Plant phosphoglucose isomerase genes lack introns and are expressed in Escherichia coli

Nuclear genes that appear to encode both cytosolic and plastid isozymes of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI), an essential glycolytic enzyme, have been isolated from three diploid species of the annual wild flower genus Clarkia (Onagraceae). The genes do not contain introns and are expressed to varying degrees in Escherichia coli when cloned in either Charon 35 phage or pUC plasmid vectors. The PGI proteins synthesized in E. coli form dimers, are catalytically active, and their electrophoretic mobilities are similar to those of appropriate Clarkia PGIs. The nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding a plastid isozyme of C. unguiculata is described.     

Segregation Distortion of Marker Nuclear Genes in Alloplasmic and Isoplasmic Lines of Barley

Inheritance of barley nuclear genes responsible for various morphological marker traits was studied in hybrid populations F₂ and F_a. Nine marker genes showed deviation from Mendelian monogenic inheritance depending on the cross direction and maternal cytoplasm. Segregation biases to both recessive mutant and dominant normal phenotypes were observed. Mechanisms of the segregation bias related to cytoplasm substitution in iso- and alloplasmic lines are discussed.     

Art and Agency: A Reassessment

In his book, Art and agency , Alfred Gell presents a theory of art based neither on aesthetics nor on visual communication. Art is defined by the distinctive function it performs in advancing social relationships through 'the abduction of agency'. Art objects are indexes of the artist's or model's agency. This article examines Gell's use of agency, particularly in relation to the ritual art that is central to his argument. Focusing on Gell's employment of Peirce's term 'index' (out of his triad of index, icon, and symbol), I note that Peirce's approach deflects attention from signification towards the link between art works and the things to which they refer. I consider what Peirce meant by abduction, and conclude that while Gell makes a good case for the agency of art objects he does not explain the distinctive ways in which art objects extend their maker's or user's agency. Gell lacked the time to make detailed revisions before publication and I acknowledge that, given more time, he might have revised some parts of the book.     

The phospholipid-bound fatty acids of fowl and turkey spermatozoa

The composition of the phospholipid-bound fatty acids in the spermatozoa of the turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, and fowl, Gallus domesticus, was studied. The types of fatty acids were similar in the two birds. The ratio of polyunsaturated : saturated fatty acids was generally low but slightly higher in the turkey than in the fowl. The significance of the findings in relation to the origin of the semen collected in these gallinaceous birds and the greater difficulty of freezing turkey spermatozoa was discussed.     

Distribution of calcareous nannoplankton in surface sediments from intertidal and shallow marine regimes of a marginal sea: Jason Bay,South China Sea

The surface sediments collected from the intertidal and shallow marine (0–20 m) regimes of Jason Bay, South China Sea contain calcareous nannoplankton assemblages in whichGephyrocapsa oceanica comprises 99% of the assemblage. The calcareous nannoplankton diversity is very low and the abundance of species tends to increase with both depth and distance offshore and becomes abundant in samples from water depths of 18 m and 20 m.Emiliania huxleyi is absent from all studied samples. The sediments from the intertidal regime contained rare calcareous nannoplankton.     

Ultrastructure of a colonial radiolarian Collozoum inerme and a cytochemical determination of the role of its zooxanthellae

Collozoum inerme (Müller) is a colonial Radiolarian containing numerous cells bound in a common gelatinous matrix. The cells do not possess a skeleton as observed in many unicellular Radiolaria, but the cytoplasmic organization is similar. The cells are multinucleate and a complex system of cellular processes containing mitochondria, Golgi, and numerous vacuoles radiate out from the nuclear region. The endoplasm is connected to the ectoplasm across a double membrane boundary by thin cytoplasmic strands called fusules whose structure resemble those in unicellular Radiolaria. The ectoplasm contains a lacy network of vacuoles containing an osmiophilic substance. Rhizopodia emerge from the ectoplasmic sheath. Some are thin and densely granular. Larger diameter rhizopodia, containing less dense cytoplasm, sequester the zooxanthellae which present a typical dinoflagellate fine structure. Some of the zooxanthellae are apparently cultivated since they are sometimes observed dividing and persist in large numbers when colonies are cultivated under illumination for several weeks in the laboratory. However, colonies maintained in the dark have a decline in number of zooxanthellae and light microscopic examination shows they are being drawn into the ectoplasm of the radiolarian cells. Electron microscopic examination of zooxanthellae drawn into the ectoplasm sheath indicates they are digested. C. inerme is a remarkable example of a simple cellular aggregate that has exploited its colonial habit to culture algae and use them as food thus possibly enhancing the viability of the colony.     

Intercentral correlations in the cerebral cortex according to the EEG coherence index after restoration of consciousness and speech following prolonged coma

Power spectra and coherence function of EEG of various cortical areas of both hemispheres were analyzed in 9 patients with extremely protracted loss of consciousness. Five patients were in the state of posttraumatic apallic syndrome lasting for more than 4 years in one patient, and 4-9 months with successive lethal outcome in 4 patients. One patient for more than 2 years was in a state of areactivity to external signals. In 3 patients the process of recovery of consciousness and speech began in 1-2 months. At the apallic syndrome, only low-frequency EEG components were present in spectrograms, and the values of coherence function were sharply decreased. With recovering consciousness and speech, a gradual appearance of alpha-activity was observed as well as an increase of coherence values at the frequency of the alpha-rhythm. The recovery of intercentral EEG relations in the motor-verbal cortical area was shown to play a special role in further normalization of connections in the cerebral cortex.