Tanda-tanda genetik Orang Asli dan Bangsa-Bangsa Bumiputera Sabah, Sarawak dan Brunei. Kumpulan-kumpulan darah dalam tiga bangsa terbesar di Malaysia dan Singapura: suatu penyusunan data

Suatu senarai data berkenaan dengan kumpulan-kumpulan darah untuk orang-orang Melayu, China dan India (tiga bangsa terbesar di Malaysia dan Singapura) dan juga untuk Orang Asli dari Semenanjung Malaysia dan Bangsa-Bangsa Bumiputera dari Sabah, Sarawak dan Brunei, telah disusun dari sastera sains. Data untuk tanda-tanda genetik biokimia dalam Orang Asli dari Semenanjung Malaysia dan Bangsa-Bangsa Bumiputera dari Sabah, Sarawak dan Brunei pun telah disusun. Taraf adanya data genetik untuk bangsabangsa tersebut dan prospek untuk pengkajian pada masa hadapan telah dibincangkan. Kertas ini menyempurnakan suatu percubaan (dalam dua bahagian) untuk menyusun semua data yang ada pada masa sekarang berkenaan dengan tanda-tanda genetik dalam penduduk-penduduk Malaysia dan Singapura

Genetic relationship between Kadazans and fifteen other Southeast Asian races

Genetic distance analysis based on five polymorphic biochemical genetic markers was done to determine the genetic distance between Kadazans and fifteen other races living in Southeast Asia. Kadazans were found to he closer to Iban, Paiwan, Visayan, Ifugao, Atyal, Aboriginal ilialays, Land Dayah, Tagalog and Southern Chinese titan they are to Bataks, Senoi, Bunun,malays, Aetas and Southern Indians. Gene frequency comparisons for several new biochemical genetic markers such as soluble glutamate pyruvate transaminase, glyoxalase I and esterase D were made between Kadazans and those few Southeast Asian races 'which had been analysed for these new marhers. In case of those markers in which no data is available for other Southeast Asian races, the Kadazan gene frequencies 'were compared to those of races found elsewhere in the world

Biodiversity characterization in Malaysia through biology and genetics.

It is often the case that every significant break through in agriculture was preceded by the discovery of some basic biological information. For example, the current widespread practice of planting the tenera type of oil palm in commercial plantations which significantly raised palm oil production was preceded by the discovery of the gene controlling the oil palm fruit shell thickness by Beirnaert and Vanderweyen in 1941 during the course of their research work in the Belgian Congo, Africa (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) (Corley and Tinker, 2003.).Hence, fundamental biological research is important and needs to continue to be supported with adequate and meaningful funding so that Malaysia’s rich biological resources can be well characterized and understood. This will enable them to be utilized economically for the benefit of humankind at their optimal sustainable levels that allow them to continue to thrive in our unique species rich tropical ecosystem. In this regard it is gratifying to note that in the effort to utilize the much touted marker assisted selection (MAS) approach to improve the production of our economic plants and animals, funding had been made available to develop molecular markers for species like oil palm (Singh et al., 2007,2008), Asian river catfish, Mystus nemurus, (Usmani et al., 2003) sea bass, Lates calcarifer, (Chong 2004, Hoh 2008) and the Malaysian giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii,(Bhassu et al., 2008) so that high density genetic maps can be generated for them. Such a map is essential before the MAS approach can be effectively applied in the breeding program of any one species (Liu and Cordes, 2004). A Malaysian company, Asiatic Center for Genome Technology (ACGT) is collaborating with the US based Synthetic Genomics Inc. (GSI) on a genome sequencing programme to analyze the entire oil palm genome with a view towards increasing its yield as well as to improve its oil composition to meet the growing market demands (ACGT2006). The Bio Nexus Project and the National Biotechnology Policy launched in May 2005 both aim to explore and utilize in a sustainable manner our rich biodiversity commercially. It is hoped that this policy together with the government’s current aim of revitalizing the nation’s agricultural sector would be accompanied by concrete measures such as the recruitment and retention of competent scientific human resources and increased research and development expenditure in the biological sciences. Then we, the biologists, should respond enthusiastically to our leaders’ clarion call for us to help achieve this noble aim. These actions would, in turn, rekindle interest among young Malaysians in the biological sciences. However, there is the danger that while careers and research in biotechnology, proteomics, genomics and molecular biology are becoming attractive, it must be borne in mind that to manage and utilize our bioresources responsibly, basic knowledge of their taxonomy, physiology, genetics and ecology are just as essential and the good health of our various ecosystems must be maintained. Therefore, biology in Malaysia is a diverse science but with a unity of purpose to enable us to be good trustees of the treasure trove of natural resources that our country has been richly endowed with

Changes of Allozymes (GOT, EST and ME) of Perna viridis Subjected to Zinc Stress: A Laboratory Study

It had been documented through electrophoretic studies that allozyme polymorphisms of bivalve populations are affected by heavy metal stress. In the present laboratory study, by using P. viridis as a test organism, the results indicated that changes in the enzymes GOT, EST and ME were due to Zn stress which are complemented by reductions of filtration rate and condition index. However, it is not yet known for sure whether the enzymes GOT, EST and ME are inducing behavioural and other changes in P. viridis. This is because of the possible subtle interactions could occur between different environmental stresses

Liver esterase polymorphisms in sepat Siam (Trichogaster pectoralis)

Esterase D and general esterases (which use a- or J3-naphthyl acetate as substrates) were investigated electrophoretically in the paddy field fish, Trichogaster pectoralis. Variants were observed for these enzymes. It is hypothesized that esterase D phenotypes are due to two codominant alleles at an autosomal locus, and that four loci are involved in the control of the general esterases

Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the west coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia using the green-lipped mussel perna viridis: Present status and what next?

This paper aims to review the papers published using Perna viridis as a biomonitoring agent of heavy metals in this region and particularly from Malaysia and to discuss the existing knowledge. Further research which will enhance our understanding and increase our knowledge on heavy metal ecotoxicology in Malaysia by using P. viridis is also suggested. This can be part of Mussel Watch monitoring program in this region. The work in establishing P. viridis for the biomonitoring of heavy metals, which is fundamentally based on the recommended criteria for a good biomonitoring agent, can be applied in other mollusks species

A baseline study on mercury concentrations in the surface sediments of the Straits of Malacca collected during four sampling cruises conducted between 1998-200

Total elemental mercury (Hg) levels in the surface sediments along the Straits of Malacca were analysed by using a Hg Analyzer Model MA-1S. Based on four sampling cruises conducted between 1998- 2000, the Hg levels in more than 95% of the sampling sites were lower than 100 μg/kg dry weight while the Hg range was between 9.86-202 μg/kg dry weight with the northern part of the Strait recorded higher concentration of Hg when compared to central and southern parts. In comparison to other regional results and established sediment quality guidelines for Hg, Hg contamination in the Straits is not serious but regular monitoring of this hazardous element is necessary