Phenotypic association of seven observed traits of hand complex

This paper provides an overview of the seven possible hand-related traits, with an idea to estimate the statistical phenotypic association between them. The traits observed in this study were: midphalangeal hair, Hitchhiker’s thumb, extensibility of proximal joint of thumb, digital index, nail shape, crooked fifth finger and hand clasping. The mentioned characteristics were observed in 7431 unrelated subjects, with approximately equal gender distribution. For each case, three groups were formed: total, male and female. The subjects were evenly distributed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina’s various geographical regions, and they properly represent the country’s national and ethnic composition. The Chi-squared test was used to determine the statistical significance of the association between these traits, while Fisher’s exact test was utilized as an extra test to analyze the association between each pair of observed features. Also, Chi-squared test was applied for observing differences in the frequencies of the phenotypic characteristics of the hand between the genders. Following traits were shown to have a statistically significant association: midphalangeal hair-Hitchhiker’s thumb, midphalangeal hair – digital index, midphalangeal hair – nail shape, midphalangeal hair – crooked fifth finger, Hitchhiker’s thumb- extensibility of proximal joint of thumb, digital index – nail shape, digital index -crooked fifth finger, midphalangeal hair – hand clasping, crooked fifth finger – hand clasping. Analysis of differences in the frequencies of the observed phenotypic traits of the hand according to the genders showed statistical significance for D, Dht, Ref and Lf

GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF BROOK TROUT Salvelinus fontinalis (MITCHILL, 1848) BROODSTOCKS FROM HATCHERIES IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Najčešće uzgajane riblje vrste u Bosni i Hercegovini su iz porodice Salmonidae, uključujući i potočnu zlatovčicu (Salvelinus fontinalis) koju se uzgaja za prehranu i za potrebe poribljavanja. Na uzgajalištima je primjećena povećana učestalost anatomskih deformacija kod mlađi potočne zlatovčice koje uzrokuju smanjenje kondicije kod riba, a time i značajne financijske gubitke. S obzirom da je dokazano da je pojava deformacija u korelaciji s niskom genetičkom raznolikošću i visokom stopom uzgoja u srodstvu, ova studija je imala za cilj procijeniti unutar i međupopulacijsku raznolikost Salvelinus fontinalis iz različitih ribogojilišta u Bosni i Hercegovini na osnovu varijacija mitohondrijskog i nuklearnog genoma. Primjenom mitohondrijskog kontrolnog područja i sedam nuklearnih mikrosatelitnih lokusa analizirano je ukupno 109 uzoraka potočne zlatovčice iz tri ribogojilišta locirana na rijeci Neretvi. Metoda PCR-RFLP i metoda sekvenciranja pokazale su samo jedan haplotip kontrolnog područja u svim istraživanim jedinkama. Uočen je mali broj genotipova za sve promatrane mikrosatelitne lokuse. Vrijednost genetičke raznolikosti i sadržaj informativnog polimorfizma pratili su porast u broju alela po lokusu. Općenito, vrijednost koeficijenta uzgoja u srodstvu bio je generalno veoma visok, dok su genetska raznolikost i uočena heterozigotnost imali niske stope. Rezultati provedene studije u suglasnosti su s rezultatima prethodnih istraživanja u kojima su razvojne deformacije bile praćene niskom genetičkom raznolikošću i inbreeding depresijom. Stoga se posebno preporuča redovno nadopunjavanje matičnog jata novim, nesrodnim jedinkama s obzirom da je to od presudnog značaja za održanje zadovoljavajuće razine genetičke raznolikosti i sprečavanje inbreeding depresije. Također, održavanje dobre prakse upravljanja u pogledu fluktuacije temperature vode, izloženosti zagađenju, prehrane itd. će dodatno prevenirati nastanak ovog štetnog stanja.The most commonly farmed fish species in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s aquaculture are from the family Salmonidae, including brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis which is reared both for consumption and stocking purposes. A number of farmers complained about the elevated frequency of anatomical deformities in the smolts and fingerlings of brook trout, decreasing their fitness rate and causing significant financial loss. Since it has been shown that occurrence of deformities is correlated with the low genetic diversity and high inbreeding, this study aimed to assess intra- and interpopulation diversity of Salvelinus fontinalis from different freshwater fish farms in Bosnia and Herzegovina by observing variation in mitochondrial and nuclear genome. Total of 109 samples of brook trout from three hatcheries located at the Neretva River were analyzed for the mitochondrial control region and seven nuclear microsatellite loci. Both PCR-RFLP and sequencing revealed only one haplotype of the control region in all investigated trout. Overall, a low number of genotypes was evident across all the observed loci. Values of genetic diversity and polymorphic information content followed the increase in the number of alleles per locus. In general, values of inbreeding coefficient were generally very high, while the genetic diversity and observed heterozygosity had low rates. The results of our study are congruent with the findings of previous studies in which developmental deformities were concomitant with the low genetic diversity and inbreeding depression. It is, therefore, strongly advised to regularly supplement the broodstock with new, unrelated individuals, as it is of vital importance for sustaining a satisfying level of genetic diversity and preventing inbreeding depression. Additionally, maintaining good management practices regarding the fluctuation of water temperature, exposure to pollution, nutrition, etc., will further contribute to the prevention of this detrimental condition

MOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND HYBRIDIZATION PATTERNS OF Abramis brama × Rutilus rutilus HYBRIDS FROM MODRAC RESERVOIR, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Interspecijska hibridizacija u porodici Cyprinidae zabilježena je širom svijeta, a Abramis brama (deverika) i Rutilus rutilus (bodorka) su jedan od često prijavljenih hibridizirajućih parova. Jedini opis takvog događaja u Bosni i Hercegovini potiče iz akumulacije Modrac. Koristeći morfološke i molekularne markere, istražili smo prisutnost hibrida, odredili smjer hibridizacije i procijenili strukturu hibridnih skupina u ovom ekosustavu. Naša su otkrića potvrdila nesmetanu prirodnu hibridizaciju bodorke i deverike u akumulaciji Modrac. Primjenom NewHybrids softvera, preko 50% hibridnih primjeraka klasificirano je kao F2 hibridi, dok su ostali kategorizirani kao čisti roditeljski oblik, što je prvi takav nalaz u Europi. Analiza mitohondrijskog citokroma b pokazala je da 90% hibridnih jedinki ima majčinsko podrijetlo od deverike. Hibridna skupina izrazila je veće srednje vrijednosti promatrane heterozigotnosti i raznolikosti gena u odnosu na obje roditeljske vrste. Otkriveni su znakovi introgresivne hibridizacije između roditeljskih vrsta. Čini se da hibridna zona akumulacije Modrac slijedi intermedijarni ili "ravni" hibridni model zasnovan na uravnoteženoj raspodjeli roditeljskih i hibridnih genotipova. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja kako bi se rasvijetlili čimbenici koji omogućuju preživljavanje i uspjeh u parenju jedinki poslije F1 generacije.Interspecific hybridization in the Cyprinidae family has been recorded worldwide, with Abramis brama (bream) and Rutilus rutilus (roach) as one of the often-reported hybridizing pairs. The only account of such an event in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been in Modrac Reservoir. Using morphological and molecular markers, the presence of hybrids was surveyed, the hybridization direction was determined and the hybrid group structure in this ecosystem was evaluated. Our findings confirmed unhindered natural hybridization between roach and bream in Modrac Reservoir. Over 50% of the hybrid specimens were classified as F2 hybrids by the NewHybrids software, while the rest were categorized as pure parental form, making it the first such finding in Europe. The analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b showed that 90% of hybrid individuals were of bream maternal origin. The hybrid group expressed higher mean values of observed heterozygosity and gene diversity than both parental species. Signs of introgressive hybridization between parental species were detected. The hybrid zone of Modrac Reservoir appears to follow the intermediate or “flat” hybrid model based on the balanced distribution of parental and hybrid genotypes. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the factors that enable the survival and mating success of post-F1 individuals

An assessment of regulation, education practices and socio-economic perceptions of non-native aquatic species in the Balkans

Alongside climate change, the introduction of non-native species (NNS) is widely recognized as one of the main threats to aquatic biodiversity and human wellbeing. Non-native species and biodiversity are generally low priority issues on the political agendas of many countries, particularly in European countries outside the European Union (EU). The objectives and tasks of this study were to address the policy regulation, education level, education practices, and socioeconomic perceptions of NNS in the Balkans. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Turkey (Balkan EU candidate and potential candidate members), in Croatia and Greece (Balkan EU Member States) and Italy (non-Balkan EU Member State). The EU Alien Regulation (1143/2014) concerning NNS is implemented in EU Member States and Montenegro, whereas Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey have not reported specific policy regulations for NNS. Permanent monitoring programmes specifically designed for NNS have not yet been established in the EU Member States. Most countries tackle the issue of NNS through educational activities as part of specific projects. Education level is indicative of the implementation of NNS policy regulation, and efforts are needed for the proper development of relative study programmes. Public awareness and educational preparedness concerning NNS in the Balkans were identified as poor. Strong programmes for management and education should be developed to increase public awareness to prevent further biodiversity losses in the Balkan region

Analysis of forensic genetic parameters of 22 autosomal STR markers (PowerPlex® Fusion System) in a population sample from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Background: Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multinational and multireligious country, located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. Migrations through history were a key factor in the genetic identity of the Bosnian–Herzegovinian population. Aim: To analyse genetic polymorphisms of 22 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci in the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to compare STR allele frequencies for STR loci with the reference data for European populations. Subjects and methods: The study was conducted among 600 unrelated individuals from all regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Genotyping was performed using the PowerPlex® Fusion amplification kit. Allele frequencies and statistical parameters were calculated, as well as the genetic distance among analysed populations through the construction of a neighbor-joining dendrogram. Results: STR loci included in the PowerPlex® Fusion amplification kit showed high discriminatory power indicating their reliability for human identification and paternity testing. The neighbor-joining dendrogram based on the results of genetic distance analysis showed that the Bosnian and Herzegovinian population has the greatest genetic distance from Turkish and Hungarian populations and greatest similarity with Croatian, Slovenian, and Serbian populations. Conclusion: The results of this study strongly support the application of 22 autosomal genetic markers for paternity testing and personal identity testing and are in agreement with most previous human studies in the investigated human populations