Is the Y chromosome of Drosophila an evolved supernumerary chromosome?

The Y chromosomes of most Drosophila species are necessary for male fertility but they are not involved in sex determination. They have many puzzling properties that resemble the effects caused by B chromosomes. Classical genetic and molecular studies reveal substantial affinities between Y and B chromosomes and suggest that the Y chromosomes of Drosophila are not degenerated homologues of the X chromosomes, but rather that their Y chromosomes evolved as specialized supernumeraries similar to classical B chromosomes.     

Pericentric inversions of chromosome number 9: benign or harmful?

Pericentric inversions of chromosome number 9 have been studied in 4 different probands: a normal female with designation 46,XX,inv(9)(p12q13); a male with Down syndrome designated as 47,XY,+21,inv(9))p13q13); a premature infant with multiple, congenital malformations who was 46,XX,inv(9)(p12q21), and a Down syndrome proband with 47,XYqs,+21,inv(9)(p13q21). All 4 cases were shown to be inherited based on family studies. These families are discussed with reference to the literature as to what possible effect this structural change could have on the reproductive capability of a normal carrier and what guidelines are available for counseling such a carrier.     

Molecular genetics of radiation-induced chromosome breaks in a gene area in Drosophila: "position" effect of gene mutation?

On the sample of 43 gamma-ray and neutron-induced inversion or translocation exchanges with the vestigial (vg) phenotype, the molecular cytogenetic analysis of distribution of exchange breakpoints on the molecular map of Drosophila vg region (subsection 49D3-4 on the polytene chromosome 2R) was performed using hybridisation in situ technique. Simultaneously, PCR-assay of DNA alterations in all exons and introns (except for intron 4) of the vg gene for 18 mutants with exchange breakpoints outside of the gene was carried out. The results obtained by these molecular genetic techniques have shown that 1) radiation-induced breaks under chromosome exchanges with the vg phenotype were regularly located inside of the vg gene (19 cases out of 43 studied ones or 44.2%) passing through the large introns; 2) breakpoints were frequently flanked by deletions of the gene as whole (3 exchanges) or of its major part (3 exchanges); 3) many of the breaks (18/43 or 41.8%) are situated outside (distal or proximal) of the gene although such mutants have got the vg phenotype; 4) 2/3 (12/18 or 66.7%) vg mutants with the breakpoint outside of gene show the intragenic DNA lesions (microdeletions, microinversions) occurring obviously independently and simultaneously with the neighbor chromosome breaks; 5) only each third vg mutant with break outside of the gene (6/18 or 33.3%) have the unchanged gene subregions under study and presents obviously the result of "position effect" which appear to manifest itself for a distance of 2-30 kb (more near and farther locations of the proximal and distal breakpoints, respectively, relative to the vg gene). Our findings showing regular induction of the multiple genetic lesions (chromosome breaks and mutations of the adjacent genes) on the both ends of chromosome exchange induced by single track produced by gamma-rays or neutrons were discussed as a scientific basis for the conceptually new approaches to the assessment of both genetic damage numbers in the cell genome with chromosome exchange (the multiple genetic lesions) and radiation genetic risk (our molecular genetic approach showing the need for an increase of risk levels at least on a factor of 3 for the heritable chromosome alterations detected by the ordinary cytogenetic monitoring).     

Can occupancy patterns be used to predict distributions in widely separated geographic regions?

Occupancy models, that describe the presence and absence patterns of a species in a given area, are increasingly being used to predict the occurrence of the species in unsurveyed sites, as an aid to conservation planning. In this paper, we consider whether conclusions about local distributions derived from one landscape can be extrapolated to others. We found that habitat patchiness influenced the distribution and abundance of the host-specific moth Wheeleria spilodactylus in a similar way in two landscapes widely separated geographically. In both geographic regions, the spatial location (positive effect of connectivity), and quantity of resource (positive effect of host plant density) increased the likelihood that the moth would be present, consistent with the expectations of metapopulation dynamics. Though some biological attributes of the species appeared to be slightly different, including population density and the timing of the life cycle (phenology), occupancy patterns in one landscape accurately predict occupancy in the other landscape. Our results suggest that it maybe possible to make predictions from one landscape to another, even when the landscapes are widely separated.     

Can zebra mussels change stratification patterns in a small reservoir?

Colonization and proliferation of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) population in Hargus lake, a small thermally stratified reservoir in Ohio, U.S.A., caused a significant increase in water clarity and a remarkable decrease in phytoplankton biomass during the period from 1993 to 1995. Increased light penetration and reduced organic matter loading to the meta-and hypolimnion were reflected in the lake stratification patterns, particularly in the temperature and oxygen profiles in the metalimnion. The meta- and hypolimnetic water temperature increased significantly over three years, irrespective of variation in surface water temperature. The epilimnion depth (mixing depth) increased by about the same magnitude as did the average Secchi depth. However, the total heat content of the lake did not show a consistent trend to increasing zebra mussel abundance, as it was largely influenced by the temperature of the large water volumes near the surface, which were in turn affected by weather conditions. Concurrent with the thermal structure change, the dissolved oxygen structure also changed over three years, though to a lesser extent. The changes in oxygen stratification pattern were reflected by increased oxygen concentrations in the metalimnion and a lowered depth of 3 mg l^–1 DO isopleth. These observed changes were likely attributed to increased water mixing depth, metalimnion photosynthesis and reduced oxygen consumption by organic matter. With increased epilimnion thickness and improved oxygen conditions in the metalimnion, the habitable space for aquatic macro-organisms (including fish) expanded substantially. Our results suggest that the indirect impacts of zebra mussels on small lake stratification patterns may have much broader implications than do the direct trophic interactions to the whole ecosystem.     

Individual inversions or their combinations: which is the main selective target in a natural population of Drosophila subobscura?

It is generally accepted that chromosomal inversions have been key elements in adaptation and speciation processes. In this context, Drosophila subobscura has been, and still is, an excellent model species due to its rich chromosomal polymorphism. In this species, many analyses from natural populations have demonstrated the adaptive potential of individual inversions (and their overlapped combinations, the so‐called arrangements). However, little information is available on the evolutionary role of combinations generated by inversions located in homologous and nonhomologous chromosomes. The aim of this research was to ascertain whether these combinations are also a target for natural selection. For this objective, we have studied the inversion composition of homologous and nonhomologous chromosomes from a D. subobscura sample collected in a well‐studied population, Mount Avala (Serbia). No significant deviation from H‐W expectations was detected, and when comparing particular karyotypic combinations, likelihood ratios close to 1 were obtained. Thus, it seems that for each pair of homologous chromosomes inversions no deviation from randomness was detected. Finally, no linkage disequilibrium was observed between inversions located in different chromosomes of the karyotype. For all these reasons, it can be assumed that, at the cytological level, the individual inversions rather than their combinations in different chromosomes are the main target of selection.     

Sequence variation patterns along a latitudinal cline in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris): signs of clinal adaptation?

Adaptive clinal variation is abundant in nature, and its genetic basis is of great interest. The polygenic nature of this variation poses a challenge for identifying the causative loci underlying these adaptations. Here, we have examined the patterns of sequence variation in ten candidate genes for timing of bud set and cold tolerance, traits that form strong latitudinal clines in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). A set of reference genes was used for comparison and to infer a simplified demographic background model with approximate Bayesian computation methods. Against the resulting bottleneck model, the neutrality tests show little signs for local adaptation, but species-wide selection is suggested in some of the studied genes. In line with the theoretical expectations, we see little evidence for adaptive differentiation with F _ST methods. Instead, allele frequency clines were found in three genes (dhn1, ftl2, and prr1). Our results add to the discussion on which molecular signals best characterize a gene subject to clinally varying selection. This will be especially relevant when these kinds of observations can be examined in parallel with association study results.     

Induction of premature chromosome condensation in Drosophila melanogaster — rat heterokaryons

Summary After fusion mediated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) plus dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) between rat and Drosophila melanogaster cells cultured in vitro, the phenomenon of premature chromosome condensation (PCC) induced by mitotic rat chromosomes was detected in Drosophila nuclei. Exceptionally PCC was induced in rat nuclei but only in the presence of a very high ploidy level of Drosophila mitotic chromosomes. This provides further evidence of the lack of species specificity and of the effect of dosage of the PCC inducing factors, even among very distant species.     

Can we really predict risk of cancer?

Background: Growing awareness of the potential to predict a person's future risk of cancer has resulted in the development of numerous algorithms. Such algorithms aim to improve the ability of policy makers, doctors and patients to make rational decisions about behaviour modification or surveillance, with the expectation that this activity will lead to overall benefit. There remains debate however, about whether accurate risk prediction is achievable for most cancers. Methods: We conducted a brief narrative review of the literature regarding the history and challenges of risk prediction, highlighting our own recent experiences in developing tools for oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Results and conclusions: While tools for predicting future risk of cardiovascular outcomes have been translated successfully to clinical practice, the experience with cancer risk prediction has been mixed. Models have now been developed and validated for predicting risk of melanoma and cancers of the breast, colo-rectum, lung, liver, oesophagus and prostate, and while several of these have adequate performance at the population-level, none to date have adequate discrimination for predicting risk in individual patients. Challenges of individual risk prediction for cancer are many, and include long latency, multiple risk factors of mostly small effect, and incomplete knowledge of the causal pathways.     

The absence of crossovers on chromosome 4 in Drosophila melanogaster: Imperfection or interesting exception?

Drosophila melanogaster chromosome 4 is an anomaly because of its small size, chromatin structure, and most notably its lack of crossing over during meiosis. Earlier ideas about the absence of crossovers on 4 hypothesize that these unique characteristics function to prevent crossovers. Here, we explore hypotheses about the absence of crossovers on 4, how these have been addressed, and new insights into the mechanism behind this suppression. We review recently published results that indicate that global crossover patterning, in particular the centromere effect, make a major contribution to the prevention of crossovers on 4.     

Can physicochemical factors predict lipid content in phytoplankton?

1. We hypothesized that a large collection of reasonably standardized data for natural algal assemblages would reveal the influence of environmental factors on the fraction of recently produced photosynthate allocated to lipid.
2. Our analysis of photosynthate allocation in fresh- and saltwater systems showed that allocation of carbon to lipid was not well correlated with any one environmental factor.
3. Allocation to lipid increases with temperature up to 12 °C (lipid allocation = 11.7 + 1.70*temperature (°C), n = 48, r ² = 0.50, P < 0.001) but not above.
4. The relationship between temperature and lipid allocation appears to be caused by a unique convergence of nutrient limitation (nitrate or silicate) in the presence of facultative lipid-producing algae (diatoms or other chrysophytes) which occurs at or below 12 °C during stratification of the water column.     

Can paternal effects via seminal fluid contribute to the evolution of polyandry?

Genetic benefits from mating with multiple males are thought to favour the evolution of polyandry. However, recent evidence suggests that non-genetic paternal effects via seminal fluid might contribute to the observed effects of polyandry on offspring performance. Here, we test this hypothesis using the field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus. Using interference RNA, we first show that at least one seminal fluid protein is essential for embryo survival. We then show that polyandrous females mated to three different males produced embryos with higher pre-hatching viability than did monandrous females mated with the same male three times. Pseudo-polyandrous females that obtained sperm and seminal fluid from a single male and seminal fluid from two additional males had embryos with viabilities intermediate between monandrous and polyandrous females. Our results suggest either that ejaculate mediated paternal effects on embryo viability have both genetic and non-genetic components, or that seminal fluids transferred by castrated males provide only a subset of proteins contained within the normal ejaculate, and are unable to exert their full effect on embryo viability.