Nuclear DNA polymorphisms in a wild population of yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus) from Mikumi National Park,Tanzania

Yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus) from Mikumi National Park, Tanzania were studied for polymorphisms in nuclear DNA. The study population consists of four social groups that inhabit overlapping home ranges and exchange males. As a result, these groups are considered to be members of a single interbreeding population. Human DNA clones were used as probes to screen five loci (AT3, REN, HEXB, VIM, and APOB) for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP). A total of 14 polymorphisms, at least one at each locus, was detected in a panel of 27 baboons tested using six restriction enzymes for each locus. Eleven of these RFLP systems have average heterozygosity values greater than 0.40. This initial screening demonstrates that human DNA clones can be used to detect significant numbers of informative DNA polymorphisms in single-copy nuclear genes of this species and suggests that the average proportion of nucleotides polymorphic across nuclear loci in this population may be between 1.0% and 1.3%. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Host plant and crowding effects in the induction of alatae in the large pine aphid, Cinara pinea

Alate virginoparae of Cinara pinea occur on Scots pine trees only during June and early July, when population numbers are at their highest. Crowding experience during nymphal life promotes the development of winged adults, but only if the tree is in the stage of active shoot growth. Later in the season when shoots are mature, alatae are suppressed, irrespective of crowding. Changing daylength and temperature do not appear to influence alate production and maternal experience of crowding has no effect on the nymphal response. The possible nature of the host plant effect is discussed in the light of this and previous work.

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Résumé Les virginipares ailés de Cinara pinea apparais sent sur Pinus sylvestris L. uniquement en juin et au début juillet, quand les effectifs de la population sont au plus haut. Des expériences de surpeuplement pendant le dernier stade larvaire n'induisent le développement d'adultes ailés que si l'arbre est au stade où la croissance des pousses est active. Plus tard dans la saison, quand les pousses sont mûres, les ailés sont réprimés, quel que soit le surpeuplement. Les modifications de la longueur du jour et de la température ne semblent pas influencer la production d'ailés et le surpeuplement subi par les mères n'a pas d'effet sur la réponse des larves âgées. La nature de cet effet de la plante-hôte est envisagée à la lumière de cette étude et de travaux précédents.

     

Clinical applications of cytometry: 5th annual meeting

The 5th annual Clinical Applications of Cytometry meeting was held September 12-15, 1990 in charleston, SC. The theme which emerged repeatedly throughout the meeting was the need to take full advantage of the quantitative power of cytometry to provide the most useful clinically relevant diagnostic and prognostic information. Greater quantitative power is based on careful and reproducible standards and quality control. The same principles, albeit with somewhat different approaches, apply to cell surface immunofluorescence analysis, DNA measurements, and image cytometry assessments. Monoclonal antibody probes against oncogenes, others against lymphokines within the Golgi, and a novel fluorogenic substrate designed to quantitate the activity of a mitochondrial enzyme were exciting developments described at the meeting.