Strategic analysis in evolutionary genetics and the theory of games

This paper is written in memory of John Maynard Smith. In a brief survey it discusses essential aspects of how game theory in biology relates to its counterpart in economics, the major transition in game theory initiated by Maynard Smith, the discrepancies between genetic and phenotypic models in evolutionary biology, and a balanced way of reconciling these models. In addition, the paper discusses modern problems in understanding games at the genetic level using the examples of conflict between endosymbionts and their hosts, and the molecular interactions between parasites and the mammalian immune system.     

Statistics for disinterested scientists.

This paper presents a brief introduction to some basic statistical tools and techniques with examples applied to biological data. Perhaps after becoming more familiar with statistics and more appreciative of their power in extracting information from data the previously fearful and skeptical researcher may be more inclined to make them an integral part of his research technique and also include them in his publications. For problems of greater difficulty, consultation at the early stages, preferably before undertaking the project, with a good biostatistician is suggested.     

A biological assessment of Apophua simplicipes (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) as a parasitoid of the oblique banded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Apophua simplicipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is a common parasitoid of the oblique banded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in organically managed apple orchards in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. The biological characteristics of a laboratory colony of A. simplicipes were studied. When held at 15 and 25°C and provided with honey water, individual females survived an average of 60.6±6.1 and 29.8±4.7 days, oviposited 196.7±50.7 and 326.6±51.3 eggs and parasitized a total of 163.4±40.4 and 229.4±35.8 hosts, respectively. Females oviposited into first through fourth instar oblique banded leafrollers, with significantly more parasitism occurring in the first two instars compared to the third and fourth instars. No parasitoid larvae survived past the first larval stage in parasitized fourth instar hosts. Apophua simplicipes did not parasitize larvae of three-lined leafroller, Pandemis limitata (Robinson) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) which is sympatric with oblique banded leafrollers in orchards in the southern interior of British Columbia. Female predation and host feeding from wounds on early instars of both leafroller species was observed under laboratory conditions. In addition, early instar hosts exited diet feeding sites in response to the probing activity of the ovipositing wasps. A similar escape reaction in the orchard may cause a leafroller larva to move away from its feeding site, making it more vulnerable to predation or movement off the tree. Apophua simplicipes larvae emerged from fifth and sixth instar hosts. Parasitized oblique banded leafroller hosts consumed significantly less meridic diet than unparasitized female larvae from fifth instar through to parasitoid emergence or leafroller pupation. Our laboratory results suggest that A. simplicipes may reduce field populations of oblique banded leafroller and decrease pest feeding damage.     

John Kendrew and myoglobin: Protein structure determination in the 1950s

The essay reviews John Kendrew's pioneering work on the structure of myoglobin for which he shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1962. It reconstructs the status of protein X‐ray crystallography at the time Kendrew entered the field in 1945, after distinctive service in operational research during the war. It reflects on the choice of sperm whale myoglobin as research material. In particular, it highlights Kendrew's early use of digital electronic computers for crystallographic computations and the marshaling of other tools and approaches that made it possible to solve the structure at increasing resolution. The essay further discusses the role of models in structure resolution and their broader reception. It ends by briefly reviewing Kendrew's other contributions in the formation and institutionalization of molecular biology.     

The control of the anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes in embryonic chick limbs constructed of dissociated and reaggregated limb-bud mesoderm

In the 3- to 4-day embryonic avian limb bud, a unique zone of mesodermal tissue is located posteriorly at the junction of bud and body wall. Appropriately grafted to a host limb bud, it induces the formation of a supernumerary limb outgrowth from preaxial tissue and determines that its posterior side will face the graft. It is called the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA).When limb-bud mesoderm is isolated, dissociated, reaggregated centrifugally, jacketed in the mesoderm-free hull of another limb bud, and grown as a graft on a host embryo, the recombinant frequently forms a limb-like structure terminating in digits that fail to show differentiation with respect to the anteroposterior axis. When, however, a bit of ZPA tissue is implanted in the recombinant subjacent to the anterior or posterior margin of the ectoderm, the resulting outgrowth shows a characteristic anteroposterior order of digits that corresponds to the placement of the implant, regardless of its relationship with the anteroposterior axis of the ectoderm or of the host embryo.Dorsoventral differentials have been recognized only in limbs formed from reaggregated leg-bud mesoderm. The direction of the dorsoventral axis always corresponds to the original axis of the ectodermal jacket regardless of the orientation of the recombinant on the host.     

Actions of morphine on prostate gland fructose metabolism

Varying doses of morphine sulfate (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg daily × 10) were observed to suppress metabolic activities in the mouse prostate gland. Prostate gland fructose, an index of androgenic activity, was significantly reduced by these dose regimes of morphine (P < 0.01). Injections of morphine sulfate (20 mg/kg daily × 10) led to an inhibitition in the $\text{in vitro}$ synthesis of both fructose^?14C and sorbitol^?14C from glucose^?14C by the prostate gland, part of which may have been due to decreased uptake of glucose by the gland. The $\text{in vitro}$ assimilation of 2-deoxyglucose^?14C by the prostate was also reduced by morphine treatment. The $\text{in vitro}$ actions of morphine (2 × 10^?3M) on the metabolism of radioactive glucose by the mouse prostate gland likewise revealed a significant reduction in the formation of sorbitol^?14C, but no decrease in fructose^?14C formation. These results indicate that both the $\text{in vitro}$ and $\text{in vivo}$ actions of morphine can inhibit fructose metabolism in the prostate gland.     

光周期对两种色型豌豆蚜种群参数的影响

为探讨光周期对红绿两种色型豌豆蚜种群增长的影响,于室内模拟光周期22L∶2D、16L∶8D、10L∶14D和4L∶20D四个水平,研究了红绿两种色型豌豆蚜的发育、繁殖和生命表。结果表明:相对于其它光周期,在光周期22L∶2D时,红绿两种色型豌豆蚜若蚜存活率最高,繁殖力最强;其红色型豌豆蚜种群增长内禀增长率(r_m=0.3263)高于绿色型豌豆(r_m=0.2863)。光周期16L∶8D时,红色型豌豆蚜的若蚜存活率(72.22%)高于绿色型豌豆蚜(69.45%),而成蚜寿命(6.58d)较短;但绿色型豌豆蚜内禀增长率(r_m=0.2648)高于红色型豌豆蚜(r_m=0.2249),其种群繁殖力强。光周期10L∶14D时,红色型豌豆蚜与绿色型豌豆蚜相比,若蚜存活率(80.55%)高,内禀增长率(r_m=0.2490)高,种群增长力强,而绿色型豌豆蚜成蚜寿命(12.71d)较长。光周期4L∶20D时,两种色型豌豆蚜若蚜存活率最低,繁殖力最弱,成蚜寿命显著延长;红色型豌豆蚜若蚜存活率(64.67%)高于绿色型(35.50%),成蚜没有产生后代;绿色型豌豆蚜内禀增长率(r_m=-0.0366),其种群为负增长。综上,短光照条件(4L∶20D)延长了两种色型豌豆蚜的若蚜发育历期及成蚜寿命,降低了若蚜存活率、繁殖力及生命表各项参数;长光照条件(22L∶2D)缩短了两种色型豌豆蚜的若蚜发育历期及成蚜寿命,若蚜存活率高、繁殖力强;红色型豌豆蚜更适宜光周期10L∶14D,而绿色型豌豆蚜更适宜光周期16L∶8D。