Phenotypic and genetic changes in growth and reproductive success in Tribolium castaneum across four different environments

Results are presented that describes a selection experiment showing the fundamental changes in growth and fitness associated with a shift towards higher growth rates in four environments. The experiment uses Tribolium castaneum to model a selection and mating scheme frequently occurring in commercial populations of livestock where there is an exchange of elite male germplasm to enhance performance in other populations under different environmental conditions. Objectives were to estimate direct response to selection for increased pupa weight in four environments and correlated response in family size. Estimates of genetic parameters are reported for the base population, combining all data across all lines and 23 generations of selection, and within each line.;Sufficient protein in the diet rather than a deficiency of protein was identified as a major contributing factor influencing phenotypic, genetic, and environmental changes across generations. Relative humidity created only minor changes in mean pupa weight between lines on the same diet. Animal models that failed to property account for males used across environments seriously underestimated the additive genetic variance in the population. The optimum environment, 80% relative humidity (RH) and 5% yeast-fortified whole wheat flour diet, and the poorest environment, 67% RH and a diet of flour alone, set maximum and minimum limits on estimates of phenotypic and additive genetic variance. A large ratio of additive genetic variance to phenotypic variance in some environments than others was clear evidence of genotype by environment interaction.;The experiment draws attention to the fact that undesirable correlated responses in reproductive success are frequently associated with selection for growth. Correlated responses in reproductive success can no longer be ignored, or left unmeasured in populations under intense selection for growth

Genetic diversity and population structure of Turkish native cattle breeds

Cattle are an important livestock species for human life, but certain breeds are at risk of extinction. Maintaining genetic diversity plays an important role in sustainable breeding and conservation programmes in farm animals. The aim of this study was to determine genetic diversity among five Turkish native cattle breeds. A total of 199 Turkish native cattle of the Native Southern Yellow (n = 40), South Anatolian Red (n = 40), Anatolian Grey Cattle (n = 40), Native Black Cattle (n = 39) and East Anatolian Red (n = 40) breeds were investigated using 22 autosomal microsatellite markers. The analysis revealed considerable genetic variation among these breeds. All loci were polymorphic, and a total of 545 alleles were found. Among these loci, only INRA032 was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Thirty-four private alleles with frequencies greater than 5% were found. Expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content indexes were 0.87 and 0.88, respectively. Native Southern Yellow, South Anatolian Red and Native Black Cattle breeds were closely related.Keywords: animal genetic resources, microsatellite, genetic relationship, genetic conservatio

Hypervelocity impact fragmentation of basalt and shale projectiles

Results are presented for the fragmentation of projectiles in laboratory experiments. 1.5 mm cubes and spheres of basalt and shale were impacted onto water at normal incidence and speeds from 0.39 to 6.13 km s−1; corresponding to peak shock pressures 0.7–32 GPa. Projectile fragments were collected and measured (over 100,000 fragments in some impacts, at sizes down to 10 µm). Power laws were fitted to the cumulative fragment size distributions and the evolution of the exponent vs. impact speed and peak shock pressure found. The gradient of each of these power laws increased with increasing impact speed/peak shock pressure. The percentage of the projectiles recovered in the impacts was found and used to estimate projectile remnant survival in different solar system impact scenarios at the mean impact speed appropriate to that scenario. For Pluto, the Moon and in the asteroid belt approximately 55%, 40% and 15%, respectively, of an impactor could survive and be recovered at an impact site. Finally, the catastrophic disruption energy densities of basalt and shale were measured and found to be 24 × 104 J kg−1 and 9 × 104 J kg−1, respectively, a factor of ∼2.5 difference. These corresponded to peak shock pressures of 1 to 1.5 GPa (basalt), and 0.8 GPa (shale). This is for near normal-incidence impacts where tensile strength is dominant. For shallow angle impacts we suggest shear effects dominate, resulting in lower critical energy densities and peak shock pressures. We also determine a method to ascertain information about fragment sizes in solar system impact events using a known size of impactor. The results are used to predict projectile fragments sizes for the Veneneia and Rheasilvia crater forming impacts on Vesta, and similar impacts on Ceres

Phenotypic and genetic changes in growth and reproductive success in Tribolium castaneum across four different environments

Results are presented that describes a selection experiment showing the fundamental changes in growth and fitness associated with a shift towards higher growth rates in four environments. The experiment uses Tribolium castaneum to model a selection and mating scheme frequently occurring in commercial populations of livestock where there is an exchange of elite male germplasm to enhance performance in other populations under different environmental conditions. Objectives were to estimate direct response to selection for increased pupa weight in four environments and correlated response in family size. Estimates of genetic parameters are reported for the base population, combining all data across all lines and 23 generations of selection, and within each line.;Sufficient protein in the diet rather than a deficiency of protein was identified as a major contributing factor influencing phenotypic, genetic, and environmental changes across generations. Relative humidity created only minor changes in mean pupa weight between lines on the same diet. Animal models that failed to property account for males used across environments seriously underestimated the additive genetic variance in the population. The optimum environment, 80% relative humidity (RH) and 5% yeast-fortified whole wheat flour diet, and the poorest environment, 67% RH and a diet of flour alone, set maximum and minimum limits on estimates of phenotypic and additive genetic variance. A large ratio of additive genetic variance to phenotypic variance in some environments than others was clear evidence of genotype by environment interaction.;The experiment draws attention to the fact that undesirable correlated responses in reproductive success are frequently associated with selection for growth. Correlated responses in reproductive success can no longer be ignored, or left unmeasured in populations under intense selection for growth.</p

Diggability assesment of bucket wheel excavators in Elbistan lignite mine

Ph.D. - Doctoral Progra

Gökçeada koyununda akrabalı yetiştirmenin doğum ve sütten kesim ağırlıkları üzerine etkisi

Bu çalışmanın amacı, gen kaynaklarını koruma projesi kapsamında koruma altında tutulan Gökçeada koyun sürüsünde akrabalı yetiştirmenin seviyesinin belirlenmesi ve akrabalı yetiştirmenin doğum (DA), sütten kesim ağırlıklarına (SKA) ve sütten kesim öncesi canlı ağırlık artışı (CCA) üzerine etkilerini araştırmaktır. Çalışmada erkek ve dişi olmak üzere toplam 557 kuzuya ait kayıtlar kullanılmıştır. Akrabalı yetiştirme katsayısının yıl başına yaklaşık artış %1.13 olarak bulunmuştur. Bu çalışmada üzerinde durulan ağırlıklarda akrabalığın etkisinin yanı sıra akrabalı yetiştirme dejenerasyonu da tahmin edilmiştirdi. Bu verilerin değerlendirilebilmesi için varyans analizi ve regresyon metotları kullanılmıştır. Deneme sonunda, DA ve SKA üzerine akrabalı yetiştirmenin olumsuz bir etkisinin olmadığı saptanmıştır. Bunun aksine bu sürüdeki akrabalık düzeyinin DA ve SKA üzerinde olumlu etkilerinin olduğu ortaya konulmuştur. Bu bulguların ışığında, seleksiyon ve yetiştirme koşullarının iyileştirilmesi sonucunda akrabalılı yetiştirmeden dolayı meydana gelmiş olabilecek olumsuzlukların önüne geçilebildiği düşünülmektedir. Anaların akrabalı yetiştirme için de benzer durum ortaya çıkmıştır. Sonuç olarak korumaya alınan bu ırkta, akrabalı yetiştirme sürekli hesaplanmalı ve gözlemlenmeli ve Marmara Hayvancılık Araştırma Enstitüsü’nde bulundurulan hayvanlarda akrabalı yetiştirmenin ileride meydana gelebilecek olumsuz etkisinden kaçınabilmek için sürü büyüklüğü artırılmalıdır.The objective of this study was to estimate the level of inbreeding and investigate the effect of inbreeding on birth weight (BWT), weaning weight at 90-d (WWT90), and weight gain (PWWG) of pre-weaning period in the conservation programme of flock of indigenous G&ouml;k&ccedil;eada sheep as genetic resources. The pedigree database was based on 557 heads of G&ouml;k&ccedil;eada male and female lambs. The rate of inbreeding was approximately 1.13% per year. Fixed factor on weight traits, together with estimated inbreeding depression was estimated. Analysis of variance technique and regression method were used for estimating the effects on weight traits. No significant inbreeding depression was observed in either birth or weaning weights. On contrary, it has been observed that inbreeding had significant impacts on all traits examined. The obtained results might be attributed to improved management and selection manipulations which compensated to any adverse effect of inbreeding. The similar data were obtained for contribution of relatives of dams. Tests of the effect of maternal inbreeding were estimated as similar magnitude to that of above examined traits. Effect of rate of inbreeding depression and weight traits for this breed needs to be recorded and monitored, and the flock size should be increased in the future in Marmara Livestock Research Institute