Symposium Abstract

Danielle Bailey

Department of Biology

The Phylogenetic Relationship of 18S rRNA Genes from Panellus copelandii, Marasmiellus sp., and Phanerochaete chrysosprium.

Lignin is a component of woody plant matter that degrades very slowly. Most if not all animals are unable to digest lignin; however the break down of lignin can be aided by microorganisms. The most efficient lignin degraders are the white rot basidiomycetes. By extracting DNA from three species of white rot fungi, Panellus copelandii, Marasmiellus sp., and Phanerochaete chrysosprium, we were able to isolate the 18S ribosomal RNA genes and show their phylogenetic relationship based on the information obtained through DNA sequencing.

Poster - 8:30 a.m.~10:15 a.m. - Guild Hall.