Application of real time PCR determination to assess interanimal variabilities in CYP1A induction in the European flounder (Platichthys flesus)

In both laboratory experiments and field investigations with fish a large interanimal variability in CYP1A expression has been observed which may be attributed to variations in environmental inducer exposure and/or inducer response. We are carrying out laboratory investigations to assess the contribution of a potential genetic component in inducer response of flounder (Platichthy sflesus) CYP1A to PCB exposure and in this paper we report development of a sensitive quantitative RT-PCR procedure (real time PCR) where accumulation of the intercalated dye SYBR Green I is followed during cycling. Preliminary experiments using this procedure with artificially reared Arochlor 1254-treated flounders showed large interanimal differences in response for a single family group indicating that variability does have a genetic basis.     

新星云假说下地球扁率变化上限及影响因素

地球的形状变化是地球演化研究的基本问题之一。为了确定地球形状的变化需要了解各个地质历史时期地球扁率的变化。根据位场球函数理论导出地球的扁率公式,研究扁率与地球的半径、质量和角速度的关系。基于新星云假说推测地球的半径、质量和角速度的变化量,计算出地球在各个时期的扁率并作为上限并画出曲线,各地质历史时期中地球扁率的真实值应该小于计算的扁率值。地球的扁率自地球形成以来脉动变化的情况下总体趋势在减小。影响地球扁率的因素有平均半径、质量和角速度,分析发现地球形成后5亿年为时间起点计算,到现在(共41亿年)为止平均半径变化对扁率的总影响约为3%,质量变化的总影响没有超过百万分之三。而角速度的减小对扁率变化的贡献超过97%。地球扁率共减少了74.3%。     

Contaminants in molting long-tailed ducks and nesting common eiders in the Beaufort Sea

In 2000, we collected blood from long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) and blood and eggs from common eiders (Somateria mollissima) at near-shore islands in the vicinity of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and at a reference area east of Prudhoe Bay. Blood was analyzed for trace elements and egg contents were analyzed for trace elements, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Except for Se (mean=36.1 microg/g dry weight (dw) in common eiders and 48.8 microg/g dw in long-tailed ducks), concentrations of trace elements in blood were low and, although several trace elements differed between areas, they were not consistently higher at one location. In long-tailed ducks, Se in blood was positively correlated with activities of two serum enzymes, suggestive of an adverse effect of increasing Se levels on the liver. Although common eiders had high Se concentrations in their blood, Se residues in eggs were low (mean=2.28 microg/g dw). Strontium and Ni were higher in eggs near Prudhoe Bay than at the reference area, but none of the other trace elements or organic contaminants in eggs differed between locations. Concentrations of Ca, Sr, Mg, and Ni differed among eggs having no visible development, early-stage embryos, or late-stage embryos. Residues of 4,4'-DDE, cis-nonachlor, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, oxychlordane, and trans-nonachlor were found in 100% of the common eider eggs, but at low concentrations (means of 2.35-7.45 microg/kg wet weight (ww)). The mean total PCB concentration in eggs was 15.12 microg/kg ww. Of PAHs tested for, residues of 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene and naphthalene were found in 100% of the eggs, at mean concentrations of 0.36-0.89 microg/kg ww.