501 research outputs found
Enhanced cross-species utility of conserved microsatellite markers in shorebirds
Background: Microsatellite markers are popular genetic markers frequently used in forensic biology. Despite their popularity, the characterisation of polymorphic microsatellite loci and development of suitable markers takes considerable effort. Newly-available genomic databases make it feasible to identify conserved genetic markers. We examined the utility and characteristics of conserved microsatellite markers in Charadriiformes (plovers, sandpipers, gulls and auks). This order harbours many species with diverse breeding systems, life histories and extraordinary migration biology whose genetics warrant investigation. However, research has been largely restrained by the limited availability of genetic markers. To examine the utility of conserved microsatellite loci as genetic markers we collated a database of Charadriiformes microsatellites, searched for homologues in the chicken genome and tested conserved markers for amplification and polymorphism in a range of charadriiform species. Results: Sixty-eight (42%) of 161 charadriiform microsatellite loci were assigned to a single location in the chicken genome based on their E-value. Fifty-five primers designed from conserved microsatellite loci with an E-value of E-10 or lower amplified across a wider range of charadriiform species than a control group of primers from ten anonymous microsatellite loci. Twenty-three of 24 examined conserved markers were polymorphic, each in on average 3 of 12 species tested. Conclusion: Genomic sequence databases are useful tools to identify conserved genetic markers including those located in non-coding regions. By maximising primer sequence similarity between source species and database species, markers can be further improved and provide additional markers to study the molecular ecology of populations of non-model organisms
Recommended from our members
An autoethnography of whiteness
Many White social scientists and educators are unaware of and/or
detached from the realities of racism and conduct social research that 1.)
perpetuates stereotypes, falsely setting People of Color as inferior and
White people as superior and/or 2.) explains the differences of White
people and People of Color in terms of cultural deficits. White people, too,
have been harmed, carrying in their minds and bodies a legacy of racism
that, if left unacknowledged, contributes to the maintenance and/or
perpetuation of white racism. This research examines the impacts of
whiteness on the author, a White woman situated as an educator and
researcher in higher education. Through autoethnographic methods, the
author describes her lived experience of studying racism and whitenessâa
system of dominance embedded in U.S. institutions; interprets how her
experience fits within the context of whiteness theories; and discusses
observations and insights associated with writing an autoethnography of
whiteness and implications for practice. Two affective themes emerged
regarding the authors lived experience of whitenessâdespair and white
shame. Awareness of the suffering of People of Color and the loss of
relationship with self and others led to the authorâs sense of despair.
Experiences of witnessing racism, consciously or unconsciously colluding
with racism, and acknowledging internalized racism caused the author to
experience white shame. The author also describes her process of
transforming despair to hope and shame to compassion. The author
confronted whiteness in the process of writing this autoethnography,
including selfâconsciousness about internalized racism, fear of
abandonment by other White people when confronting whiteness, and
inadvertent reinforcement of white normativity in construction of the text.
The process of writing an autoethnography of whiteness, while psychically
challenging, was healing and empowering for the author. Implications for
the authorâs educational practice include ongoing examination of
whiteness; developing collective efforts to address structural inequality
through research and teaching; creating learning environments that allow
for reflection and action; and vulnerability in teacherâstudent and research
relationships to decentralize power and build trust
Collaborative Agency in Youth Online and Offline Creative Production in Scratch
Few studies have focused on how youth develop agency to organize and participate in online unstructured creative collaborations. This paper describes and analyzes how youth programmers organized collaborative groups in response to a programming âCollab Challengeâ in the Scratch Online Community and in an accompanying workshop with high school students. The analyses focused on modalities of online collaborations, determined the breadth of online participation, and examined local teensâ awareness of the online community. The discussion addresses youthâs collaborative agency in these new networked contexts, studied the role that online social awareness plays in completing tasks and makes recommendations for the support of online programming communities
Isolation of polymorphic microsatellites in the stemless thistle (Cirsium acaule) and their utility in other Cirsium species
The genus Cirsium includes species with both widespread and restricted geographical distributions, several of which are serious weeds. Nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from the stemless thistle Cirsium acaule. Eight were polymorphic in C. acaule, six in C. arvense and seven in C. heterophyllum. One locus monomorphic in C. acaule showed polymorphism in C. heterophyllum. The mean number of alleles per locus was 4.1 in C. acaule, 6.2 in C. arvense and 2.9 in C. heterophyllum. These nine loci were also amplified in C. eriophorum and C. vulgare, suggesting that these markers may be of use throughout the genus
Characterization of spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta microsatellite loci
We have isolated 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the spotted hyena,Crocuta crocuta.The loci displayed between eight and 14 alleles in a minimum of 12 individuals tested.
These loci will be used to investigate relatedness within social groups, the genetic structure of populations, sexual selection, and mate choice in spotted hyenas
Ariel - Volume 6 Number 4
Editors
Mark Dembert
J.D. Kanofsky
Frank Chervenak
John Lammie
Curt Cummings
Entertainment
Robert Breckenridge
Joe Conti
Gary Kaskey
Photographer
Larry Glazerman
Overseas Editor
Mike Sinason
Humorist
Jim McCann
Staff
Ken Jaffe
Bob Sklaroff
Halley Faust
Jim Burk
Fukushima zum Trotz : Lateinamerika hält an seinen Nuklearprogrammen fest
Aim: A common pattern in biogeography is the scale-dependent effect of environmental variables on the spatial distribution of species. We tested the role of climatic and land cover variables in structuring the distribution of genetic variation in the grey long-eared bat, Plecotus austriacus, across spatial scales. Although landscape genetics has been widely used to describe spatial patterns of gene flow in a variety of taxa, volant animals have generally been neglected because of their perceived high dispersal potential.Location: England and Europe.Methods: We used a multiscale integrated approach, combining population genetics with species distribution modelling and geographical information under a causal modelling framework, to identify landscape barriers to gene flow and their effect on population structure and conservation status. Genotyping involved 23 polymorphic microsatellites and 259 samples from across the species' range.Results: We identified distinct population structure shaped by geographical barriers and evidence of population fragmentation at the northern edge of the range. Habitat suitability (as captured by species distribution models, SDMs) was the most important landscape variable affecting genetic connectivity at the broad spatial scale, while at the fine scale, lowland unimproved grasslands, the main foraging habitat of P. austriacus, played a pivotal role in promoting genetic connectivity.Main conclusions: The importance of lowland unimproved grasslands in determining the biogeography and genetic connectivity in P. austriacus highlights the importance of their conservation as part of a wider landscape management for fragmented edge populations. This study illustrates the value of using SDMs in landscape genetics and highlights the need for multiscale approaches when studying genetic connectivity in volant animals or taxa with similar dispersal abilities
Ariel - Volume 6 Number 4 (Alternate Version)
Editors
Mark Dembert
J.D. Kanofsky
Frank Chervenak
John Lammie
Curt Cummings
Entertainment
Robert Breckenridge
Joe Conti
Gary Kaskey
Photographer
Larry Glazerman
Overseas Editor
Mike Sinason
Humorist
Jim McCann
Staff
Kenn Jaffe
Bob Sklaroff
Halley Faust
Jim Burke
Jay Amsterdam
Morton A. Klein
Nancy Redfer
The Grizzly, February 20, 1981
SAC Approves Spring Term 1981 Allocations ⢠SPC to Propose Journalism Seminar ⢠USGA Announces New Officers ⢠Grizzly Planning Satire Issue ⢠Professional Credentials Committee Explored ⢠Departmental Focus: Biology Department ⢠USGA Notes ⢠Astronomy Club Planning Open House ⢠Music News Defends JDB ⢠Lorelei Outcast ⢠Alumni Office Sponsors Homecoming II ⢠Sorority Pledging With Frats ⢠Graterford Visit Provides New Insights ⢠Classics Club Planning Another Trip ⢠Special Olympics Slated for March ⢠Athletic Department Announces Play-off Plans ⢠Sports Profile: Greg Gifford ⢠Basketball Team Clinches MAC Southern Division ⢠Textile Downs Lady Hoopsters ⢠Grapplers: 10-5-1https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1053/thumbnail.jp
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