HISTORICAL VERSUS SELECTIONIST EXPLANATIONS IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

Abstract— Evolutionary changes require historical explanations, yet these are limited by the evolutionary processes we entertain and investigate. Using phylogenetic analysis, adaptation and natural selection can be tested as historical claims, but this is appropriate only in those special cases where change follows the scheme of one character-one function, singled out in new environmental circumstances. Systematic treatment of the evolutionary origin of characters (in particular, origin through ecological and developmental flexibility) lies outside the scope of selectionist explanations. Structural hypotheses about regularities in the directions of change, also analyzed phylogenetically, expand the scope of historical explanation to include the origin of characters, yet retain the view of organisms as passive and constrained objects of evolutionary change. Historical biology needs to encompass both the active responses of organisms and the construction by organisms of their own environments. For this to be realized will require changes in the concepts and practices of evolutionary biology, including a re-examination of the Lamarckian theme that the active responses of organisms have evolutionary significance—the rarity of individual-to-individual transmission of "acquired" characters does not disprove the possibility of their frequency increasing in a population.     

Clinical hypersensitivity to specific aerosol challenge in parenterally immunized calves.

This paper reports an experiment designed to demonstrate that the calf lung can be sensitized to a specific respirable challenge following parenteral immunization with a nonliving antigen (human serum albumin). The possibility that immune-mediated injury could subsequently interfere with nonspecific mucosal defenses was also investigated by infecting calves with Pasteurella haemolytica after the antigen challenge and assessing pulmonary clearance of the organism. The results indicated that specific aerosol challenge produces reversible signs of respiratory hypersensitivity and that persistence of incidental infection in the upper respiratory tract is potentiated. Since the calves were sensitized by an immunization regime which imitated conventional vaccination, this study highlights the potential dangers of inactivated parenteral respiratory vaccines.     

Electron donation in Photosystem II

The electron transfer resulting from illumination and dark storage of PS II has been studied using EPR signals from several electron carriers. The recombination of D⁺ (Signal II) and Q⁻_A formed by illumination occurred during dark storage at 77 K and was used to deplete reaction centres of D⁺. The donor D was then shown to be oxidized in the dark by the S₂ state of the oxygen-evolving complex. A slow change which occurred during dark storage of PS II samples was detected using the power saturation characteristics of D. We interpret this effect on D to be an indirect result of a rearrangement of the manganese complex during long-term dark adaptation. A role for D in the stability, protection and perhaps initial manganese binding of the oxygen-evolving complex is suggested.     

Metabolism of the mutagen MeIQx in vivo: metabolite screening by liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry

2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoxaline (MeIQx) is a potent mutagen found in cooked food. MeIQx and its isotopically labelled (13C, 15N2 and 14C) analogues were synthesised and used for metabolic studies in vivo. An equimolar mixture of MeIQx and its 13C, 15N2 stable isotope labelled analogue (containing tracer amounts of 14C-MeIQx) was given intraperitoneally to mice. Some 67% of the radioactivity was eliminated in urine and faeces within 24h. Four radiolabelled species were observed when urine was analysed by HPLC, corresponding to unchanged MeIQx and three more polar metabolites. Urine was analysed directly by HPLC-thermospray mass spectrometry. Four signals were observed containing the characteristic 1:1 isotopic doublet, corresponding to unchanged MeIQx, an MeIQx glucuronide, and two uncharacterized metabolites.     

The beta 1----2-D-xylose and alpha 1----3-L-fucose substituted N-linked oligosaccharides from Erythrina cristagalli lectin. Isolation, characterisation and comparison with other legume lectins

The carbohydrate moieties of Erythrina cristagalli lectin were released as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis, followed by N-acetylation and reduction with NaB3H4. Fractionation of the tritium-labelled oligosaccharide mixture by Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography and high-voltage borate electrophoresis revealed that it is composed of five neutral oligosaccharides. Structural studies by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis and two-dimensional 1H-NMR showed that the major component was the fucose-containing heptasaccharide Man alpha 3(Man alpha 6)(Xyl beta 2)Man beta 4GlcNAc beta 4(Fuc alpha 3)GlcNAcol. This is the first report of such a structure in plant lectins. Small amounts of the corresponding afucosyl hexasaccharide were also identified, as well as three other minor components. The structure of the heptasaccharide shows the twin characteristics of a newly established family of N-linked glycans, found to date only in plants. The characteristics are substitution of the common pentasaccharide core [Man alpha 3(Man alpha 6)Man beta 4GlcNAc beta 4GlcNAc] by a D-xylose residue linked beta 1----2 to the beta-mannosyl residue and an L-fucose residue linked alpha 1----3 to the reducing terminal N-acetylglucosamine residue. The oligosaccharide heterogeneity pattern for Erythrina cristagalli lectin was also found for the lectins from four other Erythrina species and the lectins of two other legumes, Sophora japonica and Lonchocarpus capassa.     

Farming,fishing, and fire in the history of the upper Río Negro region of Venezuela

Studies of Río Negro subsistence farming and fishing activities are used to estimate the human carrying capacity for the region and the likely pattern of human land-use during prehistory. Ceramic evidence suggests human presence in the region more than 3000 years ago. Traditional farming is labor intensive and relatively unproductive. Nevertheless, farmers achieve an energy return of 15.21, and produce 2600 kcal per work hour. Fish are the major protein source, but fish catch per unit of effort and fish yield per hectare of floodplain are very low; fishermen are probably exploiting local fish resources very close to their limit. The low human population density would suggest that the Río Negro forest has been relatively undisturbed. Nevertheless, charcoal is widespread and abundant in forest soils. This charcoal is probably from anthropogenic or natural wildfires. These results suggest a much more complex history for Amazonia than previously thought.K. Clark is a free-lance biologist residing in Lima, Peru     

Glomerular ultrastructure of the trout,Salmo gairdneri: Effects of angiotensin II and adaptation to seawater

Summary The effect of angiotensin infusion on the glomerular ultrastructure of freshwater- and seawater-adapted rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, has been examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Adaptation of trout to seawater resulted in epithelial podocyte flattening, primary process broadening and apparent loss of foot processes in almost all glomeruli, features which were uncommon in freshwater-adapted trout. Similar changes were induced by infusion of freshwater-adapted animals with angiotensin, suggesting that the renin-angiotensin system plays a role in the modification of glomerular epithelial ultrastructure. Adaptation of trout to seawater also reduced glomerular diameter, but infusion of freshwater-adapted animals with angiotensin did not mirror this effect. Infusion of angiotensin into seawater-adapted animals increased the overall thickness of glomerular basement membrane by increasing the lamina rara interna and lamina densa. This did not occur when freshwater-adapted fish were either infused with angiotensin or adapted to seawater. These findings suggest that other humoral systems are involved in the control of glomerular diameter and basement membrane thickness as part of an integrated response to increased environmental salinity.     

Migration of gall stones.

The factors influencing the migration of gall stones are ill understood. Altogether 331 patients undergoing cholecystectomy were studied prospectively. The diameters of the cystic and common bile ducts and of stones in the gall bladder and bile ducts were measured. Increasing pressure was applied to the freshly excised gall bladder in an attempt to evacuate stones through the cystic duct. Stones passed in 33 (60.0%) of patients with choledocholithiasis, 45 (67.2%) of patients with pancreatitis, and 7 (3.2%) of patients without either pancreatitis or choledocholithiasis. Stones migrated in 6 (3.0%) who had a normal cystic duct diameter (less than or equal to 4 mm) and in 46 (32.5%) with a duct over 4 mm diameter. Common bile duct stones were often larger than the diameter of the cystic duct and when reintroduced into the gall bladder would not migrate. The passage of debris (less than or equal to 1 mm) through the cystic duct bore no relation to the presence or absence of choledocholithiasis or a dilated cystic duct. Small stones (1-4 mm diameter) must migrate to initiate and facilitate further migration; some must increase in size in the common bile duct. Increased biliary pressure consequently dilates the duct system retrogradely, allowing larger stones to follow. Patients at risk of stone migration and thereby pancreatitis and jaundice have large ducts that can be detected by ultrasound assessment.