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Life Sciences Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2008

Selected Works

Genetics and Genomics

Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

African Genetic Diversity: Implications For Human Demographic History, Modern Human Origins, And Complex Disease Mapping, Michael C. Campbell, Sarah A. Tishkoff Jun 2008

African Genetic Diversity: Implications For Human Demographic History, Modern Human Origins, And Complex Disease Mapping, Michael C. Campbell, Sarah A. Tishkoff

Michael C. Campbell

Comparative studies of ethnically diverse human populations, particularly in Africa, are important for reconstructing human evolutionary history and for understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic adaptation and complex disease. African populations are characterized by greater levels of genetic diversity, extensive population substructure, and less linkage disequilibrium (LD) among loci compared to non-African populations. Africans also possess a number of genetic adaptations that have evolved in response to diverse climates and diets, as well as exposure to infectious disease. This review summarizes patterns and the evolutionary origins of genetic diversity present in African populations, as well as their implications for the …

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Dna Inside, Lori B. Andrews May 2008

Dna Inside, Lori B. Andrews

Lori B. Andrews

DNA computers may help scientists overcome the limitations of silicon-based machines, leading to new nano-scale products as well as smart drugs that adjust to their biological environment.

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Influenza Genetic Sequence Patents: Where Intellectual Property Clashes With Public Health Needs, Lori B. Andrews, Laura A. Shackelton Apr 2008

Influenza Genetic Sequence Patents: Where Intellectual Property Clashes With Public Health Needs, Lori B. Andrews, Laura A. Shackelton

Lori B. Andrews

A number of advances have recently taken place in influenza virus genomics research, due largely to an extensive genome sequencing project and widespread access to these sequences. If a pandemic virus emerges, whether it is a reassorted A/H5N1 strain or another zoonosis, it is essential that access to information about its genetic sequence is not restricted through intellectual property claims. Products of nature are not patentable inventions, according to US code and the US Supreme Court, and naturally occurring genetic sequences should not be eligible for patenting. Viral genetic sequences represent natural information upon which diagnostics and preventions are necessarily …

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Presence Of A Polyadenylated Rna Fragment Encoding The Membrane Domain For Immunoglobulin Alpha Chain Indicates That Mrnas For Both Secreted And Membrane-Bound Alpha Chains Can Be Produced From The Same Rna Transcript, Janet Stavnezer Apr 2008

Presence Of A Polyadenylated Rna Fragment Encoding The Membrane Domain For Immunoglobulin Alpha Chain Indicates That Mrnas For Both Secreted And Membrane-Bound Alpha Chains Can Be Produced From The Same Rna Transcript, Janet Stavnezer

Janet M. Stavnezer

RNA blotting was employed to examine polyadenylated immunoglobulin alpha chain RNAs in a B lymphoma synthesizing membrane-bound and secretory IgA and in a hybridoma which synthesizes predominantly secretory IgA. Both cell lines were derived from the I.29 lymphoma and expressed the identical heavy chain variable region gene. In addition to the predicted mRNA precursors, four novel species of polyadenylated alpha RNAs were detected. The presence of a RNA species which was too large to have the same 3' end as the largest mRNA for membrane-bound alpha chain (alpha m) implied that transcription continued past the alpha m poly(A) site, and …

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Biomedical Research And The Law:--Embryonic Stem Cells, Clones And Genes: Science, Law, Politics, And Values, Michael J. Malinowski Feb 2008

Biomedical Research And The Law:--Embryonic Stem Cells, Clones And Genes: Science, Law, Politics, And Values, Michael J. Malinowski

Michael J. Malinowski

This article directly addresses the stem cell controversy, but also the broader history and norms regarding the roles of federal and state government in U.S. science research funding.

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Population Genetic Analysis Of Myzopoda (Chiroptera: Myzopodidae) In Madagascar, Amy L. Russell, Steven M. Goodman, Isabella Fiorentino, Anne D. Yoder Dec 2007

Population Genetic Analysis Of Myzopoda (Chiroptera: Myzopodidae) In Madagascar, Amy L. Russell, Steven M. Goodman, Isabella Fiorentino, Anne D. Yoder

Amy L. Russell

The chiropteran family Myzopodidae is endemic to Madagascar and is characterized by several unique morphologies, such as sessile adhesive discs on the thumb and sole. A new species, Myzopoda schliemanni, was recently described from western Madagascar that is morphologically distinct and geographically disjunct from the eastern species, M. aurita, the only other member of this family. Geographic variation within Myzopoda has only recently been studied at the morphological level and has never been addressed at the genetic level. We used a combination of phylogenetic, coalescent, and population genetic analyses to characterize the speciation history of Myzopoda and to clarify current …

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Coalescent Analyses Support Multiple Mainland-To-Island Dispersals In The Evolution Of Malagasy Triaenops Bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae), Amy L. Russell, Steven M. Goodman, Murray P. Cox Dec 2007

Coalescent Analyses Support Multiple Mainland-To-Island Dispersals In The Evolution Of Malagasy Triaenops Bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae), Amy L. Russell, Steven M. Goodman, Murray P. Cox

Amy L. Russell

Aim We investigate the directionality of mainland-to-island dispersals, focusing on a case study of an African-Malagasy bat genus, Triaenops (Hipposideridae). Taxa include T. persicus from east Africa and three Triaenops species from Madagascar (T. auritus, T. furculus, and T. rufus). The evolution of this bat family considerably post-dated the tectonic division of Madagascar from Africa, excluding vicariance as a viable hypothesis. Therefore, we consider three biogeographical scenarios to explain these species’ current ranges: (A) a single dispersal from Africa to Madagascar with subsequent speciation of the Malagasy species; (B) multiple, unidirectional dispersals from Africa to Madagascar resulting in multiple, independent …

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Development Of Methods For The Genetic Manipulation Of Flavobacterium Columnare, David R. Nelson Dec 2007

Development Of Methods For The Genetic Manipulation Of Flavobacterium Columnare, David R. Nelson

David R. Nelson

Background: Flavobacterium columnare is the causative agent of columnaris disease, a disease affecting many freshwater fish species. Methods for the genetic manipulation for some of the species within the Bacteroidetes, including members of the genus Flavobacterium, have been described, but these methods were not adapted to work with F. columnare. Results: As a first step toward developing a robust set of genetic tools for F. columnare, a protocol was developed to introduce the E. coli – Flavobacterium shuttle vector pCP29 into F. columnare strain C#2 by conjugal mating at an efficiency of 1.5 × 10-3 antibiotic-resistant transconjugants per recipient cell. …

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Discordance In The Paraoxonase (Pon1)-192qr Polymorphism, Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying Dec 2007

Discordance In The Paraoxonase (Pon1)-192qr Polymorphism, Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

Rozaida @ Poh Yuen Ying

Paraoxonase (PON1) has been implicated to have a cardioprotective role, due to its physical attachment with high-density lipoprotein. PON1192QR is a variation of the PON1 gene, the R allele being a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Kinetic studies resulting in a plot of paraoxon versus diazoxon hydrolysis rates may be used to accurately predict PON1192 geno-type. In this study, paraoxonase and diazoxonase activities in plasma were measured spec-trophotometrically using plasma while PCR-based PON1192 genotyping was performed us-ing polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction digestion. The two-substrate assay-derived genotypes were cross-referred with those determined by PCR-based genotyping. When results did not …

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The Dynamic Evolutionary History Of The Bananaquit (Coereba Flaveola) In The Caribbean Revealed By A Multigene Analysis, Eva Bellemain, Eldredge Bermingham, Robert E. Ricklefs Dec 2007

The Dynamic Evolutionary History Of The Bananaquit (Coereba Flaveola) In The Caribbean Revealed By A Multigene Analysis, Eva Bellemain, Eldredge Bermingham, Robert E. Ricklefs

Robert Ricklefs

Background
The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is a small nectivorous and frugivorous emberizine bird (order Passeriformes) that is an abundant resident throughout the Caribbean region. We used multi-gene analyses to investigate the evolutionary history of this species throughout its distribution in the West Indies and in South and Middle America. We sequenced six mitochondrial genes (3744 base pairs) and three nuclear genes (2049 base pairs) for forty-four bananaquits and three outgroup species. We infer the ancestral area of the present-day bananaquit populations, report on the species' phylogenetic, biogeographic and evolutionary history, and propose scenarios for its diversification and range …

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Pisciforma, Setisura, And Furcatergalia (Order: Ephemeroptera) Are Not Monophyletic Based On 18s Rdna Sequences: A Reply To Sun Et Al. (2006), T. Heath Ogden Dec 2007

Pisciforma, Setisura, And Furcatergalia (Order: Ephemeroptera) Are Not Monophyletic Based On 18s Rdna Sequences: A Reply To Sun Et Al. (2006), T. Heath Ogden

T. Heath Ogden

No abstract provided.

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Molecules, Morphology And Fossils: A Comprehensive Approach To Odonate Phylogeny And The Evolution Of The Odonate Wing, T. Heath Ogden Dec 2007

Molecules, Morphology And Fossils: A Comprehensive Approach To Odonate Phylogeny And The Evolution Of The Odonate Wing, T. Heath Ogden

T. Heath Ogden

We undertook a comprehensive morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis of dragonfly phylogeny, examining both extant and fossil lineages in simultaneous analyses. The legitimacy of higher-level family groups and the phylogenetic relationship between families were tested. Thirteen families were supported as monophyletic (Aeshnidae, Calopterygidae, Chlorocyphidae, Euphaeidae, Gomphidae, Isostictidae, Lestidae, Libellulidae, Petaluridae, Platystictidae, Polythoridae, Pseudostigmatidae and Synthemistidae) and eight as non-monophyletic (Amphipterygidae, Coenagrionidae, Corduliidae, Megapodagrionidae, Protoneuridae and Synlestidae), although Perilestidae and Platycnemididae were recovered as monophyletic under Bayesian analyses. Nine families were represented by one species, thus monophyly was not tested (Epiophlebiidae, Austropetaliidae, Chlorogomphidae, Cordulegastridae, Macromiidae, Chorismagrionidae, Diphlebiidae, Lestoideidae and Pseudolestidae). Epiprocta …

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