Sequencing primers and SNPs for rapidly evolving reproductive loci in endangered ibex and their kin (Bovidae,Capra spp.)

Rapidly evolving genes (e.g. candidate selected loci) are of increasing interest to molecular ecologists and conservation geneticists. Here, we report primers for five regions from three independent nuclear reproductive genes that reliably generate polymorphic sequences across the widespread wild goats of the Capra ibex species group and likely many other species of bovids. From three to nine single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in each gene region among C. ibex subspecies. Average numbers of SNPs per 1000 bp across all five gene regions was 15.0, with a high of 25.3 in the ZP3 exons 3 and 4 sequence and a low of 6.1 in the TNP1 sequence.     

Association of Mc1r variants with ecologically relevant phenotypes in the European ocellated lizard, Lacerta lepida

A comprehensive knowledge on the genetic basis of coloration is crucial to understand how new colour phenotypes arise and how they contribute to the emergence of new species. Variation in melanocortin‐1 receptor (Mc1r), a gene that has been reported as a target for repeated evolution in a wide range of vertebrate taxa, was assessed in European ocellated lizards (Lacerta lepida) to search for associations with melanin‐based colour phenotypes. Lacerta lepida subspecies’ distribution is associated with the three major bio‐climatic regions in the Iberian Peninsula. A nonconserved and derived substitution (T162I) was associated with the L. l. nevadensis phenotype (prevalence of brown scales). Another substitution (S172C) was associated with the presence of black scales in both L. l. lepida and L. l. iberica, but no mutations were found to be associated with the higher proportion of black in L. l. iberica. Extensive genotyping of Mc1r along the contact zone between L. l. nevadensis and L. l. lepida revealed low gene flow (only two hybrids detected). The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of previous knowledge about the evolutionary history of ocellated lizards.     

Host–pathogen relationship between Salix and Melampsora sheds light on the parentage of some biomass willows

The association between willow ( Salix ) and rust ( Melampsora ) is highly specific. Willows named Salix burjatica , S. dasyclados ( S. × dasyclados ) and S. × calodendron are important in renewable-energy plantations in the UK and western Europe. There has been much controversy over their origin, species status and nomenclature. It has been suggested that they have originated from hybridization between. S. caprea , S. viminalis and S. cinerea . In the present work, 59 willow clones were investigated through morphological examination and detached leaf inoculation using willow differentials, for their association, in southwest England, with M. capraearum and three pathotypes of Melampsora epitea (Me-A, B and C). M. capraearum was found on all clones of S. caprea and its hybrids with S. aurita ; Me-A on all S. viminalis clones; Me-B on wild S. cinerea , S. × calodendron , S. × dasyclados 'De Biardii 445' and S . 'Spaethii'; Me-C on all S. burjatica clones and most S. × dasyclados clones. Both M. caprearum and Me-A infected all S. × sericans ( S. caprea × viminalis ) clones and S. × dasyclados 'LA041/03'. We suggest that S. × dasyclados 'LA041/03' should be treated as S. × sericans ( S. caprea × S. viminalis ); S. burjatica , S. dasyclados and S. × dasyclados as synonyms; S. × dasyclados 'De Biardii 445' as S. × calodendron 'De Biardii 445'; and S . 'Spaethii' as S. × calodendron 'Spaethii'.     

Quantitative trait loci for morphometric and mineral composition traits of the tibia bone in a broiler × layer cross

Many economic losses occur in the poultry industry due to leg fragility. Knowing the genomic regions that influence traits associated with the growth and composition of the leg’s bone can help to improve the selection process leading to increased leg resistance to fracture. The present study aimed to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for mineral composition and morphometric traits of the tibia in 478 animals from an F2 broiler × layer cross. The measurement of weight, length and width of Tibia was carried out at 42 days of age. Ash, dry matter, levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn) and Calcium:Phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio were also recorded. The population was genotyped for 128 microsatellite markers and one single nucleotide polymorphism, covering 2630 cM of the chicken genome. A likelihood ratio test was performed to find QTLs. Additive and dominance effects of the QTLs were included in the model. In the chromosomes 2 (GGA2), 6 (GGA6), 8 (GGA8), 24 (GGA24) and 26 (GGA26) some suggestive QTLs (P<0.00276) were mapped for tibia weight (GGA2 and GGA26), ash percentage (GGA2 and GGA6), dry matter percentage (GGA2), Ca (GGA8 and GGA24) and Ca:P ratio (GGA8), many of which are close to genes already identified as good candidates for those traits. The suggestive QTL on GGA2 has a pleiotropic effect on ash percentage, dry matter and bone weight, whereas in the GGA8 there seems to be two QTLs, one for Ca and another for Ca:P ratio. Thus, this study identified at least five genomic regions, in different chromosomes, that can be targeted for further research to identify potential mutations influencing the development and composition of leg bones in Gallus gallus.     

单核苷酸多态性与甜瓜抗枯萎病分子育种研究

目的:结合单核苷酸多态性标记技术,利用甜瓜本身的抗病性以解决新疆甜瓜病害问题。方法:对新疆甜瓜抗枯萎病基因Fom-2基因进行克隆分析,并根据Fom-2基因在不同抗性甜瓜亲本的单核苷酸多态性,设计检测SNP标记的PCR扩增引物,验证其多态性;并利用F2代分析该标记与筛选获得的甜瓜抗枯萎病基因连锁的SSR标记的遗传关系。结果:在抗病与感病甜瓜品种中均扩增获得PCR条带,试验中设计单核苷酸多态性分子标记在抗病品种为显性,与筛选的和抗枯萎病基因紧密连锁的共显性标记SSR430共分离。结论:不同抗性甜瓜品种均含有Fom-2基因或其高度同源序列,SNP显性标记和共显性标记SSR430均可用于甜瓜抗枯萎病分子标记辅助育种。     

Evaluation of Candidate Gene Effects for Beef Backfat via Bayesian Model Selection

Candidate gene approaches provide tools for exploring and localizing causative genes affecting quantitative traits and the underlying variation may be better understood by determining the relative magnitudes of effects of their polymorphisms. Diacyglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), fatty acid binding protein (heart) 3 (FABP3), growth hormone 1 (GH1), leptin (LEP) and thyroglobulin (TG) have been previously identified as genes contributing to genetic control of subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) in beef cattle. In the present research, Bayesian model selection was used to evaluate effects of these five candidate genes by comparing competing non-nested models and treating candidate gene effects as either random or fixed. The analyses were implemented in SAS to simplify the programming and computation. Phenotypic data were gathered from a F₂ population of Wagyu × Limousin cattle. The five candidate genes had significant but varied effects on SFT in this population. Bayesian model selection identified the DGAT1 model as the one with the greatest model probability, whether candidate gene effects were considered random or fixed, and DGAT1 had the greatest additive effect on SFT. The SAS codes developed in the study are freely available and can be downloaded at: http://www.ansci.wsu.edu/programs/.Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by USDA, Montana AES, or the authors and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.     

Plant adaptation to climate change—Where are we?

Climate change poses critical challenges for population persistence in natural communities, for agriculture and environmental sustainability, and for food security. In this review, we discuss recent progress in climatic adaptation in plants. We evaluate whether climate change exerts novel selection and disrupts local adaptation, whether gene flow can facilitate adaptive responses to climate change, and whether adaptive phenotypic plasticity could sustain populations in the short term. Furthermore, we discuss how climate change influences species interactions. Through a more in‐depth understanding of these eco‐evolutionary dynamics, we will increase our capacity to predict the adaptive potential of plants under climate change. In addition, we review studies that dissect the genetic basis of plant adaptation to climate change. Finally, we highlight key research gaps, ranging from validating gene function to elucidating molecular mechanisms, expanding research systems from model species to other natural species, testing the fitness consequences of alleles in natural environments, and designing multifactorial studies that more closely reflect the complex and interactive effects of multiple climate change factors. By leveraging interdisciplinary tools (e.g., cutting‐edge omics toolkits, novel ecological strategies, newly developed genome editing technology), researchers can more accurately predict the probability that species can persist through this rapid and intense period of environmental change, as well as cultivate crops to withstand climate change, and conserve biodiversity in natural systems.     

家蚕光泽小眼(varnished eye)突变基因的精细定位

家蚕(Bombyx mori)光泽小眼(varnished eye,ve)突变体是家蚕突变品种中少数关于家蚕复眼形态异常的自然隐性突变品种之一,表现为成虫复眼小,表面富有光泽,有瘤状突起;小眼数量少且不规则。经典遗传学连锁图谱将ve基因定位在第6连锁群32.2座位,但到目前为止,该突变性状的形成机理仍不清楚。文章以突变品种ve和对照品种Dz为亲本,杂交产生的F1代雄个体与轮回亲本ve雌个体回交产生的BC1代为材料进行ve基因的精细定位。通过对ve低密度连锁图谱分析发现,ve基因被定位在SNP3~SNP6之间,物理图谱距离大约为1.2 Mb。利用1563个BC1代个体构建ve高密度连锁图谱,最终将ve基因定位在SNP5~SNP61之间,物理图谱距离大约为221.8 kb。通过家蚕基因数据库对ve最终定位区域内进行预测基因检索,发现有6个预测基因。对6个预测基因进行生物信息学分析和测序,这些候选基因都有可能参与家蚕复眼形成,但在编码区没有发现ve特异的突变位点;对这些候选基因进行表达分析,发现编号为BGIBMGA013642的候选基因在ve复眼形成过程中的表达量明显比正常对照Dz低,推测该基因为最佳候选基因。     

水稻抽穗期QTL定位及候选基因分析

水稻(Oryza sativa)抽穗期是决定产量和品质的重要性状,在育种、制种及引种驯化过程中发挥重要作用。将热研2号(O. sativa subsp. japonica cv.‘Nekken2’)和华占(O. sativa subsp. indica cv.‘HZ’)杂交获得F₁代,经连续多代自交得到120个重组自交系(RILs)群体。在常规水肥管理条件下,对120个RILs株系的抽穗时间进行统计分析。利用已构建好的高密度遗传图谱,对水稻抽穗期相关性状进行QTL定位分析,结果共检测到11个QTLs,分别位于第1、3、4、5、6、8和12号染色体上,其中1个LOD值高达5.75。通过分析QTLs区间内的候选基因,筛选出可能影响两亲本抽穗期的相关基因,并利用实时定量PCR进行基因表达量分析,发现LOC＿Os03g03070、LOC＿Os03g50310、LOC＿Os03g55389、LOC＿Os04g55510、LOC＿Os08g07740和LOC＿Os08g01670共6个基因在双亲间的表达量差异显著,其中LOC＿Os03g50310在Nekken2中的表达量比H...     

人类原发性高血压候选基因的研究进展

原发性高血压是一种遗传与环境因素相互作用所致的多基因遗传性疾病,其相关或易感研究在近年来非常活跃。利用家系或同胞对,采用基因组扫描结合候选基因策略,迄今已筛选出了数十年原发性高血压的可能相关基因,本从与人体血压生理生化代谢相关的几条途径中,选择介绍了与血压调节密切相关的几个候选基因的研究进展。