《自然-遗传学》：研究发现5个影响肺功能的基因

德国格赖夫斯瓦尔德大学2月25日发表公报说,该大学参与的一项研究新发现了5个影响肺功能的基因。这一成果将有助于理解慢性阻塞性肺病的致病机理并改善其治疗方法。该研究已发表在英国《自然-遗传学》（Nature Genetics）杂志上。     

《自然》：首个人源化丙肝遗传工程小鼠模型问世

近日来自洛克菲勒大学和斯克斯普斯研究所的科学家们成功地构建出了第一个人源化丙型肝炎遗传工程小鼠模型,这一研究成果将推动研究人员研发出用于人类身上的丙肝疫苗。相关研究论文在线发表在6月9日的《自然》（Nature）杂志上。     

《自然》：磁共振成像新方法可早期筛查癌症

来自凯斯西储大学和凯斯西储大学医院医学中心的研究人员在《自然》（Nature）杂志上报告称,他们开发了一种磁共振成像（MRI）新方法。可以早期常规筛查某些特异的癌症、多发性硬化症、心脏病及其他疾病。     

《自然-遗传学》：研究确定三个与大扃癌相关新遗传位点

来自中山大学癌症中心、范德堡大学医学院的研究人员确定了三个与大肠癌相关的新遗传“热点”。研究发现在线发表在12月23日的《自然-遗传学》（Nature Genetic）杂志上，从而为我们提供了关于大肠癌生物学的新认识。有可能指出了该疾病新的治疗靶点。     

大熊猫基因组测序和从头组装

<正>2009年12月13日出版的《Nature》杂志,刊登了由深圳华大基因研究院领衔,中国科学院昆明动物研究所、中国科学院动物研究所、成都大熊猫繁育研究基地和中国保护大熊猫研究中心等单位共同组成的研究团     

昆虫嗅觉机制的差异性研究

昆虫的嗅觉机制不同于其它动物,它们能更快地把气味信息送向大脑。该研究由美国洛克菲勒大学和日本东京大学的研究者合作完成,研究结果刊登在2008年4月13日的《自然》（Nature）在线杂志上。这一发现有助于对嗅觉的进化史作更复杂的思考。     

新发现免疫细胞可防肠道病原菌

新华网6月3日报道：日本大阪大学的研究人员在新一期英国《自然-免疫学》（Nature Immunology）杂志上报告说，他们发现小肠黏膜内存在一种免疫细胞，该细胞能监视病原菌是否企图通过小肠黏膜“深度侵犯”人体，并催生可合成抗体以抵御病原菌的细胞。     

《Nature》宣布将创立一个新的国际性生物医学杂志

1995年1月,《Nature》这一国际性科学周刊将出版第1期《Nature Medicine》。该月刊将衔接全球生物医学研究和临床试验之间出现的空白。《Nature Medicine》将发表3～5年内的专利管理、全球范围的专题新闻以及关键研究领域的综合评论文章等医学研究动态。《Nature Medicine》是第一     

施一公《自然》论文解析甲酸通道结构

<正>清华大学生命科学学院施一公教授、医学院颜宁教授领导的研究组合作解析了甲酸(Formate)通道FocA的高分辨率结构,研究结果11月26日以Article的形式发表于《自然》(Nature)。     

人类使用“石器”的最早证据

<正>2010年8月12日的《Nature》杂志,刊登了德国马普协会莱比锡人类进化研究所的考古学家Shannon P.McPherron等学者撰写的一篇文章,报道了发现于非洲埃塞俄比亚Dikika     

On the origin of the Hirudinea and the demise of the Oligochaeta

The phylogenetic relationships of the Clitellata were investigated with a data set of published and new complete 18S rRNA gene sequences of 51 species representing 41 families. Sequences were aligned on the basis of a secondary structure model and analysed with maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood. In contrast to the latter method, parsimony did not recover the monophyly of Clitellata. However, a close scrutiny of the data suggested a spurious attraction between some polychaetes and clitellates. As a rule, molecular trees are closely aligned with morphology-based phylogenies. Acanthobdellida and Euhirudinea were reconciled in their traditional Hirudinea clade and were included in the Oligochaeta with the Branchiobdellida via the Lumbriculidae as a possible link between the two assemblages. While the 18S gene yielded a meaningful historical signal for determining relationships within clitellates, the exact position of Hirudinea and Branchiobdellida within oligochaetes remained unresolved. The lack of phylogenetic signal is interpreted as evidence for a rapid radiation of these taxa. The placement of Clitellata within the Polychaeta remained unresolved. The biological reality of polytomies within annelids is suggested and supports the hypothesis of an extremely ancient radiation of polychaetes and emergence of clitellates.     

On the ontogeny of the haptor and the evolution of the Monogenea

Data on the ontogeny of the posterior haptor of monogeneans were obtained from more than 150 publications and summarised. These data were plotted into diagrams showing evolutionary capacity levels based on the theory of a progressive evolution of marginal hooks, anchors and other attachment components of the posterior haptor in the Monogenea (Malmberg, 1986). 5 + 5 unhinged marginal hooks are assumed to be the most primitive monogenean haptoral condition. Thus the diagrams were founded on a 5 + 5 unhinged marginal hook evolutionary capacity level, and the evolutionary capacity levels of anchors and other haptoral attachement components were arranged according to haptoral ontogenetical sequences. In the final plotting diagram data on hosts, type of spermatozoa, oncomiracidial ciliation, sensilla pattern and protonephridial systems were also included. In this way a number of correlations were revealed. Thus, for example, the number of 5 + 5 marginal hooks correlates with the most primitive monogenean type of spermatozoon and with few sensillae, many ciliated cells and a simple protonephridial system in the oncomiracidium. On the basis of the reviewed data it is concluded that the ancient monogeneans with 5 + 5 unhinged marginal hooks were divided into two main lines, one retaining unhinged marginal hooks and the other evolving hinged marginal hooks. Both main lines have recent representatives at different marginal hook evolutionary capacity levels, i.e. monogeneans retaining a haptor with only marginal hooks. For the main line with hinged marginal hooks the name Articulon-choinea n. subclass is proposed. Members with 8 + 8 hinged marginal hooks only are here called Proanchorea n. superord. Monogeneans with unhinged marginal hooks only are here called Ananchorea n. superord. and three new families are erected for its recent members: Anonchohapteridae n. fam., Acolpentronidae n. fam. and Anacanthoridae n. fam. (with 7 + 7, 8 + 8 and 9 + 9 unhinged marginal hooks, respectively). Except for the families of Articulonchoinea (e.g. Acanthocotylidae, Gyrodactylidae, Tetraonchoididae) Bychowsky's (1957) division of the Monogenea into the Oligonchoinea and Polyonchoinea fits the proposed scheme, i.e. monogeneans with unhinged marginal hooks form one old group, the Oligonchoinea, which have 5 + 5 unhinged marginal hooks, and the other group form the Polyonchoinea, which (with the exception of the Hexabothriidae) has a greater number (7 + 7, 8 + 8 or 9 + 9) of unhinged marginal hooks. It is proposed that both these names, Oligonchoinea (sensu mihi) and Polyonchoinea (sensu mihi), will be retained on one side and Articulonchoinea placed on the other side, which reflects the early monogenean evolution. Except for the members of Ananchorea [Polyonchoinea], all members of the Oligonchoinea and Polyonchoinea have anchors, which imply that they are further evolved, i.e. have passed the 5 + 5 marginal hook evolutionary capacity level (Malmberg, 1986). There are two main types of anchors in the Monogenea: haptoral anchors, with anlages appearing in the haptor, and peduncular anchors, with anlages in the peduncle. There are two types of haptoral anchors: peripheral haptoral anchors, ontogenetically the oldest, and central haptoral anchors. Peduncular anchors, in turn, are ontogenetically younger than peripheral haptoral anchors. There may be two pairs of peduncular anchors: medial peduncular anchors, ontogentically the oldest, and lateral peduncular anchors. Only peduncular (not haptoral) anchors have anchor bars. Monogeneans with haptoral anchors are here called Mediohaptanchorea n. superord. and Laterohaptanchorea n. superord. or haptanchoreans. All oligonchoineans and the oldest polyonchoineans are haptanchoreans. Certain members of Calceostomatidae [Polyonchoinea] are the only monogeneans with both (peripheral) haptoral and peduncular anchors (one pair). These monogeneans are here called Mixanchorea n. superord. Polyonchoineans with peduncular anchors and unhinged marginal hooks are here called the Pedunculanchorea n. superord. The most primitive pedunculanchoreans have only one pair of peduncular anchors with an anchor bar, while the most advanced have both medial and lateral peduncular anchors; each pair having an anchor bar. Certain families of the Articulonchoinea, the Anchorea n. superord., also have peduncular anchors (parallel evolution): only one family, the Sundanonchidae n. fam., has both medial and lateral peduncular anchors, each anchor pair with an anchor bar. Evolutionary lines from different monogenean evolutionary capacity levels are discussed and a new system of classification for the Monogenea is proposed.In agreeing to publish this article, I recognise that its contents are controversial and contrary to generally accepted views on monogenean systematics and evolution. I have anticipated a reaction to the article by inviting senior workers in the field to comment upon it: their views will be reported in a future issue of this journal. EditorIn agreeing to publish this article, I recognise that its contents are controversial and contrary to generally accepted views on monogenean systematics and evolution. I have anticipated a reaction to the article by inviting senior workers in the field to comment upon it: their views will be reported in a future issue of this journal. Editor