Levels of genetic diversity at different stages of the domestication cycle of interior spruce in British Columbia

Concerns over the reductionist nature of the domestication of forest-tree species focus on the possibility of potential genetic erosion during this process. To address these concerns, genetic diversity assessments in a breeding zone the Province of British Columbia “interior” spruce (Picea glauca×engelmanni) program was conducted using allozyme markers. Genetic-variation comparisons were made between natural and production (seed orchard) populations as well as seed and seedling crops produced from the same breeding zone’s seed orchard. The natural population sample consisted of a total of 360 trees representing three stands within each of three watersheds present in the Shuswap-Adams low-elevation zone of interior British Columbia. Small amounts of genetic differentiation were observed among the nine natural populations (4%) and this was attributable to extensive gene flow Consequently, the sum of these nine populations was considered as a baseline for the genetic variation present in the breeding zone. The comparisons between the seed orchard and the breeding zone produced a similar percentage of polymorphic loci while the expected hetrozygosity (0.207 vs 0.210) and the average number of alleles per locus (2.7 vs 2.4) were slightly lower in the seed orchard. A total of seven natural populations’ rare alleles were not present in the orchard population, while one allele was unique to the orchard. The %P increased to 70.6% in the seedlot, but dropped to the natural populations level (64.7%) in the plantation. The observed increase in %P was a result of pollen contamination in the orchard. It is suspected that the reduction in the plantation was caused by an unintentional selection in the nursery. Simulated roguing in the orchard did not drastically reduce even if up to 50% of the orchard’s clones were rogued. However, roguing was associated with a reduction in the average number of alleles per locus (i.e., sampling effect). Received: 2 January 1996 / Accepted: 24 May 1996     

A strategy to study gene polymorphism by direct sequence analysis of cosmid clones and amplified genomic DNA

A two-step strategy is described here to rapidly analyze gene-sequence variation or polymorphism. First, DNA sequences flanking the coding region of the gene to be analyzed are determined directly from a cosmid clone, including the gene, using the modified T7 DNA polymerase and sequencing primers based on the cDNA sequence of the gene. Second, the identified gene-flanking sequences are used to design amplification primers for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to permit amplification of DNA segments of up to 1 kilobase in genomic DNA from multiple individuals. These amplified DNA segments are directly sequenced using the thermostable Taq DNA polymerase.     

Acetate production from lactate and glucose fermentation by Gluconobacter oxydans

Summary The production of acetate from the fermentation of lactate by Gluconobacter oxydans was studied. Batch experiments showed that glucose was the preferred substrate compared to lactate. A fed-batch culture was fed with a mixture of glucose and lactate followed by periodic addition of lactate. The maximum productivity of acetate was 0.16 g/l h but this value decreased during the fedbatch culture due to growth inhibition by acetate.     

False negative cytologic diagnosis of breast carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To study the reasons for interpretive errors in false negative diagnosis of breast carcinoma on fine needle aspiration cytology material. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed only those histologically proved malignant cases where the cytologic material was abnormal and to some extent misinterpreted. RESULTS: There were four lobular carcinomas and one each case of in situ, infiltrating duct, medullary and tubular carcinoma. Smears of lobular carcinomas were hypocellular overall, and the cells showed minimal nuclear pleomorphism. In situ, medullary and tubular carcinoma were associated with fibrocystic changes. The presence of bipolar cells and stromal fragments was misleading in cases of infiltrating duct carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The presence of associated fibrocystic disease may be a misleading factor since it may mask a malignancy. Hypocellularity and relatively nuclear monomorphism were the most common reasons for failure to diagnose malignant breast lesions. Careful attention should be paid to extreme nuclear monomorphism and absence of naked bipolar cells. A cytologically atypical or suspicious diagnosis together with radiologic suspicion should suggest a diagnosis of malignancy.     

Mammalian biochronology of the Paleogene-Neogene boundary at Aktau Mountain, eastern Kazakhstan

At Aktau Mountain in the Ili depression of eastern Kazakstan, fossil mammals that encompass the Paleogene-Neogene boundary occur at three stratigraphic levels. The lowest level is in the lower Kyzylbulak Formation and produces Brontotheriidae and the hyracodontidArdynia and is tentatively assigned a late Eocene (Ergilian) age. The lower part of the overlying Aktau Formation produces fossils of the giant rhinocerosParaceratherium and is tentatively assigned a late Oligocene (Tabenbulukian) age. The upper part of the Aktau Formation yields a fossil mammal assemblage that includesGomphotherium,Stephanocemas, Brachypotherium andLagomeryx. It is clearly of Miocene age, probably late early Miocene (late Burdigalian), a correlative of European Reference Level MN 5 and the late Shanwangian of China. The Paleogene-Neogene boundary at Aktau Mountain thus is in the Aktau Formation.     

Microspectrophotometric and scanning microphotometric studies of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) erythrocytes

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) hemoglobin readily autoxidizes in blood smears. Quantification of Soret-band absorbance in individual erythrocytes by means of scanning cytophotometry therefore requires more elaborate methods of preparation of blood samples. Of the fixatives that have been tested, suspension of whole blood in isotonic salt solutions containing glutaraldehyde was most suitable. Glutaraldehyde-fixed red blood cells are totally resistant to hemolysis. In the course of fixation, hemoglobin is transformed to methemoglobin. Spectrophotometry indicated extensive similarities between glutaraldehyde-fixed carp methemoglobin and human methemoglobin. In aqueous solutions, the intensity of the Soret-peak was pH-dependent. The allosteric modifier organic polyphosphate caused an R----T transition, resulting in increased molar extinctions. Dried preparations showed Soret-spectra that were not influenced from either pH or organic polyphosphate concentration of the aqueous suspensions in which the erythrocytes had been stored. The same was true for slide preparations of cyanomethemoglobin, easily derived from methemoglobin on addition of potassium cyanide. In the absence of oxygen fresh blood cells from carp slowly transform their hemoglobin into deoxyhemoglobin. Spectra of the intermediate stages of deoxygenation, Hb4(O2)3, Hb4(O2)2 and Hb4(O2), as well as mixtures of these intermediates, could be monitored.