Transgene integration - an analysis in autotransgenic Labeo rohita Hamilton (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

Transgenic Labeo rohita founder population was analyzed for the presence of autotransgene having histone 3 promoter and growth hormone (GH) cDNA (LRH3-GHcDNA) or total GH gene (LRH3-GH2.8) by PCR with transgene specific primers. Transgene specific amplification was seen with LRH3-GHcDNA in five out of seven individuals and all three fishes with LRH3-GH2.8, indicating their transgenic nature. Transgene integration was also studied by Southern hybridization of DNA isolated from blood of the transgenic fishes with two different probes (histone 3 promoter and cDNA of L. rohita). Autotransgene integration was confirmed in all PCR positive transgenic individuals. The site of integration of the transgene in the genome of the four transgenic fish could be determined by inverse PCR. Two individuals showed integration at the same site whereas in the remaining two individuals the integration sites were different

An exploratory analysis of geographic genetic variation in southern African nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)

We report patterns of genetic variation based on microsatellite, allozyme and mitochondrial control region markers in nyala from geographic locations sampled in South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Highly significant differences were observed among allele frequencies at three microsatellite loci between populations from KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Malawi, with the Malawi and KwaZulu-Natal groupings showing the highest differentiation ðRST ¼ 0:377Þ: Allozyme frequencies showed minor, non-statistically significant regional differences among the South African populations, with maximum FST values of 0.048–0.067. Mitochondrial DNA analyses indicated a unique haplotype in each location sampled. Since none of these indices of population differentiation showed significant correlation to absolute geographic distance, we conclude that geographic variation in this species is probably a function of a distribution pattern stemming from habitat specificity. It is suggested that translocations among geographically distant regional populations be discouraged at present, pending a more elaborate investigation. Transfer of native individuals among local populations may, however, be required for minimizing the likelihood of inbreeding depression developing in small captive populations.DST Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biolog

SuperIDR: A Tool for Fish Identification and Information Retrieval

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Students, fisheries professionals, and the general public may value computer-facilitated assistance for fish identification and access to ecological and life history information. We developed SuperIDR, a software package supporting such applications, by utilizing the search and data retrieval capabilities of digital libraries, as well as key features of tablet PCs. We demonstrated SuperIDR utilizing a database with information on 207 freshwater fishes of Virginia. A user may annotate fish images and identify fishes by using a dichotomous key; searching for key words, similar images, subimages, or annotations on images; or combinations of these approaches. Students using the software demonstrated enhanced ability to correctly identify specimens. Their comments led to improvements, including the addition of new features. The PC-based system for identifying freshwater fishes of Virginia may be downloaded and modified. SuperIDR is a prototype for PC-based species identification applications-the system architecture and the open-source software that we developed are applicable to other fish faunas and to a broader range of species identification tasks.3826575MicrosoftNational Science Foundation [DUE-0435059]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)National Science Foundation [DUE-0435059

Avaliação de risco dos organismos geneticamente modificados Risk assessment of genetically modified organisms

Desde o começo de sua comercialização, em 1996, a área global de plantações transgênicas aumentou mais de cinquenta vezes. Nas duas últimas décadas, organizações governamentais e intergovernamentais têm planejado estratégias e protocolos para o estudo da segurança de alimentos derivados de cultivos geneticamente modificados. Os testes de segurança são realizados caso a caso e conduzidos de acordo com as características específicas das culturas modificadas e as mudanças introduzidas através da modificação genética, levando em conta o conceito de equivalência substancial. No presente trabalho, estão relatadas algumas abordagens de avaliação de risco de alimentos geneticamente modificados, assim como alguns problemas relacionados à construção genética ou mesmo à expressão do gene inserido<br>Since the commercial approve in 1996, the global area of transgenic crops has raised more than 50 times. In the last two decades, governments have been planning strategies and protocols for safety assessment of food and feed genetically modified (GM). Evaluation of food safety should be taken on a case-by-case analysis depending on the specific traits of the modified crops and the changes introduced by the genetic modification, using for this the concept of substantial equivalence. This work presents approaches for the risk assessment of GM food, as well as some problems related with the genetic construction or even with the expression of the inserted gen

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for growth traits on bovine chromosome 14

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping in livestock allows the identification of genes that determine the genetic variation affecting traits of economic interest. We analyzed the birth weight and weight at 60 days QTL segregating on bovine chromosome BTA14 in a F2 resource population using genotypes produced from seven microsatellite markers. Phenotypes were derived from 346 F2 progeny produced from crossing Bos indicus Gyr x Holstein Bos taurus F1 parents. Interval analysis to detect QTL for birth weight revealed the presence of a QTL (p < 0.05) at 1 centimorgan (cM) from the centromere with an additive effect of 1.210 ± 0.438 kg. Interval analysis for weight at 60 days revealed the presence of a QTL (p < 0.05) at 0 cM from the centromere with an additive effect of 2.122 ± 0.735 kg. The region to which the QTL were assigned is described in the literature as responsible for some growth traits, milk yield, milk composition, fat deposition and has also been related to reproductive traits such as daughter pregnancy rate and ovulation rate. The effects of the QTL described on other traits were not investigated