Biosecurity for animal facilities and associated laboratories

Although working with human pathogens and zoonotic agents has always carried a certain degree of danger, current events have resulted in an increased focus on the subject, including new regulations. The authors discuss a number of risk assessment and management activities that animal research facilities should use to evaluate strengthen their current programs.     

Apparatus for Bone Sectioning

A new type of apparatus for cutting 100-200µ sections of bone is described. This apparatus consists of an especially designed bone vise and a mounted circular saw with three directional movement controls. The saw is driven by one D.C. motor and its vertical movement assembly is driven by another. Their speeds can be regulated individually. The bone sections may be made serially at intervals of 0.3 to 0.5 mm. and bones as large as 2 cm. in diameter or longitudinal slabs of larger bones may be sectioned.     

Hybrid zones-natural laboratories for evolutionary studies

Hybrid zones are currently of interest because they offer experimental material for studies of the characters and processes involved in divergence and speciation. Parapatric subspecies and races may differ for a whole range of genes and characters, from short DNA sequences through enzymes and chromosomes to morphology and behaviour. An understanding of the origins, evolution, dynamics and fates of these hybrid zone patchworks requires information from a multitude of lines of enwuiry, including taxonomy, genetics, molecular biology, ethology, ecology, biogeography and palaeoclimatology.