What can whiskers tell us about mammalian evolution, behaviour, and ecology?

Most mammals have whiskers; however, nearly everything we know about whiskers derives from just a handful of species, including laboratory rats Rattus norvegicus and mice Mus musculus, as well as some species of pinniped and marsupial. We explore the extent to which the knowledge of the whisker system from a handful of species applies to mammals generally. This will help us understand whisker evolution and function, in order to gain more insights into mammalian behaviour and ecology. This review is structured around Tinbergen’s four questions, since this method is an established, comprehensive, and logical approach to studying behaviour. We ask: how do whiskers work, develop, and evolve? And what are they for? While whiskers are all slender, curved, tapered, keratinised hairs that transmit vibrotactile information, we show that there are marked differences between species with respect to whisker arrangement, numbers, length, musculature, development, and growth cycles. The conservation of form and a common muscle architecture in mammals suggests that early mammals had whiskers. Whiskers may have been functional even in therapsids. However, certain extant mammalian species are equipped with especially long and sensitive whiskers, in particular nocturnal, arboreal species, and aquatic species, which live in complex environments and hunt moving prey. Knowledge of whiskers and whisker use can guide us in developing conservation protocols and designing enriched enclosures for captive mammals. We suggest that further comparative studies, embracing a wider variety of mammalian species, are required before one can make large-scale predictions relating to evolution and function of whiskers. More research is needed to develop robust techniques to enhance the welfare and conservation of mammals

Genetic analysis of autosomal recessive osteopetrosis in Chuvashiya: the unique splice site mutation in TCIRG1 gene spread by the founder effect

The rare malignant disorder autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (OPTB) is one of the most prevalent autosomal recessive diseases in the Chuvash Republic of Russia. The purpose of this study was to determine the underlying molecular cause of osteopetrosis in Chuvashiya and to reveal the factors causing the unusual high frequency of the disease in this region. Having assumed a founder effect, we performed linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping of the OPTB locus at the TCIRG1 region and found a unique splice site mutation c.807+5G>A in all Chuvashian OPTB patients studied. We then analyzed the mutational change in mRNA and detected an intron insertion within the mutant transcript, resulting in a frameshift and premature stop-codon formation (p.Leu271AspfsX231). A decreased expression of the mutant transcript was also detected, which may have been the result of nonsense-mediated decay. Real-time qPCR and MLPA® melting curve analysis-based systems were designed and used for c.807+5G>A mutation screening. In addition to analyzing the gene frequency in Chuvashiya, we also estimated three other populations in the Volga-Ural region (Mari, Udmurt and Bashkir). We found a 1.68% prevalence in Chuvashiya (calculated disease frequency, 1/3500 newborns) and a 0.84% in the Mari population (1/14 000 newborns). The haplotype analysis revealed that all OPTB cases in Chuvashians and Marians originated from a single mutational event and the age of the mutation in Chuvashians was estimated to be approximately 890 years

Report of a joint WHO/WFH meeting on the control of haemophilia: Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis

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Report of a joint WHO/WFH meeting on the control of haemophilia: Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis

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European Courts as Value-Harmonizing 'Motors of Integration'

The paper first deals with the conditions and prerequisites of adopting European law before the former „real-socialist” countries joined the EU. The key role of European Courts is described by showing that they worked as de facto virtual legislators even before accession. It is emphasized that European Courts have provided the courts and antitrust authorities of new Member States with an inestimable value-based orientation. The EU judicial practice enhanced national legal standards and legal culture in the respective countries. The second part of the contribution contrasts with this positive tone. An example of a serious inconsistency in values between the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Commission is shown concerning their divergent views on “uni-sex insurance” and the draft directive on women’s representation in board member positions. There is substantial disagreement in this matter, which weakens and endangers the integrative role of the CJEU and its habitual value-confirming impact. This disparity could to some extent depreciate the role of European Courts as „motors of integration”.Le document traite d'abord sur les conditions et les préalables de l'adoption de la législation européenne avant que les anciens pays «vraiment» socialistes aient rejoint l'UE. Un grand rôle des juridictions européennes est décrit d’une manière suivante: ils travaillaient en réalité comme des législateurs virtuelles même avant l'adhésion. Il est souligné que les tribunaux et les autorités de la concurrence des nouveaux Etats membres de l'UE ont été fournis d’une orientation axée sur la valeur inestimable par les juridictions européennes. La pratique judiciaire de l'UE renforçait des normes juridiques nationales et de la culture juridique dans les pays respectifs. La deuxième partie de la contribution contraste avec ce ton positif. Un exemple d'une grave incohérence de valeur entre la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne (CJUE) et la Commission européenne, concernant la divergence entre la CJUE et la Commission européenne dans une affaire qu'on appelle «l'assurance uni - sexe» et le projet d'une directive sur la représentation des femmes aux postes de membres du conseil d'administration est présenté. Il y a un désaccord important dans cette matière qui affaiblit et met en danger le rôle intégratif de la CJUE et son impact habituel de confirmation de valeur; il pourrait, en quelque sorte, déprécier le rôle des tribunaux européens étant des «moteurs de l'intégration»