Molecular evolution of the period gene in Drosophila athabasca

We measured nucleotide variability within and between the three semispecies of the Drosophila athabasca complex, at the period (per) gene by using a polymerase chain reaction-based four-cutter restriction- enzyme analysis. The levels of polymorphism varied considerably between the three semispecies. Our results for per, combined with previous data for X-linked allozymes, suggest that the X chromosome in the western- northern semispecies is less variable than expected under an equilibrium-neutral model. Both the pattern of divergence between the semispecies and a cladistic clustering of per haplotypes support the previously hypothesized grouping of eastern A and eastern B as the two most recently diverged semispecies. A 21-bp in-frame segment in the region of per which shares sequence similarity with the neuronal development gene single minded is deleted in all eastern A and eastern B flies examined but is present in all of the western-northern flies and all other published per sequences. Despite these hints that there may be significant differences at the per gene between the semispecies, especially the western-northern group versus the two eastern groups, there is no compelling evidence that per is involved in the mating song differences between the semispecies.      

Mitochondrial DNA differentiation during the speciation process in Peromyscus

We address the problem of the possible significance of biological speciation to the magnitude and pattern of divergence of asexually transmitted characters in bisexual species. The empirical data for this report consist of restriction endonuclease site variability in maternally transmitted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) isolated from 82 samples of Peromyscus polionotus and P. leucopus collected from major portions of the respective species' ranges. Data are analyzed together with previously published information on P. maniculatus, a sibling species to polionotus. Maps of restriction sites indicate that all of the variation observed can be reasonably attributed to base substitutions leading to loss or gain of particular recognition sites. Magnitude of mtDNA sequence divergence within polionotus (maximum approximately equal to 2%) is roughly comparable to that observed within any of five previously identified mtDNA assemblages in maniculatus. Sequence divergence within leucopus (maximum approximately equal to 4%) is somewhat greater than that within polionotus. Consideration of probable evolutionary links among mtDNA restriction site maps allowed estimation of matriarchal phylogenies within polionotus and leucopus. Clustering algorithms and qualitative Wagner procedures were used to generate phenograms and parsimony networks, respectively, for the between-species comparisons. Three simple graphical models are presented to illustrate some conceivable relationships of mtDNA differentiation to speciation. In theoretical case I, each of two reproductively defined species (A and B) is monophyletic in matriarchal genealogy; the common female ancestor of either species can either predate or postdate the speciation. In case II, neither species is monophyletic in matriarchal genotype. In case III, species B is monophyletic but forms a subclade within A which is thus paraphyletic with respect to B. The empirical results for mtDNA in maniculatus and polionotus appear to conform closely to case III. These theoretical and empirical considerations raise a number of questions about the general relationship of the speciation process to the evolution of uniparentally transmitted traits. Some of these considerations are presented, and it is suggested that the distribution patterns of mtDNA sequence variation within and among extant species should be of considerable relevance to the particular demographies of speciation.      

Food puzzle for singly caged primates

To enhance environmental complexity for singly caged pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina), we designed a food puzzle to promote foraging. The puzzles, made of clear plastic tubing and loaded with peanuts in the shell, were suspended from linked chains and attached to the fronts of the cages. Animals manipulated the puzzles by reaching through a cage opening. Upon presentation of loaded puzzles, most animals attempted to remove the peanuts. More peanuts were removed within an hour after the puzzle was loaded than at any other time during the day. Young adult animals showed no sex differences in number of peanuts removed and were more proficient than middle-aged animals in removing peanuts during the first hour of testing. Middle-aged females were more proficient than middle-aged males. The food puzzle enhanced the animals' cage environment by providing a goal-oriented activity that they could control. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

MiR‐29 coordinates age‐dependent plasticity brakes in the adult visual cortex

The authors regret having omitted grant attributions in the original publication. The funding section is herewith updated to reflect the change. “Funding attributed to Tommaso Pizzorusso was provided by EPIGEN Flagship project and PRIN2017HM8FA, funding attributed to Alessandro Cellerino was provided by Fondazione Pisa ETHERNA project, funding attributed to Pierre Baldi was provided by NIH (grant NIH {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"GM123558","term_id":"221306858","term_text":"GM123558"}}GM123558), funding attributed to Jessica Kwok was provided by the Leverhulme Trust project grant (RPG‐2018‐100).”