Genetic distances between the Utah Mormons and related populations

Gene frequency data, consisting of six red cell antigen loci, nine electrophoretic systems, and HLA-A and -B are reported for the Utah Mormon population. These are compared statistically to gene frequencies from at U.S. population, 13 European populations, and seven populations from three religious isolates. The Mormon gene frequencies are similar to those of their northern European ancestors. This is explained by the large founding size of the Mormon population and high rates of gene flow. In contrast, the religious isolates (Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites) show marked divergence from their ancestral populations and each other, due to isolation and random genetic drift. The HLA loci and electrophoretic loci presented here yield sets of genetic distances that are highly correlated (r = .734) and that both correspond closely to the actual geographic distances among the European populations. The genetic distances based on red cell antigen loci correspond less closely to the geographic distances and exhibit lower correlations with both the HLA and electrophoretic loci (r = .524 and r = .565, respectively).     

Familial predisposition to Wilms tumor does not segregate with the WT1 gene.

Wilms tumor (WT) is one of the more common childhood cancers. A small fraction of WT occurs in association with aniridia, genitourinary abnormalities and mental retardation, the WAGR syndrome, and these cases often are accompanied by a constitutional deletion of all or part of band 11p13. Recently a WT susceptibility gene (WT1), localized to 11p13, has been isolated and shown to be inactivated in some sporadic WTs. In the present study, a highly informative CA repeat polymorphism within the gene was studied in a family with six affected members in three generations. Predisposition to WT in this large family did not segregate with this polymorphism. Furthermore, linkage analysis indicated exclusion of WT predisposition from 11p15. These results provide definitive evidence that familial predisposition to WT can be mediated by a gene other than WT1.     

Evidence against the reported linkage of the cutaneous melanoma-dysplastic nevus syndrome locus to chromosome Ip36.

The reported linkage between cutaneous melanoma and the dysplastic nevus syndrome (CM/DNS) to markers located on the distal portion of the short arm of chromosome 1 was examined in three Utah kindreds ascertained for multiple cases of melanoma. Family members in these kindreds were genotyped for the two markers reported to be most closely linked in the Bale study, PND and D1S47. Both melanoma alone and a combined melanoma/DNS phenotype were analyzed; no evidence for linkage was found. By multipoint linkage analysis the CM/DNS locus was excluded from an area of 55 cM containing the PND-D1S47 region. Diagnostic or genetic heterogeneity are alternate explanations for the discrepancy between our observations and those of Bale et al.     

Inhibition of [3H]Diazepam and [3H]3-Carboethoxy-β-Carboline Binding by Irazepine: Evidence for Multiple "Domains" of the Benzodiazepine Receptor

The binding of [3H]diazepam and [3H]3-carboethoxy-beta-carboline was examined in rat brain synaptosomal membranes treated with irazepine, an alkylating benzodiazepine. Under incubation conditions that resulted in a 25-33% reduction in the Bmax of [3H]diazepam binding, only modest (less than 8.5%) reductions in the Bmax of [3H]3-carboethoxy-beta-carboline were observed. The differential effects of irazepine on the binding of these two compounds may be explained by the presence of multiple areas or "domains" on the benzodiazepine receptor.     

Discovery and development of exome‐based,co‐dominant single nucleotide polymorphism markers in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Globally, wheat is the most widely grown crop and one of the three most important crops for human and livestock feed. However, the complex nature of the wheat genome has, until recently, resulted in a lack of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based molecular markers of practical use to wheat breeders. Recently, large numbers of SNP‐based wheat markers have been made available via the use of next‐generation sequencing combined with a variety of genotyping platforms. However, many of these markers and platforms have difficulty distinguishing between heterozygote and homozygote individuals and are therefore of limited use to wheat breeders carrying out commercial‐scale breeding programmes. To identify exome‐based co‐dominant SNP‐based assays, which are capable of distinguishing between heterozygotes and homozygotes, we have used targeted re‐sequencing of the wheat exome to generate large amounts of genomic sequences from eight varieties. Using a bioinformatics approach, these sequences have been used to identify 95 266 putative single nucleotide polymorphisms, of which 10 251 were classified as being putatively co‐dominant. Validation of a subset of these putative co‐dominant markers confirmed that 96% were true polymorphisms and 65% were co‐dominant SNP assays. The new co‐dominant markers described here are capable of genotypic classification of a segregating locus in polyploid wheat and can be used on a variety of genotyping platforms; as such, they represent a powerful tool for wheat breeders. These markers and related information have been made publically available on an interactive web‐based database to facilitate their use on genotyping programmes worldwide.     

Patterns of bee diversity in mosaic agricultural landscapes of central Uganda: implication of pollination services conservation for food security

Little is known about bee communities and pollination services conservation strategies in sub-Sahara Africa. A study was conducted at 26 different sites with varying local landscape characteristics in farmlands of central Uganda in 2006. Bees were sampled using coloured pantraps, handnet and line transect counts. Overall 80,883 bee individuals from 6 families and 652 species were encountered. The bee fauna was characterized by a lower diversity of Melittidae and Andrenidae and a high diversity of Apidae, Megachilidae and Halictidae. Megachile and Lasioglossum were the two most species-rich genera. The most abundant species was Apis mellifera adansonii Linnaeus (23 % of total individuals) followed by Hypotrigona gribodoi Magretti (19 %), Meliponula ferruginea Lepeletier (13 %), Lasioglossum ugandicum Cockerell (7 %), Apis mellifera scutellata Latreille (6 %), Allodapula acutigera Cockerell (6 %), Ceratina rufigastra Cockerell (5 %), Ceratina tanganyicensis Strand (5 %), Braunsapis angolensis Cockerell (5 %), Megachile rufipes Fabricius (5 %), Meliponula bocandei Spinola (5 %) and Seladonia jucundus Smith (5 %). The mean number of species recorded per study site per day ranged between 14 and 49, whereas the abundance ranged between 188 and 1,859 individuals. Study sites in areas with intense land-use had species-poor bee communities compared to sites with medium to low land-use intensities. Study sites with riparian forest fragments and wetlands, or with forest fallows in their vicinity had significantly (P < 0.05) higher species richness and diversity than sites dominated by small-scale monoculture/polyculture fields or sites dominated by either simple or complex traditional agroforestry systems. An ordination analysis also revealed that bee communities were significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by the presence of semi-natural habitats (woodlands, fallows) and forest fragments in the surrounding of fields. Thus, natural and semi-natural habitats are of great value for afrotropical farmland bee communities. There is a need to put in place strategies and policies for semi-natural and forest fragments preservation for spatio-temporal stability of pollination services in rural landscapes. Farmers are recommended to increase on-farm trees cover to safeguard and enhance pollination function and services in fields. Mimicking natural vegetation through promoting establishment of forest plantations and village community forestry in rural landscapes is also critical for conserving pollination services.