Fast tidal cycling and the origin of life

Replicating prebiotic polymers are thought to predate the emergence of true life-forms. The initial mode of replication, a prerequisite for Darwinian selection, is unknown, but demands an explanation based on local physicochemistry. Dual consideration of the conditions of the early terrestrial surface, with the unusual physicochemical properties of nucleic acids like DNA, could explain the emergence of nucleic acids as key biomolecules. The early impact that produced the Moon, and fast terrestrial rotation, subjected coastal areas 3.9 Ga ago to rapid tidal flooding (dilution) and drying (concentration), with a likely periodicity in the range of 2-6 h, and could have provided a driving force for cyclic replication of early biomolecules. Such a mechanism applies only to molecules capable of association/polymerization at high salt concentration, and of dissociation at low salinity. Nucleic acids meet these criteria. It is suggested that tidal cycling, resembling the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mechanism, could only replicate and amplify DNA-like polymers. This mechanism suggests constraints on the evolution of extra-terrestrial life.     

The genotoxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene and methamidophos on black porgy evaluated by comet assay

In this study, two common pollutants （benzo[a]pyrene and methamidophos） in marine environment were tested by comet assay for their inducement of in vivo genotoxic effect to the blood cells of black porgy （ Acanthopagrus schlegeli）. The fish was exposed to 2 μg/L of benzo[a]pyrene （BaP） and methamidophos, and their mixture. The assay was performed on whole blood at 2 h, 5 h, 24 h and 96 h exposure intervals. A significant increase in DNA damage was observed in each treatment with the pollutants. Additive effect of BaP and methamidophos was also found in the experiment. However, the decrease ratios of DNA damage for 5 h and 96 h exposure interals compared with 2 h and 24 h exposure ones, respectively, were noticed. This phenomenon may be explained by the function of repairing process via enzyme cytochrome P450 in the animal. Evidence of the genotoxicity of organophosphorus pesticides （OPs） and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） on marine fish are discussed in this paper.     

RAPD分析中最适样本量和位点数的研究

用25个引物,对40个样本扩增,研究了勒氏笛鲷随机扩增多态性DNA(RAPD)分析中的最适样本量和位点数。结果显示:在样本量达到20且位点数达到70个以上时,遗传距离趋于一个稳定的数值,即在RAPD分析中,样本数应达到20且位点数应达到70才能保证结果的可靠性。     

双链DNA片段的碱基空间模式BSP——基因组调控区的一种可能的信息编码方式

生物体可看作是一种特殊的信息处理系统 ,论文的第二章从这种观点出发讨论了生物细胞内最大的信息源基因组DNA序列的信息编码问题。首先探讨了基因组蛋白质编码区的信息编码问题 ;简要回顾转录水平的基因表达调控后 ,讨论了基因组基因表达调控区的信息编码问题。第三章介绍了我们利用internet上可获取的开放的生物信息学资源 ,对基因组DNA调控区的一种可能的编码方式所进行的理论研究。这种可能的编码方式我们称之为双链DNA上的碱基空间模式BSP (BaseSpatialPattern)。首先 ,我们发现了由三联体BSP介导的一种 4与 2 0的关系 ,称为 4 -BSP -2 0关系。并推测 4 -BSP -2 0关系也许是某些DNA—蛋白质相互作用中的一种识别密码 ;第二 ,研究真核细胞转录调控中的DNA—蛋白质相互作用的实验数据表明 :某些DNA结合蛋白质对双螺旋核酸的专一性识别可能与BSP有关。并找到了 7组由其他生物学家公开发表的实验数据支持这一猜测 ;第三 ,研究了BSP的形式化描述问题 ,找到了一种基于等价类的BSP描述方法 ,并开发了相应的计算机处理算法。该描述方法简明且便于用计算机进行处理 ,更重要的是它提供了一种研究途径 ,可把BSP和 4 -BSP -2 0关系推广到单链DNA (ssDNA)和ssDNA -蛋白质相互作用的研究中 ,从而可进一步推广到RN     

Methods for extraction of microorganism DNA from glacier surface snow

In order to thoroughly investigate the diversity of glacier microorganisms, four DNA extraction methods with different lysis patterns were tested and two screened methods (the Bosshard-Bano method and the Zhou method) were optimized for the most effective form of the filter membrane (cut vs. uncut), the DNA extraction method, and the precipitation method. The two optimized methods were then compared with the commercial Mo-Bio DNA extraction kit, and the results showed that the kit was generally suitable for extraction of microorganism DNA from glacier surface snow. Procedurally, it was found that a modified Bosshard- Bano method (i.e., cutting the filter membrane into pieces, using a specific lysis pattern [lysozyme (5 mg/mL)-protease K (1 mg/mL)-CTAB (1%)-SDS (1%)], performing the extraction only once by chloroform-isoamyl alcohol (24:1), and conducting DNA precipitation by pure ethanol) was also an effective and less expensive method for extraction of microorganism DNA from glacier surface snow.     

洱海沉积物中有机质和DNA的分布特征

测定了洱海沉积物中有机碳、氮,提取了沉积物中的DNA。有机碳氮呈现相同的变化趋势降解主要发生在表层10cm;7cm前后氧化-还原条件变化,微生物电子受体改变,所以有机质的降解方式不同,出现不同的特征。利用分子生物学和地球化学相结合的方法,能更全面的认识和理解早期成岩过程。     

A Comparison of Growth Biomarkers for Assessing Sublethal Effects of Cadmium on a Marine Gastropod, Nassarius festivus

The effect of cadmium on the growth of an intertidal marine gastropod, Nassarius festivus, was investigated using a number of biomarkers namely conventional measurements in terms of increase in shell length or body weight, scope for growth (SfG) and RNA/DNA ratio. After eight days of cadmium exposure, the no observable effect concentration (NOEC) and lowest observable effect concentration (LOEC) for the rate of increase in wet weight were 1.00 and 1.38 mg/l, respectively, while those for shell length did not show any significant difference from the control until day 16. After 16 days of cadmium exposure, the LOEC for both shell length and wet weight measurements was 0.22 mg/l. The 8-day SfG test was sensitive to cadmium stress, showing a significant decrease at 0.16 mg/l cadmium when compared to the control. The NOEC and LOEC of RNA/DNA ratio determination were 0.52 and 0.93 mg/l, respectively. An assessment based on sensitivity and technical complexity suggests that Scope for Growth is the most sensitive growth biomarker, followed by the RNA/DNA ratio, and then the conventional growth measurement based on shell size and body weight.     

DNA tracers with information capacity and high detection sensitivity tested in groundwater studies

 In order to investigate the usefulness of unique synthetic DNA tracers in groundwater, a field experiment was conducted in Norway. DNA tracers and a sodium-chloride tracer were injected into an aquifer. The transport of DNA molecules was interpreted by comparing with the plume of chloride ions under forced-gradient steady-state flow conditions. Spatial concentration moments described the migration of conservative tracers. Mobility and migration of DNA in groundwater demonstrate that DNA tracers can be detected by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis. The results indicate that DNA tracers can be valuable tools as tracers in groundwater investigations. Received, June 1997 / Revised, July 1998, December 1998 / Accepted, January 1999     

基于环境DNA宏条形码技术的水体无脊椎动物多样性研究：以广州海珠湖为例

于2021年1月,利用环境DNA宏条形码（eDNA）技术,对广州海珠国家湿地公园海珠湖的水体和沉积物进行无脊椎动物多样性和群落结构调查,并比较了eDNA和传统形态学鉴定对浮游动物的检出能力。结果表明：eDNA检出海珠湖无脊椎动物9门16纲34目71科93属137个可操作分类单元（OTUs）;其中,水采样品中共检出9门50属68个OTUs,网采样品中共检出6门27属35个OTUs,沉积物休眠卵样品中共检出9门70属103个OTUs。水采和网采样品中,主要的无脊椎动物均为轮虫动物门和节肢动物门;沉积物中主要的无脊椎动物为环节动物门和节肢动物门。沉积物休眠卵OTU丰富度最高,水采样品的OTU丰富度高于网采样品。比较浮游动物的形态鉴定和eDNA鉴定,发现后者在属水平上能鉴定出更多的种类;形态学鉴定的桡足类（100%）和多数轮虫（58.82%）可被eDNA注释出,而eDNA注释出的多数桡足类（71.43%）和轮虫（58.82%）在形态学鉴定中未发现;eDNA未注释出枝角类。结果表明,eDNA在无脊椎动物调查中具有较高的应用潜力,与传统形态学鉴定组合应用能更全面地了解无脊椎动物的种类和水生生物多样...