Statistical techniques for detection of major genes in animal breeding data

Summary Statistical techniques for detection of major loci and for making inferences about major locus parameters such as genotypic frequencies, effects and gene action from field-collected data are presented. In field data, major genotypic effects are likely to be masked by a large number of environmental differences in addition to additive and nonadditive polygenic effects. A graphical technique and a procedure for discriminating among genetic hypotheses based on a mixed model accounting for all these factors are proposed. The methods are illustrated by using simulated data.Journal Paper No. J-12733 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 1901     

用核酸斑点杂交法比较油桐尺蠖核型多角体病毒与某些昆虫杆状病毒的同源性

有关核型多角体病毒基因同源性的研究报道不多,结果也不甚一致。目前,国内外普遍用SDS-PAGE法分析昆虫杆状病毒结构多肽,以限制性内切酶谱法测定基因组大小,借此区分来自不同宿主的病毒株,和基因组密切相关     

Long-term vegetation change in the Juncus squarrosus grassland at Moor House,northern England

Data from the long-term experiment on sheep grazing versus zero sheep grazing (i.e. in an enclosure) on the composition of the Juncus squarrosus grassland at the Moor House NNR are presented. The data have been analysed to assess change in (1) the abundance of individual species, (2) higher plant and bryophyte communities, and (3) vegetation structure. The higher plant data suggested that both the enclosed-and grazed plots were changing in the same direction, but the enclosed plot was moving much faster. The general tendency was towards a blanket bog vegetation dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum and Calluna vulgaris. Juncus squarrosus has declined very quickly in the enclosed plot, but there has also been a slower decline in the grazed one. A significant increase in Calluna vulgaris has occurred only in the enclosed plot. In contrast, the bryophyte data showed completely different successional trajectories in the two treatment plots.The vegetation structure changed markedly after release from grazing, with a decrease in phytomass, but increase in necromass in the lowest height strata. There was no noticeable change in structure over the 18 year period in the grazed plot.Particular problems found in this study were that some species either fluctuated widely in response, or changed in a curvilinear manner.     

The effect of fluctuations in tidal inundation frequency on a salt-marsh vegetation

Over a period of 15 years recordings were made of the species cover in permanent plots on the salt marsh of one of the West Frisian Islands, Schiermonnikoog (The Netherlands). Correlations between annual changes in the cover of the major species, and fluctuations in the monthly frequency of inundation by seawater were studied. First, a spectral analysis was carried out on the inundation frequency data to look for predictable patterns. Subsequently, fluctuations were defined as deviations from these predictable patterns. In a repeated multiple regression model, the effects of the season in which the fluctuations occurred, and the elevational position of the plots on the salt marsh were studied as factors influencing the correlation patterns. The behaviour of various species is discussed in relation to their seed bank characteristics and their salt tolerance.     

Isolation and Sequencing of a Genomic Clone for Mouse Brain Specific Small RNA

We isolated a mouse genomic clone that hybridized with small RNA present in the cytoplasm of the brain. The RNA was about 150 nucleotides long. This RNA seemed to be specific to the brain, since it was not found in the liver or kidney. The clone DNA contained a sequence homologous to 82-nucleotide "identifier" core sequence of cDNA clones of rat. The sequence contained a split promoter for RNA polymerase III and was flanked by a 12-nucleotide direct repeat (ATAAATAATTTA).     

Irreversibility of the interaction of human growth hormone with its receptor and analysis of irreversible reactions in radioreceptor assays—Theoretical considerations

Kinetic studies of the binding and dissociation of [¹²⁵I]-human growth hormone to rabbit liver and mammary gland membrane receptors have showed that the binding of [¹²⁵I]-human growth hormone was largely irreversible to liver membrane receptors and completely to the solubilised mammary gland receptor. As Scatchard analysis assumes complete reversibility of the hormone-receptor interaction the validity of estimates of affinity and capacity of receptors derived by this analysis may be questionable. Theoretical considerations show that in unimolecular irreversible interactions of hormone and receptor, a nonlinear (concave) or a linear Scatchard plot can be obtained. In linear Scatchard plots the capacity of the receptor obtained by extrapolation represents an overestimation of true capacity. This overestimation correlates with the value of the intercept in the Scatchard plot.     

Ordination of vegetation change in Guadalupe Mountains,New Mexico,USA

Vegetation change over a nine-year period was studied in Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico. Permanent transects in desert shrub vegetation were sampled in 1972 and 1980. Emphasis was given to shrubs because of their importance to big game diets. Univariate paired t-tests and reciprocal averaging ordination were used to detect and display coordinated changes in species composition over time. Despite apparently less browsing pressure in desert shrub vegetation in 1980 there were few significant changes in species composition. In addition, preferred forage species showed reduced reproduction while species of intermediate and poor forage value dis-played increased reproduction during this time. These data do not support traditional rangeland succession theory which states that enhanced reproduction of preferred species should follow grazing or browsing pressure reduction.     

Dispersion and Distribution of Pratylenchus scribneri and Hoplolaimus galeatus in Soybean Fields

Examination of dispersional characteristics of Pratylenchus scribneri and Hoplolaimus galeatus indicated that there were patches within soybean fields in which both survival and reproduction wexe enhanced in spite of apparent homogeneity of soil type and topography. Treatment with carbofuran reduced the patchiness (or increased the dispersion) for H. galeatus while it had the opposite effect for P. scribneri. P. scribneri was less highly dispersed in conventional tillage plots than in the zero tillage plots. Populations from quadrats contained entirely within the patches could be described by the normal distribution (in the case of P. scribneri) or by the Poisson distribution (in the case of H. galeatus), while populations from quadrats contained entirely outside the patches could be described by the Poisson distribution for both nematodes. None of the distributions tested (Poisson, normal, negative binomial, Neyman''s) gave an adequate fit when populations from both inside and outside the patches were considered together. In all instances, log₁₀ and ln transformations reduced the goodness of fit of the data to all of the distributions tested. Even with logarithmic transformations, parametric statistics were not appropriate for analysis of data in most instances.     

生物素标记寡核苷酸探针探测扩增的病理性突变珠蛋白基因

用末端转移酶催化生物素核苷酸底物(Biotin-ll-dUTP)共价连接在合成的寡核苷酸3’羟基末端,从而合成了两种寡核苷酸探针(β~T_(41-42)及β~A_(41-42))。用它们分别与克隆化扩增的正常和突变的β—珠蛋白基因片段杂变。结果表明该探针都具有与~(32)P探针相似的特异性,其杂交的灵敏度为2—3pg(特异序列)。进而将探测HbS基因的正常和异常两种寡核苷酸19聚体(β~A_6和β~S_6)用~(32)P和生物素分别标记;将HbS杂合子病人的白细胞DNA经聚合酶链反应(PCR)法扩增,并以含正常β—珠蛋白基因的DNA片段作对照,与两种探针分别进行斑点杂交。所得结果完全一致;Hbs杂合子DNA对正常和异常探针都显出杂交信号,而正常DNA只与β~A探针显杂交信号。