Genetics and Genomics Commons^™

Female Sensitivity To Diet And Irradiation Treatments Underlies Sex-Mortality Differentials In The Mediterranean Fruit Fly, James R. Carey, Pablo Liedo, Hans-Georg Müller, Jane-Ling Wang, Brad Love, Lawrence G. Harshman, Linda Partridge

Lawrence G. Harshman Publications

Large-scale experiments on medflies that were subjected to sterilizing doses of ionizing radiation (plus intact controls) and maintained on either sugar-only or full, protein-enriched diets revealed that, whereas the mortality trajectories of both intact and irradiated male cohorts maintained on both diets are similar, the mortality patterns of females are highly variable. Mean mortality rates at 35 days in male cohorts ranged from 0.2 to 0.3 but in female cohorts ranged from 0.09 to 0.35, depending on treatment. The study reports three main influences: (a) qualitative differences exist in the sex–mortality response of medflies subjected to dietary manipulations and irradiation, …

Genetic Consequences Of Polygyny And Social Structure In An Indian Fruit Bat, Cynopterus Sphinx. I. Inbreeding, Outbreeding, And Population Subdivision, Jay F. Storz, Hari Bhat, Thomas Kunz

Jay F. Storz Publications

Population subdivision into behaviorally cohesive kin groups influences rates of inbreeding and genetic drift and has important implications for the evolution of social behavior. Here we report the results of a study designed to test the hypothesis that harem social structure promotes inbreeding and genetic subdivision in a population with overlapping generations. Genetic consequences of harem social structure were investigated in a natural population of a highly polygynous fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), in western India. The partitioning of genetic variance within and among breeding groups was assessed using 10-locus microsatellite genotypes for 431 individually marked bats. Genetic analysis …

Clinal Variation In Body Size And Sexual Dimorphism In An Indian Fruit Bat, Cynopterus Sphinx (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), Jay F. Storz, J. Balasingh, Hari Bhat, P. Thiruchenthil Nathan, D. Paramanantha Swami Doss, A. Antony Prakash, Thomas H. Kunz

Jay F. Storz Publications

Geographic variation in body size and sexual dimorphism of the short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx ) was investigated in peninsular India. Bats were sampled at 12 localities along a 1,200 km latitudinal transect that paralleled the eastern flanks of the Western Ghats. The geographic pattern of variation in external morphology of C. sphinx conforms to the predictions of Bergmann’s Rule, as indicated by a steep, monotonic cline of increasing body size from south to north. This study represents one of the first conclusively documented examples of Bergmann’s Rule in a tropical mammal and confirms that latitudinal clines in body …

Variation At Tri- And Tetranucleotide Repeat Microsatellite Loci In The Fruit Bat Genus Cynopterus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), Jay F. Storz

Jay F. Storz Publications

There is considerable uncertainty surrounding the taxonomic relationship between Cynopterus sphinx and C. brachyotis, and the status of the many named forms within C. sphinx (Storz & Kunz 1999). Polymorphic microsatellite markers for cynopterine fruit bats would greatly aid efforts to elucidate species boundaries and genetic correlates of morphological variation within species. To assess levels of variation in C. sphinx and C. brachyotis, microsatellite genotypes were obtained for a total of 731 bats (620 C. sphinx and 111 C. brachyotis).

Social Structure Of A Polygynous Tent-Making Bat, Cynopterus Sphinx (Megachiroptera), Jay F. Storz, Hari Bhat, Thomas H. Kunz

Jay F. Storz Publications

The social structure of an Old World tent-making bat Cynopterus sphinx (Megachiroptera), was investigated in western India. A combination of census and mark–recapture data over 2 years (1996–98) was used to infer the form of the mating system, compositional stability of social groups and mode of new social group formation. The breeding population of C. sphinx was subdivided into diurnal roosting colonies, each of which contained one to five discrete roosting groups and often one or more solitary bats in adjacent roosts. Bats most frequently roosted in stem tents constructed in the flower/fruit clusters of the kitul palm Caryota urens …

"An Evolutionary No Man’S Land" And "Reply From L. G. Harshman And A. A. Hoffmann", Margarida Matos, André Levy, Henrique Teotónio, Michael R. Rose, Lawrence G. Harshman, Ary A. Hoffmann

Lawrence G. Harshman Publications

The gap between evolutionary studies in laboratory versus natural populations is a persistent problem.

Rapid Communication: Porcine Vitamin D-25-Hydroxylase Maps To Chromosome 5, Daniel C. Ciobanu, R. K. Raven, M. F. Rothschild, N. H. Bell

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Locus Name. Vitamin D-25-hydroxylase.

Species. Sus scrofa.

Locus Symbol. CYP25.

Source of Primers. PCR primers were designed from the published sequence for porcine vitamin D-25-hydroxylase (CYP25) cDNA (GenBank accession no. Y16417). The position of the forward and reverse primers corresponds to 506 to 530 bp and 830 to 854 bp, respectively, of the cDNA. The primer pair amplified a 348-bp fragment of the cDNA and an 862-bp fragment from the pig genomic DNA. The 862-bp fragment (Gen- Bank accession no. AF284378) was subcloned into a pNoTA vector and identity was confirmed by sequencing. Genomic sequences from 1 to 74, …

Identification Of The Transactivation Domain Of The Transcription Factor Sox-2 And An Associated Co-Activator, Tamara K. Nowling, Lance R. Johnson, Matthew S. Wiebe, Angie Rizzino

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The importance of interactions between Sox and POU transcription factors in the regulation of gene expression is becoming increasingly apparent. Recently, many examples of the involvement of Sox-POU partnerships in transcription have been discovered, including a partnership between Sox-2 and Oct-3. Little is known about the mechanisms by which these factors modulate transcription. To better understand the molecular interactions involved, we mapped the location of the transactivation do-main of Sox-2. This was done in the context of its interaction with Oct-3, as well as its ability to transactivate as a fusion protein linked to the DNA-binding domain of Gal4. Both …

Comparison Of Plasma Fsh Concentration In Boars And Gilts From Lines Selected For Ovulation Rate And Embryonal Survival, And Litter Size And Estimation Of (Co)Variance Components For Fsh And Ovulation Rate, J. D. Cassady, Rodger K. Dennison, J. J. Ford

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this research was to determine whether plasma concentration of FSH was genetically correlated with ovulation rate and thus was a useful trait for indirect selection. Blood samples were collected from 619 animals from five lines of pigs. Line I was selected for increased index of ovulation rate and embryonal survival, and Line C was its randomly selected control. Pigs sampled from Lines I and C were from generations 12 and 13. Pigs from three additional lines that were derived from eighth-generation pigs of Lines I and C also were used. These lines were Line C2, a randomly …

Recent Progress In Psychiatric Genetics—Some Hope But No Hype, Scott F. Stoltenberg, Margit Burmeister

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The reputation of the field of psychiatric genetics has recently become tarnished in the view of many human geneticists. Too many linked loci were claimed and withdrawn, too many association studies published and not confirmed, and, more recently, too many new and different chromosomal regions have been implicated for the same disorder. Here, we summarize recent trends, focusing on research that moves away from traditional linkage studies. Some promising strategies include psychopharmacogenetics and consideration of endophenotypes such as neurophysiological and behavioral markers in addition to the clinical diagnosis. Utilization of rapid and automated methods for scoring genetic variants in large-scale …

Oxidative Stress Resistance: A Robust Correlated Response To Selection In Extended Longevity Lines Of Drosophila Melanogaster?, Lawrence G. Harshman, Beth A. Haberer

Lawrence G. Harshman Publications

Stress resistance is associated with longevity in Drosophila melanogaster and other model organisms used for genetic research. The present study tests for oxidative stress resistance in one set of lines selected for late-life reproduction and extended longevity. Both females and males from the selected lines were appreciably more resistant to oxidative stress than were flies from the control lines. A relative increase in oxidative stress resistance is a correlated response to selection in this laboratory selection experiment. Increased oxidative stress resistance appears to be a relatively robust correlated response to laboratory selection for late-life reproduction and extended longevity.

Dispersion And Site Fidelity In A Tent-Roosting Population Of The Short-Nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus Sphinx) In Southern India, Jay F. Storz, J. Balasingh, P. Thiruchenthil Nathan, K. Emmanuel, Thomas H. Kunz

Jay F. Storz Publications

Patterns of dispersion and site fidelity were investigated in a tent-roosting population of the short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx (Megachiroptera), in southern India. A local population of C. sphinx occupied diurnal roosts in a variable subset of 45 stem tents constructed within the dense foliage of mast trees (Polyalthia longifolia). Individually marked tent-roosting bats were visually censused over the course of a 38-d interval spanning the postpartum oestrus period. On any given day, 33.3-85.7% (mean = 60.8%, SD = 14.2) of adult males roosted singly, with the remainder holding harems of 1-10 breeding females (mean = 3.01, SD …

Genetic And Structural Analyses Of Cytoplasmic Filaments Of Wild-Type Treponema Phagedenis And A Flagellar Filament-Deficient Mutant, Jacques Izard, William A. Samsonoff, Mary Beth Kinoshita, Ronald J. Limberger

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Unique cytoplasmic filaments are found in the treponeme genus of spirochete bacteria. Their function is unknown, but their location underneath the periplasmic flagellar filaments (PFF) suggests a role in motility and/or cell structure. To better understand these unique structures, the gene coding for the cytoplasmic filaments, cfpA, was identified in various treponemal species. Treponema phagedenis cfpA was 2,037 nucleotides long, and the encoded polypeptide showed 78 to 100% amino acid sequence identity with the partial sequence of CfpA from T. denticola, T. vincentii, and T. pallidum subsp. pertenue. Wild-type T. phagedenis and a …

Insertional Inactivation Of Treponema Denticola Tap1 Results In A Nonmotile Mutant With Elongated Flagellar Hooks, Ronald J. Limberger, Linda L. Slivienski, Jacques Izard, William A. Samsonoff

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The treponemal fla operon is comprised of numerous motility-related genes; however, the initial gene of this operon, tap1, has no known function. A recently developed system to generate specific mutants in Treponema denticola was utilized to determine if Tap1 was essential for motility. T. denticola tap1 and flanking DNA were identified, cloned, and sequenced, and a suicide plasmid that contained tap1 interrupted with an erythromycin resistance cassette (ermF and ermAM) was constructed. Because of potential polar effects from this cassette, a second plasmid that contained tap1 interrupted with a modified erythromycin resistance cassette that lacked the putative ermF transcription …

Genetic Consequences Of Mammalian Social Structure, Jay F. Storz

Jay F. Storz Publications

Populations of social mammals are characterized by several demographic features that may increase the magnitude of genetic drift relative to other evolutionary forces. In particular, polygynous mating and socially mediated constraints on gene flow have been proposed to foster random genetic differentiation among social groups, thereby accelerating rates of evolutionary change. To evaluate this hypothesized link between sociality and genetic sub- division, I examined results of published studies of mammalian populations in which genetic structuring was assessed at the level of social groups. Population genetic data from a taxonomically diverse array of social mammals revealed low to moderately high levels …

Genetic Relationships Between Visual And Objective Measures Of Carcass Composition In Crossbred Lambs, H. E. Jones, G. Simm, W. S. Dingwall, R. M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic (coroariances between objective measures and carcass visual scores, as a test of the potential value afvisual scores in selection programmes to improve carcass composition in crossbred lambs. In each of 1986, 1987 and 1988, 22 Suffolk rams were chosen with either high or low scores on an index designed to increase lean growth rate. These rams were joined with 18 to20 crossbred ewes each and theirlambs were grov.J11 on grass to one of three target live weights (35·5, 41·5 and 47·0 kg) for slaughter. The carcasses of 1881 lambs …

Ecdysteroid Titers In Mated And Unmated Drosophila Melanogaster Females, Lawrence G. Harshman, Anne M. Loeb, Beth A. Johnson

Lawrence G. Harshman Publications

Radioimmunoassay was used to determine ecdysteroid titers in mated or unmated Drosophila melanogaster females. Whole-body ecdysteroid titers increase after mating and this response is more pronounced after 12–24 hours than it is immediately after mating. In one experiment, females were mated to transgenic males deficient in accessory gland proteins to test whether these peptides mediate the observed increase in female whole-body ecdysteroid titers. Females mated to such transgenic males do not show a pronounced increase in whole-body ecdysteroid titers. The effect of mating on female hemolymph ecdysteroid titers was also investigated. Hemolymph ecdysteroid titers decrease after mating. The ecdysteroid titer …

Can Large Dsdna-Containing Viruses Provide Information About The Minimal Genome Size Required To Support Life?, James L. Van Etten

James Van Etten Publications

The genomes of a few viruses, such as Bacillus megaterium phage G (670 kb) and the chlorella viruses (330 to 380 kb), are larger than the predicted minimal genome size required to support life (ca. 320 kb). A comparison of the 256 proteins predicted to be required for life with the putative 376 proteins encoded by chlorella virus PBCV-1, as well as those encoded by other large viruses, indicates that viruses lack many of these “essential” genes. Consequently, it is unlikely that viruses will aid in determining the minimal number and types of genes required for life. However, viruses may …

Plant Hybrid Zones And Insect Host Range Expansion, Diana Pilson

Diana Pilson Publications

The hybrid bridge hypothesis suggests that plant hybrids ‘‘bridge’’ the genetic gap between actual and potential host species, and that, for this reason, herbivorous insects are more likely to evolve an expanded host range in the presence of hybrids. While intuitively appealing, the hypothesis has two implicit assumptions: that phenotypic gaps between potential hosts limit host range, and that characters controlling host use are additively inherited in plant hybrids. Evaluation of these assumptions suggests that operation of the hybrid bridge hypothesis is relatively uncommon. In addition, the hypothesis has not been well integrated into existing theoretical and empirical work on …

Cynopterus Sphinx, Jay F. Storz, Thomas H. Kunz

Jay F. Storz Publications

Order Chiroptera, Family Pteropodidae, Subfamily Pteropodinae, Tribe Cynopterini, Subtribe Cynopterina, Genus Cynopterus. Five species are recognized: C. brachyotis, C. horsfieldi, C. nusatenggara, C. sphinx, and C. titthaecheileus (Koopman, 1993). A key to the species is given in Lekagul and McNeely (1977).

Potential Associations Among Genetic Markers In The Serotonergic System And The Antisocial Alcoholism Subtype, E. M. Hill, S. F. Stoltenberg, M. Burmeister, M. Closser, R. A. Zucker

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Alcoholism is transmitted in families. The complexity and heterogeneity of this disorder has made it difficult to identify specific genetic correlates. One design with the potential to do so is the family-based association study, in which the frequencies of genetic polymorphisms are compared between affected and nonaffected members. Reduced central serotonin neurotransmission is associated with features of an antisocial subtype of alcoholism, although a primary deficit has not been traced to a particular component. Genetic markers related to the serotonergic system have been identified, located, and cloned. If associations can be discovered, the development process for pharmacotherapy could be facilitated. …

The Evolution Of Primate Malaria Parasites Based On The Gene Encoding Cytochrome B From The Linear Mitochondrial Genome, Ananias A. Escalante, Denise E. Freeland, William E. Collins, Altaf A. Lal

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

We report a phylogenetic analysis of primate malaria parasites based on the gene encoding the cytochrome b protein from the mitochondrial genome. We have studied 17 species of Plasmodium, including 14 parasitic in primates. In our analysis, four species were used for rooting the Plasmodium phylogenetic tree: two from closely related genera (Hepatocystis sp. and Haemoproteus columbae) and two other Apicomplexa (Toxoplasma gondii and Theileria parva). We found that primate malaria parasites form a monophyletic group, with the only exception being the Plasmodium falciparum–Plasmodium reichenowi lineage. Phylogenetic analyses that include two species …

Consequences Of Differing Wool Growth Rates On Staple Strength Of Merino Wethers With Divergent Staple Strengths, A. C. Schlink, G. Mata, R. M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary protein intake after a period of weight loss on the wool components of staple strength for sheep with a history of low or high staple strength (18.0 vs 34 Nlktex). After being fed to lose 15% of their liveweight over 10 weeks, sheep within each staple strength group were assigned in equal numbers to either a low or high protein diet designed to re-gain initialliveweight in 8 weeks. Liveweight, feed intakes and the growth, fibre diameter and fibre length characteristics of wool were measured at regular intervals. After the weight …

Genetic Polymorphism Among Cryptosporidium Parvum Isolates: Evidence Of Two Distinct Human Transmission Cycles, Michael M. Peng, Lihua Xiao, Amanda R. Freeman, Michael J. Arrowood, Ananias A. Escalante, André C. Weltman, Corinne S.L. Ong, William R. Mac Kenzie, Altaf A. Lal, Charles B. Beard

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

We report the results of molecular analysis of 39 isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum from human and bovine sources in nine human outbreaks and from bovine sources from a wide geographic distribution. All 39 isolates could be divided into either of two genotypes, on the basis of genetic polymorphism observed at the thrombospondin-related adhesion protein (TRAP-C2) locus. Genotype 1 was observed only in isolates from humans. Genotype 2, however, was seen in calf isolates and in isolates from a subset of human patients who reported direct exposure to infected cattle or consumed items thought to be contaminated with cattle feces. Furthermore, …

Selective Feeding By Phyllostomid Fruit Bats In A Subtropical Montane Cloud Forest, David Herníndez-Conrique, Luis Iñiguez-Dávalos, Jay F. Storz

Jay F. Storz Publications

Phyllostomid bats eat the fruits and disperse the seeds of a wide variety of neotropical plant species, particularly those typical of early successional stages (Fleming & Heithaus 1981, Heithaus 1982, Orozco-Segovia et al. 1985). In assessing the effects of frugivorous animals on plant populations and vice-versa, it is important to determine whether the animals are selective in the types of fruit they eat, or whether the proportional abundance of different fruit species in their diets simply reflects availability in the environment. The purpose of this study was to test experimentally the hypothesis that two common phyllostomid species, Sturnira ludovici and …

Relationships Between In Situ Protein Degradability And Grass Developmental Morphology, R. B. Mitchell, D. D. Redfearn, Lowell E. Moser, R. J. Grant, K. J. Moore, B. H. Kirch

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this research was to determine the relationships between the morphological development and in situ ruminally degradable protein (RDP), ruminally undegradable protein (RUP), and microbial protein of two cool season grasses (intermediate wheatgrass and smooth bromegrass) and two warm season grasses (switchgrass and big bluestem). The initial growth of grass tillers grown near Mead, Nebraska was clipped at ground level six times during the 1992 growing season and morphologically classified. Mean stage was calculated. Forage was ground to pass a 2-mm screen and was incubated in ruminally fistulated steers for 16 h. The RUP was adjusted for microbial …

Coming To Terms With Heritability, Scott F. Stoltenberg

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The complex mechanisms of heredity are little appreciated by nonspecialists, in some measure, because of misunderstandings that are perpetuated when words used for technical terms have other, more widely understood, folk meanings. When a word has both technical and folk meanings, it is the responsibility of the specialist to avoid promoting confusion by either using extremely cautious and precise language when using the term or, in cases when confusion is inevitable, abandoning the term in favor of one without a widely understood folk meaning. The study of heredity is beset by such confusion, and the term heritability appears to be …

Y-Chromosome Effects On Drosophila Geotaxis Interact With Genetic Or Cytoplasmic Background, Scott F. Stoltenberg, Jerry Hirsch

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Previously, all of the major fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, chromosomes (I, II, and III) have been shown to be associated with geotaxis, but the Y chromosome has not. Using two methods (back-crossing and chromosome substitution), Y chromosomes from lines that have evolved stable, extreme expressions of geotaxis were placed into different genetic and cytoplasmic backgrounds to test the resulting males for geotaxis. The results of the back-crossing do not support the interpretation of Y-chromosome effects on geotaxis. These tests do not have sufficient statistical power, however, to detect small genetic effects. In the chromosome substitution experiment, the geotaxis-line Y …

Parasite Biodiversity And Emerging Pathogens: A Role For Systematics In Limiting Impacts On Genetic Resources, Eric P. Hoberg

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Emergence of pathogenic organisms continues as a threat to overall biodiversity and genetic resources. Macroparasites including helminths constitute a potential threat to economically important resources in agriculture and conservation biology. Limitation of this threat can be achieved through survey and inventory for biodiversity and the application of systematics to understand the host range , biogeography and history of faunas. Systematics constitutes the foundation for recognition of endemic and introduced elements of faunas and the basis for predicting the behavior of pathogens introduced to new ecological settings or host groups. The basis for emergence of pathogens has both a deep historical …

Molecular Phylogeny And Typing Of Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) That Serve As Vectors Of Human Or Bovine Onchocerciasis, Jianming Tang, Kenneth Pruess, Eddie W. Cupp, Thomas R. Unnasch

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A subregion of the mitochondrial large subunit (16s) rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from nine species of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) which serve as natural or experimental vectors of human or bovine Onchocerca parasites. PCR products from each species of blackfly were tested by directed heteroduplex analysis (DHDA), and their genotypes established according to diagnostic banding patterns of the heteroduplex products. Three alleles of mitochondrial 16s rRNA were found to exist in members of the Simulium (Edwardsellum) damnosum sensu lato complex from West Africa, and two alleles were found in the Neotropical Simulium (Psilopelmia …