Somatic embryogenesis in Mucuna pruriens

This study reports the induction of somatic embryos in Mucuna pruriens. Different explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 11.31 ìM 2,4-D produced golden yellow embryogenic callus that induced synchronized embryo development on MS basal liquid medium. Organization of pre-embryonic mass was noticed 15 d after sub culturing the callus, which progressively developed to globular, heart, torpedo and cotyledonary shaped embryos. Attempts to germinate them did not succeed as the cotyledonary embryos turned characteristic red and subsequently brown before finally turning blackand unresponsive. The reaction was consistent across different media constituents, hormonal concentrations and pH ranges. Supplementation of anti-oxidants was also ineffective. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the brown and non-brown embryos revealed quantitative differences inprotein contents between the two. More detailed study is necessary to establish the precise cause for embryo browning and ways of its regulation

Profile and prevalence of malnutrition in children with spinal cord injuries-assessment of the Screening Tool for Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics (STAMP)

Data on the prevalence of malnutrition in paediatric patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are limited. The present study aimed to establish the risk of (i) under-nutrition by using the Screening Tool for Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics: STAMP (score ≥2) and (ii) over-nutrition by body mass index (BMI) centile (≥91st: overweight; ≥98th: obese)

Genomic introgression in laboratory evolved hybrid races, Cytorace 1 and Fissioncytorace-1 of Nasuta-albomicans

Nasuta-albomicans complex (NAC) of Drosophila is an artificial hybrid zone comprising of Drosophila nasuta nasuta, Drosophila nasuta albomicans and 16 Cytoraces, which are the evolutionary products of a long range hybridization experiment conducted in the laboratory environment. Occurrence of centric fission in the X3 chromosome of Cytorace 1 led to the derivation of Fissioncytorace-1. Molecular techniques have emerged as powerful and valuable tools for detection and exploitation of genetic polymorphism. In the present study, Cytorace 1 and Fissioncytorace-1 were subjected to Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) analyses to determine the introgression of D. n. nasuta and D. n. albomicans genomes. It was found that Cytorace 1 and Fissioncytorace-1 exhibit similarities in RAPD and ISSR profiles although different combinations of genomic regions could have favoured Fissioncytorace-1, for better morphophenotypes and fitness, when compared to Cytorace 1, which has existed for over 15 years from the time of its evolution in the laboratory environment