Location of a gene conditioning seed coat colour in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) using chromosomal interchanges

The geneG, conditioning seed coat colour was found to be located at 15.37±3.05 map units from the breakage point of one of six newly induced interchanges in linseed. Since no information about the karyotype in linseed is available, the chromosome on whichG is located, cannot be specified.Part of a thesis submitted by the second author at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, for a Ph.D. degree.     

A colorimetric assay for lignin based on its reaction with diazotized sulfanilic acid and its use in studies on lignin biodegradation by bacteria

Summary Studies on lignin biodegradation are considerably hampered by the lack of a simple analytical method. A rapid colorimetric assay for lignin has been developed using its reaction with a diazotized derivative of sulfanilic acid. Using such a method degradation of lignin, by an isolateErwinia sp. Cu3614, and by a genetically engineeredAcinetobacter PE7(pDPE2388) containing the arylether cleaving gene fromErwinia, has been followed.     

A comparison of different sources of information about pregnancy and childbirth

Different methods of obtaining information in medical and social research present problems of interpretation for the researcher. However, there are few systematic studies on the extent of the lack of concordance yielded by different methods. This paper uses data from a randomized controlled trial of social support in pregnancy to examine this issue in relation to three methods of data collection--medical records, home interviews and a postal questionnaire--on the following topics: obstetric history; smoking, alcohol use, number of antenatal hospital visits, bleeding and depression in pregnancy; length of labour; baby's sex, birthweight and neonatal health problems; and ethnicity. Considerable discrepancies are found comparing the different data sources. These suggest that mothers may be more reliable sources of information than medical records, and that the anonymity of a postal questionnaire may provide higher estimates than home interviews on some sensitive topics, such as smoking in pregnancy.     

Strontium-90 and caesium-137 in Indian tea

The paper presents results of measurements made on tea samples, collected during 1961-1979 period for their strontium-90 and caesium-137 content. Tea was found to contain higher concentration of these radioisotopes compared to other food-stuffs having vegetative origin. Levels in tea are compared with those in leafy vegetables from both India and Japan. Interpretation for higher concentrations in tea compared to leafy vegetables is briefly given on the basis of agro-climatic conditions. The levels are also considered from the point of view of health hazard.     

Production and optimization of microbial lipase

Production of lipase by the newly isolated Pseu-domonas species has been optimised. Various parameters like initial pH, temperature, incubation period, effect of agitation, inoculum age, inoculum concentration were optimised. It was observed that modified GYP media with 72 hrs incubation, pH 5.5, at 37?°C in agitation conditions were optimum for growth and production of lipase. While optimising the effect of some additional carbon and nitrogen sources, 7% (v/v) olive oil concentration, and 1% (w/v) mannose were found to be the best. In between prediction of the activities has been done through computer programming.     

Pathogenic LMNA variants disrupt cardiac lamina-chromatin interactions and de-repress alternative fate genes

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Distribution of metal ions in the subcellular fractions of several rat brain areas.

The levels of Cu, Fe, Zn, Mg and Ca in the synaptosomal myelin and mitochondrial fractions of the rat brain were determined quantitatively by means of the atomic absorption spectroscopic method. In the whole brain the concentrations of the metals were present in the three different fractions in the following range; Cu, 0.46-1.76; Fe, 0.24-3.51; Zn, 0.12-0.93; Mg, 1.08-1.41 and Ca, 1.28-3.56 μg/mg tissue protein. Analyses of the subcellular organelles prepared from different areas of the brain indicated that the concentrations of Cu and Zn were relatively larger in the hypothalamus and lower in cerebellum in comparison with other areas. On treatment of the rats with the metal chelating agents i.e., EDA, EDDHA and HBED intracisternally, it was found that the distribution of the subcellular metals was markedly affected.