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Nonconcordant evolutionary history of maternal and paternal lineages in Adriatic sturgeon.

Although analyses of intraspecific variability are an important prerequisite for species identification assays, only a few studies have focused on population genetics and historical biogeography of sturgeon species. Here we present the first study on genetic variability of the last remaining Adriatic sturgeon, Acipenser naccarii, derived from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Our mitochondrial DNA analyses arranged individuals into three distinguished mitochondrial DNA haplogroups (Po1, Po2 and Buna). Two haplogroups (Po1 and Buna) were correlated to geographical distribution, whereas the third (Po2) was not. It was, however, very closely related to one lineage of its Ponto-Caspian sister species, A. gueldenstaedtii. The distribution of nuclear markers (microsatellites and amplified fragment length polymorphism) was strongly correlated to geographical distribution. An assignment test based on nuclear data placed no specimen of A. naccarii to A. gueldenstaedtii and vice versa. Therefore, the presence of gueldenstaedtii-like haplotypes within the Po population is either the result of a postglacial introgression or an ancestral polymorphism and does not indicate a hybrid population. The most valuable tool for forensic species identification purposes is one diagnostic deletion separating all A. naccarii from A. gueldenstaedtii. As both A. naccarii populations are genetically differentiated, stocking of sturgeon from the Po River in Italy into waters of the Buna River would jeopardize the genetic differences between both populations and should thus be avoided.

Animals↗

Genetic analyses of endoreduplication in Zea mays endosperm: evidence of sporophytic and zygotic maternal control.

Flow cytometry was used to assess the variability of endoreduplication in endosperms of maize inbred lines. Little variation was found between midwestern dent types, and high levels of endoreduplication were observed in popcorns. Endoreduplication is different between inbred lines by 13-18 days after pollination, and flow cytometric analysis of ploidy level was feasible until 20 DAP. To study the genetic regulation of endoreduplication, four inbreds were crossed to B73 and developing endosperms from both parental, reciprocal F(1), and backcross generations were subjected to flow cytometric analysis. Three measurements of endoreduplication were calculated from these data and analyzed as quantitative genetic traits. Multiple models of trait inheritance were considered including triploid, diploid, sporophytic maternal, and maternal and paternal zygotic nuclear inheritance. Maternal zygotic effects, often considered a form of parental imprinting, and maternal sporophytic effects were detected. To test the feasibility of introgressing a high endoreduplication phenotype into a midwestern dent inbred line, a backcross population was generated from B73 x Sg18. Parental and progeny endoreduplication levels were compared and heritabilities assessed. The heritabilities calculated from these data generally agree with the values calculated in the larger crossing experiments.

Analysis of Variance↗

Perturbation of chemokine networks by gene deletion alters the reinforcing actions of ethanol.

Microarray analysis of human alcoholic brain and cultured cells exposed to ethanol showed significant changes in expression of genes related to immune or inflammatory responses, including chemokines and chemokine receptors. To test the hypothesis that chemokines exhibit previously undiscovered pleiotropic effects important for the behavioral actions of ethanol, we studied mutant mice with deletion of the Ccr2, Ccr5, Ccl2 or Ccl3 genes. Deletion of Ccr2, Ccl2 (females) or Ccl3 in mice resulted in lower preference for alcohol and consumption of lower amounts of alcohol in a two-bottle choice test as compared with wild-type mice. Ethanol treatment (2.5 g/kg, i.p.) induced stronger conditioned taste aversion in Ccr2, Ccl2 or Ccl3 null mutant mice than in controls. Ccr2 and Ccr5 null mutant mice did not differ from wild-type mice in ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex (LORR), but mice lacking Ccl2 or Ccl3 showed longer LORR than wild-type mice. There were no differences between mutant strains and wild-type mice in severity of ethanol-induced withdrawal. Genetic mapping of chromosome 11 for the Ccl2 and Ccl3 genes (46.5 and 47.6 cM, respectively) revealed that an alcohol-induced LORR QTL region was contained within the introgressed region derived from 129/SvJ, which may cause some behavioral phenotypes observed in the null mice. On the contrary, known QTLs on Chr 9 are outside of 129/SvJ region in Ccr2 and Ccr5 (71.9 and 72.0 cM, respectively) null mutant mice. These data show that disruption of the chemokine network interferes with motivational effects of alcohol.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Genomic signature and evolutionary history of completely cleistogamous lineages in the non-photosynthetic orchid Gastrodia.

Despite a long-standing interest since Darwin's time, the genomic implications of obligate self-fertilization remain elusive. Complete cleistogamy-the obligate production of closed, self-pollinating flowers-represents an extreme reproductive strategy. Here, we present the genomic profiles and evolutionary history of two lineages of the mycoheterotrophic orchid Gastrodia, both of which independently acquired complete cleistogamy, based on detailed sampling and a combination of simple sequence repeat (SSR), multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) and RNA-seq data. Our analysis reveals clear species delimitation, with no evidence of introgression between the completely cleistogamous species and their co-occurring allogamous sisters. Intriguingly, all analyses indicate that both the completely cleistogamous Gastrodia species and their allogamous sisters exhibit genetic profiles typical of self-pollinating plants. This pattern suggests that their ancestors, probably bearing allogamous flowers, had already evolved mechanisms to mitigate the deleterious effects of selfing, potentially facilitating the emergence of complete cleistogamy through benefits such as reproductive assurance, enhanced colonization ability and species reinforcement. Meanwhile, further analyses suggest that complete cleistogamy evolved very recently (possibly within the last 1000-2000 years) in these two Gastrodia lineages. Combined with the scant evidence of complete cleistogamy outside Gastrodia, our findings imply a limited and ephemeral role for complete cleistogamy in plant speciation.

Biological Evolution↗

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

Lettuce is a globally important leafy vegetable with the United States being the largest world producers. The crop is susceptible to a number of viruses that are aphid transmitted and also highly vulnerable to post harvest diseases. Although wild species of lettuce are an important source of disease resistance genes, their introgression into commercial lettuce has been limited owing to sexual incompatibilities. Hence, the development of a gene transfer system for lettuce would be extremely valuable both in improving the genetic diversity of the crop and also for the transfer of useful agronomic traits. This chapter describes an Agrobacterium-mediated gene delivery system that is highly adaptable for the production of transgenic plants using a wide range of lettuce germplasms. The system described, commonly referred to as the genotype-independent transformation system, has been used for the transfer of several agriculturally useful traits into commercial varieties of lettuce. In this case, A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404 carrying a binary vector with supervirulent pToK47 was used for infecting excised cotyledonary explants. The plant selectable marker gene neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) was used, and transformed plants were selected using kanamycin in the culture medium. The beta-glucuronidase gene with intron (gus-intron) was also used in the gene transfer study to confirm the transgenicity of regenerated plants further.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗

Quest for arthritis-causative genetic factors in the rat.

Experimental rat models of arthritis are extensively studied with a view to understand the genetic underpinnings of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Genome scans using these models have led to the detection of arthritis regulatory quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on all but three chromosomes of the rat. Whereas some of the QTLs are model specific, others overlap between models. Some arthritis susceptibility and/or severity QTLs identified by genetic linkage analyses are corroborated by substitution mapping using congenic strains, whereas others are not. In these cases, testing alternate arthritis models proved to be useful to identify QTL effects. Nevertheless, development and testing of congenic substrains containing progressively shorter introgressed regions have not only fine mapped the location of the arthritis QTLs but also resulted in the identification of multiple QTLs within several originally identified individual QTL. Most of these studies progressed rapidly since 2001, when the rat genome sequence was published. Proof of principle for substitution mapping as a successful method for QTL gene discovery is provided by the positional cloning of Ncf1 as one of the arthritis QTLs in rats. This finding is encouraging for similar sustained dissection of all the other arthritis QTLs mapped in the rat. Identification of rat arthritis QTLs is expected to pave the way for discovery of yet-unidentified arthritis-causative genetic elements and/or pathways for RA in humans and potential development of targeted therapeutics. This review catalogs some of the recent advances made in QTL discovery projects of experimentally induced rat models of arthritis.

Animals↗

Candidate quantitative trait loci and naturally occurring phenotypic variation for bristle number in Drosophila melanogaster: the Delta-Hairless gene region.

Delta (Dl) and Hairless (H) are two chromosome 3 candidate neurogenic loci that might contribute to naturally occurring quantitative variation for sensory bristle number. To evaluate this hypothesis, we assessed quantitative genetic variation in abdominal and sternopleural bristle numbers among homozygous isogenic third chromosomes sampled from nature and substituted into the Samarkand (Sam) inbred chromosome 1 and 2 background; among homozygous lines in which the wild-derived Dl-H gene region was introgressed into the Sam chromosome 3 background; and among Dl-H region introgression lines as heterozygotes against the Sam wild-type strain and derivatives of Sam into which mutant Dl and H alleles had been introgressed. Variation among the Dl-H region introgression lines accounted for 36% (8.3%) of the total chromosome 3 among line variance in abdominal (sternopleural) bristle number and for 53% of the chromosome 3 sex x line variance in abdominal bristle number. Naturally occurring alleles in the Dl-H region failed to complement a Dl mutant allele for female abdominal bristle number and sternopleural bristle number in both sexes, and an H mutant allele for both bristle traits in males and females. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that naturally occurring alleles at Dl and H contribute to quantitative genetic variation in sensory bristle number.

Analysis of Variance↗

Mitochondrial DNA products among RAPD profiles are frequent and strongly differentiated between races of Douglas-fir.

Racial differentiation and genetic variability were studied between and within the coastal, north interior, and south interior races of Douglas-fir using RAPD and allozyme markers. Nearly half of all RAPD bands scored (13: 45%) were found to be amplified from mitochondrial DNA. They exhibited maternal inheritance among hybrids and backcrosses between the races, and were much more highly differentiated (GST = 0.62 for haplotype frequencies) than were allozymes (GST = 0.26). No evidence of hybridization or introgression was detected where the coastal and interior races come into proximity in central Oregon.

Base Sequence↗

A genetic test of bioactive gibberellins as regulators of heterosis in maize.

This study tested the hypothesis that gibberellin levels were responsible for the superior growth habit of hybrids (i.e., heterosis). If this were true, plants reduced in their capacity to produce gibberellin, such as maize plants homozygous for dwarf1 (d1), should display a lesser heterotic response. The d1 mutation was introgressed into two inbred lines of maize, B73 and Mo17, for seven generations. Plants segregating for the dwarf phenotype were produced both by self-fertilizing the introgressed inbred lines and by making reciprocal crosses between them to produce hybrids. Measurements were made of several physical traits. The results indicated that the hybrid dwarf plants experienced no loss of heterosis relative to their normal siblings. These results exclude the possibility that modulation of bioactive gibberellins is a major underlying basis of the heterotic response.

Crosses, Genetic↗

A centromeric region on chromosome 6(6H) affects dormancy in an induced mutant in barley.

Genetic control of seed dormancy in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has mostly been described in terms of quantitative variation. Although some molecular markers for dormancy QTL have been identified, the corresponding genes involved in the regulation of the process have not been cloned. Induced barley mutants may constitute useful material to study the physiology and genetics of seed dormancy. The objective of this study was to identify the genetic control of this trait in a mutant (TL43) produced in the barley cv. Triumph. This mutant was selected for reduced dormancy and reduced sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA). Two sets of F6 barley lines were selected for high and low levels of dormancy from a cross between the original dormant parent and the sodium azide-induced non-dormant TL43 mutant. Unexpectedly, given the near-isogenic nature of these two genotypes, polymorphism was detected for an SSR located in the centromeric region of chromosome 6(6H) out of a total of 92 molecular markers evenly distributed along the genome. Fortunately, upon three cycles of intensive divergent selection, every dormant and non-dormant F5 line consistently showed the genotype for this region identical to Triumph and TL43, respectively. Based on the mutagenic effect presumably attributed to sodium azide, mostly single point mutations, it cannot be clearly established if such extensive genomic variation on chromosome 6(6H) is due to the mutagenic treatment or may be an introgression from an unknown source. The means that could originate such heterogeneity are discussed; however, regardless of its origin, this genomic region shows a strong association with the expression of seed dormancy and provides an additional genetic locus for further studies of the mechanistic basis of this complex trait. In addition, since TL43 shows reduced sensitivity to ABA, the response to this hormone was determined on the F6 seed from the two sets of selected F5 lines. The results confirmed that the initial level of dormancy in the seed lot is the most important factor in determining ABA sensitivity.

Abscisic Acid↗

High gene flow levels lead to gamete wastage in a desert spider system.

Field censuses, breeding experiments, and a quantitative model are used to obtain insight into the extent and consequences of genetic mixing between locally adapted populations of a desert spider. Typically, 9% of the matings of desert riparian spiders (non-aggressive phenotype) in native habitat involve an arid-land partner (aggressive phenotype). Mating was found to be random with respect to behavioral phenotype, but linearly related to both the rate of immigration and survival of immigrants from surrounding arid habitats in the riparian area. Genetic mixing between riparian and arid-land spiders produces offspring that exhibit lower rates of survival in riparian habitat. Two extreme behavioral phenotypes were also observed in the field studies: approximately 5% of the female spiders attacked all males they encountered while another 22% ran from all potential mates. Punnett square analyses of the potential genotypes produced by introgression between arid- and riparian-adapted spiders indicate that these extreme phenotypes appear in F2 generation hybrids and backcrosses. Because there is a costly wastage of gametes in the case of mixed phenotype mating, model results indicate that within three generations of the cessation of gene flow, the riparian population would be free of mixed genotypes and moving towards genetic differentiation.

Alleles↗

Low genetic divergence obscures phylogeny among populations of Sphenodon, remnant of an ancient reptile lineage.

Tuatara (two species of Sphenodon) are the last representatives of a branch of an ancient reptilian lineage, Sphenodontia, that have been isolated on the New Zealand landmass for 82 million years. We present analyses of geographic variation in allozymes, mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA sequences, and one-way albumin immunological comparisons. These all confirm a surprisingly low level of genetic diversity within Sphenodon for such an ancient lineage. We hypothesise a recent extended population bottleneck, probably during the Pliocene/Pleistocene glaciation cycles, to explain the current paucity of variation. All data sets reveal clear genetic differentiation between the northern populations and those in Cook Strait, but offer conflicting views of the history and taxonomic relationships of the Cook Strait population on North Brother Island, currently recognised as Sphenodon guntheri. Allozymes show this population to be the most divergent of all tuatara populations, but preliminary mitochondrial DNA data indicate few differences between S. guntheri and Cook Strait Sphenodon punctatus. Interpretation of the trees is confounded by the lack of a suitable outgroup. As in other cases of conflicting nuclear and mitochondrial data sets, the different data sets likely reveal different aspects of the animals' evolutionary history, and introgression is not uncommon between species pairs.

Alleles↗

A partial african ancestry for the creole cattle populations of the Caribbean.

Seventy-eight cattle samples from three Creole Caribbean islands and one Brazilian breed were analyzed for sequence variation in the hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial DNA control region. Seventy-three samples displayed Bos taurus haplotypes, and five samples exhibited haplotypes that were of Bos indicus ancestry. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all sampled B. taurus sequences fell into two distinct clusters with separate African and European origins. European sequences were encountered in each population; however, the distribution of African haplotypes was uneven, with the highest proportion of African influence found in the Guadeloupe Creole. The reduced levels of African haplotypic variation within the Caribbean and Brazilian are consistent with prior founder effects. Additionally, genetic variation at three microsatellite loci illustrated African influence uniquely in the Guadeloupe Creole. Collectively, the data suggest that this African influence is, at least in part, attributable to the historical importation of African cattle to the Americas. Furthermore, alleles of B. indicus ancestry were detected at appreciable frequencies in all Caribbean Creole populations and may reflect zebu introgressions from either West Africa or the Indian subcontinent.

Africa↗

Confirmation and location of the hybrid zone between wild populations of Macaca tonkeana and Macaca hecki in central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Reports of hybridization between Macaca tonkeana and Macaca hecki were investigated in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. We defined sets of morphological traits that were diagnostic for M. tonkeana and M. hecki and then located an areas where animals had intermediate or mosaic features. Hybridization as indicated by morphology was detected between M. tonkeana and M. hecki. The hybrid zone appeared to be strongly centered at the road that crosses the isthmus of Central Sulawesi from Tawaeli to Toboli. Macaques in this region were not morphologically uniform; animals from the western area of the Tawaeli-Toboli road resembled M. hecki, while animals from the eastern area resembled M. tonkeana. The hybrid zone was found to be smaller than previously thought, with maximum dimensions of approximately 15 and 7.5 km. Clines for diagnostic morphological features were broadly coincident, suggesting that the hybrid zone originated by secondary contact. Analysis of three museum specimens collected in 1916 provided evidence that the hybrid zone has been in existence since at least then. The narrow width of the hybrid zone, along with its age, suggested that some prezygotic or postzygotic barrier must exist to full introgression between M. tonkeana and M. hecki.

Animals↗

Are both sympatric species Ilex perado and Ilex canariensis secretly hybridizing? Indication from nuclear markers collected in Tenerife.

BACKGROUND: Intra-specific and intra-individual polymorphism is frequently observed in nuclear markers of Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) and discrepancy between plastid and nuclear phylogenies is the rule in this genus. These observations suggest that inter-specific plastid or/and nuclear introgression played an important role in the process of evolution of Ilex. With the aim of a precise understanding of the evolution of this genus, two distantly related sympatric species collected in Tenerife (Canary Islands), I. perado and I. canariensis, were studied in detail. Introgression between these two species was previously never reported. One plastid marker (the atpB-rbcL spacer) and two nuclear markers, the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the nuclear encoded plastid glutamine synthetase (nepGS) were analyzed for 13 and 27 individuals of I. perado and I. canariensis, respectively. RESULTS: The plastid marker is intra-specifically constant and correlated with species identity. On the other hand, whereas the nuclear markers are conserved in I. perado, they are highly polymorphic in I. canariensis. The presence of pseudogenes and recombination in ITS sequences of I. canariensis explain this polymorphism. Ancestral sequence polymorphism with incomplete lineage sorting, or past or recent hybridization with an unknown species could explain this polymorphism, not resolved by concerted evolution. However, as already reported for many other plants, past or recent introgression of an alien genotype seem the most probable explanation for such a tremendous polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Data do not allow the determination with certitude of the putative species introgressing I. canariensis, but I. perado is suspected. The introgression would be unilateral, with I. perado as the male donor, and the paternal sequences would be rapidly converted in highly divergent and consequently unidentifiable pseudogenes. At least, this study allows the establishment of precautionary measures when nuclear markers are used in phylogenetic studies of genera having experienced introgression such as the genus Ilex.

Base Composition↗

Fecundity of transgenic wild-crop hybrids of Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitaceae): implications for crop-to-wild gene flow.

Hybridization between crops and their weedy or wild relatives is an area of concern because the widespread use of genetically engineered crops may allow novel, beneficial transgenes to enter nearby populations. We compared fitness components of wild Cucurbita pepo from Arkansas, USA, with wild-crop hybrids derived from yellow squash (a cultivar of C. pepo with transgenic resistance to two viruses). Wild and hybrid progeny were grown in agricultural fields in Arkansas (1996-98) and Ohio (1996) in six similar experiments. Cross types (wild and hybrid) did not differ significantly in seedling survival, which exceeded 85% in all cases. In Ohio, where more detailed observations were made, hybrid plants produced 41% as many male flowers, 21% as many female flowers, and 28% as many seeds as wild plants. At all sites, flowering periods of the two cross types overlapped extensively. Putative virus symptoms were more common in wild plants than in hybrids. Lifetime fecundity varied considerably among sites and years. The average fecundity of hybrids ranged from 453 to 4497 seeds per plant and represented 15% - 53% of the numbers of seeds produced by wild plants in the same experiments. These results suggest that the F1 generation does not represent a strong barrier to the introgression of neutral or beneficial crop genes into free-living populations of C. pepo.

Crops, Agricultural↗

Genetics and the origin of bird species.

External (environmental) factors affecting the speciation of birds are better known than the internal (genetic) factors. The opposite is true for several groups of invertebrates, Drosophila being the outstanding example. Ideas about the genetics of speciation in general trace back to Dobzhansky who worked with Drosophila. These ideas are an insufficient guide for reconstructing speciation in birds for two main reasons. First, speciation in birds proceeds with the evolution of behavioral barriers to interbreeding; postmating isolation usually evolves much later, perhaps after gene exchange has all but ceased. As a consequence of the slow evolution of postmating isolating factors the scope for reinforcement of premating isolation is small, whereas the opportunity for introgressive hybridization to influence the evolution of diverging species is large. Second, premating isolation may arise from nongenetic, cultural causes; isolation may be affected partly by song, a trait that is culturally inherited through an imprinting-like process in many, but not all, groups of birds. Thus the genetic basis to the origin of bird species is to be sought in the inheritance of adult traits that are subject to natural and sexual selection. Some of the factors involved in premating isolation (plumage, morphology, and behavior) are under single-gene control, most are under polygenic control. The genetic basis of the origin of postmating isolating factors affecting the early development of embryos (viability) and reproductive physiology (sterility) is almost completely unknown. Bird speciation is facilitated by small population size, involves few genetic changes, and occurs relatively rapidly.

Animals↗

Genetics of growth habit (spring vs winter) in common wheat: confirmation of the existence of dominant gene Vrn4.

The number of dominant Vrn genes in common wheat, Triticum aestivum L., is estimated. Data were obtained supporting Pugsley's and Gotoh's data on the presence of a dominant gene Vrn4 in near-isogenic line 'Triple Dirk F'. The presence of a dominant gene Vrn4 in line 'Gabo-2' of cultivar 'Gabo', which was used by Pugsley as a donor of the gene Vrn4 for the near-isogenic line 'Triple Dirk F', was also confirmed. The Vrn2 and Vrn4 relationship and their chromosomal location are discussed. It was demonstrated that the dominant Vrn8 gene which was introgressed from Triticum sphaerococcum to common wheat by Stelmakh and Avsenin is allelic to Vrn4. While genes Vrn6(sc) and Vrn7(sc) which were introgressed from rye, Secale cereale L., by the above-mentioned authors are not allelic to the genes Vrn1, Vrn2, Vrn3 and Vrn4.

Alleles↗