中华民族基因组多态性数据库的构建

为配合总体的实验研究构建了中华民族基因组多态性(Genomic Polymorphism of Chinese Ethnic Groups,简称GPCEG)数据库,现已初步建成包括民族名称、基本情况介绍、体态特征、基因多态性数据、永生细胞株系、参考文献、国际相关数据库连接等内容的数据库,并完成了其可视化浏览及查询系统的建立,为建成具有中国特色的国家自有数据库奠定了基础,也可为从事相关研究的科学工作者提供信息服务。     

中国五个民族STR位点遗传多态性（2）

通过对我国汉回蒙藏维５个民族的５０个家系和５００份样本的ＳＴＲ基因扫描、基因分型和遗传结构分析,获得了ＳＴＲ基因传递方式及遗传特征的大量科学数据。研究结果表明在９个ＳＴＲ位点上汉族有６０种ＳＴＲ等位基因,１４９种基因型;回族有６３种ＳＴＲ等位基因,１４４种基因型;蒙古族有６９种ＳＴＲ等位基因,１７３种基因型;藏族有７７种等位基因,１６８种基因型;维吾尔族有７０种ＳＴＲ等位基因,１４８种基因型。中国     

西藏藏族起源初探——来自掌指纹的线索

本文采用分层整群抽样的调查方法捺印1183名藏族青少年的掌指纹, 分析掌指纹参数,然后与其他56个群体的掌指纹参数进行聚类分析, 进而从肤纹学角度探讨藏族的起源。发现藏族指纹以斗型纹为主(52.89%), 其次为箕型纹(42.95%), 弓形纹出现频率最低(4.16%); 总指嵴线计数为139.01(其中男性为144.75, 女性为133.87); atd角在男性为42.95°, 女性为43.28°。掌指纹参数聚类分析显示: 藏族与汉族和氐羌氏族的后裔(门巴族、普米族、羌族等)等我国北方人群聚在一起。因而从肤纹学角度推断藏族与汉族和氐羌氏族的亲缘关系较近, 而与印度人和孟加拉人的亲缘关系较远。     

逐步对应分析及中国少数民族人群体态特征研究

介绍了逐步对应分析方法,给出了变量选择和误差估计的标准,并分析了中国26个少数民族人群体态特征。     

Positive Selection of CAG Repeats of the ATXN2 Gene in Chinese Ethnic Groups

The ataxin-2 （ATXN2） gene is located on human chromo-some 12q24.1. In normal individuals, the coding region in exon 1 of this gene has fewer than 31 CAG repeats （Yu et al., 2005： Laffita-Mesa et al., 2012）. However, an abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats results in the aggre-gation of polyglutamine （polyQ）, which causes spinocer-ebellar ataxia type 2 （SCA2） （Pulst et al., 1996）. The expanded alleles have more than 32 repeats in the affected individuals, and generally there is an inverse correlation between CAG repeat length and age of onset （Pulst et al., 1996）. SCA2 is an autosomal dominant inheritance neurodegenerative disease, whose major clinical feature is progressive cerebellar ataxia. Atrophies of the brainstem and frontal lobe have been frequently detected by magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） （Yamamoto-Watanabe et al., 2010）. This disease has the strong effect on sensory and motor control.     

Characterization of Fecal Microbiota across Seven Chinese Ethnic Groups by Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction

The human gut microbiota consists of complex microbial communities, which possibly play crucial roles in physiological functioning and health maintenance. China has evolved into a multicultural society consisting of the major ethnic group, Han, and 55 official ethnic minority groups. Nowadays, these minority groups inhabit in different Chinese provinces and some of them still keep their unique culture and lifestyle. Currently, only limited data are available on the gut microbiota of these Chinese ethnic groups. In this study, 10 major fecal bacterial groups of 314 healthy individuals from 7 Chinese ethnic origins were enumerated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our data confirmed that the selected bacterial groups were common to all 7 surveyed ethnicities, but the amount of the individual bacterial groups varied to different degree. By principal component and canonical variate analyses of the 314 individuals or the 91 Han subjects, no distinct group clustering pattern was observed. Nevertheless, weak differences were noted between the Han and Zhuang from other ethnic minority groups, and between the Heilongjiang Hans from those of the other provinces. Thus, our results suggest that the ethnic origin may contribute to shaping the human gut microbiota.     

Ethnic and Geographic Differentiation of Helicobacter pylori within Iran

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori colonizes the human stomach, with individual infections persisting for decades. The spread of the bacterium has been shown to reflect both ancient and recent human migrations. We have sequenced housekeeping genes from H. pylori isolated from 147 Iranians with well-characterized geographical and ethnic origins sampled throughout Iran and compared them with sequences from strains from other locations. H. pylori from Iran are similar to others isolated from Western Eurasia and can be placed in the previously described HpEurope population. Despite the location of Iran at the crossroads of Eurasia, we found no evidence that the region been a major source of ancestry for strains across the continent. On a smaller scale, we found genetic affinities between the H. pylori isolated from particular Iranian populations and strains from Turks, Uzbeks, Palestinians and Israelis, reflecting documented historical contacts over the past two thousand years.     

Socioeconomic and Geographic Patterning of Smoking Behaviour in Canada: A Cross-Sectional Multilevel Analysis

Objective

To describe the socioeconomic and geographic distribution of smoking behaviour in Canada among 19,383 individuals (51% women) aged 15–85 years.

Methods

Current smoking and quitting were modeled using standard and multilevel logistic regression. Markers of socioeconomic status (SES) were education and occupation. Geography was defined by Canadian Provinces.

Results

The adjusted prevalence of current smoking was 20.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.8–21.7) and 63.7% (95% CI: 61.1–66.3) of ever smokers had quit. Current smoking decreased and quitting increased with increasing SES. The adjusted prevalence of current smoking was 32.8% (95% CI: 28.4–37.5) among the least educated compared to 11.0% (95% CI: 8.9–13.4) for the highest educated. Among the least educated, 53.0% (95% CI: 46.8–59.2) had quit, rising to 68.7% (95% CI: 62.7–74.1) for the most educated. There was substantial variation in current smoking and quitting at the provincial level; current smoking varied from 17.9% in British Columbia to 26.1% in Nova Scotia, and quitting varied from 57.4% in Nova Scotia to 67.8% in Prince Edward Island. Nationally, increasing education and occupation level were inversely associated with current smoking (odds ratio [OR] 0.64, 95% CI: 0.60–0.68 for education; OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.77–0.87 for occupation) and positively associated with quitting (OR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.16–1.40 for education; OR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.12–1.27 for occupation). These associations were consistent in direction across provinces although with some variability in magnitude.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that socioeconomic inequalities in smoking have persisted in Canada; current smoking was less likely and quitting was more likely among the better off groups and in certain provinces. Current prevention and cessation policies have not been successful in improving the situation for all areas and groups. Future efforts to reduce smoking uptake and increase cessation in Canada will need consideration of socioeconomic and geographic factors to be successful.     

Genetic Polymorphism of the Blood Groups and Erythrocytic Enzymes in Three Ethnic Territorial Groups from the North of European Russia

Using the data on five red cell markers (AB0, PGM1, ACP1, GLO1, and ESD) polymorphisms, the population genetic structure of three ethnic territorial groups from the north of European Russia (Continental Nentsy, Kola Saami, and Russian Coast-dwellers) was described. In general, the groups studied a Caucasoid pattern of the frequency distribution of erythrocytic marker alleles. However, a substantial contribution of a Mongoloid component to the Nenets gene pool, expressed as a high frequency of the PGM1*1allele along with a low frequency of the GLO1*1allele, was observed. Three ethnic territorial groups examined were close to one another with respect to the distribution of classical biochemical markers. The interpopulation diversity was low (the mean F _ST= 0.015). The differences observed were for the most part caused by the genetic characteristics of Nentsy. The maximum interpopulation diversity was observed for the GLO1*locus (F _ST= 0.056).     

新疆4个民族STR基因座遗传多态性研究

对新疆维吾尔放族,锡伯族,乌孜别克族,柯尔克孜族4个民族的400份样本和40个家系进行STR基因扫描,基因分型和遗传结构分析。获得了4个民族STR遗传特征及遗传方式等的科学数据。结果为9个STR基因座上维吾尔族有66种STR等位基因,148种基因型;锡伯族有72种STR等位基因,163种基因型;乌孜别克族有65种TSR等位基因,168种基因型;柯尔克孜族有71种STR等位基因,191种基因型,用新疆4个民族的数据和汉族人群,美国高加索人群,美国黑人相比较发现,中国民族遗传特征数据之间差异不显著,而和国外民族相比差异显著,进一步证明中华民族是一个不可分割的大家庭。     

腺苷酸激酶在我国九个民族中的多态分布

用淀粉胶电泳及特异染色的方法,对我国9个民族的腺苷酸激酶(AK)多态分布进行了测定。9个民族中维吾尔族AK表型分布具有多态性。维吾尔族中AK_1~1基因频率为0.965,AK_1~2基因频率为0.035,而侗、回、白、土家、苗、彝、藏、满等8个民族的AK_1~2均未达到多态水平。在9个民族中AK_1表型分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,并且未发现其它罕见表型。     

Patterning lessons from a dorsalized embryo

A paper by Nunes da Fonseca and colleagues in this issue of Developmental Cell shows that, to pattern its dorsoventral axis, the beetle Tribolium utilizes many of the same genes used in flies, but in very different ways: rather than relying on maternal information, it uses Dorsal and Dpp as part of two coordinated ancestral self-organized systems.     

Formyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase Sequences from Salt Marsh Plant Roots Reveal a Diversity of Acetogenic Bacteria and Other Bacterial Functional Groups

Sixty-two partial formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (FTHFS) structural gene sequences were recovered from roots of salt marsh plants, including Spartina alterniflora, Salicornia virginica, and Juncus roemerianus. Only S. alterniflora roots yielded sequences grouping with FTHFS sequences from known acetogens. Most other FTHFS or FTHFS-like sequences grouped with those from sulfate-reducing bacteria. Several sequences that grouped with Sphingomonas paucimobilis ligH were also recovered.     

中国科学家成功揭示鸡形目所属生物系统发育关系

<正>鸡形目在生物分类学上是鸟纲中的一个目。由于它们具有重要的科学与经济价值,研究倍受学界关注。然而到目前为止,它们的系统发育关系仍然混淆不清,尤其是雉科物种的系统发育关系十分复杂。近日,来自     

Temporal And Geographic Patterning of Relative Head Height in The Central Plains And Middle Missouri Areas

Abstract

Temporal and geographic patterning of vault height evaluated as the Auricular Mean Height Index is examined in samples of crania from the Central and Northern Plains. Crania are placed into two large categories: one consisting of historic Caddoan speakers and their ancestors, the other of Mandan speakers and their ancestors. Woodland crania from the Central Plains and Middle Missouri areas are added to their respective groups for part of the analysis. Time consistently shows a strong relationship to Auricular Mean Height Index; geographical latitude is equivocal but does exhibit a relationship to the vault height index in Central Plains-Caddoan without Woodland. Auricular height decreases with the passage of time and increases as one proceeds northward. The analysis further shows that Central Plains Caddoan groups have higher vaults than Middle Missouri-Mandan crania at a given point in time and space. That cranial morphology is different in the groups supports the notion that gene pool differences are responsible. The causes of decreasing head height through time are unknown.     

Linkage Groups of Protein-Coding Genes in Western Palearctic Water Frogs Reveal Extensive Evolutionary Conservation

Among progeny of a hybrid (Rana shqiperica X R. lessonae) X R. lessonae, 14 of 22 loci form four linkage groups (LGs): (1) mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase, carbonate dehydratase-2, esterase 4, peptidase D; (2) mannosephosphate isomerase, lactate dehydrogenase-B, sex, hexokinase-1, peptidase B; (3) albumin, fructose-biphosphatase-1, guanine deaminase; (4) mitochondrial superoxide dismutase, cytosolic malic enzyme, xanthine oxidase. Fructose-biphosphate aldolase-2 and cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase possibly form a fifth LG. Mitochondrial aconitate hydratase, α-glucosidase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and phosphoglucomutase-2 are unlinked to other loci. All testable linkages (among eight loci of LGs 1, 2, 3, and 4) are shared with eastern Palearctic water frogs. Including published data, 44 protein loci can be assigned to 10 of the 13 chromosomes in Holarctic Rana. Of testable pairs among 18 protein loci, agreement between Palearctic and Nearctic Rana is complete (125 unlinked, 14 linked pairs among 14 loci of five syntenies), and Holarctic Rana and Xenopus laevis are highly concordant (125 shared nonlinkages, 13 shared linkages, three differences). Several Rana syntenies occur in mammals and fish. Many syntenies apparently have persisted for 60-140 X 10(6) years (frogs), some even for 350-400 X 10(6) years (mammals and teleosts).