Refractions through culture: the new genomics in Iceland

This paper explores the processes whereby complex scientific developments are rendered into locally intelligible idioms as part of strategies to incorporate a ‘public’ in decisions which may have profound implications in the longer term. We focus in particular on the recent developments in genetic technologies and take as our example the deCode biogenetic project in Iceland. We trace how the images and metaphors drawn upon by all sides of the debate created powerful resonances with Icelandic history and culture. We analyse these representations and the broader themes of ethnicity and nationalism which they invoke.     

2‐(Undecyloxy)‐ethanol is a major component of the male‐produced aggregation pheromone of Monochamus sutor

The small white‐marmorated longicorn beetle, Monochamus sutor (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is widely distributed throughout Europe and Asia. It is a potential vector of the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle, the causal agent of the devastating pine wilt disease. Volatiles were collected from both male and female beetles after maturation feeding. In analyses of these collections using gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry, a single male‐specific compound was detected and identified as 2‐(undecyloxy)‐ethanol. In analyses by GC coupled to electroantennography the only consistent responses from both female and male antennae were to this compound. Trapping tests were carried out in Spain, Sweden, and China. 2‐(Undecyloxy)‐ethanol was attractive to both male and female M. sutor beetles. A blend of the bark beetle pheromones ipsenol, ipsdienol, and 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol was also attractive to both sexes in Spain and Sweden, and further increased the attractiveness of the 2‐(undecyloxy)‐ethanol. The host plant volatiles α‐pinene, 3‐carene, and ethanol were weakly attractive, if at all, in all three countries and did not significantly increase the attractiveness of the blend of 2‐(undecyloxy)‐ethanol and bark beetle pheromones. 2‐(Undecyloxy)‐ethanol is thus proposed to be the major, if not only, component of the male‐produced aggregation pheromone of M. sutor, and its role is discussed. This compound has been reported as a pheromone of several other Monochamus species and is another example of the parsimony that seems to exist among the pheromones of many of the Cerambycidae. Traps baited with 2‐(undecyloxy)‐ethanol and bark beetle pheromones should be useful for monitoring and control of pine wilt disease, should M. sutor be proven to be a vector of the nematode.     

Pollen morphology in the genus Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae) and its systematic significance

Pollen grains of 30, mainly annual, species from 134 populations of the genus Veronica (Plantaginaceae, formerly Scrophulariaceae) from the Mediterranean Region, have been studied with light and scanning electron microscopy. Three pollen types are defined based on pollen size and exine surface sculpture. In some cases within the study group pollen size can be useful in species determination. Hypothetical relationships of pollen grain size and aperture number with ploidy level, style length and corolla diameter are discussed. The ornamentation of the exine in Veronica, although generally a conservative character within the genus, gives some additional support to the most recent infrageneric classification of Veronica.     

Importance of geochemical factors in determining distribution patterns of aquatic invertebrates in mountain streams south of the Atacama Desert, Chile

The ecology of macroinvertebrate communities in arid regions is still poorly understood. Here we examined how the community structure varied at spatial and temporal scales in streams and tributaries of the Huasco River in semi-arid region of Northern Chile. We expected that macroinvertebrate distribution may be responding to natural processes of mineralization described for Chilean semiarid basins. The relationships among biotic and abiotic variables were assessed through multivariate techniques (principal component analysis, non-metric multidimensional scaling, canonical correspondence analysis), and a two-way analysis of similarity was used to evaluate differences between basins and years (2007, 2008, and 2009). Significant differences in community structure and physical–chemical variables between basins (Del Carmen and Del Tránsito) were found, but not between years. Altitude, Mn, Al, Ca, Na, HCO₃, and dissolved oxygen were the variables that best accounted for the communities distribution. In particular, high metals concentration in El Transito basin should determine low density and diversity of macroinvertebrates. Chironomidae, Ephydridae, and Glossiphoniidae were associated to waters with high metals content and acidic pH, whereas Baetidae, Hydroptilidae, and Blephariceridae were associated to sites with more favorable physical–chemical conditions. These results contribute to understand the ecological patterns of macroinvertebrates in arid regions and should lead to conservation and monitoring plans for this remote place.     

Novel symmetrical ureas as modulators of protein arginine methyl transferases

Methylation of histone arginine residues is an epigenetic mark related to gene expression that is implicated in a variety of biological processes and can be reversed by small-molecule modulators of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). A series of symmetrical ureas, designed as analogues of the known PRMT1 inhibitor AMI-1 have been synthesized using Pd-catalyzed Ar–N amide bond formation processes or carbonylation reactions as key steps. Their inhibitory profile has been characterized. The enzymatic assays showed a weak effect on PRMT1 and PRMT5 activity for most of the compounds. The acyclic urea that exhibited the strongest effect on the inhibition of the PRMT1 activity also showed the greatest effect on the expression of some androgen receptor target genes (TMPRSS2 and FKBP5), which may be related with its enzymatic activity. Surprisingly, AMI-1 behaved as an activator of PRMT5 activity, a result not reported so far.     

Introduction of sheep meat breeds in extensive systems: Lamb carcass characteristics

Genotype effects on lamb carcass traits were investigated in a 4-year study aimed at assessing potential benefits from introducing meat breeds into the wool-oriented extensive sheep systems of northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. Five ram [Corriedale: CO; Border Leicester: BL; Île de France: IF; Texel: TX; and synthetic CRIII (25% Merino, 37.5% IF, 37.5% TX)] and 5 dam (CO; synthetic CRIII; BLCO: BL × CO; IFCO: IF × CO; and TXCO: TX × CO) genotypes were represented in the study. Data were collected from 436 male lambs of 9 genotypes (CO × CO, BL × CO, IF × CO, TX × CO, CRIII × CO, CRIII × BLCO, CRIII × IFCO, CRIII × TXCO, and CRIII × CRIII). Hot carcass weights and dressing yields were determined after slaughtering. Carcasses were given conformation and subcutaneous fat scores using the EUROP system [scale varying from E (best) to P (poorest) for conformation, and from 1 (lean) to 5 (overfat) for subcutaneous fat]. Linear measurements of carcass length and width were recorded and carcass compactness indices were calculated from those. Purebred CO acted as a standard for comparisons. On a constant liveweight basis, genotypes CRIII × IFCO and CRIII × CRIII presented higher (P < 0.05) carcass weight and dressing yield than CO × CO and BL × CO. Crossbred and synthetic genotypes showed higher (P < 0.05) carcass width than CO × CO. With the exception of BL × CO the remaining genotypes showed higher (P < 0.05) carcass width/length ratio than CO × CO. The probability that carcasses of crossbred and synthetic lambs presented better conformation than CO × CO was higher than 84%. Carcasses of CRIII × IFCO lambs were given the best conformation scores. The probability that BL × CO carcasses presented higher subcutaneous fat than the remaining genotypes exceeded 79%. Our results indicate significant improvements in carcass conformation arising from crossing. Sheep farmers in extensive systems could take advantage of the higher fatness of BL crossbred lambs to produce light carcasses with adequate fat cover, a crucial industry requirement. Terminal crossbreeding with Île de France, Texel, and CRIII rams could be implemented to improve carcass conformation thus matching market demand for heavy carcasses with limited fat content. Second cross schemes did not improve carcass commercial traits over the best terminal cross or the synthetic CRIII breed.     

Microplates as a microreactor platform for microalgae research

High‐throughput platforms for microalgae screening are not yet commercially available. In this study, the feasibility of 96‐well microplates was analyzed for microalgae research. Equivalence among wells, as culture microreactors, was investigated in controlled high CO₂ conditions. Specific growth rates of two microalgae species, Scenedesmus sp. UTEX1589 and an environmental isolate, were significantly higher in border wells than in internal positions. Furthermore, growth rate gradients analyzed as contours throughout the platform were observed for Scenedesmus sp. However, the output variable exhibited high precision associated with a low coefficient of variation (CV), between 6.8 and 7.8%. In a demonstrative experiment to determine the effect of culture media dilution on six microalgae species, treatments were randomized in the central subset of a microplate. Results were consistent and statistically sound (CV 9.4–12.9%), and showed that microalgae species could grow with no detrimental effect in 50% (v/v) dilution of the culture medium. Provided border wells exclusion and a randomized design, 96‐well microplates are a practical and statistical robust platform for microalgae research. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:638–644, 2013     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass from wood

Current research and development in cellulosic ethanol production has been focused mainly on agricultural residues and dedicated energy crops such as corn stover and switchgrass; however, woody biomass remains a very important feedstock for ethanol production. The precise composition of hemicellulose in the wood is strongly dependent on the plant species, therefore different types of enzymes are needed based on hemicellulose complexity and type of pretreatment. In general, hardwood species have much lower recalcitrance to enzymes than softwood. For hardwood, xylanases, beta‐xylosidases and xyloglucanases are the main hemicellulases involved in degradation of the hemicellulose backbone, while for softwood the effect of mannanases and beta‐mannosidases is more relevant. Furthermore, there are different key accessory enzymes involved in removing the hemicellulosic fraction and increasing accessibility of cellulases to the cellulose fibres improving the hydrolysis process. A diversity of enzymatic cocktails has been tested using from low to high densities of biomass (2–20% total solids) and a broad range of results has been obtained. The performance of recently developed commercial cocktails on hardwoods and softwoods will enable a further step for the commercialization of fuel ethanol from wood.