Comparison of linkage disequilibrium and haplotype diversity on macro- and microchromosomes in chicken

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The chicken (<it>Gallus gallus</it>), like most avian species, has a very distinct karyotype consisting of many micro- and a few macrochromosomes. While it is known that recombination frequencies are much higher for micro- as compared to macrochromosomes, there is limited information on differences in linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype diversity between these two classes of chromosomes. In this study, LD and haplotype diversity were systematically characterized in 371 birds from eight chicken populations (commercial lines, fancy breeds, and red jungle fowl) across macro- and microchromosomes. To this end we sampled four regions of ~1 cM each on macrochromosomes (GGA1 and GGA2), and four 1.5 -2 cM regions on microchromosomes (GGA26 and GGA27) at a high density of 1 SNP every 2 kb (total of 889 SNPs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At a similar physical distance, LD, haplotype homozygosity, haploblock structure, and haplotype sharing were all lower for the micro- as compared to the macrochromosomes. These differences were consistent across populations. Heterozygosity, genetic differentiation, and derived allele frequencies were also higher for the microchromosomes. Differences in LD, haplotype variation, and haplotype sharing between populations were largely in line with known demographic history of the commercial chicken. Despite very low levels of LD, as measured by r²for most populations, some haploblock structure was observed, particularly in the macrochromosomes, but the haploblock sizes were typically less than 10 kb.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Differences in LD between micro- and macrochromosomes were almost completely explained by differences in recombination rate. Differences in haplotype diversity and haplotype sharing between micro- and macrochromosomes were explained by differences in recombination rate and genotype variation. Haploblock structure was consistent with demography of the chicken populations, and differences in recombination rates between micro- and macrochromosomes. The limited haploblock structure and LD suggests that future whole-genome marker assays will need 100+K SNPs to exploit haplotype information. Interpretation and transferability of genetic parameters will need to take into account the size of chromosomes in chicken, and, since most birds have microchromosomes, in other avian species as well.</p

THE DRAFT LAW ON THE STATUS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES VERSUS THE REAL CHALLENGES OF THE SYSTEM FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORITIES

The study proposes an in-depth discussion of the provisions of the Draft Status of National Minorities: the definition of national minorities, the cultural autonomy system, the monopoly of political and cultural rights, and lack of transparency in the resources usage, the statements of individuals concerning their affiliation to a national community, the provisions dealing with religions “specific” to minorities, and the status of national minorities as constitutive factors of the Romanian state. The intention to reform the system for the protection of national minorities by adding cultural autonomy to other provisions is a positive one. However, the solutions put forward are dissatisfying. The Draft Status destroys democracy within the minority communities; reinforces the status quo where it should be questioned; extends the monopoly of political groups regarding decision-making in the cultural and educational areas; creates the conditions for increased ethnic business and leads to unreasonably higher costs of the national minority protection system compared to the benefits. Particularly important is the fact that the Draft Status does not tackle the specificity of the two big “nationalizing minorities”, Hungarians and Roma population. Hungarians are experiencing a continuous population decrease and are concerned about the decline of the old Hungarian civilization in Transylvania. The Roma population is facing severe issues regarding social status and poverty and need to be provided with an environment in which this fragmented community may mobilize. They need creative solutions for institutionalization

Cultural and territorial autonomy and the issue of Hungarian identity

The first part of the study looks at the historical context of the symbolic and territorial competition between Romanians and Hungarians, dwelling on the issue of Transylvania and the competition for historical legitimacy. It bridges, against this background, the question of Hungarian identity to a concept developed elsewhere as a part of a national minorities doctrine: that of community privacy. Territorial autonomy, currently invoked in several Hungarian projects, represents one possible answer to the need for the community privacy of Hungarians in Romania. Another manifestation of community privacy is cultural autonomy. The study then discusses the provisions of the current draft law on the statute of national minorities in Romania and shows that it has reduced cultural autonomy to its political dimension. This form of reductionism, together with the role granted to organizations of citizens belonging to the national minorities, harms the internal democracy of minority communities. Given the current political and social context, in order to be successful in their promotion of autonomy the relevant actors in the Hungarian community must overcome their differences and agree on a set of minimal goals as an expression of their identity as a community

The Embodiment of Tolerance in Discourses and Practices Addressing Cultural Diversity in Romanian Schools

Work Package 3: National Case Studies of Challenges to Tolerance in School LifeThe ACCEPT PLURALISM project (2010-2013) is funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme, Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities. (Call FP7-SSH-2009-A, Grant Agreement no: 243837). Coordinator: Prof. Anna Triandafyllidou, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute