RFLP and linkage analysis of the porcine casein loci—CASAS1, CASAS2, CASB and CASK

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were revealed at the porcine casein loci with the following combinations of restriction endonucleases and porcine cDNA clones: α_s1,-casein (TaqI); α_s2-casein (BamHI); and ß-casein (Sacl). These RFLPs were shown to be under simple monogenic control by segregation analysis of two- and three-generation families. The CASAS1, CASAS2 and CASB casein loci were also shown to be linked with no recombinant haplotypes observed amongst 77 meioses in Large White and Meishan F₁ and F₂ crosses. No recombinants were observed in a further 106 meioses that were informative for linkage between CASAS1 and CASAS2.     

Male Horn Dimorphism and its Function in the Neotropical Dung Beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sulcophanaeus velutinus</Emphasis>

Horned beetles are emerging models in the study of coevolution between novel morphologies and behavior. In Onthophagus beetles, large males use horns to fight other males in brood tunnels while small males with higher mobility sneak around the large males to gain access to females. Mating tactics have rarely been described in other dung beetle genera. We studied the horned dung beetle Sulcophanaeus velutinus that exhibits two parallel horns on the prothorax and one on the head. We put two males of different horn lengths, but similar mass, in observation chambers and found that the large male with longer horns won access to the female in physical competition. Speed tests in artificial tunnels show that locomotion is impeded in large males, suggesting an advantage in mobility for males with small horns. This work contributes to the limited existing evidence on the function of alternative morphologies in horned dung beetles taxa.     

integRATE: a desirability-based data integration framework for the prioritization of candidate genes across heterogeneous omics and its application to preterm birth

Background

The integration of high-quality, genome-wide analyses offers a robust approach to elucidating genetic factors involved in complex human diseases. Even though several methods exist to integrate heterogeneous omics data, most biologists still manually select candidate genes by examining the intersection of lists of candidates stemming from analyses of different types of omics data that have been generated by imposing hard (strict) thresholds on quantitative variables, such as P-values and fold changes, increasing the chance of missing potentially important candidates.

Methods

To better facilitate the unbiased integration of heterogeneous omics data collected from diverse platforms and samples, we propose a desirability function framework for identifying candidate genes with strong evidence across data types as targets for follow-up functional analysis. Our approach is targeted towards disease systems with sparse, heterogeneous omics data, so we tested it on one such pathology: spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB).

Results

We developed the software integRATE, which uses desirability functions to rank genes both within and across studies, identifying well-supported candidate genes according to the cumulative weight of biological evidence rather than based on imposition of hard thresholds of key variables. Integrating 10 sPTB omics studies identified both genes in pathways previously suspected to be involved in sPTB as well as novel genes never before linked to this syndrome. integRATE is available as an R package on GitHub (https://github.com/haleyeidem/integRATE).

Conclusions

Desirability-based data integration is a solution most applicable in biological research areas where omics data is especially heterogeneous and sparse, allowing for the prioritization of candidate genes that can be used to inform more targeted downstream functional analyses.

     

The Identity of “Chromium Malate”

Recently, several studies on the effects of a compound named “chromium malate,” with the proposed formula “Cr₂malate₃·xH₂O” where x = 3.5 or 5, on the health of healthy and diabetic rats have appeared. However, the compound is poorly characterized, and knowing the identity of this material could be important in the interpretation of the previous and of future studies on the effects of this compound in animals. Consequently, the synthesis, characterization, and identity of this material were explored. A combination of spectroscopic, magnetic, and elemental analyses and mass spectral studies reveal that the compound is probably a polymer, not a discrete molecule, and does not have the composition previously reported. The repeating unit of the polymer possesses an antiferromagnetically coupled trinuclear Cr(III) core. The current study suggests that previous reports on chromium malate and its effects in animals must be viewed with caution.

     

Bear's Hiding Place: Ishi's Last Refuge

Bear's Hiding Place: Ishi's Last Refuge. 1998. 18 minutes, color. video by Jed Riffe. For more information, contact University of California Extension, Center for Media and Independent Learning, 2000 Center Street. Fourth Floor, Berkeley. CA 94704.     

Big science meets small embryos

A meeting report from the Santa Cruz Developmental Biology Meeting, University of California at Santa Cruz, USA, July 21-25, 2000.     

Chemical and biological studies on 1,2-dihydro-S-triazines

Summary A series of 1,2-dihydro-s-triazines has been studied inLactobacillus casei # 7469-pteroylglutamic acid systems. The active derivatives exhibit a competitive inhibition similar to that of 4-aminopteroylglutamic acid, but differ from the latter in that inhibition is not relieved by adenine or guanine, and at appropriate concentrations of inhibitor, is not reversed by excess pteroylglutamic acid. Differences in microbiological activity can be correlated with certain alterations in the structure of the molecule, maximum activity being exhibited by the 2,2-dimethyl-phenyl- and 2,2-dimethyl-m-chlorophenyl derivatives. The inhibitory effect of these compounds is reversed·by appropriate concentrations of dihydropteroylglutamic acid, N¹⁰-formylpteroylglutamic acid, synthetic and natural citrovorum factor, thymine and thymidine. The similarity in inhibition indices obtained vs the various forms of pteroylglutamic acid inLactobacillus casei bioassay systems and the correlation with those vs citrovorum factor inStreptococcus faecalis # 8043 andLeuconostoc citrovorum # 8081 bioassay systems suggests that inhibition ofLactobacillus casei is the result of interference with the utilization of citrovorum factor. Part I: J. Amer. Chem. Soc.74, 855, 1952; Amer. J. Path.28, 599, 1952; II: J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1955, in press; III: J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1955, in press; IV: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.83, 733, 1953; V: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.83, 740, 1953; VI: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.83, 742, 1953. The experimental work for this and studies VIII, IX, and X in this series was done in part at the Laboratorium voor de Gezondheidscleer, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Nederland, which is directed by Professor DrA. Charlotte Ruys, and these four reports are based upon a thesis submitted by G.E.F. to the Faculteit der Wis-en Natuurkunde, in partial fulfiment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Science.     

THE INSECTICIDES—Their Hazard in Industry and in the Home Part I—Chemistry and Pharmacology

Chemical, pharmacologic and toxicologic properties of the chlorinated hydrocarbon and organic phosphate insecticides have been reviewed. The chlorinated group present problems if there is either acute or chronic exposure, whereas the problems associated with the organic phosphates develop only in event of acute exposure.Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides accumulate in body fat depots and cause both liver and kidney damage while being metabolized and excreted. Organic phosphates destroy cholinesterase and produce effects related to overstimulation of the cholinergic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Barbiturates control the convulsions produced by the chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides. Atropine blocks most of the effects of the organic phosphate insecticides. These compounds may be grouped in the following order of decreasing toxicity: TEPP, HETP, parathion, OMPA, ENP, aldrin, chlorophenothane, toxaphene, gamma benzene hexachloride, malathon and chlordane.