Genetic polymorphism of the erythrocytic enzymes in the Buryat populations

Polymorphism of seven erythrocytic enzymes PGM1, ESD, CLO1, PGD and PGP were studied in five samples of Buryats. The main investment into differentiation between populations has been made by the following systems: CLO1, PGD and PGM1. Analysis of genetic distances between populations demonstrated that there was some parallelism among the genetic and anthropological differentiation in the Buryat populations. The groups of the Agingsky county (the area to the east from the Baikal Lake) have probably the largest proportion of the Caucasian genes as compared to other populations studied. One of the characteristics of the Buryats, especially for the population to the east from the Baikal Lake, is high frequency of the PGD allele. The rate of the genetic variability on the intra-population level is higher than the difference between populations. This means that the divergence between the Buryats populations is not very strong. Consideration of the genetic variability on the intra-population level seems to be more perspective for ecogenetic estimation of the adaptive genetic processes than analysis of the differences between populations studied.     

Anthropology and genetics of the caucasus peoples and the problem of the origin of the caucasoids

The electrophoretical polymorphisms of some blood proteins were studied in the Talysh population of Pirasora situated in South-East Azerbaidjan. We calculated the gene frequencies of these polymorphisms and determined the genetic distances between the Talyshes and some Iranian populations of North, Central and South Iran, Afghans, and three populations of Azerbaijan. The Talyshes are very close to Iranians of Shiraz, whereas they are distant from the Azerbaijanians. Anthropological investigations showed that the Caucasoids and Mongoloids lived in the Aragvi Basin since the Eneolithic period. This was stated by Alexeev (1974), who emphasized the mixture of the Caucasus populations from ancient times on. We calculated the genetic distances between the Caucasus populations and numerous populations of other geographic regions, considering 28 alleles of 12 loci of blood group, serum protein and red cell enzyme polymorphisms and constructed the dendrogram of these populations. The position of the Caucasus populations in the dendrogram corresponds on principle to the earlier anthropological observations. The clustering of the Caucasoid populations corresponds completely with anthropological and historical data, and supports our earlier hypothesis (Nazarova 1999) concerning the differentiation of Caucasoids, Northern Mongoloids and Amerinds from the populations, which inhabitated Asia in palaeolithic times.     

Genetic analysis of a recently established Undaria pinnatifida (Laminariales: Alariaceae) population in the northern Wadden Sea reveals close proximity between drifting thalli and the attached population

Undaria pinnatifida, a kelp species native to East Asia, has become cosmopolitan and drawn increasing attention due to its worldwide spread in recent decades. Floating fragments of this alga were found washed ashore on Sylt in 2016, the first record of this species in Germany. Thalli attached to local oyster reefs were detected in 2017. The genetic relationship between the floating and attached thalli on Sylt, as well as their relevance to the populations from northern Europe and native regions, was hitherto unknown. Here, 10 microsatellite markers were used to assess relationships between the recently established population on Sylt and five other northern European populations in France (Brittany, West English Channel), the Netherlands and England (Plymouth, West English Channel) plus three natural populations in China. Almost no genetic differentiation was detected between the floating and attached populations on Sylt, but they were genetically distinct from all the other studied northern European populations. The very low genetic diversity revealed in the new founder populations of Sylt suggests that they came from genetically similar parents. The marked reduction in both the number of alleles and heterozygosity in the northern European populations, as compared with the Chinese ones, is typical of founder effects in recently populated regions. Prominent genetic divergence was found between most of the northern European populations except those within Brittany and Sylt. Further studies will focus on identifying the putative source populations that might be found on shellfish farms, in local marinas or the benthic habitats around Sylt Island.     

Blood group, serum protein and red cell enzyme groups of Amerindian populations in Colombia

Red cell samples from persons belonging to four Amerindian linguistic groups in Colombia were investigated for genetic variants in eight blood group systems: for three of the groups investigations were extended to ten red cell enzyme and four serum protein systems. The groups studied are the Noanama (including six Empera) of the Rio Siquirisua and Rio Docampado on the Pacific lowlands and the Cofan, Ingano and Siona Indians of the Upper Rio Putumayo and its tributaries to the east of the Andes. Only blood group O was present among two of the groups and the same groups were 100% Kp(b +), k in the Kell system. Di(a +) frequencies were high in three groups and there was marked variation between groups for the MNS, Rh, P, Lewis and Duffy systems. Polymorphism in all the three linguistic groups studied for serum proteins and red cell enzymes was present only in the red cell acid phosphatase, phosphoglucomutase (locus-1) and haptoglobin systems. 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was polymorphic in the Noanama, and caeruloplasmin was polymorphic in the Ingano linguistic group. In addition two persons belonging to the Cofan linguistic group revealed the presence of an “atypical” component in the lactate dehydrogenase system. No variation was found in the other six red cell enzyme and two serum protein systems. Comparison with published data on red cell enzyme and serum protein groups for other South American Amerindian populations shows the Colombian populations studied here most closely resemble the Cayapo of Brazil.     

Demography and genetics of the Krahó and Gorotire Indians of Brazil

Three populations of two Brazilian Ge-speaking groups, the Krahó and Gorotire, have been studied demographically and the results compared with previous investigations on their genetic polymorphisms. The Krahó population is older, more acculturated, and has a smaller sex ratio than the Gorotire. It may also have derived from a larger number of founders. Intertribal marriages occurred with relative frequency among the Krahó, but in the Gorotire the predominant picture is one of exchange with other Cayapo subgroups. The latter have a distribution range roughly 9 × larger than the Krahó. The reproductive histories of the Krahó and Gorotire are similar, leading to equivalent estimates of selection potential. But mortality may have been selectively more important among the Krahó. Wright's fixation index F is of the same order of magnitude in the two groups and intermediate between values obtained among the North American Indian Zuni and the East Indian Bhil. Despite considerable exogamy it showed positive values.     

Highly variable social organisation of colonies in the ant Formica cinerea

Social organisation of colonies was examined in the ant Formica cinerea by estimating the coefficient of genetic relatedness among worker nest mates. The estimates based on microsatellite genotypes at three loci ranged from values close to zero to 0.61 across the populations studied in Finland. These results showed that a fundamental feature of colonies, the number of reproductive queens, varied greatly among the populations. Colonies in some populations had a single queen, whereas the nests could have a high number number of queens in other populations. There was a weak but non-significant correlation between the genetic and metric distance of nests within two populations with intermediate level of relatedness. Differentiation among nearby populations (within the dispersal distance of individuals) in one locality indicated limited dispersal or founder effects. This could occur when females are philopatric and stay in the natal polygynous colony which expands by building a network of nest galleries within a single habitat patch.     

四个不同地理区域的库蚊复合组居群的遗传多样性研究

库蚊种群在农药强选择压下的生存及抗性进化是与其种群的遗传多样性密切相关的。本文主要从居群的遗传多样性角度出发 ,研究其抗性遗传行为。分别对采自 4个不同地理区域的库蚊复合组样群 ,采用水平切片淀粉凝胶电泳的方法 ,分析了 3个酶系统 (苹果酸酶Me、苹果酸脱氢酶Mdh、甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶Gpd) ,获得了 5个位点共 2 7个等位基因的资料。并计算了 4个库蚊居群的遗传多样性指标为 (A ,P ,He,Ho) ,同时分析了 5种居群间的遗传距离。分析结果表明 :遗传多样性主要存在于各居群之内 (FIS=0 .5 4 37) ,但居群之间的遗传分化程度也相对较大 (Gst =0 .4 498)。     

Genetic drift and the population history of the Irish travellers

The Irish Travellers are an itinerant group in Ireland that has been socially isolated. Two hypotheses have been proposed concerning the genetic origin of the Travellers: (1) they are genetically related to Roma populations in Europe that share a nomadic lifestyle or (2) they are of Irish origin, and genetic differences from the rest of Ireland reflect genetic drift. These hypotheses were tested using data on 33 alleles from 12 red blood cell polymorphism loci. Comparison with other European, Roma, and Indian populations shows that the Travellers are genetically distinct from the Roma and Indian populations and most genetically similar to Ireland, in agreement with earlier genetic analyses of the Travellers. However, the Travellers are still genetically distinct from other Irish populations, which could reflect some external gene flow and/or the action of genetic drift in a small group that was descended from a small number of founders. In order to test the drift hypothesis, we analyzed genetic distances comparing the Travellers to four geographic regions in Ireland. These distances were then compared with adjusted distances that account for differential genetic drift using a method developed by Relethford (Hum Biol 68 ( 1996 ) 29–44). The unadjusted distances show the genetic distinctiveness of the Travellers. After adjustment for the expected effects of genetic drift, the Travellers are equidistant from the other Irish samples, showing their Irish origins and population history. The observed genetic differences are thus a reflection of genetic drift, and there is no evidence of any external gene flow. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Population genetics ofEulemur macaco macaco (Primates: Lemuridae) on the islands of Nosy-Be and Nosy-Komba and the Peninsula of Ambato (Madagascar)

Analysis for genetic variation of insular and mainland populations ofEulemur macaco has revealed: (1) a different degree of genetic variation between populations; and (2) the phylogenetic relationships between groups, on the islands of Nosy-Be and Nosy-Komba, and in the Peninsula of Ambato (Madagascar). Eleven systems of blood proteins from 157 animals were used as genetic markers. The genetic variation was lower on the island of Nosy-Komba than in the mainland of Ambato. This is consistent with the expectation that genetic variation is lower on islands than on mainlands. In contrast, the genetic variation on the island of Nosy-Be was the highest of the three populations. This finding can best be explained by assuming that the sample of Nosy-Be consists of individuals of several small isolated groups, where genetic drift computation showed the population of Nosy-Be to be distinct, and the populations of Nosy-Komba and Ambato to be close within the same branch of the dendrogram. These findings give an insight into the population history of the island of Nosy-Komba, which might have been populated by mainland groups from Ambato.     

Genetics of aging bone

With aging, the skeleton experiences a number of changes, which include reductions in mass and changes in matrix composition, leading to fragility and ultimately an increase of fracture risk. A number of aspects of bone physiology are controlled by genetic factors, including peak bone mass, bone shape, and composition; however, forward genetic studies in humans have largely concentrated on clinically available measures such as bone mineral density (BMD). Forward genetic studies in rodents have also heavily focused on BMD; however, investigations of direct measures of bone strength, size, and shape have also been conducted. Overwhelmingly, these studies of the genetics of bone strength have identified loci that modulate strength via influencing bone size, and may not impact the matrix material properties of bone. Many of the rodent forward genetic studies lacked sufficient mapping resolution for candidate gene identification; however, newer studies using genetic mapping populations such as Advanced Intercrosses and the Collaborative Cross appear to have overcome this issue and show promise for future studies. The majority of the genetic mapping studies conducted to date have focused on younger animals and thus an understanding of the genetic control of age-related bone loss represents a key gap in knowledge.     

A population genetic study in the Ochamchir region, Abkhazia, SSR

The reported longevity of residents of the Soviet Socialist Republic of the Caucasus has focused considerable attention on this population. However, little is known of the genetic composition of this population. With this in mind, several village populations of the Ochamchir Region, Abkhazia, SSR, were typed for 37 discrete genetic blood groups, erythrocyte and plasma protein loci. Gene and haplotype frequencies calculated for the polymorphic markers were determined and the results used in an analysis of intervillage heterogeneity and genetic distance analysis comparing the Abkhazians to European and Asian reference populations. The Abkhazians are approximately equal distance from European and West Asian populations in a genetic sense, and this is consistent with their geographical location. In addition to the usual genetic polymorphisms, rare electrophoretic variants were encountered at the lactate dehydrogenase A and phosphohexose isomerase loci. These results suggest that the population of the Ochamchir Region is relatively homogeneous and not distinctly different from its geographical neighbors.     

Alu insertions in the Iberian Peninsula and north west Africa--genetic boundaries or melting pot?

The Western Mediterranean Basin joins a set of ethnically different populations as Iberians and Basques in the North shore and Berbers and Arab-speakers in the South one. In spite of this differentiation, they have maintained historical contacts since ancient times. The existence of a possible common genetic background (specially for Berbers and Iberians) together with the genetic impact of the Islamic occupation of the Iberian Peninsula during 7 centuries are some of the intriguing anthropological questions that have been studied in this area using several classical and DNA markers. The aim of this work is to present the results on a survey of polymorphic Alu elements in 10 human populations of the Western Mediterranean. Recent Alu subfamilies include a significant number of polymorphic Alu insertions in humans. The polymorphic Alu elements are neutral genetic markers of identical descent with known ancestral states. This fact turns Alu insertions into useful markers for the study of human population genetics. A total number of 14 Alu insertions were analyzed in 5 Iberian populations, 3 Berber groups from North-Western Africa, an Arab-speaker population from Morocco and a sub-Saharan ethnic group from Ivory Coast. The results of this study allow the genetic characterization of Berber populations, which show a certain degree of differentiation from Arab-speaking groups of the same geographic area. Furthermore, a closer genetic distance between South Spain and Moroccan Berbers as compared with other Spanish samples supports a major genetic influx consistent with some (but not all) previous genetic studies on populations from the two shores of the Gibraltar Straits.     

基于EST-SSR分子标记的青海高原以礼草属主要物种的遗传多样性分析

利用EST-SSR分子标记技术对青海高原以礼草属3个物种的21份材料进行遗传相关分析。遗传多样性分析发现97对引物中有50对引物可扩增出特异性条带,共扩增出103条条带,各个引物的扩增条带数范围为1~5,每个位点的平均变异数2.06。Popgene pc软件分析表明:梭罗草遗传多样性水平最高(PP=62.14%,h=0.2345),糙毛以礼草次之(PP=58.25%,h=0.2211),大颖草最低(PP=44.66%,h=0.1687);梭罗草和大颖草的遗传距离最小,遗传相似性程度最高,糙毛以礼草与梭罗草和大颖草的遗传距离均较远。梭罗草居群中玛多梭罗草与其他居群遗传距离相对较远,糙毛以礼草居群中克图尼哈糙毛以礼草与其他居群遗传距离相对较远,大颖草居群中克图尼哈大颖草与其他居群遗传距离相对较远。NTSYS2.10e聚类结果为21个居群可聚为3个组群,梭罗草组群10个;糙毛以礼草组群7个;大颖草组群4个。本研究可进一步为拓宽小麦族植物的遗传基础、野生基因资源利用及研究物种分布规律提供科学参考。     

A population genetic study of the Vania Soni in Western India.

A total of 267 blood samples from persons belonging to the Shrimali Vania Soni caste group in Gujarat State, Western India have been analyzed for 6 blood group, 4 serum protein and 19 red cell enzyme systems, for haemoglobin and beta-thalassaemia and for red-green colour blindness. A number of rare genetic variants were detected, including a unique electrophoretically fast variant of superoxide dismutase. Genetic distance comparisons with other caste groups in Gujarat State show that Vania Soni from Surat are a distinctive group clustering with another subdivision of the Vania. The remaining Vania Soni cluster together and are distinct from the other caste groups examined in Gujarat. However, on the basis of individual genetic markers the Vania Soni appear not to be genetically differentiated in any remarkable way from other Hindu populations in western and northern India.     

白腹管鼻蝠两个冬眠群不同个体的随机扩增多态DNA分析

用随机扩增多态ＤＮＡ方法研究了白腹管鼻蝠冬眠群群内与群间个体之间的亲缘关系。结果显示：所研究的两个蝙蝠群内个体的遗传相似性平均为０．８６和０．８９,两群之间的遗传相似性平均为０．８４,群内与群间个体之间在遗传相似性方面有一定差别（Ｐ〈０．０５）。因此认为：在同一个洞中冬眠的白腹管鼻蝠可能亲缘关系很近,冬眠群的构成在亲缘关系方面存在着一定关系,即亲缘关系有可能影响冬眠群构成。     

Conspecifics can be aliens too: A review of effects of restocking practices in vertebrates

We review the indexed scientific literature (233 papers) dealing with ‘restocking’ of vertebrates, i.e. reinforcement of wild populations by release of individuals of the same species. We found evidence that restocking may have desired beneficial effects such as: increased genetic diversity and mitigation of Allee effects in small populations; increased size or even salvation of threatened populations; increased harvest opportunities; and, redirection of harvest pressure from wild to captive-bred individuals. However, restocking may also have negative effects like changes in behaviour, morphology, and demography in recipient populations, as well as enhancement of pathogen spread. Negative genetic effects on recipient populations include homogenisation, introduction of non-native genes, and loss of local adaptation. Research thus far is strongly biased towards birds and mammals, and geographically to Europe and North America. Restocking for conservation purposes has been studied more than that for harvest management, while the latter may be of far greater importance in terms of number of released individuals. Demographic and genetic effects have been studied more than effects on behaviour, which in turn have received more attention than effects on morphology and pathogen spread. There is a general tendency for research on restocking to be fragmented taxonomically and by biological sub-disciplines. Our review demonstrates that restocking practices may and do cause significant disruptions of natural patterns in wild recipient populations. It also highlights the diversity, frequency and extent of these activities, leading us to argue that restocking is an emerging conservation and ecosystem resilience issue of global significance. Based on this review we outline monitoring and research needs for the future. We also provide guidelines to practitioners in conservation, game management, fisheries, epidemiology and other fields involved in restocking of vertebrates, who are likely to benefit from merging their perspectives and adopting a more cross-taxonomical and interdisciplinary attitude when laying out future agendas for evaluation and policy-making in this field.     

Phylogeography of the Ryukyu robin (Erithacus komadori): population subdivision in land-bridge islands in relation to the shift in migratory habit

We analysed the mitochondrial control region sequences of 150 Ryukyu robins (Erithacus komadori) from five migratory and three sedentary populations. E. komadori is endemic to the subtropical Asian islands, is well differentiated among populations in morphology and migratory behaviour within its narrow habitat range, and is ideal for examining the effects of altered migratory habits on population differentiation. Maximum-likelihood analysis among the haplotypes resulted in the generation of a single tree in which two phylogenetic clades corresponding to the two subspecies were evident. Within the northern lineage, three distinctive subgroups of populations (one migratory and two sedentary groups) were observed by population genetic analysis. The migration-related wing morphology and molecular data were then compared among groups. The wing shape of the northern lineage was significantly more pointed than that of the southern sedentary lineage, and they were exclusively discriminated from each other. The difference was not so apparent between the sedentary and migratory groups within the northern lineage, suggesting that the present northern subspecies is primarily a migratory lineage. The different migratory behaviours of the robin played an apparent role in maintaining the genetic structure at two different levels--one between the southern and northern lineages and the other between the sedentary and migratory groups within the northern lineage. While gene flow had long been maintained among the islands occupied by migratory individuals, migrants have been unable to contribute to the gene pool of the sedentary populations despite passing through the breeding range of such populations twice each year.     

Effect of habitat fragmentation on the genetic diversity and structure of peripheral populations of beech in Central Italy

Fragmentation can affect the demographic and genetic structure of populations near the boundary of their biogeographic range. Higher genetic differentiation among populations coupled with lower level of within-population variability is expected as a consequence of reduced population size and isolation. The effects of these 2 factors have been rarely disentangled. Given their high gene flow, anemophilous forest trees should be more affected, in terms of loss of genetic diversity, by small population size rather than geographic isolation alone. We studied the impact of distance from the main range (a measure of isolation) and reduced population size on the within-population and among population components of genetic variability. We assayed 11 isozyme loci in a total of 856 individuals in 27 marginal populations of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Central Italy. Populations were divided into 3 groups with an increasing level of fragmentation. In the most fragmented group, the within-population genetic variability was slightly smaller and the among population differentiation significantly larger than in the other 2 groups. Isolation-by-distance was lost when only pairs of populations involving at least one from the most fragmented group were considered and maintained in the other groups. These results support the role of random genetic drift having a larger impact on the most fragmented group, whereas gene flow seems to balance genetic drift in the 2 less fragmented ones. Given that average distance from the main range is not different between the intermediate and the most fragmented group, but average population size is smaller, we can conclude that gene flow is effective, even at relatively long distances, in balancing the effect of fragmentation if population size is not too small.     

Genetic diversity in perennial ryegrass and white clover among old Dutch grasslands as compared to cultivars and nature reserves

To support conservation policies for old Dutch grasslands that are still in agricultural use, morphological variation and AFLP-based (amplified fragment length polymorphism-based) genetic diversity was studied in perennial ryegrass and white clover populations and compared with the diversity in reference varieties. In addition, AFLP variation was also studied in grasslands located in nature reserves. From principal component analysis (PCA), it appeared that date of ear emergence in perennial ryegrass and characters related to plant vigour in white clover were the main morphological characters separating the reference varieties from the old Dutch grassland populations, and some of the grassland populations from each other. In both species, intrapopulation variation was lower for the reference varieties. Lower heterogeneity within the reference varieties was also found in the AFLP analysis. All common AFLP's observed in old Dutch grasslands could also be found in the reference varieties and nature reserves. Only a small number of low-frequency alleles found in old Dutch grasslands were absent from the other two groups. However, band frequencies of markers could vary considerably between populations, which may have been caused by selection. Analysis of the AFLP data by PCA distinguished the majority of reference varieties from the old Dutch grasslands, and showed genetic differentiation only between some grasslands. Comparison of old Dutch grasslands with grasslands in nature reserves indicated that basically the same range of genetic variation is covered by the two groups. Our study indicates that the Netherlands harbour a more or less continuous population for major parts of the diversity of perennial ryegrass and white clover. It was concluded that no specific conservation measures are presently needed to maintain genetic diversity of perennial ryegrass and white clover occurring in old Dutch grasslands.     

Global diversity and genetic contributions of chicken populations from African,Asian and European regions

Genetic diversity and population structure of 113 chicken populations from Africa, Asia and Europe were studied using 29 microsatellite markers. Among these, three populations of wild chickens and nine commercial purebreds were used as reference populations for comparison. Compared to commercial lines and chickens sampled from the European region, high mean numbers of alleles and a high degree of heterozygosity were found in Asian and African chickens as well as in Red Junglefowl. Population differentiation (F_ST) was higher among European breeds and commercial lines than among African, Asian and Red Junglefowl populations. Neighbour‐Net genetic clustering and structure analysis revealed two main groups of Asian and north‐west European breeds, whereas African populations overlap with other breeds from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. Broilers and brown egg layers were situated between the Asian and north‐west European clusters. structure analysis confirmed a lower degree of population stratification in African and Asian chickens than in European breeds. High genetic differentiation and low genetic contributions to global diversity have been observed for single European breeds. Populations with low genetic variability have also shown a low genetic contribution to a core set of diversity in attaining maximum genetic variation present from the total populations. This may indicate that conservation measures in Europe should pay special attention to preserving as many single chicken breeds as possible to maintain maximum genetic diversity given that higher genetic variations come from differentiation between breeds.