Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Rectal temperatures in postpartum cows

O trabalho teve como objetivo correlacionar dados da parturição com o acompanhamento diário da temperatura retal no pós-parto imediato em fêmeas bovinas. Foram selecionadas aleatoriamente 180 vacas leiteiras provenientes de sete propriedades, em Araçatuba (SP) e região, sendo monitoradas durante o puerpério precoce, no período de setembro de 1999 a julho de 2000. Do primeiro ao décimo dia pós-parto a temperatura retal (TR) de todos os animais foi aferida no intervalo das 05:00 às 08:00 horas da manhã, utilizando-se termômetro eletrônico (M525 - GLA Agricultural Electronics, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7500). Foi considerada acima da normalidade TR superior a 39,5°C, sendo colhidas informações sobre eventuais distocias, partos gemelares, retenção de membranas fetais, alteração do estado geral, ingestão de alimentos, produção de leite e descarga vaginal. Houve associação significativa entre descarga vaginal purulenta ou sanguinolenta e estado febril, sendo que dos 180 animais observados, 26 (14,4%) apresentaram corrimento vaginal patológico, destes dez (38,5%) tiveram febre, enquanto que os bovinos sem presença de secreção alterada tiveram elevação na temperatura corpórea em 17,5% dos casos. Também ocorreu associação significativa entre parto distócico e placenta retida, 37 vacas (20,6%) mostraram parturição difícil e, destas, oito (21,6%) retiveram as membranas fetais, enquanto as fêmeas que pariram normalmente tiveram 4,2% (seis animais) de retenção de secundinas. Constatou-se que vacas apenas com retenção placentária não apresentaram sinais clínicos, exceto presença de uma transitória redução no apetite e da produção láctea. Este monitoramento diário, através da aferição da temperatura retal, consiste em importante instrumento adicional, podendo indicar precocemente alterações reprodutivas, como possíveis infecções uterinas, maximizando a produção leiteira e a performance reprodutiva futura.The purpose of this study was to evaluate parturition data with the rectal temperature in the early postpartum period of dairy cows. One hundred and eighty cows were randomly selected between September 1999 and July 2000, in seven dairy farms located in the Northwest region of São Paulo, Brazil. For the first ten days postpartum, rectal temperature (RT) was taken between 5:00 and 8:00 a.m. using an electronic thermometer (M525 - GLA Agricultural Electronics, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-7500). Cows with RT>39,5°C were enrolled and other signs like calving difficulties, dystocia due to twins, fetal membrane retention, ill appearance, off-feed, milk production and vaginal discharge were recorded. Significant association was observed between vaginal discharge and fever. Considering 180 animals, 26 (14,4%) showed vaginal discharge, among them ten (38,5%) were pyretic, while in cows without vaginal discharge only 27 (17,5%) showed higher rectal temperatures. Difficult parturition and retained membranes also were statistically different, 37 cows (20,6%) presented dystocia, among them eight (21,6%) had retention of the afterbirth, while in the cows with normal parturition only six (4,2%) showed retention of the fetal membranes. It was observed that cows with or without retained fetal membranes did not show clinical signs less a transitory reduction of appetite and milk production. This daily monitoring of rectal temperature represents an aditional tool indicating precociously reprodutive alterations, like uterine infections, maximizing milk production and future uterine performance.