蝗虫染色体分带技术的研究

本文对采自长沙岳麓山的中华稻蝗〔Oxya chinensis (Thunberg)〕和采自杭州的小稻蝗〔Oxya hyla intricata (Stal) 〕进行了染色体C带、R带、N带和A带的处理研究。结果表明,C带显示结构异染色质,其位置在不同分裂相中较为稳定;R带即G带的反带,带纹较C带丰富,在粗线期最为明显,本文观察到不同的温育条件可影响R带产生的效果;N带和Ag带可相互参照比较,从而为NOR的准确定位提供依据;A带即荧光带,本文对其显带程序作了一定的改进。 Abstract:In this paperOxya chinensis (Thunberg) collected from the Yuelu Mountains in Changsha, Hunan Province andOxya hyla intricata (Stal) collected from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province were analysed by chromosomal C-banding、R-banding、N-banding、Ag-banding and A-banding. The results showed that the constitutive heterochromatin was stained in C-banding, and it relatively stable; R-banding was the reverse of G-banding, its bands were relatively obvious at the pachytene and abundent, it may be because of the selective extracts that cause the bands evident, the different effects were surveyed under the various incubation conditions; Both N-banding and Ag-banding can stain the nucleolar organizer and the two were compared in this paper; The A-banding was a little improved in the light of the banding process.     

接穗郁李影响杏砧变异的实验

陕西省咸阳市渭城中学范盛尧老师通过芽接实验, 使接穗郁李影响杏砧。经过一定时间的生理变化, 先营养器官, 后生殖器官, 使杏砧蘖生植株呈现出郁李性状。作者的本意是希望通过本刊寻求对这些现象的科学解释。现发表此文, 以引起学者的关注。本刊愿作生物教师的朋友, 欢迎大家就生物遗传的教学及科研等问题踊跃供稿; 广大读者对本文如有不同见解, 欢迎参加讨论。     

烟草数量性状遗传距离与杂种优势关系的研究

利用8个数量性状计算了主成分遗传距离,对15个烟草品种进行了聚类,在4.37的阀值下可将15个亲本分为5大类,分类结果与品种地理来源无必然的联系,而与品种的血缘关系有一定的联系,可将烤烟和晒晾烟分开,在一定程度上反映了品种的遗传差异。F1产量杂种优势指数(F1/MP）与亲本间遗传距离（D2）相关系数不显著,二者呈抛物线关系。在D2<5.63的范围内,二者呈一直线关系,二者相关系数为0.511**,达极显著水平,在此范围内随D2增大,优势指数增大,杂种优势增大,当D2>5.63时,亲本间D2增大,优势指数呈下降趋势。建议在杂种优势利用中选择遗传距离中等偏小的品种做亲本。 Abstract:Fifteen tobacco parental cultivars of 24 hybrids were classified into five groups on 4.37 clustering level by the genetic distance calculated on 8 agronomic quantitative characters. The relative cultivars were clustered into the same group. The result of correlation analysis showed that there was a parabola relationship between genetic distance (D2)and yield heterosis (F1/Mp). WhenD2<5.63, the correlative coefficient was significant(r=0.511**), and the heterosis increased with the increasing of genetic distance. When D2>5.63, the heterosis decreased with the increasing of genetic distance. Therefore, in order to obtain higher heterosis of yield in tobacco, it might be better to choose cultivars with small to medium genetic distance as crossing parents.     

鲤鱼(Cyprinus carpio)生长激素基因克隆及原核表达

采用逆转录—聚合酶链式反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）方法,从鲤鱼脑垂体总ＲＮＡ中扩增出编码鲤鱼生长激素（ＧＨ）成熟肽基因序列．定向克隆至质粒ｐＵＣ１８,克隆的鲤鱼ＧＨｃＤＮＡ不含信号肽序列并以新的起始密码子ＡＴＧ取代鲤鱼ＧＨｃＤＮＡ第１个密码子ＴＣＡ．序列分析表明,与Ｋｏｒｅｎ报道的鲤鱼ＧＨｃＤＮＡ相比有两个碱基差异,但推断的氨基酸序列完全一致．将鲤鱼ＧＨｃＤＮＡ定向克隆至原核表达载体ｐＢＶ２２０,构建成重组鲤鱼ＧＨ基因表达载体ｐＢＶｃＧＨ８．ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和薄层扫描分析表明：经４２℃诱导,ｐＢＶｃＧＨ８在大肠杆菌中可表达一分子量约２２０００的特异蛋白,表达量占细胞总蛋白的２９．２％．该基因重组的鲤鱼ＧＨ添加到饲料中投喂罗非鱼,证实有明显的促进生长作用     

Influence of host cultivars and Rhizobium species on the growth and symbiotic performance of Phaseolus vulgaris under salt stress

In order to study the effect of salt stress on the Rhizobium-common bean symbiosis, we investigated the response of both partners, separately and in symbiosis. The comparison of the behaviour of five cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris differing in seed colour, growing on nitrates and different concentrations of NaCl, showed genotypic variation with respect to salt tolerance. Coco Blanc was the most sensitive cultivar, whereas SMV 29-21 was the most tolerant one. At the Rhizobium level, two strains previously selected for their salt tolerance were used: Rhizobium tropici strain RP163 and Rhizobium giardinii strain RP161. Their relative growth was moderately decreased at 250mM NaCl, but they were able to grow at a low rate in the presence of 342 mM NaCl. Their viability at the minimal inhibitory concentration was slightly affected. The effect of salinity on Rhizobium-plant association was studied by using the tolerant variety SMV 29-21 and the sensitive one Coco Blanc inoculated separately with both strains. In the absence of salinity, the strains induced a significantly higher number of nodules on the roots of the cultivar SMV 29-21 compared to those of Coco Blanc. Concerning effectiveness, both strains were similarly effective with SMV 29-21, but not with Coco Blanc. In the presence of salinity, Coco Blanc was more severely affected when associated with RP163 than with RP161. Salinity affected the nodulation development more than it affected the infection steps. Neither of the two strains was able to nodulate SMV 29-21 under saline conditions, in spite of the fact that this was considered the most salt-tolerant variety. The unsuccessful nodulation of SMV 29-21 could be related to the inhibition by salt of one or more steps of the early events of the infection process. In conclusion, N-fixing plants were found to be more sensitive to salt stress than those depending on mineral nitrogen. Evidence presented here suggests that a best symbiotic N2 fixation under salinity conditions could be achieved if both symbiotic partners, as well as the different steps of their interaction (early events, nodule formation, activity, etc.), are all tolerant to this stress.     

Behavioral and cardiophysiological responses of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to social and environmental changes

Under captive conditions common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) show socially monogamous propensities. Male and female form a social bond as characterized by signs of behavioral arousal during separation of the pairmates, high levels of affiliative interactions between pairmates and agonistic responses towards strange conspecifics. In the present study behavioral and cardiophysiological responses of mated individuals of common marmosets were recorded while the animals were in an unfamiliar environment (1) alone, (2) with the pairmate, or (3) with an opposite-sexed stranger. Pairmates of 6 established pairs were tested in 3 replicates yielding a total of 36 trials per experiment. A trial was divided into three 10-min segments (baseline; unfamiliar environment; reunion). Behavioral responses were videotaped with a remote controlled camera system installed within the cage. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) as well as locomotor activity (ACT) were recorded telemtrically through peritoneally implanted transmitters. The individuals’ responses measured while in an unfamiliar environment was only reduced by the pairmate, but not by an opposite-sexed stranger. No affiliative behaviors occurred between strange conspecifics, whereas aggressive and sexual behaviors were observed. During reunion with the pairmate individuals recovered physiologically. The present study shows that an individualized pair bond exists between pairmates of common marmosets. Further, it becomes evident that establishing a social bond with the pairmate is important for maintaining physiological homeostasis.     

Enzymatic degradation of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) by mucosal homogenates from the intestine of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

The peptidolytic activity of fresh and frozen mucosal homogenates from five regions (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon) of possum intestine from Trichosurus vulpecula towards human Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) was investigated. The rank of order of specific peptidolytic activity of the mucosal homogenates was jejunum > ileum > caecum> duodenum = colon, with a 3 to 4 fold difference between the least and the most active segment in both frozen and fresh samples. The formation of peptides LHRH (1-3), LHRH (1-4) and LHRH (1-5) suggest endopepetidase-24.18, endopeptidase-24.15 and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) might be responsible for the peptide degradation in mucosal homogenates. The inhibition of LHRH degradation by mucosal homogenates was evaluated in four regions (jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon) of possum intestine. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, 5 mM), sodium deoxycholate (SDA, 10 mM) and bacitracin (3.5 or 9 mM) inhibited the degradation of LHRH in mucosal homogenates from small intestine and hindgut. However, the serine protease inhibitor, soybean trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor (SBTI), did not prevent degradation of LHRH. It is concluded that combining peptides with inhibitors may enhance oral delivery of bioactive peptides or proteins to possums.     

Lutein-based plumage coloration in songbirds is a consequence of selective pigment incorporation into feathers

Many birds obtain colorful carotenoid pigments from the diet and deposit them into growing tissues to develop extravagant red, orange or yellow sexual ornaments. In these instances, it is often unclear whether all dietary pigments are used as integumentary colorants or whether certain carotenoids are preferentially excluded or incorporated into tissues. We examined the carotenoid profiles of three New World passerines that display yellow plumage coloration—the yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia), common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) and evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus). Using high-performance liquid chromatography, we found that all species used only one carotenoid—lutein—to color their plumage yellow. Analyses of blood carotenoids (which document those pigments taken up from the diet) in two of the species, however, revealed the presence of two dietary xanthophylls—lutein and zeaxanthin—that commonly co-occur in plants and animals. These findings demonstrate post-absorptive selectivity of carotenoid deposition in bird feathers. To learn more about the site of pigment discrimination, we also analyzed the carotenoid composition of lipid fractions from the follicles of immature yellow-pigmented feathers in G. trichas and D. petechia and again detected both lutein and zeaxanthin. This suggests that selective lutein incorporation in feathers is under local control at the maturing feather follicle.     

Immunobiotics and the probiotic evolution

The term 'probiotic' was coined by the food industry to describe microbes beneficial to health. Scientific criticism based on poorly characterised isolates, soft clinical targets, and an absence of a mechanistic framework limited value of this concept. Current clinical and animal model studies support a role for certain 'probiotics', activating the common mucosal system through the stimulation of gut antigen-presenting cells to both promote protection and to switch regulatory mechanisms. It is concluded that a new term is required to identify bacteria that promote health through driving mucosal immune mechanisms, compared to those with strictly local effects. The term 'immunobiotics' is suggested as appropriate to fulfil this need.