Bias in studies of heterozygosity and mate choice

A key question for molecular and behavioural ecologists who study mating systems is to understand why, in many species, females choose to mate with extra-pair males. Recently a possible explanation, 'genetic compatibility', has gained increasing empirical support (for a comprehensive review, see Kempenaers 2007 ). Genetic compatibility hypotheses assume that females seek extra-pair mates with alleles that complement their own. Typically, this will be achieved by mating with a male of a different genotype than her own, in order to maximise the heterozygosity of her offspring. Because numerous studies have indicated positive associations between heterozygosity and fitness (see Coltman & Slate 2003 ), it follows that mating with 'compatible' males will result in heterozygous, and therefore fit, offspring. Most empirical support for genetic compatibility has been obtained with microsatellite markers that have first been used to assess parentage and then to estimate relatedness and/or individual heterozygosity. A problem with this approach is a possible bias that favours the detection of extra-pair paternity when the extra-pair male has a genotype different from that of the female and her social mate. This in turn could lead to the erroneous conclusion that extra-pair males are less related to the female than within-pair males. In this issue of Molecular Ecology , Wetzel & Westneat 2009 (hereafter W&W), use simulation studies to assess the extent of this bias, using parameter estimates obtained from recent empirical data. They identify two forms of bias that may affect tests of the genetic compatibility hypothesis, and provide guidelines on how these biases may be avoided.     

Video game play and lucid dreams: Implications for the development of consciousness.

The improvement of various cognitive skills associated with video game play has been well documented; however, the development of consciousness implications have not been considered. In the present study several potential indicators of consciousness development, including and especially lucid dreaming frequency, were examined as a function of video game play. In the first study, high video game players were more likely to report lucid dreams, observer dreams, and dream control when dream recall frequency and motion disorientation during play were controlled. There were no similar differences in other consciousness development indices. In the second study, a slightly different pattern of results occurred because of respondents all being frequent players. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Levels of IL-17F and IL-33 correlate with HLA-DR activation in clinical-grade human bone marrow–derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell expansion cultures

Background aims

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based medicines are extensively investigated for use in regenerative medicine and immunotherapy applications. The International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) proposed a panel of cell surface molecules for MSC identification that includes human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR as a negative marker. However, its expression is largely unpredictable despite production under tightly controlled conditions and compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices. Herein, we report the frequency of HLA-DR expression in 81 batches of clinical grade bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs and investigated its impact on cell attributes and culture environment.

国际转基因标识制度变动趋势分析及对我国的启示

转基因标识与消费者知情权和选择权密切相关,因而成为最受关注的转基因政策之一。从1997年第一个转基因标识制度诞生开始,全球已有70多个国家和地区开展了各具特色的转基因产品标识管理。2015年以来,受转基因产业发展政策、公众接受程度、农产品贸易需求、国家政治立场等多重因素的影响和作用,美国、韩国、俄罗斯、乌克兰和日本等国家相继着手调整转基因标识政策或改变实施细则,呈现出强制标识呼声高、标识范围扩大、标注方式更加明确、阴性标识更规范等特点。通过分析国际转基因标识制度及变动趋势,提出了我国转基因标识在扩大标识范围、设立标识豁免阈值和规范阴性标识等方面的管理建议。     

Interferon affects the formation of adhesion plaques in human monocyte cultures

When monocytes isolated from human blood adhere to glass substratum, actin- and vinculin-containing punctate plaques rapidly appear at the ventral surface of the cells. We show here that highly purified human leukocyte interferon (IFN) can inhibit formation of these adhesion plaques in a dose-dependent manner. Complete inhibition was obtained when 300 IU/ml IFN were added into the cell-seeding medium. Plaques already formed in the absence of IFN were only partially affected by subsequent addition of IFN into the culture medium. Prevention by IFN of the formation of the adhesion plaques was associated with loosened attachment of the cells to the substratum. Effect of IFN on cellular morphology was complex. At higher doses, IFN added to the cultures within 24 h of seeding almost completely inhibited the differentiation of monocytes to macrophages and most of the cells remained rounded. At lower doses, however, an enhancement of the bipolar spreading was seen and the end result was a culture with predominantly elongated fibroblastoid cells. The latter cells, unlike the fibroblastoid cells in untreated monocyte-macrophage cultures, were completely devoid of the actin plaques, while the reorganization of vimentin-type intermediate filaments took place in a normal manner. These results further support the view that the actin- and vinculin-containing plaques have a role in mediating firm adherence of human monocytes to growth substratum.     

极致化医疗服务的理论研究与实践探索

初步探讨了极致化医疗服务满足现实需求、引领行业发展的理论和实践价值,提出了其“坚持以人为本、突出全面质量、追求无限标准”3个方面的理论内涵,并从文化熏陶、教育引导、制度规范和监督约束4个方面探讨了其实现路径。     

Experimental evidence for paternal effects on offspring growth rate in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Sexual selection theory predicts that females should choose males that signal viability and quality. However, few studies have found fitness benefits among females mating with highly ornamented males. Here, we use Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), a teleost fish with no parental care, to investigate whether females could gain fitness benefits by mating with highly ornamented and large-sized males. Carotenoid-based coloration signalled by males during spawning is believed to be an indicator of good genes for this species. Paternal effects on offspring size (body length and dry body mass) were examined experimentally by crossing eggs and sperm in vitro from 12 females and 24 males in a split-brood design and raising larvae to 30 days past hatching. We clearly demonstrated that there was a relationship between offspring size and paternal coloration. However, a negative interaction between paternal length and coloration was evident for offspring length, indicating that positive effects of paternal coloration were only present for smaller males. Thus, the red spawning coloration of the male Arctic charr seems to be an indicator of good genes, but the effect of paternal coloration on offspring length, an indicator of 'offspring quality', is size dependent.     

极化与固化:转基因“科普”的困境分析与路径选择

从中国转基因科普的实践入手,结合国内外经验研究,从传播学、心理学和社会学的维度,辨析了当前转基因科普面临的困境,梳理了公众转基因态度极化和固化的原因。科学知识与转基因接受度的相关度弱,信任、价值和科学体制等诸多因素影响着大众对转基因的态度。据此,提出了中国转基因科学传播的五点可能路径。     

Microbes are not bound by sociobiology: Response to Kümmerli and Ross‐Gillespie (2013)

In recent years, sociobiology has been extended to microorganisms. Viewed through this lens, the microbial world is replete with cooperative behaviors. However, little attention has been paid to alternate hypotheses, making many studies self‐confirming. Somewhat apart is a recent analysis of pyoverdin production—a paradigmatic public good and social trait—by Pseudomonas, which has revealed discord between predictions arising from sociobiology and the biology of microbes. This led the authors, Zhang and Rainey (Z&R), to question the generality of the conclusion that pyoverdin is a social trait, and to question the fit between the sociobiology framework and microbiology. This has unsettled Kümmerli and Ross‐Gillespie (K&R), who in a recent “Technical Comment” assert that arguments presented by Z&R are flawed, their experiments technically mistaken, and their understanding of social evolution theory naive. We demonstrate these claims to be without substance and show the conclusions of K&R to be based on a lack of understanding of redox chemistry and on misinterpretation of data. We also point to evidence of cherry‐picking and raise the possibility of confirmation bias. Finally, we emphasize that the sociobiology framework applied to microbes is a hypothesis that requires rigorous and careful appraisal.