The prevalence of badnaviruses in West African yams (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) and evidence of endogenous pararetrovirus sequences in their genomes

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important vegetatively-propagated staple crop in West Africa. Viruses are pervasive in yam worldwide, decreasing growth and yield, as well as hindering the international movement of germplasm. Badnaviruses have been reported to be the most prevalent in yam, and genomes of some other badnaviruses are known to be integrated in their host plant species. However, it was not clear if a similar scenario occurs in Dioscorea yam. This study was conducted to verify the prevalence of badnaviruses, and determine if badnavirus genomes are integrated in the yam genome

Recombinase technology: applications and possibilities

The use of recombinases for genomic engineering is no longer a new technology. In fact, this technology has entered its third decade since the initial discovery that recombinases function in heterologous systems (Sauer in Mol Cell Biol 7(6):2087–2096, 1987). The random insertion of a transgene into a plant genome by traditional methods generates unpredictable expression patterns. This feature of transgenesis makes screening for functional lines with predictable expression labor intensive and time consuming. Furthermore, an antibiotic resistance gene is often left in the final product and the potential escape of such resistance markers into the environment and their potential consumption raises consumer concern. The use of site-specific recombination technology in plant genome manipulation has been demonstrated to effectively resolve complex transgene insertions to single copy, remove unwanted DNA, and precisely insert DNA into known genomic target sites. Recombinases have also been demonstrated capable of site-specific recombination within non-nuclear targets, such as the plastid genome of tobacco. Here, we review multiple uses of site-specific recombination and their application toward plant genomic engineering. We also provide alternative strategies for the combined use of multiple site-specific recombinase systems for genome engineering to precisely insert transgenes into a pre-determined locus, and removal of unwanted selectable marker genes

Ersatzbau Südwiener Hütte

Die Alpen sind ein faszinierender und atemberaubender Ort, den viele Menschen aus verschiedensten Beweggründen besuchen. Schutzhütten sind Zufluchtsorte die den Wanderern seit jeher Schutz und Sicherheit garantieren und sind in unserer Kulturlandschaft ein fester Bestandteil. Die vorliegende Diplomarbeit befasst sich mit der Neuplanung eines bestehenden Schutzhauses in den Radstädter Tauern. Anhand von genauen Beobachtungen des Ortes und den lokalen Witterungsverhältnissen, zahlreichen Besuchen verschiedener Schutzhütten in Österreich und dem Studieren von aktuellen Schutzhüttenprojekten in den Alpen habe ich versucht die vielfältigen Aspekte in das Projekt einfließen zu lassen. Der Entwurf setzt sich mit den Antworten zu den Fragen von Materialität, Konstruktion, Transport, Logistik, der Einbindung in die Landschaft und der regionalen Baukultur auseinander. Herausforderungen wie die gebäudetechnischen Erschwernisse, eine nachhaltige Bewirtschaftung des Schutzhauses sowie der Entwicklung eines Bewusstseins zum Bauen in einer alpinen Landschaft standen dabei ebenso im Fokus.The Alps are a fascinating and breathtaking place that many people visit for various reasons. Alpine huts are places of refuge that have always guaranteed hikers protection and safety and are an integral part of our cultural landscape. The present diploma thesis deals with the planning of an existing refuge in the Radstädter Tauern. By precise observations of the place and the local weather conditions, numerous visits to various shelters in Austria and the study of current mountain huts in the Alps, I tried to incorporate the various aspects into the project. The design deals with the answers to the questions of materiality, construction, transport, logistics, the integration into the landscape and the regional building culture. Challenges such as the technical difficulties in the building, sustainable management of the shelter and the development of an awareness of building in an alpine landscape were also in focus.25

The petFI gene encoding ferredoxin I is located close to the str operon on the cyanelle genome of Cyanophora paradoxa

AbstractThe petFI gene encoding ferredoxin I was localized in the large single copy region of cyanelle DNA by heterologous hybridization. Sequence analysis revealed an ORF of 99 amino acids (including the N-tenninal processed methionine) at a position 477 bp from the 3' end of tufA but on the opposite strand. The 25 ammo-terminal residues well corresponded to partial sequences obtained with purified cyanelle ferredoxin. The assignment of yet another gene that is not found on the genomes of chlorophyll β-type plastids to cyanelle DNA again corroborates the special position of cyanelles serving as a model for plastid evolution from endocytobiotic cyanobacteria