Factors contributing to discrepancies in population monitoring studies

A review of the scientific literature on population monitoring studies (on non-accidentally exposed populations) frequently show that many of these studies using similarly exposed populations and the same laboratory techniques do not produce consistent results. To illustrate the problem, a brief review of studies using well validated techniques (chromosome aberrations and hprt gene mutation) to elucidate genotoxic effects of cigarette smoking is presented. Although many factors can contribute to the generation of discrepant results, two obvious factors are small sample sizes and inadequate experimental data. In addition, a new factor on genetic susceptibility should be considered in population studies whenever appropriate. The new factor is based on recent data showing the influence of polymorphic metabolizing genes on response to environmental mutagens towards biological effects and disease outcome. The common ones include the cytochrome P450 and the glutathione S-transferase genes. The inclusion of susceptibility factors in population monitoring may revolutionize the approach for health risk assessment and for environmental regulations.     

普通小麦与祖山羊草杂种后代的细胞遗传学初步研究

粗山羊草(Aegilops tauschii(Coss.)Schmal.,DD,2n=14)是普通小麦(Triticumaestivum L.,AABBDD,2n=42)D染色体组的供体。粗山羊草中含有丰富的抗病,抗虫,抗逆,优质等优异基因,因此粗山羊草是改良普通小麦的宝贵遗传资源。但有关普通小麦与粗山羊草杂交的研究报道较少。本文试图通过对普通小麦与粗山羊草杂种后代的细胞遗传学和染色体分离规律的研究,探讨转移粗山羊草优异基因的方法和途径。     

彭泽鲫染色体数目及倍性的细胞遗传学分析

对彭泽鲫(Carassius auratus variety pengze)肾细胞染色体的数目统计分析表明，彭泽鲫染色体组是由150条基本染色体和若干条小的超数染色体组成。染色体组型按着丝粒位置150条基本染色体可分为四组，每组中同源染色体的组数与已知二倍体鲫鱼的同源染色体组数一致。每个染色体小组均由三条同源染色体组成。在亚端部着丝粒染色体组(st)的第三号染色体组的三条同源染色体的短臂上均有非常明显的随体，可作为彭泽鲫是三倍体的细胞遗传学证据。彭泽鲫肾细胞的DNA相对含量是二倍体红鲫肾细胞DNA相对含量的1．55倍，与染色体实验结果一致。这些研究结果表明，彭泽鲫是一种三倍体鲫鱼，其染色体数目为3n＝150 ，核型公式为3n＝33m 51sm 33st 33t。     

C-Banding Patterns and Quantitative Karyotype Characteristics of Bulgarian Species of Crepis (Asteraceae)

Abstract: Giemsa C-banded idiograms were established from eight Crepis species of Bulgarian origin ( Crepis viscidula, C. paludosa, C. conyzaefolia, C. bithynica var. bithynica and var. fodorii, C. pulchra, C. sancta, C. setosa, and C. zacintha ) that had been previously studied for genome size and karyotype shape using classical methods. All taxa are diploids with descending chromosome numbers, x = 6, 5, 4, and 3. Satellites were always heterochromatic. Small but distinct centromeric bands were of general occurrence (except perhaps in C. paludosa ) and terminal bands were present at least in some chromosomes of the karyotypes. Higher amounts of heterochromatin in the form of terminal and intercalary bands were found in C. bithynica and C. zacintha, but banding patterns were not so specifically similar as to indicate common origin. There are a number of particular karyotypic characters which may turn out to be phylogenetically significant when corresponding information on many related taxa becomes available. Correlations of karyotypic parameters were calculated. In heterochromatin only percent heterochromatin, but not absolute heterochromatin amount, and genome size were significantly correlated. This is the result of a strong euchromatin variation but independent heterochromatin variation.     

Karyotype and mitochondrial 16S gene characterizations in seven South American Cichlasomatini species (Perciformes, Cichlidae)

The family Cichlidae constitutes most of the freshwater fish fauna of South America; its taxonomy is at present mainly based on morphological characters. Here, relationships among seven Cichlasomatini species have been investigated by studying their karyotype structure and by sequencing a 520 bp fragment of the mitochondrial 16S gene. Molecular data sets point to a high affinity of Cichlasoma amazonarum with Aequidens sensu stricto group, in particular with Aequidens tetramerus . Aequidens never form a single monophyletic clade: molecular trees group together ' Aequidens pulcher ' and ' Aequidens rivulatus ' and suggest their close relationship with Bujurquina and Laetacara , rather than with the A. sensu stricto group. Both molecular and karyotypic data confirm that Cleithracara maronii belongs to a distinct clade, thus supporting its generic differentiation based on morphological characters. Chromosome number, karyotype structure and molecular data suggest that Laetacara dorsigera is related to Bujurquina vittata and confirm their generic level of differentiation. From a cytotaxonomic point of view, a karyotype of 2 n  = 48 with most acrocentric or subacrocentric chromosomes could be the ancestral one from which the others might have derived.     

Potential Role of Transposable Elements in the Rapid Reorganization of the Fusarium oxysporum Genome

The activity of several families of transposable elements (TEs) in the genome of Fusarium oxysporum represents a potential source of karyotypic instability. We investigated transposon-mediated chromosome rearrangements by analyzing the karyotypes of a set of strains in which transposition events had occurred. We uncovered exceptional electrophoretic karyotype (EK) variability, in both number and size of chromosomal bands. We showed that EK differences result from chromosomal translocations, large deletions, and even more complex rearrangements. We also revealed many duplicated chromosomal regions. By following transposition of two elements and analyzing the distribution of different families of TEs on whole chromosomes, we find (i) no evidence of chromosomal breakages induced by transposition, (ii) a clustering of TEs in some regions, and (iii) a correlation between the high level of chromosomal polymorphism and the concentration of TEs. These results suggest that chromosome length polymorphisms likely result from ectopic recombination between TEs that can serve as substrates for these changes.     

Chromosomal diversity in the genus Arvicanthis (Rodentia, Muridae) from East Africa: a taxonomic and phylogenetic evaluation

In this paper we discuss the contribution of cytogenetics to the systematics of Arvicanthis in East Africa, by reviewing all the known chromosomal cytotypes of the genus in the area. We also provide G‐ and C‐banding comparisons for two recently described karyotypes, provisionally named ANI‐5 (2n = 56, NFa = 62) and ANI‐6 (2n = 60, NFa = 72). This, therefore, brings the total number of known cytotypes in this area to 10. Five of these correspond to the species recognized by the latest rodent checklist, i.e. A. nairobae (2n = 62, NFa = 78), A. neumanni (2n = 52–53, NFa = 62), A. blicki (2n = 48, NFa = 62), A. abyssinicus (2n = 62, NFa = 64) and A. niloticus (2n = 62, NFa = 60–62). The taxonomic status of the remaining five cytotypes (A. cf. somalicus, 2n = 62 NFa = 62–63; ANI‐5, 2n = 56, NFa = 62; ANI‐6/6a 2n = 60, NFa = 72/76; ANI‐7, 2n = 56, NFa = 78; and ANI‐8, 2n = 44, NF = 72) is discussed. Finally, we reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among all the known karyotypes on the basis of banding data available for the genus in Africa and show the occurrence of two main clades, each characterized by different types of chromosomal rearrangements. The times of the cladogenetic events, inferred by a molecular clock, indicate that karyotype evolution has accomplished almost all the dichotomic events from the end of the Miocene to the present day. The discovery of a large chromosomal differentiation between populations showing low genetic distances and intrapopulation chromosomal polymorphism suggests that the process of chromosomal differentiation in Arvicanthis is still ongoing and may possibly be responsible for speciation.     

Extensive chromosomal rearrangements and nuclear DNA content changes in the evolution of the armoured catfishes genus Corydoras (Pisces, Siluriformes, Callichthyidae)

Karyotypes and nuclear DNA content were studied in 11 species of the genus Corydoras from rivers in South America: C . sp. from Caripi river 2 n =60, C . cf. simulatus 2 n =62, C . simulatus 2 n =62, C . reticulatus 2 n =74, C . sp. from Galheiro river 2 n =84, C . aff. punctatus from Negro river 2 n =102, C . flaveolus 2 n =58, C . arcuatus 2 n =46, C . trilineatus 2 n =46, C . schwartzi 2 n =46, and C . metae 2 n =92. Extensive chromosome diversity and differences in DNA content were detected among species. The high variability in chromosome counts was not exclusively related to chromosomal structural rearrangements, but also to large changes in DNA content. Species could be grouped using their shared cytogenetic characteristics, suggesting that within the genus Corydoras different groups of species followed distinct evolutionary trends. Chromosomal rearrangements in Corydoras are, apparently, more frequent that morphological modifications, so cytogenetic data may be very useful for species delimitation and for the understanding of interrelationships among species.     

激光辐照玉米诱发同工酶及染色体变异的研究

利用ＣＯ２激光辐照玉米种子,分析了酯酶同工酶（ＥＳＴ）和过氧化物酶同工酶（ＰＯＤ）及根尖细胞染色体变异,探讨了苗期损伤与染色体和同工酶变异的关系。结果表明：ＣＯ２激光辐照可诱发ＥＳＴ和ＰＯＤ活性和种类的变化,ＥＳＴ３和ＰＯＤ３随辐照剂量增加活性逐渐减弱以致消失,在根尖细胞中可观察到微核、染色体落后和染色体桥等变异,其畸变率的剂量效应可用Ｙ＝ａ＋ｂｘ来描述。Ｍ１种子发芽率、苗高与同工酶变化大小表现出     

中国芦荟染色体核型分析

以中国芦荟为试验材料,按常规染色体压片法,观察中期分裂相并进行显微摄影。染色体类型按Ｌｅｖａｎ方法分类,其核型为Ｋ（２ｎ）＝６ｓｔ＋８ｓｍ。