Sharp Phylogeographic Breaks and Patterns of Genealogical Concordance in the Brine Shrimp Artemia franciscana

Genealogical concordance is a critical overlay of all phylogenetic analyses, irrespective of taxonomic level. To assess such patterns of congruence we have compiled and derived sequence data for two mitochondrial (16S rRNA, COI) and two nuclear (ITS1, p26) markers in 14 American populations of the hypersaline branchiopod Artemia franciscana. Cladistic analysis revealed three reciprocally monophyletic mitochondrial clades. For nuclear DNA, incomplete lineage sorting was evident presumably as a result of slower coalescence or male-mediated dispersal. Our findings capture the genealogical interval between gene splitting and population divergence. In this sense, strong indications are provided in favour of a superspecies status and ongoing speciation in A. franciscana

RETRACTION NOTICE: Circ_0067835 acts as an oncogenic factor in colorectal cancer by increasing MAPK1 expression via sponging miR-873-5p

Retraction to: Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki. 2022;29:3https://doi.org/10.26262/jbrt.v29i0.8597 The Editor-in-Chief has retracted the article “Circ_0067835 acts as an oncogenic factor in colorectal cancer by increasing MAPK1 expression via sponging miR-873-5p” because the authors of the manuscript revealed (after its online publication on JBRT) that their statement “Written informed consents were obtained from all participants and this study was permitted by the Ethics Committee of Weifang People’s Hospital” was false; the authors admitted (after JBRT editorial inquiries) that the followed research protocols where not appropriately reviewed and that they did not obtain any written informed consent from the patients. Also, the authors admitted that the human cells lines HCT116 and SW480 were contaminated with other (unknown) cell lines; therefore, the presented results have been compromised and are considered as invalid. Both authors (Shouchao Li and Feifei Sun) and the Head of the Department of Anorectal Surgery (Dr. Junxi Sun) agree with this retraction. Prof. Dr. Theodore J. AbatzopoulosEditor-in-Chief of Journal of Biological Research-Thessalonik

The repeated emergence of asexuality, the hidden genomes and the role of parthenogenetic rare males in the brine shrimp Artemia

Abstract The backbone of this endeavour consists of three major components as they appear in the title. My intention is to summarise, as explicitly as possible, both existing and novel data on the occurrence of parthenogenetic rare males assessing their role in conveying sets of genetic information between asexual strains and sexual Artemia species to and fro. Additionally, an assemblage of strong indications and evidence is quoted aiming to unravel possible scenarios of the repeated emergence of asexuality in the brine shrimp and its significance in evolutionary processes involved in speciation

HaloDom: a new database of halophiles across all life domains

Abstract Background Halophilic organisms may thrive in or tolerate high salt concentrations. They have been studied for decades and a considerable number of papers reporting new halophilic species are being published every year. However, an extensive collection of these salt-loving organisms does not exist nowadays. Halophilic life forms have representatives from all three life domains, Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya. The purpose of this study was to search for all documented halophilic species in the scientific literature and accommodate this information in the form of an online database. Results We recorded more than 1000 halophilic species from the scientific literature. From these, 21.9% belong to Archaea, 50.1% to Bacteria and 27.9% to Eukaryotes. Our records contain basic information such as the salinity that a particular organism was found, its taxonomy and genomic information via NCBI and other links. The online database named “HaloDom” can be accessed at http://www.halodom.bio.auth.gr. Conclusions Over the last few years, data on halophiles are growing fast. Compared to previous efforts, this new halophiles database expands its coverage to all life domains and offers a valuable reference system for studies in biotechnology, early life evolution and comparative genomics

Microsatellite analysis of the genetic population structure of native and translocated Aristotle's catfish (

The genetic structure of two native Silurus aristotelis (one of Europe's oldest surviving freshwater fish species) populations was investigated using eight microsatellite loci. Average values of population heterozygosity were very high, even approaching values reported for marine fishes, possibly due to stable population sizes and the prolonged undisturbed conditions prevailing in the lakes that represent the native distribution of S. aristotelis. The success of an attempt to introduce the species into a new environment was also evaluated. No loss of genetic variability in the introduced population was detected. Additionally, assignment tests and trees based on genetic distances among individuals indicated the low differentiation of the translocated population from its donor population, and, differentiated the two autochthonous populations successfully. Comparisons with previous allozyme and mitochondrial RFLP studies were also made and showed that results on relative levels of genetic variability among populations were in good agreement among all methods. However, microsatellite analysis exhibited higher power of statistical tests for differentiation among population samples compared to allozymes

Mitochondrial Control Region Variability in Mytilus galloprovincialis Populations from the Central-Eastern Mediterranean Sea

The variable domain 1 (VD1) domain of the control region and a small segment of the rrnaL gene of the F mtDNA type were sequenced and analyzed in 174 specimens of Mytilus galloprovincialis. Samples were collected from eight locations in four Central-Eastern (CE) Mediterranean countries (Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey). A new primer, specific for the F mtDNA type, was designed for the sequencing procedure. In total 40 different haplotypes were recorded, 24 of which were unique. Aside from the two populations situated in Thermaikos gulf (Northern Aegean, Greece), relatively high levels of haplotype and nucleotide diversity were estimated for both Central and Eastern Mediterranean populations. Eight out of the 40 haplotypes were shared by at least three populations while two of them were found in all populations. ΦST and cluster analysis revealed lack of structuring among CE Mediterranean populations with the exception of those located at the Sea of Marmara and Croatian coast which were highly differentiated. Apart from the species’ inherit dispersal ability, anthropogenic activities, such as the repeated translocations of mussel spat, seem to have played an important role in shaping the current genetic population structure of CE M. galloprovincialis mussels

Promoting evolution: the brand new Hellenic Evolutionary Society (HEVOS)

Herein we present the recently founded Hellenic Evolutionary Society (HEVOS) that has been recently instituted to promote evolution and scientific thinking among the Greek-speaking public. HEVOS is a timely initiative, given the low levels of acceptance of evolution by Greek society and the almost complete lack of evolution teaching in primary and secondary education in Greece. Herein, the main aims of the Society are presented