Mutations in the telomere length maintenance pathway can lead to a spectrum of diseases called telomere syndromes, however, the pathway is not fully understood and there may still be unknown components. We designed a forward genetic screen to identify new genes involved in telomere length maintenance. Of the top ranked genes, ZNF827, a zinc finger protein, is the most promising candidate gene. The possible discovery of a new component involved in telomere length maintenance increases our understanding of the pathway and opens new avenues of research. Recent advances in molecular biology techniques, such as the use of RNA-guided nuclease CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), have made screens like this possible. Cas9 is a nuclease that uses a guide RNA(gRNA) to direct its endonuclease activity. The use of Cas9 has revolutionized the field of genome engineering, providing scientists with more efficient methods to knockout and modify genomes. We sought to optimize CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to make it as widely accessible as possible. We compared plasmid, ribonucleoprotein (RNP), and RNA only lipid-mediated transfection of CRISPR-Cas9 into cell lines using a novel reporter system to measure genome editing efficiency. All methods were successful to some extent, however, RNP lipofection was the most efficient and has many advantages over other methods. We also found that short homology arms of 30-35bp on donor templates was able to mediate site specific editing. These methods should broaden the accessibility of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.

With the advent of the blockbuster and its visual effects, film has grown to accept these effects and the technology behind them, namely green screen mattes, as cornerstones to the post-production process. The propensity of green screen in all types of productions, especially those involving actors and their performances, raises questions about the methodology and workflow behind its common practice. Using real-life environments and people to create narrative scenes, this project explores the utilization of matte backgrounds to inform the rehearsal and performance aspects of cinematic story-telling.

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS), invented in 1995, has been adopted among Division One sports programs across the country. Being a women’s soccer player at the University of Central Florida (UCF), this particular topic had been of interest for years. The FMS is a series of seven tests evaluated at the beginning and end of each season. The UCF team's preventative rehabilitation was based upon the measurements from the FMS testing. The team engaged in preventative rehabilitation three times a week. Each year of my membership, the team of 28 to 30 players had no less than two anterior cruciate ligament tears each season. This research explored the effectiveness of the Functional Movement Screening, and its' predictive ability regarding injury to possibly prevent future injuries. The purpose of this study was to review literature of multiple studies exploring the Functional Movement Screen, the anterior cruciate ligament, and, specifically, the recent spike in women's collegiate soccer injuries. This study also examined and included findings from five years of FMS scoring data from the UCF women's soccer team. The study consisted of 43 participants, 29 in the control group and 14 in the test group (those who suffered and ACL tear). They were females, ages 18-23, and of fit manner. Multivariate analysis, independent and dependent T-Tests, and Leven's test ran these data. This study also investigated the reliability of the Functional Movement Screen and analyzed data about anterior cruciate ligament injuries among women’s collegiate soccer players. Recommendations for future protocols and implications for coaches, trainers, and women soccer players are provided.

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