Addressing the feasibility of people of African descent finding living African relatives using direct-to-consumer genetic testing

People of African descent use direct-to-consumer genomics services such as 23andMe and AncestryDNA for various family histories and health reasons, including identifying and interacting with the previously unknown living African genetic relatives. In this commentary, I argue that it is reasonable to consider that cousin pairs consisting of an African person and a descendant of an African person enslaved in the Americans during the Transatlantic Slave Trade (i.e., a person of African descent) have genealogical ancestors recent enough to be detected using autosomal DNA testing where the pair has shared ancestors in the range of 20–6 generations ago from the present.     

Genetic population structure of two African-Ecuadorian communities of Esmeraldas

The genetic structure of two African-Ecuadorian communities, Rio Cayapas and Viche (Esmeraldas province, northwest Ecuador), was studied on the basis of ACP1, ADA, AK1, CA2, ESD, GLO1, G6PD, PGD, and PGM1 subtypes and thermostability, PGM2, HBβ, F13A, F13B, ORM1, AHSG, C6, C7, and APOC2 gene frequency, and migration data on 255 individuals. The fixation index of Wright (F_ST), correspondence, and genetic distance analysis were applied to compare the genetic relationships between these communities and other American populations of African ancestry. F_ST values from the migration data and surname origins suggest that Rio Cayapas is genetically more isolated and shows less mobility and admixture than does Viche. The genetic admixture estimates indicate a large contribution of African genes to the gene pool of both communities (74.3% to 58.4%), whereas the proportion of the Amerindian component differs significantly (14.5% in Rio Cayapas to 27.6% in Viche). Am J Phys Anthropol 109:159–174, 1999.© 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

河北省大豆地方品种遗传基础

以50份河北省大豆地方品种为材料,通过两年对12个农艺性状鉴定和30个SSR位点的分析,结果表明,地方品种农艺性状平均多样性指数为0．83,数量性状平均变异系数为20．15％,30个SSR位点平均等位变异数5．03,平均多样性指数为0．61,参试材料遗传距离平均0．869。利用Bayesian模型将参试材料分为4组。分析结果表明,河北省地方品种的遗传多样性与地理来源或不同熟期类型间没有显著相关。     

忍冬属植物的遗传多样性及其种间关系研究

应用RAPD标记技术对甘肃省境内的23种忍冬属(Lonicera Linn．)植物的遗传多样性及其种间关系进行了探讨。从34个随机引物中共选出9个多态性和重复性较好且谱带清晰的引物,这9个引物扩增出的DNA片段大多在300～3000bp之间,所形成的多态性位点数差距较大。POPGENE 1．31软件分析结果表明：甘肃省忍冬属植物具有较为丰富的遗传多样性,其多态性比率为71．93％,Shannon多样性指数与Nei指数分别为0．3230和0．2086。Nei‘s遗传距离和UPGMA分析结果显示,23种忍冬明显地聚为2大类,其下又有较多分支,即隶属于同一亚组或相近亚组的不同种基本归为一类,其种间关系与传统的形态学分类结果基本一致。但也有个别种的归属及种间关系稍有变化,如形态学上差异较大的毛药忍冬和毛花忍冬在本研究中聚在一起。这可能与不同的分类水平有关。     

盐度变化对秋茄种群遗传分化的影响

探讨盐分选择对秋茄种群遗传变异与遗传分化的影响。结果表明 ,海沧、金山与浮宫 3个亚种群的遗传变异性较小 ,期望杂合度 (H e)分别为 0 .30 1、0 .2 5 3、0 .30 4 ,遗传一致度较高 ,为 0 .9778～ 0 .992 0 ,但亚种群间遗传分化程度很小 (0 .0 2 30 ) ,表明仅有 2 .3%的分化来自亚种群间 ,而 97.7%来自亚种群内部 ,说明盐分选择对秋茄种群遗传分化影响不大 ,这种遗传结构的维持机制是秋茄亚种群之间强大的基因流 (N m=10 .6 2 )。     

小毛莨居群的遗传分化及其与空间隔离的相关性

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,对分布于华中地区的11个小毛莨（Ranunculus ternatus）居群的遗传分化进行了检测。对8个酶系统17个酶位点上的分析结果表明,该种各居群的各项遗传多样性指标处于一个相对较低的水平：多态位点比率（P）为0－53.0％,平均每位点等位基因数（A）为1－1.647,平均预期杂合度（He）和观察杂合度（Ho）分别为0－0.108和0－0.102。居群间遗传一致度甚高（I＝0.9754-0.9991）。根据Nei 's传距离所作出的聚灰分析表明,豫南信阳地区3个居群与湖北省武汉地区8个居群之间关系较远。而在武汉地区,长江以北的居群及长江以南的部分居群分别相聚在一起,用GPS定位方法得到居群间空间距离并据此聚类,该种的遗传分化与地理因素的相关性,并推测出长江的隔离作用加强了两岸居群间的遗传分化,同时发现一个生于独特生境的居群在表型和遗传结构上都已与其他邻近居群有了很大分异,由于该居群在所检测的酶位点上均无特有等位基因出现,作者认为不宜将其作为新种或新变种处理。     

九种杜鹃属植物的遗传分化研究

采用水平淀粉凝胶电泳技术 ,对 9种杜鹃属 ( Rhododendron)植物的遗传分化进行了初步研究。对 10个酶系统的 14个等位酶位点的检测表明 ,9种杜鹃花在种内个体间的遗传变异水平较高 ,多态位点比率数为 P=2 8.6%～ 57.1% ,等位基因平均数 A=1.3～ 1.9,平均预期杂合度 He=0 .111～ 0 .319,平均观察杂合度 Ho=0 .0 83～ 0 .381。种间的多态位点比率非常高 P=10 0 % ,这说明杜鹃属种间的遗传分化较高 ,具有丰富的遗传多样性。杂合性基因多样化比率 Fst=0 .683,表明各种间存在明显的遗传分化现象     

遗传测试和遗传咨询

遗传物质的突变,包括基因突变或染色体畸变,是遗传病发生的根源,也是区别于其他疾病的基本特点。大力开展遗传测试及筛查,及时检出遗传病患者及致病基因携带者,是提高人口素质,促进家庭幸福、社会繁荣、国家昌盛的唯一可行的方法。遗传咨询对于检出遗传病患者及致病基因携带者,并进行有效、可行的婚姻指导、生育指导,以减少或防止遗传病患儿的发生和发病,发挥着相当重要的作用。在产前诊断中涉及疾病胎儿处理的道德选择问题上,遵循四项基本准则：第一,尊重夫妇双方的选择;第二,对个人和家庭不产生伤害;第三,产前诊断的结果可靠;第四,产前诊断和遗传咨询的自愿性。这些准则无疑在世界各国有着共同性。     

基于SCoT分子标记的裸果木遗传多样性分析

为了揭示裸果木的遗传多样性和遗传结构,采用SCoT分子标记对新疆7个裸果木自然种群201个植株进行分析。结果表明12条引物共扩增出145个位点,在物种和种群水平上裸果木多态位点百分率分别为97.24%和76.45%,Nei's遗传多样性指数分别为0.263 8和0.213 7,Shannon's信息多样性指数分别为0.408 1和0.331 6,说明裸果木具有较高的遗传多样性,且物种水平遗传多样性略高于种群水平;遗传分化系数为0.183 9,说明其遗传变异主要来自种群内,种群间存在一定程度的分化;Mantel检验结果表明裸果木种群地理距离与遗传距离不存在显著相关性;运用主坐标分析（PCoA）和STRUCTURE分析对裸果木个体间亲缘关系聚类分析的结果存在一定差异,但总体上结果是一致的。裸果木的遗传多样性和遗传结构可能与进化历史、繁育系统、地理隔离和人为干扰有关。     

Natural variants suppress mutations in hundreds of essential genes

The consequence of a mutation can be influenced by the context in which it operates. For example, loss of gene function may be tolerated in one genetic background, and lethal in another. The extent to which mutant phenotypes are malleable, the architecture of modifiers and the identities of causal genes remain largely unknown. Here, we measure the fitness effects of ~ 1,100 temperature‐sensitive alleles of yeast essential genes in the context of variation from ten different natural genetic backgrounds and map the modifiers for 19 combinations. Altogether, fitness defects for 149 of the 580 tested genes (26%) could be suppressed by genetic variation in at least one yeast strain. Suppression was generally driven by gain‐of‐function of a single, strong modifier gene, and involved both genes encoding complex or pathway partners suppressing specific temperature‐sensitive alleles, as well as general modifiers altering the effect of many alleles. The emerging frequency of suppression and range of possible mechanisms suggest that a substantial fraction of monogenic diseases could be managed by modulating other gene products.     

Three new blood groups of rhesus monkeys

Three new blood group systems, called “T,” “U,” and “V,” have been identified in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Each system consists of a single antigenic factor (blood group) detected by a monospecific alloimmune reagent that agglutinates erythrocytes. The antisera that detect these blood groups were obtained following a series of alloimmunizations and absorption fractionizations of the resulting antisera to produce operationally monospecific typing reagents. Analyses of family data indicated that each blood group was controlled by an autosomal dominant gene and that each system was independent of previously defined systems. With the addition of these new blood groups, we can identify 16 different blood group systems and well over one hundred million possible phenotypes in this species.     

Strategies for genetic conservation of trees in the Peruvian Amazon

Forestry practices and high rates of land clearance for agriculture are causing genetic erosion of valuable tree species in the Peruvian Amazon, thereby endangering the economic sustainability of rural communities and limiting Peru's opportunities for the development of new timber and non-timber forest products. The potential utility and limitations of six low-input interventions to help forestall further genetic erosion in the region are discussed, with a focus on local community involvement. Improved agroforestry systems may help reduce deforestation by increasing farm productivity, although methods to increase the currently low adoption rate of these technologies need to be developed. Use of strategic tree domestication techniques can also improve farm productivity and prevent inadvertent genetic drift and inbreeding associated with traditional domestication practices, although to have a major impact, current programs need to be extended across the region. Woodlot forestry could supplant selective extraction of timber and offers an attractive opportunity for poverty alleviation if appropriate credit and land tenure policies can be developed. However, it may also result in increased deforestation if activities on public land cannot be controlled. The implementation of improved seed collection systems and simple seed transfer guidelines would help to reduce the collection of seed of poor quality and low genetic diversity, and avoid maladapted plantings, although such programs are difficult to monitor and seed costs may increase. Strategic identification and design of in situ conservation areas would help to ensure the viability of conserved populations, but requires the forfeiture of significant revenue from timber concessions.     

iPS细胞的遗传安全性

自2006年Takahashi和Yamanaka首次成功地从小鼠成纤维细胞诱导得到诱导多能性干细胞(Induced pluripotent stem cells,iPS细胞)以来,iPS细胞由于其潜在的广阔应用前景而迅速成为干细胞研究领域的新热点;与此同时,iPS细胞的遗传安全性也越来越多地受到人们的关注。文章将对iPS细胞遗传安全性的研究进展进行综述,分析造成iPS细胞遗传不稳定的可能原因,希望可以促进对iPS细胞诱导条件的优化,获得遗传上较为安全的iPS细胞。     

Development of a Chinese-Indian hybrid (Chindian) rhesus macaque colony at the California National Primate Research Center by introgression

Background  Fullbred Chinese and Indian rhesus macaques represent genetically distinct populations. The California National Primate Research Center introduced Chinese founders into its Indian-derived rhesus colony in response to the 1978 Indian embargo on exportation of animals for research and the concern that loss of genetic variation in the closed colony would hamper research efforts. The resulting hybrid rhesus now number well over a thousand animals and represent a growing proportion of the animals in the colony.
Methods  We characterized the population genetic structure of the hybrid colony and compared it with that of their pure Indian and Chinese progenitors.
Results  The hybrid population contains higher genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium than their full Indian progenitors and represents a resource with unique research applications.
Conclusions  The genetic diversity of the hybrids indicates that the strategy to introduce novel genes into the colony by hybridizing Chinese founders and their hybrid offspring with Indian-derived animals was successful.     

A definition of unknown parent groups based on bull usage patterns across herds

In genetic evaluations, the definition of unknown parent groups (UPG) is usually based on time periods, selection path and flows of foreign founders. The definition of UPG may be more complex for populations presenting genetic heterogeneity due to both, large national expansion and coexistence of artificial insemination (AI) and natural service (NS). A UPG definition method accounting for beef bull flows was proposed and applied to the French Charolais cattle population. It assumed that, at a given time period, unknown parents belonged to the same UPG when their progeny were bred in herds that used bulls with similar origins (birth region and reproduction way). Thus, the birth period, region and AI rate of a herd were pointed out to be the three criteria reflecting genetic disparities at the national level in a beef cattle population. To deal with regional genetic disparities, 14 regions were identified using a factorial approach combining principal component analysis and Ward clustering. The selection nucleus of the French cattle population was dispersed over three main breeding areas. Flows of NS bulls were mainly carried out within each breeding area. On the contrary, the use and the selection of AI bulls were based on a national pool of candidates. Within a time period, herds of different regions were clustered together when they used bulls coming from the same origin and with an estimated difference of genetic level lower than 20% of genetic standard deviation (σg) for calf muscle and skeleton scores (SS) at weaning. This led to the definition of 16 UPG of sires, which were validated as robust and relevant in a sire model, meaning numerically stable and corresponding to distinct genetic subpopulations. The UPG genetic levels were estimated for muscle and SS under sire and animal models. Whatever the trait, differences between bull UPG estimates within a time period could reach 0.5 σg across regions. For a given time period, bull UPG estimates for muscle and SS were generally larger by 0.30 to 0.75 σg than those of cows. Including genetic groups in the evaluation model increased the estimated genetic trends by 20% to 30%. It also provoked re-ranking in favor of bulls and cows without pedigree.     

近缘物种的遗传多样性及其亲缘关系的取样策略研究

取样策略的问题目前大多停留于对单一物种的种质资源研究.然而,对野生近缘植物取样策略的研究,不仅有利于准确快捷地阐明物种间的系统发育关系,而且对于了解遗传多样性分布状况,制定野外考察、材料收集取样及保护策略均有重要的理论指导意义.以巴山松及其近缘种为例,利用cpSSR(叶绿体微卫星)和AFLP2种分子标记对其取样策略和统计方法进行分析,揭示居群取样个体数和基因位点数与遗传多样性的关系以及基因(引物)和系统树构建方法对亲缘关系确定的影响.研究表明:(1)居群取样个体数和基因位点数差异对遗传多样性影响并不显著,但当居群取样个体数为30个左右,单引物基因位点数为60个以上,总位点数为480个以上时,所得遗传多样性及亲缘关系较为准确可靠.(2)较多数目的基因(引物)对于得到较为准确可靠的亲缘关系分析是十分必要的.(3)系统树构建方法对近缘种亲缘关系的确定有一定的影响.     

三个黄颡鱼群体遗传多样性及亲缘关系的微卫星标记分析

利用微卫星标记技术对3个黄颡鱼群体(W S、TE和QF)的遗传多样性及亲缘关系进行研究。通过筛选的30个引物对3个黄颡鱼群体基因组DNA的扩增,获得了19个有效引物,其中有6个微卫星位点具有多态性,并计算出了3个黄颡鱼群体间的遗传相似系数和遗传距离,TE和QF群体间的遗传相似系数最大(0.8736),遗传距离最小(0.1790);W S和QF群体间的遗传相似系数最小(0.7284),遗传距离最大(0.2768)。同时运用聚类分析(UPGMA)的方法建立了3个黄颡鱼群体的系统发生树。     

野古草种群克隆的遗传变异和遗传结构

用酶电泳法和同工酶分析对东北松嫩草原西北部野古草种群克隆遗传变异性和种群遗传结构做了探讨。讨论了遗传多样性、地理距离和遗传距离之间的关系、大种群和小种群的遗传变异性和种群间的基因流 ;种群间 ,包括大种群和小种群间基因流、遗传和地理距离对遗传多样性的影响、昆虫和风传粉、种群籽苗的补充、遗传多样性的发生和保持 ,自交不亲和性和无性繁殖及体细胞突变     

用遗传标记监测不同环境和经营措施下的加勒比松森林群体遗传动态

对古巴加勒比松的6个群体（包括天然林、采伐林、母树林和种子园）进行了同功酶分析,根据5个酶系统8个位点的同功酶数据,对各群 交配系统以及群体遗传变异和结构进行了分析,天然林、种子园和母树林的多位点异交率和绝大多数单位点异交率都和完全异交无显著差异,过渡采伐的松树岛群体多位点异交率显著小于完全异交,而只有一半单位点异交率显著小于完全异交,而且该群体单位点平均异交率和多位点异交率均低于其它3个群体的估计值。采伐群体中同功酶变异和基因多样性与天然林群体JAG的相似,但低于其它群体,其近交系数较大,但小于天然林MAN和中国栽培群体的近交系数。中国引种栽培群体无论是同功酶变异还是基因多样性都显著高于古巴群体,与所有古巴群体的遗传距离都显著大于古巴群体之间的遗传距离。结果表明过度采伐导致群体自交程度增加,营建种子园可有效减少近交。自然分布区以外的引种栽培群体遗传变化量大,无论遗传变异和基因多样性都比参试其它群体大。