Epistemological Implications of Fieldwork and Their Consequences

Fieldwork is anthropology's primary data-gathering device, providing a boundary marker from related disciplines. Since data obtained through fieldwork form the bases of anthropological theory, it is crucial that their truth value be analyzed. The paper discusses reasons for both the relative lack of epistemological concern in anthropology until recent times and its current vogue. The empirical foundations of fieldwork are examined and a grid is presented for judging the philosophical position of fieldworkers. Application of the methods suggested is illustrated by a case study of missionary/anthropologist field interaction. Finally, an argument is outlined against both rationalism and phenomenology as being antiscientific. These last two positions are seen as the logical result of anthropology's neglect of epistemology. [epistemology, fieldwork, methodology, recurrent relationships, empiricism]     

Reciprocal Translocations and Translocation Disomics of Aspergillus and Their Use for Genetic Mapping

Two new techniques are described for genetic mapping of reciprocal translocations in A. nidulans, which can be used to locate centromeres and meiotically unlinked markers. They both make use of unbalanced disomics from heterozygous translocation crosses. These are mainly hyperhaploids of two classes: either typical-looking n + 1 with a normal chromosome in addition to a haploid set containing the translocation, or translocation disomics. When large chromosome segments are involved, such disomics, as well as stable aneuploids and duplication types, show characteristic phenotypes and can be classified visually. The first method maps translocation breaks qualitatively, since translocated markers can be identified when translocation disomics are analyzed for heterozygous markers. The second method measures meiotic linkage of any marker to the translocation breaks when allele ratios in the balanced haploid sectors of either or both classes of disomics are determined: linked markers show reciprocal deviations from 1:1—In addition, it can be shown that frequencies of nondisjunction and recovery of specific translocation disomics both depend on the relative position of the break within a chromosome arm. Such information can provide a rough estimate of the positions of breaks for a new translocation.—Using these techniques, as well as mitotic mapping in homo- and heterozygous translocation diploids, four reciprocal translocations were mapped. From these results, information on the sequence and orientation of most of the "meiotic fragments" of the current maps (groups III, VI, VII and VIII) was obtained, and the position of the centromeres of groups VI and VII were identified. Translocation disomics are also used to map meiotically unlinked single genes, e.g. oliA of group VII, to specify chromosome segments.     

落叶松体胚发育中5个miRNA前体与成熟体的表达

利用同源比对或RACE克隆了5个落叶松(Larix leptolepis) miRNA前体。结果显示, 在各物种miRNA前体间, 成熟序列高度相似, 但其它序列相似度差异大, 序列相似度与亲缘关系有关。采用qRT-PCR分析了5个miRNA、前体和靶基因在落叶松体胚8个发育阶段的表达变化。结果显示, miRNA表达最高峰出现在后期子叶胚, 暗示与促进胚胎休眠有关; 表达次高峰出现时期不同, 表现为miR397和miR408在PEMIII, miR398在早期单胚, miR156和miR166在早期子叶胚, 表明其与保持薄细胞壁、质子传递、顶端分生组织形成等调控有关。miRNA成熟体表达与前体含量不呈线性相关, 可能受多重调控。研究结果对于阐明MIR基因进化、表达调控及在体胚发育中的调控功能具有重要理论意义。     

Translocations in DICTYOSTELIUM DISCOIDEUM

Fourteen translocations of independent origin were identified in Dictyostelium discoideum on the basis of segregation anomalies of diploids heterozygous for these chromosome rearrangements, all of which led to the cosegregation of unlinked markers. Many of these translocations were discovered in strains mutagenized with MNNG or in strains carrying mutations affecting DNA repair; however, spontaneous translocations were also obtained. Haploid mitotic recombinants of the rearranged linkage groups were produced from diploids heterozygous for the translocations at frequencies of up to 5% of viable haploid segregants; this is at least a ten-fold higher frequency than that seen with diploids not heterozygous for translocations (approximately 0.1%). These haploid recombinants included both translocated and nontranslocated strains. The T354(II, VII) translocation and possibly the T357(IV, VII) translocation reduce the chromosome number to n = 6; haploids carrying 11 other translocations all have karyotypes with n = 7. Genetic characterization of the T357(IV, VII) translocation showed that the bwnA and whiC loci normally found on linkage group IV were physically linked to the linkage group VII loci couA, phgA, bsgB and cobA.     

落叶松人工混交林内害虫—天敌种群动态及其相关的初步研究

在落叶松(Larix olgensis Henry)人工林内,昆虫及其他节肢动物种群,由于其各种群本身的生物、生态学特性,相互作用及环境因子对它们的影响,造成种群的数量波动是经常性的,无论这种波动是否带有明显的规律性,都会对落叶松林这一生态系统带来影响。     

Techniques for Manipulating Chromosomal Rearrangements and Their Application to DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER. II. Translocations

Translocations have long been valued for their segregational properties. This paper extends the utility of translocations by considering recombinational derivatives of pairs of simple reciprocal translocations. Three major derivative structures are noted. One of these derivatives is suitable for use in half-tetrad experiments. A second should find use in recombining markers with translocation breakpoints. The third is an insertional-tandem duplication: it has a section of one chromosome inserted into a heterologue with a section of the latter chromosome tandemly repeated about the breaks of the insert. All of these structures are contained in "constellations" of chromosomes that regularly segregate aneuploid-1 products (informationally equivalent to nonrecombinant adjacent-1 segregants) for one of the parental translocations but do not segregate euploid products. This is in contrast to the parental T₁/T₂ constellations which segregate euploid products but not aneuploid-1 products. Methods are described for selecting translocation recombinants on the basis of this dichotomy. Several examples of translocation recombinants have been recovered with these techniques, and the recombination frequencies seem to be consistent with those observed for crossovers between inversion breakpoints. Recombinant chromosomes tend to disjoin, but it is observed that the tendency may vary according to the region involved in the recombination, and it is suggested that this difference reflects a difference in chiasmata terminalization times. Special consideration is given to insertional-tandem duplications. Large insertional-tandem duplications are useful in cytogenetic screens. Small insertional-tandem duplications are useful in gene dosage studies and other experiments that require an insert from one chromosome to another. Large duplications can be deleted to form small duplications. To generate a small insert for a specified region, it is only necessary to have one translocation with a breakpoint flanking the region of interest. The second translocation can have a breakpoint quite far from the region: an insertional-tandem duplication containing the region that has one closely flanking breakpoint can be deleted to create a smaller duplication that has two closely flanking breakpoints.     

Distribution of Affiliative Behavior Across Kin Classes and Their Fitness Consequences in Mandrills

Multimale–multifemale primate groups are ideal models to study the impact of kinship on the evolution of sociality. Indeed, the frequent combination of female philopatry and male reproductive skew produces social systems where both maternal and paternal kin are co‐resident. Several primates are known to bias their behavior toward both maternal and paternal kin. Moreover, allocation of affiliation toward paternal kin has been shown to depend on the availability in maternal kin: Female baboons invest more in paternal kin after the loss of preferred maternal kin. Here, we examined how affiliation co‐varies across kin classes in juvenile mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx), an Old World primate living in a multimale–multifemale society. While affiliation levels observed with the mother and with maternal half‐sibs co‐varied positively, especially in young females, we found that levels of affiliation among paternal half‐sibs correlated negatively with levels of affiliation among individuals from the same matriline (distant kin), possibly as a result of kin availability. In addition, in social species, social bonds between individuals have been linked to differentiated fitness consequences: More socially integrated individuals generally enjoy higher fitness. We therefore also tested whether affiliation during early life impacts fitness. We showed that the global amount of affiliation during juvenescence translated into possible reproductive benefits: Females who were more socially integrated gave birth on average a year before females that were less socially integrated. However, age at first reproduction was not predicted by the amount of affiliation exchanged with any particular kin class. These results add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating differential investment in bonding and possible social adjustments among different kin categories and emphasizing once more the adaptive value of sociality.     

Water Balance of Birch and Larch Leaves and Their Resistance to Short and Progressive Soil Drought

In a greenhouse experiment, which imitated a short (4-day-long) and progressive (3-week-long) soil drought, an infrared gas analyzer was employed to assess transpiration (mol/(m² s)) and leaf transpiration conductivity (g _w, mol H₂O/(m² s)) in intact one-year-old plants of Betula platyphylla Suk. and Larix gmelini (Rupr.) Rupr. grown at the saturation levels of photosynthetically active radiation. The drought duration did not affect the adaptation of leaf water balance, it was determined only by leaf temperature and water supply. At ample water supply and with all other conditions being equal, the transpiration of birch exceeded that of larch by the factor of 3; however, birch was less tolerant to soil drought. The authors conclude that water supply and leaf temperature determine plant resistance to soil drought. The species-specific drought resistance depends on the g _w value.     

Translocations in stock strains ofAspergillus nidulans

Genetic methods for detection and analysis of translocations are described and illustrated with the case of a translocation involving linkage groups I and VII. Methods are outlined for ascertaining standard chromosome complements in stock strains ofA. nidulans, which show high frequency of translocations, and the general importance of chromosomal rearrangements in micro-organisms is emphasized.