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Characterizing the Ability of Woodrat Gut Microbes to Detoxify Plant Toxins

Semester: Fall 2025


Presentation description

Previous research shows desert woodrats rely on gut microbes to break down creosote bush toxins. This study isolates gut microbes and analyzes their growth with and without NDGA, the plant's main toxin. By comparing growth curves, it aims to identify key microbes involved in detoxification and understand how herbivorous mammals adapt to toxic diets.

Presenter Name: Sahana Balaji
Presentation Type: Poster
Presentation Format: Virtual
Presentation #5
College: Science
School / Department: Biological Sciences
Research Mentor: Denise Dearing

Audio