How similar are amino acid mutations in human genetic diseases and evolution

Accumulating evidence indicates that some deleterious mutations responsible for genetic diseases may offer benefits for human to prevent other diseases. Therefore, human genetic diseases and evolution were tentatively regarded as the two sides of the same coin, which stimulated our interest to explore how similar are amino acid mutations in human genetic diseases and evolution. Through a large-scale analysis on amino acid mutation patterns of genetic diseases and evolution of Hominidae (Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes), it was found that there exist significant correlations between two mutation patterns. Besides, there also exist some evident differences between both mutations, especially those associated with four amino acids C, G, R, and L. These findings are of significance to understanding the subtle connections between human genetic diseases and evolution.     

Evolution of immunoglobulin allotypes and phylogeny of apes

Serum samples from 72 Pan troglodytes, 5 Pan paniscus, 22 Gorilla gorilla, 23 Pongo pygmaeus abelii, 5 Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, 2 hybrids P.p. abelii X P.p. pygmaeus and 13 Hylobates lar were tested for Gm(1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24, 28), Km(1) and Bm(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) immunoglobulin allotypes by the classical hemagglutination inhibition method. The distribution of the various alleles and phenotypes makes it possible to distinguish each species or subspecies. Common chimpanzees have the richest polymorphism. Pygmy chimpanzees share common phenotypes with gorillas. Bornean and Sumatran orangutans have their own patterns of polymorphism, as do gibbons. Our principal component plot and dendrogram are compatible with the traditional classification of Hominoidea [e.g. Simpson, Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 85: 1-350, 1945] in 3 families: Hominidae, Pongidae and Hylobatidae.     

Hominoids, hominids and the problem of the lower boundary of the Anthropogene

This paper distinguishes two phases within the Anthropogene, each being characterized by specific features of hominization: the earlier phase the Eoanthropogene, is characterized by the presence of bipedal, small-brained hominoids. These include the australopithecine and habiline fossils, all of which are classified in a separate family, the Australopithecidae. In the second phase, the Euanthropogene, the family Hominidae is present, with its two species, Homo erectus and H. sapiens. The two families, Australopithecidae and Hominidae, are united into a superfamily, the Hominoidea; whilst the pongids are placed in a separate family (Pongidae) and superfamily (Pongoidea). The bearing of the work of the Soviet palaeo-neurologist, the late V. I. Kochetkova on the status of the australopithecines, is reviewed in some detail.     

Book reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
HACCP: A P ractical A pproach (1994). By S. Mortimore and C. Wallace.
M olecular B iology of A rchaea (1994). Edited by F. Pfeiffer, P. Palm and K.-H. Schleifer.
R otaviruses (1994). Edited by R.F. Ramig.
P ower U nseen : H ow M icrobes R ule the W orld (1994). By B. Dixon.
V iruses and C ancer (1994). Edited by A. Minson, J. Niel and M. McCrae.
W ater M icrobiology (1994). By G. Bitton.
H andbook for R hizobia : M ethods in L egume - Rhizobium T echnology (1994). By P. Somasegaran and H.J. Hoben.
S tatistics and E xperimental D esign : A n I ntroduction for B iologists and B iochemists (1994). 3rd Edition. By G.M. Clarke
P rinciples of G ene M anipulation : A n I ntroduction to G enetic E ngineering (1994). 5th Edition. By R.W. Old and S.B. Primrose.
R espiratory I nfections : D iagnosis and M anagement (1994). Third edition. Edited by J.E. Pennington.
O bstetric and G ynecologic I nfectious D isease (1994). Edited by J.G. Pastorek II.
M olecular G enetics of B acteria (1994). 2nd Edition. By J.W. Dale.
B acterial P athogenesis : P art A: I dentification and R egulation of V irulence F actors (1994). Methods in Enzymology, Volume 235. Edited by V.L. Clark and P.M. Bavoil
B acterial P athogenesis : P art B: I nteraction of P athogenic B acteria with H ost C ells (1994). Methods in Enzymology, Volume 236. Edited by V.L. Clark and P.M. Bavoil.
M ononuclear P hagocytes : B iology of M onocytes and M acrophages (1992). Edited by R. van Furth.     

Foramen magnum position variation in Pan troglodytes, Plio-Pleistocene hominids, and recent Homo sapiens: implications for recognizing the earliest hominids

The anteroposterior position of the foramen magnum distinguishes living Homo sapiens from apes, and has been used as evidence for the hominid status of numerable fossils in the history of human paleontology. During the past decade, foramen magnum position has been cited as evidence of the hominid status of Ardipithecus and Sahelanthropus. Specifically, the basion of Ardpithecus is reported to be inline with the bicarotid chord, while the basion of Sahelanthropus is reported to both touch the biporion chord and intersect the bicarotid chord. In order to assess the effectiveness of anteroposterior foramen magnum position in distinguishing hominids from nonhominid apes, this study examined whether or not the positions of biporion and bicarotid relative to basion sufficiently distinguished Pan troglodytes from recent Homo sapiens and Plio-Pleistocene hominids. The distances from basion to the biporion chord (BSBIP) and from basion to the bicarotid chord (BSBIC) were measured on samples of chimpanzee (n = 69) and recent human (n = 42) crania and a sample of Plio-Pleistocene hominid fossils (n = 8). The data were used to test the hypothesis that BSBIP and BSBIC measurements do not sufficiently distinguish P. troglodytes from hominids. While basion to biporion (BSBIP) does not effectively distinguish P. troglodytes from Plio-Pleistocene hominids and humans when used univariately, basion to bicarotid (BSBIC), when used univariately or bivariately with BSBIP, can be used to test whether or not an unknown specimen is a hominid. These results are used to evaluate the hominid status of Ardipithecus and Sahelanthropus.     

Book notices

BIOSYSTEMATICS OF SOCIAL INSECTS. The Systematics Association Special Volume No. 19. Edited by P. E. Howse and J.-L. Clement
LOCOMOTION AND ENERGETICS IN ARTHROPODS. Edited by Clyde F. Herreid, II and Charles R
AN ATLAS OF INSECT MORPHOLOGY. By H. Steinmann and L. Zombori
MANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS WITH SEMIOCHEMICALS — CONCEPTS AND PRACTICE. Edited by E. R. Mitchell
THE SCIENCE OF ENTOMOLOGY, 2nd edn. By William S. Romoser
THE LABORATORY COCKROACH. By W. J. Bell
JUVENILE HORMONE BIOCHEMISTRY — ACTION, AGONISM AND ANTAGONISM. Edited by G. E. Pratt and G. T. Brooks
TIME IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR. By M. Richelle and H. Lejeune (and others)
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY, Vol. 26. Edited by T. E. Mittler, F. R. Radovsky and V. H. Resh     

REVIEWS

Grazing in Terrestrial and Marine Environments (British Ecological Society Symposium No. 4). Edited by D. J. C risp
Fundamentals of Botany Series . Edited by W. A. J ensen and L. G. K avaljian
Multivariate Statistical Analysis for Biologists . By H ilary S eal
Differenciation des Cellules Sexuelles et Eécondation chez les Cryptogames (Protoplasmatologia , Vol. VII/3b). By B. V azart
Allgemeine Botanik . By W. N ultsch
Piante Medicinali, Chimica, Farmacologia e Terapia . Vol. II. By R. B enigni , C. C apra and P. E. C attorini
Thermophilic Fungi . By D onald G. C ooney and R alph E merson
The Genera of Flowering Flants (Angiospermae). Based Principally on the Genera Plantarum of G. Bentham and J. D. Hooker. Dicotyledones . vol. 1. By J. H utchinson
Algal Cultures and Phytoplankton Ecology . By G. E. F ogg
Flora Europaea, Vol . 1. Eycopodiaceae to Plantanaceae . Edited by T. G. T utin , V. H. H eywood , N. A. B urges , D. H. V alentine , S. M. W alters and D. A. W ebb
The Biology of the Algae . By F. E. R ound
Flora of the British Isles Illustrations . Part 4. Monocotyledons . Drawings by S ybil J. R oles
Plants and the Ecosystem . By W. D. B illings . (Fundamentals of Botany Series, edited by W. A. J ensen and L. G. K avaljian
Essays on Crop Evolution . Edited by S ir J oseph H utchinson     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
Excursion Flora of the British Isles , 2nd edn. By A. R. C lapham , T. G. T utin and E. F. W arburg .
Critical Supplement to the Atlas of the British Flora . Ed. by F. H. P erring assisted by P. D. S ell .
Drawings of British Plants . Part XXIV. Labiatae . By S tella R oss -C raig .
Britain's Green Mantle , 2nd edn. By the late A. G. T ansley . Revised by M. C. F. P roctor .
The Flora of Berkshire . By H. J. M. B owen .
Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands . By P. H. D avis , assisted by J. C ullen and M. J. E. C oode .
Plants and Man on the Seychelles Coast . By J. D. S auer .
Key to the Families of Flowering Plants of the World . Revised and enlarged by J. H utchinson .
The Diversity of Green Flants . By P. R. B ell and C. L. F. W oodcock .
IBP Handbook No . 5: Handbook to the Conservation Section of the International Biological Programme . By E. M. N icholson .
Plants, Man and Life , 2nd edn. By E dgar A nderson .
Production and Mineral Cycling in Terrestrial Vegetation . By L. E. R odin and N. I. B azilevich . Translation by Scripta Technica Ltd (Ed. by G. E. F ogg ).
'Torrey Canyon' Pollution and Marine Life . A Report by the Plymouth Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Ed. by J. E. S mith .
Geobotanische Untersuchungen auf der Feddersen Wier de . By U. K örber -G rohne .
Cell Walls and Membranes . By H. J. R ogers and H. R. P erkins .
Wachstums regulatoren bei Pflanzen . Ed. by E. L ibbert and B. S teyer .
The Ecology of Soil Bacteria ( An International Symposium ). Ed. by T. R. G. G ray and D. P arkinson .
Genetics of Fungi . By K arl E sser and R udolf K uenen . Translated by E rich S teiner .
Plant Pathologist's Pocketbook . Compiled by The Commonwealth Mycological Institute.     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
Plant Cell Structure and Metabolism. By J. L. Hall, T. J. Flowers and R. M. Roberts
The Developmental Biology of Plants and Animals. Ed. by C. F. Graham and P. F. Wareing.
The Physiology of Flowering Plants. (2nd Edition) H. E. Street & H. Öpik.
Nitrogen Metabolism in Plants. By L. Beevers.
Encyclopaedia of Plant Physiology. Volume 2, Transport in Plants II. Part A Cells. Edited by U. Lüttge and M. G. Pitman with a foreword by R.N. Robertson.
The Biology of Plant Phenolics. By J. R. L. Walker.
The Chemotaxonomy of Plants by P. M. Smith.
Lichenology: Progress and Problems. Ed. by D. H. Brown, D. L. Hawksworth and R. H. Bailey.
Microbiology of Aerial Plant Surfaces. Ed. by C. H. Dickinson and T. F. Preece.
Flora Europaea , Vol. 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae). Edited by T. G. Tutin, V. H. Heywood, N. A. Burges, D. M. Moore, D. H. Valentine, S. M. Walters and D. A. Webb with the assistance of A. O. Chater, R. A. DeFilipps and I. B. K. Richardson.
Flore de France. Fasicule 2. By M. Guinochet & R. de Vilmorin.
Trees and Bushes of Europe. By Oleg Polunin with drawings by Barbara Everard.
Tropical Rain Forest of the Far East. By T. C. Whitmore, with a chapter on soils by C. P. Burnham.
The Forest Service. A Study in Public Land Management. By Glen O. Robinson.
Aquatic Weeds in S.E. Asia (Proceedings of a Regional Seminar on Noxious Aquatic Vegetation, New Delhi, 12–17 December, 1973). Edited by C. K. Varshney and J. Rzoska.
Crop Genetic Resources for Today and Tomorrow (International Biological Programme 2). Ed. O. H. Frankel and J. G. Hawkes.
The Genetics of Algae (Botanical Monographs, Volume 12). Edited by Ralph A. Lewin.
Morphologische Studien im Bereiche der Pyrrhophyta. Das Problem Form und Selektion. By A. Böhm.     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
The Handling of Chromosomes . By C. D. D arlington and L. F. L a C our .
Plant Physiology , volume 1B: Photosynthesis and Chemosynthesis. Edited by F. C. S teward .
Agriculture and Ecology in Africa . A study of actual and potential development south of the Sahara by J ohn P hillips
Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States , vol. IV. By L. A brams and R. S. F erris .
The Anatomy of the Monocotyledons , vol. 1. Gramineae. By C. R. M etcalfe .
Vitamine und Antivitamine. Protoplasmatologia II , B 2 b β. By A lfred P ongratz .
Plant Disease Handbook . By C ynthia W estcott .
An Introduction to the Biology of Micro-organisms . By L ilian E. H awker , A. H. L inton , B. F. F olkes and M. J. C arlile .
Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi . Fifth Edition by G. C. A insworth .     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article:
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF FLOWERING PLANTS: THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 3rd edition. By H. E. S triet & H elgi Ö pik
THE ECOLOGY OF ALAGAE (paperback edition). By F. E. R ound
PHOTOPERCEPTION BY PLANTS. Edited By P. F. W areing & H. S mith     

Book Reviews

BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION . By M. H. M artin & P. J. C oughtrey
PLANT CELL STRUCTURE AND METABOLISM . 2nd edn. By J. L. H all , T. J. F lowers & R. M. R oberts
PLANT CELL AND TISSUE CULTURE—A LABORATORY MANUAL . By J. R einert & M. M. Y eoman
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 12A. PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY I. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTM . Edited by O. L. L ange , P. S. N obel , C. B. O smond & H. Z eigler
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, NEW SERIES, VOLLIME 12B. PHYSIOLOGICAL PLANT ECOLOGY II. WATER RELATIONS AND CARBON ASSIMILATION . Edited by O. L. L ange , P. S. N obel , C. B. O smond & H. Z iegler
THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANT DEVELOPMENT . Edited by H. S mith & D. G rieson
SIMULATION OF PLANT GROWTH AND CROP PRODUCTION . Edited by F. W. T. P enning D e V ries & H. H. V an L aar
TRENDS IN PHOTOB1OLOGY . Edited by C. H elene , M. C harlier , TH. M ontenay -G arestier & G. L austriant
VICIA FAB A : PHYSIOLOGY AND BREEDING . Edited by R. T hompson
ENVIRONMENT AND PLANT ECOLOGY 2nd edn. By J. R. E therington     

REVIEWS

The New Genetics in the Soviet Union. By P. S. H udson and R. H. R ichens
Trace Elements in Plants and Animals. By W alter S tiles
Actions of Radiations on Living Cells. By D. E. L ea
Biology of Tissue Cells. By A lbert F ischer
Gall Midges of Economic Importance. By H. F. B arnes , Agricultural and Horticultural Handbooks
DDT The Synthetic Insecticide. By T. F. W est , M.Sc., Ph.D. (Lond.), F.R.I.C. and G. A. C ampbell , M.Sc. (Leeds), F.R.I.C.
Danish Review of Game Biology.     

Housing and care of monkeys and apes in laboratories: adaptations allowing essential species-specific behaviour

During the last two decades an increasing amount of attention has been paid to the housing and care of monkeys and apes in laboratories, as has been done with the housing and care of other categories of captive animals. The purpose of this review is to develop recommendations for adaptations of housing and care from our knowledge of the daily behavioural activity of monkeys and apes in natural conditions and in enriched laboratory conditions. This review deals mainly with adaptations of daily housing and care with respect to behaviour, and it is restricted to commonly-used species: Callitrichidae (Callitrix jacchus, Saguinus oedipus); Cebidae (Aotus trivirgatus, Saimiri sciureus, Cebus apella); Cercopithecidae (Macaca fascicularis, M. mulatta, M. nemestrina, M. arctoides, Chlorocebus aethiops, Papio hamadryas, P. cynocephalus); Pongidae (Pan troglodytes).     

Evolution of the interferon alpha gene family in eutherian mammals

Interferon alpha (IFNA) genes code for proteins with important signaling roles during the innate immune response. Phylogenetically, IFNA family members in eutherians (placental mammals) cluster together in a species-specific manner except for closely related species (i.e. Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes) where gene-specific clustering is evident. Previous research has been unable to clarify whether gene conversion or recent gene duplication accounts for gene-specific clustering, partly because the similarity of members of the IFNA family within species has made it historically difficult to identify the exact composition of IFNA gene families. IFNA gene families were fully characterized in recently available genomes from Canis familiaris, Macaca mulatta, P. troglodytes and Rattus norvegicus, and combined with previously characterized IFNA gene families from H. sapiens and Mus musculus, for the analysis of both whole and partial gene conversion events using a variety of statistical methods. Gene conversion was inferred in every eutherian species analyzed and comparison of the IFNA gene family locus between primate species revealed independent gene duplication in M. mulatta. Thus, both gene conversion and gene duplication have shaped the evolution of the IFNA gene family in eutherian species. Scenarios may be envisaged whereby the increased production of a specific IFN-alpha protein would be beneficial against a particular pathogenic infection. Gene conversion, similar to duplication, provides a mechanism by which the protein product of a specific IFNA gene can be increased.     

Book reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
M icroalgae (1994) By E.W. Becker.
T he E volutionary B iology of V iruses (1994). Edited by S.S. Morse.
MCQ s in M edical M icrobiology and I nfectious D iseases (1993). By P.W. Ross and F.X.S. Emmanuel.
T uberculosis : B ack to T he F uture (1994). Edited by J.D.H. Porter and K.P.W. McAdam.
M aking S afe F ood : A M anagement G uide for M icrobiological Q uality (1991). By W.F. Harrigan and R.W.A. Park.
B acterial P rotein T oxins : FEMS S ymposium No. 73. (1994). Edited by J. Freer, R. Aitken, J.E. Alouf, G. Boulnois, P. Falmagne, F. Fehrenbach, C. Montecucco     

REVIEWS

Review in this article:
Drawings of British Plants. Part XIV. Adoxaceae-Dipsacaceae . By S tella R oss -C raig .
Darwin's Biological Work: Some Aspects Reconsidered . Edited by P. R. B ell .
Flora of the British Isles, Illustrations, Part II, Rosaceae-Polemoniaceae . By A. R. C lapham , T. G. T utin and E. F. W arburg . Drawings by S ybil J. R oles .
Protoplasmic Streaming. Protoplasmatologia. Handbuch der Protoplasmaforschung . Edited by L. V. H eilbrunn and F. W eber .
The Ecology of Soil Fungi. An International Symposium . Edited by D. P arkinson and J. S. W aid .
Marine Algae of the Eastern Tropical and Subtropical Coasts of the Americas . By W illiam R andolph T aylor .
Introduction to Plant Geography . By N icholas P olunin .
Frost, Drought and Heat Resistance . By J. L evitt .     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
Methods for Estimating Primary Production of Forests . I.B.P. Handbook No. 2. By P. J. N ewbould .
The Teaching of Ecology . British Ecological Society Symposium No. 7. Ed. by J. M. L ambert
Chemistry and Enzymology of Marine Algal Polysaccharides . By E lizabeth P ercival and R ichard H. M c D owell .
Dicionário Micológico . By O swaldo F idalgo and M aria E neyda P. K. F idalgo .
Taxonomic Studies of Subgenus Podosemum and Section Epicampes of Muhlenbergia ( Gramineae ). By T homas R. S oderstrom .
Studies of Fern Types, I . By C. V. M orton .
The Genus Melochia L. (Sterculiaceae ). By A aron G oldberg .
Guide pour l'Étude de quelques Plantes Tropicales . By L. P aulian de F élice .
Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology. No . 21. Aspects of the Biology of Ageing . Ed. by H. W. W oolhouse .
Euglenoid Flagellates . By G. F. L eedale .
Encyclopaedia of Plant Physiology . Ed. by W. R uhland .
Annual Review of Plant Physiology , Vol. 18. Ed. by L. M achlis .     

Reviews

Book Reviewed in this article:
Annual Review of Plant Physiology , Vol. 22 Ed. by L. M achlis .
Microbes and Biological Productivity. (Society for General Microbiology Symposium 21). Ed. by D. E. H ughes and A. H. R ose .
Crop Production: Cereals and Legumes. By B. F. B land .
Potential Crop Production. Ed. by P. F. W areing and J. P. C ooper .
Pollen: Development and Physiology. Ed. by J. H eslop -H arrison .
Chromosomal Evolution in Higher Plants. By G. L. S tebbins .
Integrated Experimental Ecology: Methods and Results of Ecosystem Research in the German Soiling Project. Ed. by H. E llenberg .
Evolutionary Ecology. By H erbert P. R iley .     

Functional evidence for differences in sperm competition in humans and chimpanzees

Sperm competition occurs when the gametes of or more males compete for opportunities to fertilize a given set of ova. Previous studies have demonstrated that certain morphological characteristics are affected by sperm competition intensity (e.g. relative testes size and sperm midpiece volume). This study examined whether aspects of sperm energetics may also be affected by sexual selection. We compared the membrane potential of mitochondria in live sperm between H. sapiens (single partner mating system) and P. troglodytes (multiple partner mating system). Flow cytometry of sperm stained with the carbocyanine fluorescent dye JC-1 (an assay for mitochondrial membrane potential) revealed marked differences in red fluorescence intensity. P. troglodytes sperm showed significantly higher mitochondrial membrane potential. Mitochondria provide a substantial part of the energy required for sperm motility. A higher mitochondrial loading may therefore be associated with enhanced sperm motility and/or longevity. Additionally, examination of JC-1 red fluorescence levels before and after in vitro capacitation revealed further differences. Whereas chimpanzee sperm showed maintenance of membrane potential after capacitation (in some cases even an increase), sperm from humans consistently showed reduction in membrane potential. These results indicate that the sperm of human beings and chimpanzees exhibit marked differences in mitochondrial function, which are affected by selection pressures relating to sperm competition and that these pressures differ significantly between humans and chimpanzees.