The centenary progress of molecular genetics. A 100th anniversary of T. H. Morgan's discoveries

A century ago, Thomas Hunt Morgan, the American scientist, studied the cytogenetic changes of drosophila and came to cytogenetic explanation of Mendel's basic laws of genetic heredity. These studies resulted in today's Mendel-Morgan chromosomal theory of heredity. On the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of this important discovery the authors have decided to give a review of the most significant achievements in the field of molecular genetics until the completion of the Human Genome Project. The most important points concerning the technology of DNA recombination and genetic engineering are also presented. The final section discusses the significance of previous achievements of molecular genetics in biomedicine and other related fields. There is also a tabular presentation of the sequence of the most important findings in the field of molecular genetics through time.     

Fundamental restoration of the Civic Hospital in Split (1866-1872)

The aim of this study was to investigate the progress of the fundamental restoration and enlargement of the Civic Hospital in Split between 1866 and 1872 on the basis of the previously unexplored materials, such as Shorthand reports of the Dalmatian Parliament in Zadar kept in the Split University Library, and the archival documents about the completion of this renewal preserved in the State Archives in Zadar. The right author of the restoration project and the name of the building manager were found. The data of the renewal beginning were corrected. The findings showed that the renewal of the Civic Hospital in Split started after the decision of the Dalmatian Parliament about its enlargement and restoration on February 9, 1866, according to the project drafted by the Provincial director of the public buildings doctor Ivan Lucchini. On October 7, 1871, the Dalmatian Parliament determined about the way for the continuation of these works. The complete restoration of the Civic Hospital in Split finished in 1872. The study revealed the realization of longtime efforts for the enlargement of hospital capacity in Split. With this restoration and appropriate organizational structure, the Civic Hospital in Split could offer better treatment to the patients, parturient women and foundlings.     

T(H)1 and T(H)2 cells: a historical perspective

Demonstration of the existence and functions of T helper (T(H))1 and T(H)2 cells has had an enormous impact on basic and applied immunology. T(H)1 and T(H)2 cells have a crucial role in balancing the immune response. In this article, I attempt to trace the historical events contributing to the development of the T(H)1/T(H)2 concept, the current state of play, and briefly discuss the future prospects for the field.     

Gustav Senn(1875–1945): The pioneer of chloroplast movement research

Gustav Senn analyzed for the first time light-induced movement and arrangement of chloroplasts. Using many plant species he performed physiological analyses of chloroplast migration in response to exte...     

The synthesis of phenyl(2-3H)glyoxal.

A simple inexpensive method has been developed for the synthesis of [2-3H]acetophenone, which has been converted into phenyl[2-3H]glyoxal. The latter compound has been used to modify arginine residues in alkaline phosphatase from two sources, and also a sialidase.     

The sea urchin (Sphaerechinus granularis) codes different H2B histones to assemble sperm and embryo chromatin.

Histones from sperm and gastrula nuclei of the sea urchin Sphaerechinus granularis were analyzed by three different electrophoretic methods, stained with specific color reactions and compared with one another. The histones of the two cell types showed identical properties in none of the three analytical methods employed but the greatest differences involved the H2B type of histones. H2B from embryo chromatin had properties similar to those of the corresponding molecule from calf thymus. In the sperm chromatin no such molecule was observed but two additional ones were found that differed from embryo H2B in size, charge and specific colour reactions. The differences were such that different genes may be postulated for the synthesis of the H2B histones found in sperm and in embryo.