Chromosomal analysis of selected lines of Drosophila melanogaster with a new level of bristle canalization

International audienc

Beyond Biodiversity: Fish Metagenomes

Biodiversity and intra-specific genetic diversity are interrelated and determine the potential of a community to survive and evolve. Both are considered together in Prokaryote communities treated as metagenomes or ensembles of functional variants beyond species limits.Many factors alter biodiversity in higher Eukaryote communities, and human exploitation can be one of the most important for some groups of plants and animals. For example, fisheries can modify both biodiversity and genetic diversity (intra specific). Intra-specific diversity can be drastically altered by overfishing. Intense fishing pressure on one stock may imply extinction of some genetic variants and subsequent loss of intra-specific diversity. The objective of this study was to apply a metagenome approach to fish communities and explore its value for rapid evaluation of biodiversity and genetic diversity at community level. Here we have applied the metagenome approach employing the barcoding target gene coi as a model sequence in catch from four very different fish assemblages exploited by fisheries: freshwater communities from the Amazon River and northern Spanish rivers, and marine communities from the Cantabric and Mediterranean seas.Treating all sequences obtained from each regional catch as a biological unit (exploited community) we found that metagenomic diversity indices of the Amazonian catch sample here examined were lower than expected. Reduced diversity could be explained, at least partially, by overexploitation of the fish community that had been independently estimated by other methods.We propose using a metagenome approach for estimating diversity in Eukaryote communities and early evaluating genetic variation losses at multi-species level

Didáctica de la ciencia a través del teatro

En un entorno de educación de adultos, se llevó a cabo una experiencia didáctica de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la ciencia utilizando como recurso educativo el teatro de creación colectiva, en paralelo a una batería de charlas-coloquio en torno al concepto y mecanismos de la evolución. De una parte, se trataba de ofrecer claves evolutivas asequibles, desde una perspectiva multidisciplinar, para entender la enorme diversidad de la vida en nuestro planeta. De otra, y como consecuencia de la anterior, se emplearon dinámicas de la investigación-acción participativa y técnicas del análisis de contenido, para tratar de construir una expresión plástica al modo en que se crea un espectáculo teatral, que evidenciara los aprendizajes adquiridos. Los resultados que se obtuvieron muestran el proceso de transferencia de conocimientos situando los elementos evolutivos procedentes de las charlas-coloquio en los diálogos que los alumnos diseñaban y su competencia para crear una representación teatral desde la nada hasta la escenificación

Expansion of non-native brown trout in South Europe may be inadvertently driven by stocking: Molecular and social survey in the North Iberian Narcea River

The biological and anthropogenic (management) factors that may contribute to the expansion of non-native lineages in managed fish have been studied in this work taking brown trout (Salmo trutta) as a model species. The changes of users’ opinion about stocking was studied employing social science methodology (surveys). The evolution of hatchery stocks together with the outcome of stocking were analysed with two genetic tools: the LDH-C1* locus (marker of non-native stocks) and six microsatellite loci (for assignment of wild trout to the natural population or putative hatchery stocks). Consulted stakeholders were convinced of the correctness of releasing only native stocks, although in practice the hatcheries managed by them contained important proportions of non-native gene carriers. Our results suggest that allochthonous individuals perform better and grow faster in hatchery conditions than the native ones. We also find a dilution of the impact of this kind of suplementation in wild conditions. The use of only native individuals as hatchery breeders tested for the presence of non-native alleles previously to the artificial crosses must be a priority. Surveys can help steer policy making toward decisions that will be followed by the public, but they should not be used to justify science

Advantages and limitations of environmental DNA/RNA tools for marine biosecurity: Management and surveillance of non-indigenous species

To enable successful management of marine bioinvasions, timely and robust scientific advice is required. This knowledge should inform managers and stakeholders on the magnitude of a pressure (rate of human-mediated introductions), the environmental state of an ecosystem (impacts of non-indigenous species), and the success of management response (prevention, eradication, mitigation). This advice often relies on baseline biodiversity information in the form of measureable parameters (metrics). This can be derived from conventional approaches such as visual surveys, but also by utilizing environmental DNA/RNA-based molecular techniques, which are increasingly being touted as promising tools for assessing biodiversity and detecting rare or invasive species. Depending on the stage of incursion, each approach has merits and limitations. In this review we assess the performance of biosecurity-relevant biodiversity parameters derived from eDNA/eRNA samples and discuss the results in relation to different stages of invasion and management applications. The overall performance of considered methods ranged between 42 and 90% based on defined criteria, with target-specific approaches scoring higher for respective biosecurity applications, followed by eDNA metabarcoding. Caveats are discussed along with avenues which may enhance these techniques and their successful uptake for marine biosecurity surveillance and management. To facilitate and encourage uptake of these techniques, there is a need for an international collaborative framework aimed at unifying molecular sampling and analysis methodologies. Improvement of quantitative capacity and cost-efficiency will also enhance their integration in biosecurity programmes

Assessing the Genetic Influence of Ancient Sociopolitical Structure: Micro-differentiation Patterns in the Population of Asturias (Northern Spain)

Las poblaciones humanas de la Península Ibérica son el diverso resultado de una compleja mezcla de culturas a lo largo de la historia, y están separadas por claras barreras sociales, culturales, lingüísticas y geográficas. Las mayores diferencias genéticas entre poblaciones cercanas y relacionadas se encuentran en el tercio norte de España, y se definen por un fenómeno comúnmente llamado "micro-diferenciación". Se ha discutido cómo esta forma de estructuración genética puede relacionarse con el abrupto terreno y las sociedades antiguas del norte de Iberia, pero esto es difícil de probar en muchas regiones debido a la intensa movilidad humana de los siglos anteriores. Aun así, la comunidad autónoma española de Asturias muestra una compleja historia que parece indicar un cierto aislamiento de su población. Esto, junto con su difícil terreno lleno de profundos valles y altas montañas, la hace adecuada para realizar un estudio de estructuración genética, basado en ADN mitocondrial y marcadores del Cromosoma-Y. Nuestros análisis no sólo muestran que existen patrones de micro-diferenciación dentro del territorio asturiano, si no que estos patrones son sorprendentemente similares entre ambos marcadores. La inferencia de barreras al flujo génico también indica que las poblaciones asturianas del norte costero y del sur montañoso parecen estar relativamente aisladas del resto del territorio. Estos hallazgos se discuten a la luz de datos históricos y geográficos que, junto con evidencias anteriores, muestran que el origen de la estructuración genética actual bien pudiera estar en divisiones sociopolíticas de las eras romana y pre-romana

Molecular barcoding confirms the presence of exotic Asian seaweeds (Pachymeniopsis gargiuli and Grateloupia turuturu) in the Cantabrian Sea, Bay of Biscay

Background The introduction of exotic species can have serious consequences for marine ecosystems. On the shores of the Cantabrian Sea (North of Spain) there are no routine examinations of seaweeds that combine molecular and morphological methods for early detection of exotic species making it difficult to assess in the early stages their establishment and expansion processes as a result of anthropogenic activities (e.g., shipping and/or aquaculture). Methods In this work we used both morphological identification and molecular barcoding (COI-5P and rbcL genes) of red algae collected in Asturias, Bay of Biscay (Gijón and Candás harbours) and from the University of Oviedo’s herbarium samples. Results The results confirmed the presence of exotic Asian seaweeds Pachymeniopsis gargiuli and Grateloupia turuturu Yamada on Cantabrian Sea shores. Several individuals of these species were fertile and developing cystocarps when collected, underlining the risk of possible expansion or continued establishment. This study constitutes the first report of the Asian P. gargiuli in this area of the Bay of Biscay. Conclusions Here the presence of the exotic species of the Halymeniales P. gargiuli is confirmed. We hypothesize that this species may have been established some time ago as a cryptic introduction with G. turuturu in Galician shores. The detection of these species on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea is relevant since introductions of Pachymeniopsis species could have been overlooked on other European coasts, probably mixed with G. turuturu and P. lanceolata. Our results confirm one new alien seaweed species that has been detected using molecular methods (COI-5P region and rbcL genes barcoding) on North Atlantic shores: the Asian native P. gargiuli. This demonstrates that routine screening for early detection of exotic algae in the Cantabrian Sea can be used for risk assessment. Genetic barcoding should be done using both rbcL gene and COI-5P regions since, although COI-databases are still poorer in sequences and this inhibits successful outcomes in Grateloupia-related species identifications, it is nonetheless a useful marker for species-level identifications in seaweeds

Evaluation of Potential Pain Biomarkers in Saliva and Pain Perception After Corneal Advanced Surface Ablation Surgery

Purpose: To evaluate the evolution of a set of proposed pain biomarkers in the saliva of subjects following Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA), in order to determine their validity as objective pain measures. Methods: A multicenter, prospective, and descriptive study was carried out to assess the variations between biomarkers and perceived pain. The Inclusion criteria were healthy subjects who underwent a bilateral, alcohol-assisted surface ablation with epithelial removal (ASA). Pain intensity before and after surgery was assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Cortisol, sAA, sIgA, testosterone, and sTNF alpha RII were assayed at four-time points (V0, baseline; V1, pre-surgery; V2, 1 hr post-surgery, and V3, 72 hrs post-surgery). Comorbidities and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS) questionnaires were administrated before and at 6 hrs after the surgery. All patients were treated with cold patches, topical steroids, topical cold antibiotics, and benzodiazepines after ASA surgery. A descriptive analysis of biomarkers and pain intensity evolution and the agreement between biomarkers and pain was performed. Results: Concentration of sIgA and sTNF alpha RII post-surgery was significantly higher at each visit compared to baseline (p-value: 0.053, p-value: < 0.001, respectively). Relations between VAS scale score and putative biomarker variations were not statistically significant except for the sIgA but only at visit 0 (p-value: 0.024). The HADS questionnaire showed anxiety scores between 0 and 7 in all patients before and at 6 hrs after surgery. Conclusion: In this study, sIgA and sTNF alpha RII are the two potential biomarkers that present correlation with the VAS and these salivary substances showed acceptable levels of reproducibility in healthy subjects