A third-generation microsatellite-based linkage map of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, and its comparison with the sequence-based physical map

The meiotic map of the honey bee is presented, including the main features that emerged from comparisons with the sequence-based physical map. The map is based on 2,008 markers and is about 40 M long, corresponding to a recombination rate of 22 cM/Mb

The genome of Apis mellifera: dialog between linkage mapping and sequence assembly

Two independent genome projects for the honey bee, a microsatellite linkage map and a genome sequence assembly, have interactively produced an almost complete organization of the euchromatic genome

Fine Scale Analysis of Crossover and Non-Crossover and Detection of Recombination Sequence Motifs in the Honeybee (Apis mellifera)

BACKGROUND: Meiotic exchanges are non-uniformly distributed across the genome of most studied organisms. This uneven distribution suggests that recombination is initiated by specific signals and/or regulations. Some of these signals were recently identified in humans and mice. However, it is unclear whether or not sequence signals are also involved in chromosomal recombination of insects. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed recombination frequencies in the honeybee, in which genome sequencing provided a large amount of SNPs spread over the entire set of chromosomes. As the genome sequences were obtained from a pool of haploid males, which were the progeny of a single queen, an oocyte method (study of recombination on haploid males that develop from unfertilized eggs and hence are the direct reflect of female gametes haplotypes) was developed to detect recombined pairs of SNP sites. Sequences were further compared between recombinant and non-recombinant fragments to detect recombination-specific motifs. CONCLUSIONS: Recombination events between adjacent SNP sites were detected at an average distance of 92 bp and revealed the existence of high rates of recombination events. This study also shows the presence of conversion without crossover (i. e. non-crossover) events, the number of which largely outnumbers that of crossover events. Furthermore the comparison of sequences that have undergone recombination with sequences that have not, led to the discovery of sequence motifs (CGCA, GCCGC, CCGCA), which may correspond to recombination signals

Problems and needs for improving primary care of osteoarthritis patients: the views of patients, general practitioners and practice nurses

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is highly prevalent and has substantial impact on quality of life as well as on healthcare costs. The general practitioner (GP) often is the first care provider for patients with this chronic disease. The aim of this study was to identify health care needs of patients with OA and to reveal possible obstacles for improvements in primary care management of OA patients. METHODS: We performed semi-structured interviews with a stratified sample of 20 patients, 20 GPs and 20 practice nurses. RESULTS: Diagnosing OA posed no major problem, but during the course of OA, GPs found it difficult to distinguish between complaints resulting from the affection of the joints and complaints related to a concomitant depression. Patients felt to be well informed about the degenerative nature of the disease and possible side effects of medications, but they lacked information on individual consequences of the disease. Therefore, the most important concerns of many patients were pain and fear of disability which they felt to be addressed by GPs only marginally. Regarding pain treatment, physicians and patients had an ambivalent attitude towards NSAIDs and opiates. Therefore, pain treatment was not performed according to prevailing guidelines. GPs felt frustrated about the impact of counselling regarding life style changes but on the other hand admitted to have no systematic approach to it. Patients stated to be aware of the impact of life style on OA but lacked detailed information e.g. on how to exercise. Several suggestions were made concerning improvement. CONCLUSION: GPs should focus more on disability and pain and on giving information about treatment since these topics are inadequately addressed. Advanced approaches are needed to increase GPs impact on patients' life style. Being aware of the problem of labelling patients as chronically ill, a more proactive, patient-centred care is needed

L'espèce

La définition de l'espèce, longtemps réservée principalement aux logiciens et aux philosophes, est devenue au XIXème siècle le champ des biologistes. Avec leurs contributions le nombre et la complexité des concepts s'est accru de façon extrême. Durant les années quarante les concepts élaborés par les auteurs de la théorie synthétique de l'évolution ont semblé presque définitifs, cependant le nombre de nouveaux concepts proposés n'a jamais été aussi grand que depuis un demi-siècle. Ces concepts sont principalement fondés sur trois critères, utilisés seuls ou combinés, ce sont la ressemblance, la descendance et l'interfécondité, auxquels l'écologie, l'adaptation et la sélection sont parfois associées. Notre travail inclue les définitions classiques et bien connues aussi bien que des usages non biologiques de ce terme. Les qualités et les défauts des principales définitions sont étudiés. Les commentaires d'accompagnement portent surtout sur la diversité des critères utilisés, qui varient parfois d'une définition à l'autre pour un même auteur, au cours du temps ou selon les progrès de la biologie. Quand plusieurs critères sont incorporés dans une même définition ils sont en général seulement juxtaposés parce qu'ils ne peuvent pas logiquement être déduits l'un de l'autre. L'application des définitions à tous les taxons (universalité) est aussi considérée, aussi bien que la convenance au niveau taxonomique de l'espèce (et non à d'autres catégories taxonomiques), ainsi que la circularité des arguments. Les tentatives des naturalistes de toutes disciplines pour élaborer des définitions témoignent que l'espèce demeure encore le guide le plus universel pour ordonner la diversité des êtres vivants.The definition of species, for a long time mainly restricted to logicians and philosophers, has become in the last century the field of biologists. With their contributions the number and the complexity of concepts increased dramatically. During the forties the concepts elaborated by the authors of the evolutionary synthesis seemed decisive for a time, however the numbers of new concepts proposed was never as high as in the last half century. These concepts are mainly based on three criteria, used alone or in various combinations, i.e. similarity, descent and interfertility, to which ecology, adaptation and selection are sometimes associated. Our work includes classical and legs well-known definitions as well as non-biological uses of the ward. Principal qualities and defects of the definitions are noted. Accompanying commentaries are mainly focussed on the diversity of the criteria used, which vary sometimes from one definitions to another by the same author, in the course of decades and according to the biological field evolved. When several criteria are used in a single definition, they are generally only juxtaposed because they cannot be logically deduced one from the other. The applicability of the definitions to all taxa (universality) is also considered, as well as the suitability for the specific taxonomical level (and not to other taxonomical categories) and the circularity of the arguments. Attempts by naturalists from all disciplines to construct the definitions testify that species still remains the most universal guide to organise the diversity of living beings.ORSAY-PARIS 11-BU Sciences (914712101) / SudocSudocFranceF