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Biomedical subjects

R Ogden

Publications and source records attributed to R Ogden.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Red Fox Populations (Vulpes vulpes L., 1758) in Natural and Anthropogenic Isolation.

This study presents a comparative analysis of the genetic structure and diversity of three red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) populations representing different microevolutionary scenarios: panmixia (free-ranging Belarusian foxes), geographic isolation (free-ranging Scottish foxes), and anthropogenic selection (farm-bred foxes). Using a validated set of STR markers, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to assess the genetic structure and the degree of genetic erosion across the studied groups. The wild red fox population in Belarus has been shown to maintain a state close to panmixia (PHWE = 0.090), characterized by a high effective population size (Ne = 694) and high allelic diversity. The island population from Scotland exhibits moderate gene pool depletion (Ne = 75.9) and a pronounced heterozygote deficiency (FIS = 0.18). Critical genetic erosion, which was characterized by a minimal effective population size (Ne = 60.2) and allelic fixation, was detected in the farm-bred group. The genetic distance between farm-bred and wild foxes (FST = 0.279; p = 0.001) reflects both the phylogeographic divergence between the Nearctic ancestors of farmed lineages and Palearctic wild populations, and the consequences of prolonged anthropogenic isolation, genetic drift, and selective breeding. These data indicate that artificial isolation and the impacts of genetic drift and targeted selection lead to a substantial depletion of the species' adaptive potential.

Animals

An open secret.

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Attitude to Health

Managing for quality in a nursing home: a resident-directed approach.

As the population ages, the need for nursing care services will increase. Consumer focus on quality of life as well as reduction of expenditures poses a major challenge to the traditional nursing home, which often reinforces dependent resident behavior. The authors propose various strategies for improving life satisfaction and functional status of residents as well as efficiency and productivity of staff.

Long-Term Care

AIDS, euthanasia and nursing.

Requests for euthanasia can pose a dilemma for nurses. Some of the arguments for and against euthanasia are presented here together with a summary of a study into the phenomenon of 'underground' euthanasia. These are considered in relation to the law and nursing ethics.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Mutation in the a block of the yeast tRNAleu3 gene that allows transcription but abolishes splicing and 5'-end maturation.

A three-base substitution mutant of the yeast tRNALeu3 has been constructed. The mutation, introduced through the use of a heptadecanucleotide as a site-specific mutagen, is localized in the anterior portion of the promoter and results in the inability to form a D stem. The mutant is active in transcription, but maturation of the 5' terminus and splicing are abolished. The results are discussed in the light of a recently proposed model for initiation of transcription of eucaryotic tRNA genes.

Genes

Dimeric tRNA precursors in yeast.

Two DNA fragments, each containing tRNA(Arg)3 and a tRNA(Asp) gene in close conjunction, have been isolated from different genomic regions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nucleotide Nucleotide sequence analysis of the gene regions revealed that in both fragments the tRNA(Arg)3 coding region is located 5'-proximal to the tRNA(Asp) coding region. They are separated by an identical spacer of 10 nucleotides. Although the 5'-flanking sequences are different in the two plasmids, some similarities are observed. To test the mode of expression of this gene configuration, we transcribed the DNA fragments in a Xenopus oocyte nuclear extract. Specific transcription of the yeast tRNA genes took place in an RNA precursor which comprised both tRNA species. We report here that the precursor RNA was processed to the mature-sized tRNA molecules, indicating the presence of an enzyme activity in the Xenopus nucleus capable of cutting a dimeric tRNA precursor. This is the first observation of a eukaryotic dimeric tRNA precursor.

Animals

Transcription and processing of a yeast tRNA gene containing a modified intervening sequence.

The tRNA(3) (Leu) gene from yeast contains an intervening sequence of 32 nucleotides not present in mature tRNA. This sequence is transcribed and subsequently removed during the maturation of the RNA. To probe the involvement of this region of the gene in transcription and processing of the pre-tRNA(3) (Leu), the yeast DNA was cloned in plasmid pBR322 and a 21-base-pair DNA fragment corresponding to the lac operator was inserted into the intervening sequence. Insertion was done at a cleavage site for the restriction endonuclease Hpa I that occurs 19/20 base pairs from the 5' end of the intervening sequence. The parent and modified plasmids were then transcribed in a Xenopus germinal vesicle extract. RNA-fingerprint analysis of the transcription products revealed that both the tRNA(3) (Leu) gene and its modified counterpart were accurately transcribed. Transcription products corresponding to mature tRNA(3) (Leu) and pre-RNA(3) (Leu) with the normal and lac-containing intervening sequence were identified. Precursors extended at their 5' and 3' ends were also present. Both parent and modified genes were transcribed efficiently, and the various products accumulated in similar amounts, indicating that no deleterious effects on transcriptional competence, stability of the transcripts, or processing result from insertion of the 21-base-pair lac operator DNA. Incubation of pre-tRNA molecules that contained intervening sequences but were 5' and 3' mature with a yeast ribosomal wash fraction resulted in excision of the intervening sequence and, in the presence of ATP, ligation of the resulting half-tRNA molecules. The presence of RNA complementary to lac operator DNA neither inhibited the excision and splicing activities nor altered the site of the junction.

Base Sequence