The genetic architecture underlying the evolution of a rare piscivorous life history form in brown trout after secondary contact and strong introgression

Identifying the genetic basis underlying phenotypic divergence and reproductive isolation is a longstanding problem in evolutionary biology. Genetic signals of adaptation and reproductive isolation are often confounded by a wide range of factors, such as variation in demographic history or genomic features. Brown trout ( ) in the Loch Maree catchment, Scotland, exhibit reproductively isolated divergent life history morphs, including a rare piscivorous (ferox) life history form displaying larger body size, greater longevity and delayed maturation compared to sympatric benthivorous brown trout. Using a dataset of 16,066 SNPs, we analyzed the evolutionary history and genetic architecture underlying this divergence. We found that ferox trout and benthivorous brown trout most likely evolved after recent secondary contact of two distinct glacial lineages, and identified 33 genomic outlier windows across the genome, of which several have most likely formed through selection. We further identified twelve candidate genes and biological pathways related to growth, development and immune response potentially underpinning the observed phenotypic differences. The identification of clear genomic signals divergent between life history phenotypes and potentially linked to reproductive isolation, through size assortative mating, as well as the identification of the underlying demographic history, highlights the power of genomic studies of young species pairs for understanding the factors shaping genetic differentiation

Potential Risks Inherent in Robotic Process Automation

Robotic process automation (RPA) uses automation technologies to perform tasks typically performed by humans. Although such technology has been instrumental in expediting business operations and lowering costs, it has also created several risks that warrant scrutiny. When discussing the drawbacks of automation, many will point to the number of jobs lost to the influx of automation. However, there are technology risks that organizations must consider such as fraud and cybersecurity. Fraudsters may utilize RPA to commit more novel and subtle technological and cyber security fraud. Organizations may implement internal control measures to prevent or mitigate such schemes, segregation of duties, and change management. RPA has many benefits, but the effective use of such technology will ultimately come down to how businesses adapt to risks in such an ever-changing business environment

Towards a curriculum for teaching the holocaust in a South African Jewish primary school : a case study

Includes bibliographies.This is a study of the place and meaning of the Holocaust in the evolving identity of the South African Jewish Community and the appropriate means of translating the subject into the curriculum of its schools. Its place in the primary school has been unclear and its role undefined in contrast to the subjects central unit in the high school Jewish history curriculum. The research focused on the primary school level using Herzlia Weizmann Primary School in Cape Town as a case study. The study began with a systematic description and analysis of the prevailing state of Holocaust education in the school. Qualitative research techniques were employed to identify the place of the Holocaust in the formal and the informal curricula and in the school ethos. This description together with the interviews of key participants helped to create the basis for informed curriculum development

Targeting of ricin A chain into pea chloroplasts

AbstractAchimaeric gene was constructed encoding the pre-sequence of the 33 kDa oxygen-evolving complex protein from wheat (a thylakoid lumen protein) linked to ricin A chain. The fusion protein is efficiently imported by isolated pea chloroplasts and localised partly in the stroma, with the remainder bound to the stromal surface of the thylakoids. The imported protein is fully processed by both the stromal and thylakoidal processing peptidases, indicating that partial or complete translocation across the thylakoid membrane has taken place

Mental Health and COVID-19 at Whittier

These oral histories were taken from three Whittier College students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic in varying ways. Generally speaking they experienced heightened feelings of anxiety/social anxiety, and apathy due to lock downs, the possibility of getting sick, not being able to interact with close friends and family

Different lumen-targeting pathways for nuclear-encoded versus cyanobacterial/plastid-encoded Hcf136 proteins

AbstractLumenal proteins are transported across the thylakoid membrane by two very different pathways: Sec-dependent or twin-arginine translocase (Tat)-dependent, where the substrate protein can be transported in a folded state. We present the first evidence that a given protein can be targeted by different pathways in different organisms. Arabidopsis Hcf136 is targeted exclusively by the Tat pathway in pea chloroplasts and no Sec-dependent transport is evident even when the twin-arginine is replaced by twin-lysine. However, twin-arginine motifs are absent from the presequences of Hcf136 proteins encoded by plastid or cyanobacterial genomes, strongly implying translocation by another pathway (presumably Sec). We suggest that the Hcf136 protein was transferred to the Tat pathway when the gene became incorporated into the nuclear genome, possibly due to the tighter folding associated with the more involved, post-translational targeting pathway

The Direction of Neurite Growth in a Weak DC Electric Field Depends on the Substratum: Contributions of Adhesivity and Net Surface Charge

AbstractWe investigated the influence of the growth surface on the direction ofXenopusspinal neurite growth in the presence of a dc electric field of physiological magnitude. The direction of galvanotropism was determined by the substratum; neurites grew toward the negative electrode (cathode) on untreated Falcon tissue culture plastic or on laminin substrata, which are negatively charged, but neurites growing on polylysine, which is positively charged, turned toward the positive electrode (anode). Growth was oriented randomly on all substrata without an electric field. We tested the hypothesis that the charge of the growth surface was responsible for reversed galvanotropism on polylysine by growing neurons on tissue culture dishes with different net surface charges. Although neurites grew cathodally on both Plastek substrata, the frequency of anodal turning was greater on dishes with a net positive charge (Plastek C) than on those with a net negative charge (Plastek M). The charge of the growth surface therefore influenced the frequency of anodal galvanotropism but a reversal in surface charge was insufficient to reverse galvanotropism completely, possibly because of differences in the relative magnitude of the substratum charge densities. The influence of substratum adhesion on galvanotropism was considered by growing neurites on a range of polylysine concentrations. Growth cone to substratum adhesivity was measured using a blasting assay. Adhesivity and the frequency of anodal turning were graded over the range of polylysine concentrations (0 = 0.1 < 1 < 10 = 100 μg/ml). The direction of neurite growth in an electric field is therefore influenced by both substratum charge and growth cone-to-substratum adhesivity. These data are consistent with the idea that spatial or temporal variation in the expression of adhesion molecules in embryos may interact with naturally occurring electric fields to enhance growth cone pathfinding

Benefits-Led IT: Building the Organisational Capability

We are engaged in an action research project to develop university senior managers as leaders of IT-enabled transformation. The project aims to produce practical resources to help individuals and organisations as they seek to develop their transformation capability in an increasingly financially aware business environment. At this mid-point in the project we want to highlight three things: Firstly, the time is right for a focus on benefits realization. The general economic environment and the challenge to do more with less is an important factor. At Newcastle the foundation of good systems, skills and processes provides the basis for looking beyond technology delivery to benefits realization. Secondly, the agile and benefits-driven approach adopted by this research has been valuable. Finally, we have seen the value of people from different areas of the organisation working together using simple, but powerful tools