Eileen Underwood

Research Interests:

Developmental genetics; Reptile and amphibian husbandry; Effect of egg incubation temperature on life history traits; Impact of using live reptiles on students' interest in science and attitudes toward nature.

My research focuses on improving husbandry of the species maintained in the BGSU Herpetarium, including analyses on the effect of egg incubation temperatures on life history traits in reptile, primarily geckos. We are observing the effect of egg incubation temperature on sex ratios, hatch rate, early growth rates, female fecundity and lifespan. Other projects include analyzing the effect of water quality on tadpole development in poison dart frogs (Dendrobates sp.), and the genetics of color variants in the pictus gecko (Paroedura pictus) and the inheritance of pattern in corn snakes (Elaphe guttata). Students in the lab learn husbandry requirements of a variety of reptiles and amphibians and are encouraged to design their own projects. Animals in the Herpetarium are also used in classroom demonstrations for grades 1-12, as well as several college classes. Another research interest being developed is the impact of using live reptiles on students' interest in science and attitudes toward nature.

Selected Publications:

Partin, M.L., Haney, J.J., Worch, E.A., Underwood, E., Nurnberger-Haag, J., Scheuermann, A., and Midden, W.R. 2011. Yes I Can: The contributions of motivation and attitudes on course performance among biology non-majors. Journal of College Science Teaching 20(6).

Underwood, Eileen. 2006. BGSU Herp Room Inhabitants: Brief Natural History and Care (updated annually).

A series of reptile care sheets published in newsletters of the Toledo Herpetology Society.
Underwood, Eileen. 2006-2007. Herp-of-the-Month. Toledo Herpetological Society Newsletter.
2/07 Spotted Python, Liasis (Antaries) maculosa
11/06 Mandarin Ratsnake, Elaphe mandarina
6/06 Bearded Dragon, Pogona vitteceps
4/06 Panther Chameleon, Furcifer pardalis
3/06 Waxy Monkey Frog, Phylomedusa sauvagii
2/06 Sinaloan Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum sinaloae

Vessey, K.B., R.L. Ludwiczak, A.S. Briot and E.M. Underwood. 1991. Abnormal chromatin ( abc), a maternal-effect locus in Drosophila melanogaster affecting DNA replication. J. Cell Sci. 98:233-243.

Underwood, E.M., A.S. Briot, K.Z. Doll, R.L. Ludwiczak, D.C. Otteson, J. Tower, K.B. Vessey and K. Yu. 1990. Genetics of 51D-52A, a region containing several maternal-effect genes and two maternal-specific transcripts in Drosophila. Genetics 126:639-650.

Underwood, E.M., and J.A. Lengyel. 1988. Drosophila genes encoding maternal-specific and maternal-differential RNAs. Dev. Genet. 9:23-35.

Underwood, E.M., F.R. Turner and A.P. Mahowald. 1980. Analysis of cell movements and fate mapping during early embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. Dev. Biol. 74:286-301.