Genetic techniques for livestock breeding: Restructuring institutional relationships in agriculture

This paper explores some of the key institutional transformations in livestock breeding associated with the increasing significance of genetic techniques, situating this within an assessment of an emerging agricultural bioeconomy. Focusing on beef cattle and sheep breeding in the United Kingdom, the paper examines how a move towards the involvement of international and corporate interests in livestock breeding is restructuring the network of institutional interests affecting the knowledge and decision making of individual breeders. The paper suggests that the structural transformation of beef cattle and sheep breeding is complicated by the need for negotiation between breeders’ ‘traditional’ knowledge-practices and the ‘geneticised’ techniques being made available to them. We are thus seeing the emergence of new and complex interactions between the major actors which are reconfiguring power relationships in the UK livestock breeding sector.     

脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)3 个野生群体mtDNA 16S rRNA 序列差异及长臂虾科系统进化关系

采用PCR扩增和序列测定等技术,对脊尾白虾3个野生群体共计58个个体的线粒体16SrRNA基因片段进行初步研究。结果表明,在获得的长度为509bp核苷酸序列中,共检测到7个变异位点、8种单倍型,除象山湾群体外其它两个群体遗传多样性水平都较低。AMOVA分析表明,象山湾与莱州湾群体有显著的遗传差异,其余群体间的遗传差异不显著。另外,将本研究所得序列与GenBank中长臂虾科11个种的16SrRNA基因片段序列进行比较后,发现其聚类关系与传统分类略有不同,并依据16SrRNA序列变异百分比推测了长臂虾科12个种的大致分化时间。     

秦安葫芦河基性火山岩特征及其成因

葫芦河基性火山岩以钙碱性玄武岩系列为主,少部分属拉斑系列;稀土总量高,属轻稀土富集型,无明显Eu异常,微量元素经N-MORB标准化,其曲线具明显"三隆起"形式,表现为Sr、Ba、K、Rb、Th等大离子亲石元素的强烈富集及Nb、Zr、Hf的亏损,岩浆来自富集地幔源区;该火山岩系形成于近弧的弧后扩张背景下的有限微洋盆环境,葫芦河基性火山岩构成该微洋盆型蛇绿岩上部岩石单元。     

THE GENETIC DIVERSITY AND PHYLOGENETICANALYS OF ITS1 IN MITOCHONDRIAL DNA OF FOUR POPULATIONS OF PORTUNUS TRITUBERCULATUS

对我国沿海4个野生群体三疣梭子蟹的核糖体RNA转录单元内间隔区ITS1基因片段进行克隆和测序,获得长度为515—571bp的ITS1核苷酸序列,在4个群体的三疣梭子蟹中共检测到变异位点56个,多态位点比例为9．5％,其中简约信息位点25个,共检测到40种单倍型。通过统计单倍型多态性、平均核苷酸差异数和核苷酸多样性指数,结果显示：舟山群体多样性指数最高,其次是鸭绿江口群体和海洲湾群体,莱州湾群体最低。在三疣梭子蟹ITSl序列中共发现5种微卫星位点,AMOVA分析结果显示4个群体间的遗传差异显著。另外,将本研究所得序列结合GenBank数据库中十足目12种蟹ITSl序列构建系统进化树,系统树显示同属的不同种各自聚支,与形态学分类吻合。     

DNA-based identification methods of prey fish from stomach contents of 12 species of eastern North Pacific groundfish

Stomach content analysis of eastern North Pacific groundfish has been conducted routinely by researchers interested in understanding trophic interactions between key predator species and their prey. Identification of prey by traditional morphological methods has limitations however, due to the loss of identifiable characters from digestion and morphological similarities between taxa. Furthermore, some forage fish (e.g., osmerids, ammodytids, and juvenile gadids), common prey of Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska groundfish, are difficult to distinguish because of their slender or fusiform shape, disarticulating easily during digestion. DNA-based identification methods were developed to differentiate among 18 fish species, some that are found at depths greater than 200 m, from four taxonomic families: Ammodytidae and Osmeridae (forage fish), Pleuronectidae (flatfish), and Gadidae (gadid fish). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a 739 basepair section of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase I and an 862 basepair section of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b was followed by restriction digest assays and resulted in species level resolution for 16 of 18 species of interest. PCR restriction digest assays applied to fish prey from stomach contents of groundfish indicated the presence of several target species, eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus), walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), searcher (Bathymaster signatus), rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata), yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera) and either Bering flounder (Hippoglossoides robustus) or flathead sole (H. elassodon). The PCR restriction digest protocols improved the identification rate of predated fish from stomach contents compared to identification by conventional taxonomic methods alone, and DNA sequence analysis further resolved identification of unknown prey fish samples.     

Genetic variation in Avicennia marina in three estuaries of Sydney (Australia) and implications for rehabilitation and management

In order to ensure conservation of mangroves, genetic diversity in remaining populations must be explored. Both morphological and isozyme analyses were used and compared in investigating the intra- and inter-estuarine variation in Avicennia marina in Sydney, the most urbanised area in Australia. Sediment characteristics, metal levels, tree attributes, leaf morphology and isozyme/allozyme analyses were conducted. Tree characteristics did not prove to be adequate genetic markers, but leaf morphology may be of use in this species. Isozyme/allozyme analyses indicated that genetic distance corresponded with geographic distance, although habitat metal levels may indicate local selection pressures. High levels of heterozygote deficiencies were displayed in each estuary, which could threaten future viability. The results hold implications for management as periodic isozyme analysis may be useful in indicating management needs. The identification of metal-tolerant types may also be useful. Transplantation among estuaries may assist in increasing genetic diversity, if considered desirable. Whatever the management aims, isozyme/allozyme analyses are shown to be useful for revealing genetic diversity in this species.     

三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)4个野生群体ITS1序列分析及系统进化分析

对我国沿海4个野生群体三疣梭子蟹的核糖体RNA转录单元内间隔区ITS1基因片段进行克隆和测序,获得长度为515—571bp的ITS1核苷酸序列,在4个群体的三疣梭子蟹中共检测到变异位点56个,多态位点比例为9.5%,其中简约信息位点25个,共检测到40种单倍型。通过统计单倍型多态性、平均核苷酸差异数和核苷酸多样性指数,结果显示:舟山群体多样性指数最高,其次是鸭绿江口群体和海洲湾群体,莱州湾群体最低。在三疣梭子蟹ITS1序列中共发现5种微卫星位点,AMOVA分析结果显示4个群体间的遗传差异显著。另外,将本研究所得序列结合GenBank数据库中十足目12种蟹ITS1序列构建系统进化树,系统树显示同属的不同种各自聚支,与形态学分类吻合。     

汉族女性妊娠期高血压疾病的流行病学及发病机制研究

目的 探讨汉族女性妊娠期高血压疾病的流行病学及发病机制研究。方法 选取笔者医院10年内妊娠期高血压疾病患者689例,作为病例组,选取689例正常妊娠的女性作为对照组,采用多中心、大规模、随机队列研究方法分析汉族女性妊娠期高血压疾病患者（病例组）和对照组的资料,并通过电话随访对家属进行固定问卷式问题,对对象的年龄、孕前体重指数、孕次、产次、流产次数、孕中期平均动脉压、子痫前期史、糖尿病或肾脏疾病史、多胎妊娠等相关因素进行分析,并进行Logistic回归分析;对两组研究对象的ACE基因和AT1R基因水平、Th1/Th2比值、胎盘生长因子（PLGF）、活性氧（ROS）水平和脂质过氧化物（LPO）,分析汉族女性妊娠期高血压疾病的发病与免疫学、遗传学、氧化应激的关系。结果 年龄>35岁的初产女性、过高或过低的孕前体重指数、孕中期平均动脉压高、流产次数高、具有子痫前期史、糖尿病或肾脏疾病史、多胎妊娠的女性是导致汉族女性妊娠期高血压疾病的主要单因素（P<0.05）;多因素分析年龄>35岁的初产女性、过高或过低的孕前体重指数、孕中期平均动脉压高、具有子痫前期史、糖尿病或肾脏疾病史、多胎妊娠是导致汉族女性妊娠期高血压疾病的危险因素（P<0.05）;病例组的ACE基因和AT1R基因、Th1/Th2比值、PLGF、ROS和LPO与对照组差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 汉族女性妊娠期高血压疾病的发病与免疫学、遗传学、胎盘或滋养细胞缺血、氧化应激中的相关指标有关,而且>35岁的初产女性、过高或过低的孕前体重指数、孕中期平均动脉压高、具有子痫前期史、糖尿病或肾脏疾病史、多胎妊娠是导致汉族女性妊娠期高血压疾病的危险因素。     

Plant responses to global change: next generation biogeography

Global change has become a major ecological concern that has the potential to dramatically alter plant distributions and assemblages worldwide. The specific response of plants to global change will depend on their ability to move, evolve, or adjust through phenotypic plasticity. Advances in biogeographic research are on the verge of a giant leap forward if we can take advantage of emerging tools in genetics and genomics. In this review, we appraise how new, post-Sanger, high-throughput sequencing and associated technologies can be used by next generation biogeographers to assess plant responses to global change. First, we briefly review the recent advances in genome sequencing and available approaches of genomic analysis. Secondly, we discuss the three main plant responses to global change: migration, adaptation, and phenotypic plasticity. This review is intended to spark the interest of biogeographers who do not traditionally use genetics but could benefit from including genetic and genomic tools into their research. Our goal is to illustrate that their use can contribute to new perspective and add an additional level of resolution into future biogeographic research.     

Using genetic techniques to investigate the sources of the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia in three new locations in Australia

The invasive green alga Caulerpa taxifolia has gained a high profile due to 'outbreaks' in the Mediterranean and California. During the year 2000 three new discrete locations colonised by abundant C. taxifolia were discovered in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA was used to explore the source(s) of these new records, which is an important prerequisite for subsequent environmental management responses. Our results indicate that the NSW C. taxifolia originated from several sources and, hence, through different invasion events. For two of the new records (Port Hacking, Careel Bay) it can be excluded that they are derived from the so-called "aquarium strain" of C. taxifolia, closely related to the invasive Mediterranean populations. Port Hacking is likely to have originated from tropical native populations. However, samples from Lake Conjola cannot be sufficiently distinguished with the applied technique from native C. taxifolia in Moreton Bay and the Mediterranean/"aquarium strain".