Dr. Dawn Simon

Professor

Office: BHS 201C   |    Phone: (308) 865-8470   |    Email: simondm@unk.edu

Dr. Dawn Simon

Biography

Advisor to Biology Majors and Comprehensive Biology Majors

Areas of Interest:

  • Molecular Evolution
  • Phylogenetics
  • Ribozymes

Degrees:

Professional Affiliations:

Dissertation:

  • Simon, D. M. 2004. Comparative analysis of group I intron evolution in microbial eukaryotes. Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

Publications:

  • Chung, D. M., Ferree, E., Simon, D. M., and Yeh, P. J.  2018.  Patterns of bird-bacteria associations.  EcoHealth  doi.org/10.1007/s10393-018-1342-5
  • Hongsermeier, A., Grandgenett, N. F., and Simon, D. M.  2017.  Modeling Evolution in the Classroom: An Interactive LEGO® Simulation.  The American Biology Teacher  79(2):128-134.
  • Duncan, G., Grandgenett, N., McClung, W., Reichart, L. M., Simon, D. M., Tapprich, W., and Pauley, M.  2016.  Laboratories for Integrating Bioinformatics into the Life Sciences - Part II.  Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching: Proceedings of ABLE  37.
  • Duncan, G., Grandgenett, N., McClung, W., Reichart, L. M., Simon, D. M., Tapprich, W., and Pauley, M.  2015.  Laboratories for Integrating Bioinformatics into the Life Sciences.  Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching: Proceedings of ABLE  36.
  • McNeil, B. A., Simon, D. M., and Zimmerly, S.  2014.  Alternative splicing of a group II intron in a surface layer protein gene in Clostridium tetani.  Nucleic Acids Research  42(3): 1959-69.
  • Yeh, P.J., Simon, D.M., Millar, J.A., Alexander, H.F., and Franklin, D.  2011.  A diversity of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus spp. in a public transportation system.  Public Health and Research Perspectives 2(3): 202-209.
  • Harner, M. J., Nelson, A. J., Geluso, K., and Simon, D. M.  2011.  Chytrid fungus in American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) along the Platte River, Nebraska, USA.  Herpetological Review 42:549-551.
  • Tam, P.P.C., Barrette-Ng, I. H., Simon, D. M., Tam, M. W. C., Ang, A. L., and Muench, D. G.  2010.  The Puf family of RNA-binding proteins in plants: phylogeny, structural modeling, activity and subcellular localization.  BMC Plant Biology 10:44.
  • Simon, D. M., Kelchner, S. A., and Zimmerly, S.  2009.  A broadscale phylogenetic analysis of group II intron RNAs and intron-encoded reverse transcriptases.  Molecular Biology and Evolution 26(12):2795-2808.
  • Simon, D. M., and Zimmerly, S.  2008.  A diversity of uncharacterized reverse transcriptases in bacteria.  Nucleic Acids Research 36(22):7219-7229.
  • Simon, D. M., Clarke, N. A. C., McNeil, B. A., Johnson, I., Pantuso, D., Dai, L., Chai, D., and Zimmerly, S.  2008.  Group II introns in Eubacteria and Archaea: ORF-Iess introns and new varieties.  RNA 14:1704-1713.
  • Hausner G., Olson, R., Simon, D. M., Johnson, I., Sanders, E. R., Karol, K. G., McCourt, R. M., and Zimmerly, S.  2006.  Origin and evolution of the chloroplast trnK (matK) intron: a model for evolution of group II intron RNA structures.  Molecular Biology and Evolution 23:380-391.
  • Bhattacharya, D., Reeb, V., Simon, D. M., and François Lutzoni, F.  2005.  Phylogenetic analyses suggest reverse splicing spread of group I introns in fungal ribosomal DNA.  BMC Evolutionary Biology 5:68. (11 pp)
  • Haugen, P., Simon, D. M., & Bhattacharya, D. 2005. The natural history of group I introns. Trends in Genetics 21(2):111-119.
  • Simon, D. M., Moline, J., Helms, G., Friedl, T., and Bhattacharya, D.  2005.  Divergent histories of rDNA group I introns in the lichen family Physciaceae.  Journal of Molecular Evolution 60:434-446.
  • Simon, D. M., Hummel, C. L., Sheeley, S. L., & Bhattacharya, D.  2005.  Heterogeneity of intron presence or absence in rDNA genes of the lichen species and P. stellaris. Current Genetics 47(6):389-399.
  • Bhattacharya, D., Simon, D. M., Huang, J., Cannone, J. J., & Gutell, R. R.  2003.  The exon context and distribution of Euascomycetes rRNA introns.  BMC Evolutionary Biology 3:7.
  • Simon, D. M., Fewer, D., Friedl, T., & Bhattacharya, D.  2003.  Phylogeny and self-splicing ability of the plastid tRNA-Leu group I intron.  Journal of Molecular Evolution 57:710–720.
  • Dollhopf, M. E., Nealson K. H., Simon, D. M., and Luther, G.W., III.  2000.  Kinetics of Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction by the Black Sea strain of Shewanella putrefaciens using in situ solid state voltammetric Au/Hg electrodes.  Marine Chemistry 70:171-180.
  • Bhattacharya, D., Lutzoni, F., Reeb, V., Simon, D. M., & Fernandez, F. 2000. Widespread occurrence of spliceosomal introns in the rDNA genes of ascomycetes.  Molecular Biology and Evolution 17:1971–1984.