Evolution of human chromosome 7: new information from the mapping of Williams- Beuren locus on non-human primates chromosomes

Human chromosome 7 (HSA7) derives, by a pericentric inversion and a paracentric inversion, from an ancestral chromosome homologous to chromosome 10 of Pongo pygmaeus (the Asiatic Orang-Utan). Nevertheless the genesis of this autosome during primates evolution is not clear. Even if chromosome painting shows that HAS 7 synteny is highly conserved, GTG-banding comparison in Hominoidea and Cercopithecoidea indicates the probable occurrence of complex rearrangements during the evolution. In this study we used a single locus FISH approach, a powerful tool to detect fine rearrangements, in order to investigate the evolution of HAS 7. We report the chromosome mapping of Williams-Beuren syndrome locus (WS - HSA 7q11.23) on Macaca fascicularis (MFA), Cercopithecus (Chlorocebus) aethiops (CAE) and Trachypithecus cristatus (TCR) (Cercopithecoidea, Primates). The probe hybridises on all species tested and demonstrates the occurrence of rearrangements like fusion, fission and pericentric plus paracentric inversions respectively in MFA, CAE and TCR. Together with the first chromosome mapping of WS locus in Cercopithecoidea, this study confirms that single locus mapping is a very efficacious tool for the analysis of chromosomal rearrangements as it gave the opportunity to have a fine molecular confirmation to proposed banding patterns homologies

Molecular and classical cytogenetic analyses demonstrate an apomorphic reciprocal chromosomal translocation in Gorilla gorilla

The existence of an apomorphic reciprocal chromosomal translocation in the gorilla lineage has been asserted or denied by various cytogeneticists. We employed a new molecular cytogenetic strategy (chromosomal in situ suppression hybridization) combined with high-resolution banding, replication sequence analysis, and fluorochrome staining to demonstrate that a reciprocal translocation between ancestral chromosomes homologous to human chromosome 5 and 17 has indeed occurred

Sistemi di codifica argomentale: fra semantica e morfosintassi

"preprint" (resoconto breve

Low cost seismic constructions: design and dissemination in developing socio-economic areas

Substantial seismic risk to public buildings, such as schools and medical centres, affects a wide segment of the world’s population: from the developing countries and those with considerable socio-economic diversity (Africa, Latin America), to those currently undergoing economic transformation and rapid demographic expansion (China, India, Southeast Asian). The direct exportation of modern technologies or know-how through simple economic aid programmes cannot alone solve the problem: local populations are often unable to handle the maintenance and management of modern buildings, whether it be for economic reasons, a lack of organizational support or simply a poor understanding of the materials, systems and construction techniques supplied them. The use of low-cost, easily available materials is a necessary, though insufficient, condition for balanced development in the field of earthquake-resistant structures. The goal, in this respect, is to improve existing local technologies by enhancing the peoples’ understanding of the seismic behaviour of buildings, and by applying modern techniques to enhance traditional local materials and technologies. In doing so, all aspects relevant to structural stability (statics, energetics, systems, and sanitation) must be addressed. Another essential undertaking is to promulgate scientific knowledge: this involves understanding the linguistic and popular customs of local populations, their organizational structures and to implement means of language communication aimed at segments of the population or social structures able to receive such knowledge and render it operative. In this regard, the case of the Republic of Malawi – the object of the present project – is emblematic. The project involves designing and constructing a simple school building with materials and techniques found in the area, by adopting some strategies to increase the structure’s capacity to withstand seismic actions. The basic structural material to be used is bamboo, reinforced with timber, straw and mud, and masonry blocks. The seismic-resistant structure elements are fashioned of plywood and stainless-steel screws, easily assembled given suitable instructions. The construction methods are simple and can followed by locals with proper dissemination of the techniques throughout the community and organization of the building site. Three levels of communication are proposed: a) technical dissemination through local institutions (local technical offices, Universities); b) training work-site foremen in the local community; c) support to and verification of the work progress. Each of the three levels calls for specific communication methods for disseminating know-how, through documents, sketches, information boards and verbal explanations. In the first, typical western-culture technical and economic documents are used; in the second, a dissemination manual with simplified language, sketches and illustrations for assembly are adopted, using the communication techniques of “picture books” or “comic strips” typical of the educational brochures used in primary and secondary schools; lastly, in the third, descriptive charts will be drawn up to illustrate, through simple pictures and sketches, the various construction stages – a technique similar to the classical “story-board”, which serves to bring to life the time sequence of the various stages and make them more easily understandable

THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN CHROMOSOME 7 SYNTENIES IN EUTHERIA WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO PRIMATES

Genetic and cytogenetic comparison in between man and non-human primates has largely contributed to the knowledge of the evolution of the Order Primates, and in particular of man. Recently, the “Chromosome painting” approach indicated a strong conservation of syntenies in Eutheria. At present, a more precise identification of breakpoints and evolutionary related rearrangements can be obtained by BAC and locus specific in situ hybridisation. In spite to this situation the evolutionary history of different human autosomes remains a dilemma; at the same time, high resolution banded chromosome analysis confirms to be a valuable tool for the preliminary detection of fine rearrangements. This review critically describes current information concerning the evolution of human chromosome 7 orthologous in several Eutherian groups. Included in this analysis are data on species belonging to 11 orders. Nevertheless, this study has been mainly focused on Primates were we considered data from 9 species of Prosimians, 25 species of Platirrhinae, and 51 species of Catarrhinae. Chromosome 7 synteny appeared in a mammalian ancestor in a dual form, generally described as 7a and 7b forms. These chromosomes underwent to several linespecific rearrangements in the different orders. A particular complexity in chromosome rearrangements has been highlighted in Primates. A chronologically fossil-tuned dynamic of the synteny is proposed, starting from classical and molecular cytogenetics specific landmarks which appeared throughout evolution

Ancient Indo-European Languages between Linguistics and Philology. Contact, Variation and Reconstruction.

The chapters in this volume investigate case-studies in several ancient Indo-European languages (Ancient Greek, Latin, Hittite, Luwian, Sanskrit, Avestan, Old Persian, Armenian, Albanian) through the lenses of contact, variation, and reconstruction, in an interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary way. This reveals at the same time the multiplicity and the unity of our discipline(s), both by showing what kind of results the adoption of modern theories on “old” material can yield, and by underlining the centrality and complexity of the text in any research related to ancient languages