatal. This review will discuss the epidemiology of T1DM, including its incidence and prevalence, related temporal trends and risk factors for development. Furthermore, pathogenesis and immune system involvement of the disease will be evaluated, with a particular focus on cells of the adaptive and... Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:38 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1313/the-epidemiology-pathogenesis-and-treatment-of-type-1-diabetes-mellitus http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1239/examination-of-woodchuck-marmota-monax-burrowing-behavior-and-relationship-between-burrow-diameter-and-distance-from-water By Peter Rowe - Using data collected through field research at Tyler State Park in Pennsylvania, this study examines the characteristics of Woodchuck (Marmota monax) burrows along a creek tributary. This study finds that there is a robust positive correlation between the diameter of the burrow and this distance from the creek tributary. Using an unpaired t-test, the data was found to be significant with a p-value of 0.0003 (p< 0.05 is considered significant). A negative relationship between burrow dip angle and the distance from the creek tributary was also found and confirmed using an unpaired t-test, as... Wed, 21 Oct 2015 12:40 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1239/examination-of-woodchuck-marmota-monax-burrowing-behavior-and-relationship-between-burrow-diameter-and-distance-from-water http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1334/fire-for-well-being-use-of-prescribed-burning-in-the-northern-boreal-forest By Chantal Roy-Denis - Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Alberta Boreal Forest have used fire knowledge and burning practices to maintain their environment for generations. Prescribed burning is vital to Aboriginal peoples' relationships with the environment, and was essential to their hunting and gathering subsistence. Research has been limited on Aboriginal peoples' use of fire not only to manage resources but to maintain their health and well-being. The research paper suggests that burning also allowed management of these medicinal plants. Such plants growing in open clearings or near water such as streams, rivers... Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1334/fire-for-well-being-use-of-prescribed-burning-in-the-northern-boreal-forest http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1034/are-e-cigarettes-a-safe-alternative-to-smoking-using-airway-cell-cultures-to-assess-early-indicators-of-copd-progression By Hayley E. Tartell - There is limited data available on the safety of electronic (E)-cigarettes, despite their commercial availability and widespread use. E-cigarettes are electronic devices that deliver nicotine to the lungs but limited data is available about their impact on lung health. This study attempts to address the potential health effects of E-cigarettes utilizing airway cell culture techniques to assess cellular toxicity and effects on protein activation and the induction of responses associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Currently, COPD is the third highest cause of death in the... Wed, 20 May 2015 08:28 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1034/are-e-cigarettes-a-safe-alternative-to-smoking-using-airway-cell-cultures-to-assess-early-indicators-of-copd-progression http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1090/sodium-absorption-in-summer-and-winter-acclimated-freshwater-teleosts By Katrina Thede - To maintain sodium (Na+) homeostasis in a hypotonic environment, freshwater teleosts must constantly absorb Na+ through their gills. Teleosts in temperate climates have the extra challenge of living in an environment in which ambient temperatures range from 0-30°C. It was hypothesized that 1. Na+ absorption through the gills occurs via a protein homologous to mammalian Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE), 2. Na+ is exchanged for NH4+—the nitrogenous waste product of the fish—rather than H+, and 3. gill proteins from 5°C winter-acclimated fish (WA) would be more active than those from 20... Fri, 01 May 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1090/sodium-absorption-in-summer-and-winter-acclimated-freshwater-teleosts http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1089/does-bmi-affect-diagnostic-efficacy-of-computer-aided-diagnostic-software-in-the-identification-of-malignant-pulmonary-nodules-in-dual-energy-subtracted-chest-radiographs By Nicholas J. Novak - The increasing level of obesity in the general population of industrialized nations is a major public health concern. While obesity increases morbidity and mortality, increasing body habitus also impacts the utilization and analysis of medical imaging. The purpose of this retrospective pilot study is to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) software (OnGuard™ 5.2) in combination with a hardware based bone suppression tool, Dual Energy Subtraction (DES) radiography on thoracic radiographs of patients with varying levels of obesity. Chest radiographs from 30... Fri, 01 May 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1089/does-bmi-affect-diagnostic-efficacy-of-computer-aided-diagnostic-software-in-the-identification-of-malignant-pulmonary-nodules-in-dual-energy-subtracted-chest-radiographs http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1088/using-flow-cytometry-and-quantitative-real-time-pcr-to-investigate-the-role-of-il-1-in-t-cell-proliferation-and-hiv-1-reactivation By So Hee Moon - With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, suppressing the HIV-1 virus and stopping the progression of the disease are now possible. Even with long-term antiretroviral therapy, HIV reservoirs remain in individuals. These individuals experience an increase in inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1β that results in the proliferation of CD4 T-cells. In this study, we explored the relationship between inflammatory cytokine-induced proliferation and reactivation. To assess this relationship, we investigated the role of a specific inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β. It was concluded from our... Fri, 01 May 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1088/using-flow-cytometry-and-quantitative-real-time-pcr-to-investigate-the-role-of-il-1-in-t-cell-proliferation-and-hiv-1-reactivation http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/914/gene-therapy-current-treatment-options-and-likely-near-term-developments By Mark T. Edwards - Gene therapy cells usually treats somatic cells and although originally devised to treat inherited disorders (Evans & Robbins, 1995), most gene therapy now benefits cancer patients. It is also used to treat acquired immune disorders, arthritis and hemophilia (Evans & Robbins, 1995; Mountain, 2000). Gene therapy is an attractive proposition since certain Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) or proteins provide effective treatments but are traditionally difficult to deliver effectively. Conventional treatments for some disorders are invasive, unpleasant, frequently ineffective and often have side effects... Mon, 15 Sep 2014 10:35 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/914/gene-therapy-current-treatment-options-and-likely-near-term-developments http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/901/the-role-of-hydrogen-peroxide-in-controlling-plant-cell-signaling-and-gene-expression-patterns-related-to-stress-and-defense-responses By Merit P. George - Fri, 06 Jun 2014 09:52 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/901/the-role-of-hydrogen-peroxide-in-controlling-plant-cell-signaling-and-gene-expression-patterns-related-to-stress-and-defense-responses http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/894/molecular-detection-of-complex-vertebral-malformation-in-holstein-calves By Sahil Aggarwal - Complex vertebral malformation (CVM) in Holstein calves is a recessive syndrome that is the result of a transversion mutation within the SLC35A3 gene (Thomsen et al. 2006). Though a simple point mutation, this transversion results in high embryonic mortality and severe phenotypic abnormalities in surviving calves, such as growth retardation, vertebral malformation, and arthrogryposis (Agerholm et al. 2001). It is important to identify CVM carriers within the dairy market in order to effectively remove them from breeding centers and reduce the number of offspring with CVM. (Wang et al. 2012). CVM... Sun, 04 May 2014 01:04 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/894/molecular-detection-of-complex-vertebral-malformation-in-holstein-calves http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/866/a-study-of-planarian-phototaxis-tactile-response-and-regeneration By Sahil Aggarwal - The Dugesia flatworm (also known as a planarian), along with all worms in the Platyhelminthes phylum, is an acoelmate with no blood vascular system, making the worm an anatomically simple organism that relies on diffusion for all its transport needs. The most notable anatomical features of the planarian are a ciliated epidermis, a centralized brain with nerve chords extending throughout the rest of the body, various muscle fibers responsible for movement, and a ventrally-located mouth with a protrusible pharynx that brings algae, bacteria, and protozoans into a digestive syncytium (Rupert et al... Fri, 14 Mar 2014 04:15 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/866/a-study-of-planarian-phototaxis-tactile-response-and-regeneration http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/852/conserving-chinas-biodiversity By Kevin Pyne - Over the past several decades, with the introduction of ecology as a scientific pursuit, China has made advancements in ensuring the health and sustainability of its forests and biodiversity. A very large number of endemic plant and vertebrate species are found in China, plenty of which have value in many areas, including aesthetics and medicine. China’s biodiversity faces many threats, including the invasion of alien species, urbanization and deforestation, as well as global warming. As the monetary value of the products obtained from the many endemic species has been recognized, an increase... Mon, 13 Jan 2014 03:36 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/852/conserving-chinas-biodiversity