NUCLEOTYPIC EFFECT IN HOMEOTHERMS: BODY-MASS INDEPENDENT RESTING METABOLIC RATE OF PASSERINE BIRDS IS RELATED TO GENOME SIZE

The resting metabolic rate of passerines is shown to be negatively correlated with genome size when body mass is held constant (r = –0.75, P < 0.01). This finding extends previous conclusion for mammals to this bird order. The result holds when higher taxonomic levels are used instead of the species (for genera, r = –0.76, P < 0.03; for families, r = –0.991, P < 0.01) as well as when the independent contrasts derived from the resolved phylogeny are used instead of the taxa (r = –0.73, P < 0.02), with the evolutionarily older contrasts being more strongly correlated (for the contrasts older than 30 million yr, r = –0.998, P < 0.002). The concept of evolutionary characters consolidation (ECC), previously formulated for mammals, is tested with special reference to the error fraction in the total character variance. In this test, the ECC for the nucleotypic effect cannot be proven for mammals as a whole class, but it holds for the two separate orders tested, rodents and passerine birds. An upper taxonomic limit for the ECC is suggested.     

Microorganisms and parthenogenesis

Endosymbionts are being discovered in unprecedented numbers of invertebrate species. The bacterium Wolbachia pipientis alone is carried by some 20% of all insect species, in which it is responsible for such reproductive manipulations as cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization of genetic males, male-killing and parthenogenesis. The discovery of Wolbachia -induced thelytoky in hymenopteran parasitoids has initiated the successful search in other groups of haplodiploid species. Haplodiploidy has arisen at least 17 times during animal evolution and intracellular bacteria that effect sexual development have been found in many of these haplodiploid groups, rekindling the question regarding the origin of haplodiploidy. The detection of Wolbachia in parthenogenetic thrips (Thysanoptera), booklice (Psocoptera), springtails (Collembola), mites (Acari) and Xiphinematobacter in dragger nematodes (Dorylaimida) raises the possibility of bacterial-induced parthenogenesis in diplodiploid species as well. Recent studies indicate that Wolbachia might be just one of a rapidly increasing list of intracellular bacteria capable of inducing parthenogenesis in their host. The search for novel endosymbionts will rely heavily on previous taxonomic work, but the possibilities for discovery remain boundless.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2003, 79 , 43–58.     

荧光原位杂交技术在植物细胞遗传学和绘制基因图谱中的应用现状与展望

荧光原位杂交是在分子水平上检测外源染色质的一种有效方法。其探针主要有染色体重复序列、总基因组DNA、寡单拷贝序列和染色体涂色集中等,该技术在研究植物细胞遗传学、基因扩增、基因作图及植物进化和亲缘关系的鉴定上已广泛应用。简要概述了荧光原位杂交技术在植物细胞遗传学和绘制基因图谱中的应用现状与展望。     

藏猪种质资源细胞遗传学研究

藏猪是我国宝贵的地方品种资源,也是我国国家级重点保护品种中唯一的高原性猪种.通过细胞遗传学方法,对藏猪以及长白猪的普通核型、G-带染色体以及C-带染色体进行对比研究,发现藏猪特有的染色体带型.这为分析鉴别藏猪种质资源提供了细胞遗传学证据.     

Recent and recurrent polyploidy in Tragopogon (Asteraceae): cytogenetic, genomic and genetic comparisons

Tragopogon mirus Ownbey and T. miscellus Ownbey are allopolyploids that formed repeatedly during the past 80 years following the introduction of three diploids (T. dubius Scop., T. pratensis L. and T. porrifolius L.) from Europe to western North America. These polyploid species of known parentage are useful for studying the consequences of recent and recurrent polyploidization. We summarize recent analyses of the cytogenetic, genomic and genetic consequences of polyploidy in Tragopogon. Analyses of rDNA ITS (internal transcribed spacer) + ETS (external transcribed spacer) sequence data indicate that the parental diploids are phylogenetically well separated within Tragopogon (a genus of perhaps 150 species), in agreement with isozymic and cpDNA data. Using Southern blot and cloning experiments on tissue from early herbarium collections of T. mirus and T. miscellus (from 1949) to represent the rDNA repeat condition closer to the time of polyploidization than samples collected today, we have demonstrated concerted evolution of rDNA. Concerted evolution is ongoing, but has not proceeded to completion in any polyploid population examined; rDNA repeats of the diploid T. dubius are typically lost or converted in both allopolyploids, including populations of independent origin. Molecular cytogenetic studies employing rDNA probes, as well as centromeric and subtelomeric repeats isolated from Tragopogon, distinguished all chromosomes among the diploid progenitors (2n = 12). The diploid chromosome complements are additive in both allopolyploids (2n = 24); there is no evidence of major chromosomal rearrangements in populations of either T. mirus or T. miscellus. cDNA‐AFLP display revealed differences in gene expression between T. miscellus and its diploid parents, as well as between populations of T. miscellus of reciprocal origin. Approximately 5% of the genes examined in the allopolyploid populations have been silenced, and an additional 4% exhibit novel gene expression relative to their diploid parents. Some of the differences in gene expression represent maternal or paternal effects. Multiple origins of a polyploid species not only affect patterns of genetic variation in natural populations, but also contribute to differential patterns of gene expression and may therefore play a major role in the long‐term evolution of polyploids. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 82 , 485–501.     

A case of acute myeloid leukemia-M2 with trisomy 4 in addition to t(8;21)

t(8;21)(q22;q22) is the most frequently observed karyotypic abnormality associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), specifically in FAB-M2. Short-term unstimulated bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood lymphocyte culture showed 47,XX, +4,t(8;21) in all metaphase plates; and interphase and metaphase results of AML-ETO fusion was positive and trisomy of 4 was confirmed with WCP probes. Trisomy 4 in AML with t(8;21) is a rare numerical abnormality. Here we present such case of patient which may constitute a distinctive subtype.     

几类异质小麦雄性不育系育性恢复性的细胞遗传学研究

系统调查了4类异质(粘果、易变、偏凸、二角山羊草细胞质)1BL/lRS、非1BL/1RS小麦雄性不育系与其恢复系杂种F减数分裂中期Ⅰ出现单价体细胞频率,以及后期Ⅰ出现落后染色体和染色体桥细胞频率,并对中、后期染色体变异率与杂种F自交结实率进行了相关分析.结果表明(1)1BL/1RS型杂种在中期Ⅰ、后期Ⅰ染色体变异率要明显高于非1BL/1RS杂种;(2)4类异源细胞质在非1BL/1RS杂种中有着明显提高单价体细胞频率的作用;(3)在1BL/1RS杂种中,1B@1BL/1RS杂合核型染色体联会松弛,对单价体频率的影响远大于异源细胞质的影响;(4)1BL/1RS型杂种自交结实率与中期出现单价体细胞频率不直接相关,而与后期出现落后染色体和染色体桥细胞的频率呈高度负相关;(5)非1BL/1RS型杂种在减数分裂中、后期染色体行为相对稳定,易恢复且恢复度高,很有实际利用价值.     

Heteromorphic sex chromosomes of lizardfish (Synodontidae): focus on the ZZ-ZW1W2 system in Trachinocephalus myops

The karyotype and DNA content of four lizardfish species (family Synodontidae), that is, Saurida elongata, Synodus ulae, Synodus hoshinonis and Trachinocephalus myops, were analyzed. The karyotype of T. myops significantly differed from that of the other three species having diploid chromosome number of 48 with mainly acrocentric chromosomes and the ZZ-ZW sex chromosome system. The chromosome number of male T. myops was 2n=26, while that of female T. myops was 2n=27. The karyotype consisted of 11 pairs of metacentrics, one pair of acrocentrics and, in addition, two large metacentrics in the male and a single large metacentric, a distinctly small subtelocentric and a microchromosome in the female. C-banding demonstrated that in the female the subtelocentric chromosome and the microchromosome were heterochromatic. The karyotype of T. myops was thought to be derived from a 48 chromosome type synodontid fish through the involvement of Robertsonian rearrangement; the rearrangement of the sex chromosomes proceeded during karyotype evolution. Among the chromosomes, the large metacentrics were determined to be neo-Z (a fusion of the original Z and an autosome), the microchromosomes the W₁ (originally W), and the subtelocentric chromosomes the W₂ (derived from an autosome pair). The miniaturization of W₁ and W₂ chromosomes and their heterochromatinization suggested that sex chromosomes in this species have been already highly differentiated. The findings on DNA content implied that the karyotype of T. myops evolved by centric fusion events without loss in DNA amount.     

Morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes in neotropical freshwater fish

A general survey of the occurrence of morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes in the neotropical freshwater fishes is presented. The total number of 32 occurrences involving simple XX-XY and ZZ-ZW, and multiple X₁X₂Y, XY₁Y₂ and ZW₁W₂ sex chromosome systems is described, with comments on the aspects of sex chromosome evolution in this fish fauna. The occurrence of different sex chromosome systems in related species of the same genus, or in different populations of the same nominal species, involving male and sometimes female heterogamety, and differences in the molecular composition of sex-linked heterochromatin, are considered as indicative of the early stage of sex chromosomes evolution in fish.