Jill Jenkins, Ph.D.
Biography
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Microbiology, Memphis State University, 1991
M.S., Microbiology and Biochemistry, Idaho State University, 1985
B.S., Biology, Rochester Institute of Technology, 1981
RESEARCH
Jill Jenkins’ efforts emphasize the study of potential impacts of environmental stressors at the cellular and molecular levels. Her major areas of focus include biomarker development, endocrine disruption, genetics, and comparative immunology. Key laboratory biotechnologies she uses are photomicroscopy and flow cytometry. Primary cell types studied are blood and spermatozoa, and assays are tailored to the particular species requirements and hypotheses being addressed.
Jenkins specializes in the development and application of biomarkers; these are measures of variables that respond in quantifiable ways to changes in the environment. The choice of particular biomarkers at specific biological levels of organization (such as genetic, cellular, tissue, hormonal, and organismal levels) depends on the study at hand. Because molecular and biochemical responses of cells are preceded by chemical changes in nuclei, cytoplasm, membranes, and extracellular fluids, these responses can be diagnostic and contribute to an assessment of ecosystem health.
BACKGROUND
1991-1992: Postdoctoral Res.; Reproductive Genetics Labs, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Univ. of TN, with Stephen Wachtel
Science and Products
Occurrence and distribution of Asian carps in Louisiana
In the 1970s, commercial fishers reported sightings of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in large rivers and associated backwaters of Louisiana; the first specimen in Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' fishery independent sampling was recorded in 1976. Beginning in the early 1980s, commercial fishers noted increasing populations of...
Thomas, R. Glenn; Jenkins, Jill A.; David, JodySperm quality assessments for endangered razorback suckers Xyrauchen Texanus
Flow cytometry (FCM) and computer-assisted sperm motion analysis (CASA) methods were developed and validated for use with endangered razorback suckers Xyrauchen texanus collected (n=64) during the 2006 spawning season. Sperm motility could be activated within osmolality ranges noted during milt collections (here 167–343 mOsm/kg). We...
Jenkins, Jill A.; Eilts, Bruce E.; Guitreau, Amy M.; Figiel, Chester R.; Draugelis-Dale, Rassa O.; Tiersch, Terrence R.A geographic information system tool for aquatic resource conservation in the Red and Sabine River Watersheds of the southeast United States
Our goal was to build a geographic information system (GIS) tool to enhance modeling and hypothesis testing relevant to watersheds and fish fauna of the Red and Sabine Rivers in the southeastern United States. Species of concern were identified from wildlife action plans and Web sites. Spatial distributions of fish species and mercury in fillets...
Jenkins, J. A.; Hartley, S. B.; Carter, J.; Johnson, D. J.; Alford, J. B.Davis Pond freshwater diversion biomonitoring-prediversion and postdiversion freshwater fish data
Jenkins, Jill A.; Olivier, Heather M.; Draugelis-Dale, Rassa; Kaller, Michael D.Photographic images captured while sampling for bald eagles near the Davis Pond freshwater diversion structure in Barataria Bay, Louisiana (2009-10)
The implementation of freshwater diversions in large-scale coastal restoration schemes presents several scientific and management considerations. Large-scale environmental restructuring necessitates aquatic biomonitoring, and during such field studies, photographs that document animals and habitat may be captured. Among the biomonitoring studies...
Jenkins, Jill A.; Jeske, Clinton W.; Allain, Larry K.Effect of cryopreservation and in vitro culture of bovine fibroblasts on histone acetylation levels and in vitro development of hand-made cloned embryos
In this study, the relative acetylation levels of histone 3 in lysine 9 (H3K9ac) in cultured and cryopreserved bovine fibroblasts was measured and we determined the influence of the epigenetic status of three cultured (C1, C2 and C3) donor cell lines on the in vitro development of reconstructed bovine embryos. Results showed that cryopreservation...
Chacon, L.; Gomez, M.C.; Jenkins, J.A.; Leibo, S.P.; Wirtu, G.; Dresser, B.L.; Pope, C.E.Infectious disease and quality assurance considerations for the transfer of cryopreserved fish gametes
No abstract available.
Jenkins, Jill A.Male germplasm in relation to environmental conditions: Synoptic focus on DNA
No abstract available.
Jenkins, Jill A.Regulatory considerations for global transfer of cryopreserved fish gametes
No abstract available.
Jenkins, Jill A.Derivation of cat embryonic stem-like cells from in vitro-produced blastocysts on homologous and heterologous feeder cells
The domestic cat is a focal mammalian species that is used as a model for developing assisted reproductive technologies for preserving endangered cats and for studying human diseases. The generation of stable characterized cat embryonic stem cells (ESC) lines to use as donor nuclei may help to improve the efficiency of interspecies somatic cell...
Gomez, M.C.; Serrano, M.A.; Earle Pope, C.; Jenkins, Jill A.; Biancardi, M.N.; Lopez, M.; Dumas, C.; Galiguis, J.; Dresser, B.L.Effects of wastewater discharges on endocrine and reproductive function of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.) and implications for the threatened Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae)
The Santa Ana River (SAR) in southern California is impacted by effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), which are sources of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) and urban runoff. The Santa Ana River is one of only three river basins supporting native populations of the federally listed Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus santaanae) at the time...
Jenkins, Jill A.; Goodbred, Steven L.; Olivier, Heather M.; Draugelis-Dale, Rassa O.; Alvarez, David A.Production of bovine cloned embryos with donor cells frozen at a slow cooling rate in a conventional freezer (20 C)
Usually, fibroblasts are frozen in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO, 10% v/v) at a cooling rate of 1 °C/min in a low-temperature (−80 °C) freezer (LTF) before storage in liquid nitrogen (LN2); however, a LTF is not always available. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate apoptosis and viability of bovine fibroblasts frozen in a LTF or...
Chacon, L.; Gomez, M.C.; Jenkins, J.A.; Leibo, S.P.; Wirtu, G.; Dresser, B.L.; Pope, C.E.