96 research outputs found
Repeated genomic signatures of adaptation to urbanisation in a songbird across Europe
Urbanisation is currently increasing worldwide, and there is now ample evidence of phenotypic changes in wild organisms in response to this novel environment, but the extent to which this adaptation is due to genetic changes is poorly understood. Current evidence for evolution is based on localised studies, and thus lacking replicability. Here, we genotyped great tits (Parus major) from nine cities across Europe, each paired with a rural site, and provide evidence of repeated polygenic responses to urban habitats. In addition, we show that selective sweeps occurred in response to urbanisation within the same genes across multiple cities. These genetic responses were mostly associated with genes related to neural function and development, demonstrating that genetic adaptation to urbanisation occurred around the same pathways in wildlife populations across a large geographical scale.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest
Continent-wide genomic signatures of adaptation to urbanisation in a songbird across Europe
Urbanisation is increasing worldwide, and there is now ample evidence of phenotypic changes in wild organisms in response to this novel environment. Yet, the genetic changes and genomic architecture underlying these adaptations are poorly understood. Here, we genotype 192 great tits (Parus major) from nine European cities, each paired with an adjacent rural site, to address this major knowledge gap in our understanding of wildlife urban adaptation. We find that a combination of polygenic allele frequency shifts and recurrent selective sweeps are associated with the adaptation of great tits to urban environments. While haplotypes under selection are rarely shared across urban populations, selective sweeps occur within the same genes, mostly linked to neural function and development. Collectively, we show that urban adaptation in a widespread songbird occurs through unique and shared selective sweeps in a core-set of behaviour-linked genes
Toxicity of lunar dust
The formation, composition and physical properties of lunar dust are
incompletely characterised with regard to human health. While the physical and
chemical determinants of dust toxicity for materials such as asbestos, quartz,
volcanic ashes and urban particulate matter have been the focus of substantial
research efforts, lunar dust properties, and therefore lunar dust toxicity may
differ substantially. In this contribution, past and ongoing work on dust
toxicity is reviewed, and major knowledge gaps that prevent an accurate
assessment of lunar dust toxicity are identified. Finally, a range of studies
using ground-based, low-gravity, and in situ measurements is recommended to
address the identified knowledge gaps. Because none of the curated lunar
samples exist in a pristine state that preserves the surface reactive chemical
aspects thought to be present on the lunar surface, studies using this material
carry with them considerable uncertainty in terms of fidelity. As a
consequence, in situ data on lunar dust properties will be required to provide
ground truth for ground-based studies quantifying the toxicity of dust exposure
and the associated health risks during future manned lunar missions.Comment: 62 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Planetary
and Space Scienc
The Relationship between Paranormal Belief and the HEXACO Domains of Personality
The HEXACO-PI-R (Ashton & Lee, 2007) has been presented as an alternative measure of the Five Factor Model, with the inclusion of the dimension of honesty/humility. This new measure of personality was utilised alongside the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS) in a correlational design among 137 undergraduate students in Wales. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that superstition was significantly negatively correlated with conscientiousness and openness to experience, while precognition was significantly negatively correlated with honesty/humility. No other personality factors were statistically significant predictors of any dimensions of paranormal belief. While these results do not provide strong support for previous findings, it is concluded that the inclusion of the honesty/humility dimension renders the HEXACO-PI-R a useful measure for considering relationships between personality and paranormal belief
Two-particle correlations in azimuthal angle and pseudorapidity in inelastic p + p interactions at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron
Results on two-particle ΔηΔϕ correlations in inelastic p + p interactions at 20, 31, 40, 80, and 158 GeV/c are presented. The measurements were performed using the large acceptance NA61/SHINE hadron spectrometer at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. The data show structures which can be attributed mainly to effects of resonance decays, momentum conservation, and quantum statistics. The results are compared with the Epos and UrQMD models.ISSN:1434-6044ISSN:1434-605
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