A novel gene silencing vector for plant genomics and biotechnology

Gene silencing is a process of suppressing activity of specific genes by producing “interfering” RNA encoded by foreign genes. This process serves as the principle of genetic modification in plants and animals, which is an important tool in genomics and biotechnology, allowing scientists to manipulate organisms to better meet human demands. New approaches of gene silencing may enable improvements on current practices of genetic modification, and broaden the application and impact of gene silencing in biotechnology. Recently, a novel vector design consisting of the transcription of short gene fragments lacking transcription termination signals was demonstrated to be effective in partial silencing of two separate genes in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. To test the efficacy of this unterminated transgene technique on a broader range of genes in A. thaliana, a DNA vector to clone gene fragments was required. The objective of the present study was to design a silencing vector for rapid cloning of gene fragments and test its utility on new genes. Here, we report the successful construction of a simple transgene vector, pSJN15A, for cloning gene fragments, then plant transformation upon Agrobacterium infection. The pSJN15A vector was designed for direct cloning of gene fragments obtained by polymerase chain reaction. Transcription of gene fragments is directed by read-through activity of a hygromycin resistance gene promoter. The pSJN15A vector was used to develop silencing vectors against four new Arabidopsis genes. Thus, pSJN15A serves as an important DNA resource for testing the efficacy of silencing mediated by the transcription of gene fragments in various dicotyledonous plant species

Extra-terrestrial construction processes - advancements, opportunities and challenges

Government space agencies, including NASA and ESA, are conducting preliminary studies on building alternative space-habitat systems for deep-space exploration. Such studies include development of advanced technologies for planetary surface exploration, including an in-depth understanding of the use of local resources. Currently, NASA plans to land humans on Mars in the 2030s. Similarly, other space agencies from Europe (ESA), Canada (CSA), Russia (Roscosmos), India (ISRO), Japan (JAXA) and China (CNSA) have already initiated or announced their plans for launching a series of lunar missions over the next decade, ranging from orbiters, landers and rovers for extended stays on the lunar surface. As the Space Odyssey is one of humanity’s oldest dreams, there has been a series of research works for establishing temporary or permanent settlement on other planetary bodies, including the Moon and Mars. This paper reviews current projects developing extra-terrestrial construction, broadly categorised as: (i) ISRU-based construction materials; (ii) fabrication methods; and (iii) construction processes. It also discusses four categories of challenges to developing an appropriate construction process: (i) lunar simulants; (ii) material fabrication and curing; (iii) microwave-sintering based fabrication; and (iv) fully autonomous and scaled-up construction processes

Method, vectors, cells, seeds and kits for stacking genes into a single genomic site

Methods of gene stacking are described herein. The methods can be used to repeatedly add genes into a chosen locus in a precise manner, which ensures co-segregation of all introduced genes and contributes to the stabilization of gene expression. In addition, methods of removing any additional foreign DNA elements such as selectable markers are provided. Seed stocks or cell lines comprising a gene stacking site, vectors containing an insert flanked by target sites for a site-specific DNA recombinase for use in the methods and kits for carrying out the methods are also provided herein

Multiband Antennas Design Techniques for 5G Networks: Present and Future Research Directions

With the development of wireless communication system has demanded compact wireless devices that allow more space to integrate the other electronics components. Advancement in technology creates challenges in implementing antenna for multiple RF band with a wide range of frequencies. With the advancement of optimization technique we can improve the antenna design as well as provide us the motivation of analyzing the existing studies in order to categorize and synthesize them in a meaningful manner. The objective of this paper contributes in two ways. First, it provides the research and development trends and novel approaches in design of multiband MIMO, smart reconfigurable and defected ground structure (DGS) antenna techniques for wireless system. Secondly, it highlights unique design issue reported in literature. The proposed paper aim is filling the gap in the literature and providing the researcher a useful reference

American Dreams: Gender, Migration and the Work Experiences of Asian Indian Community in Metropolitan Detroit

Flyer for Fall 2008 ICS Faculty Fellow Lecture by Vibha Bhalla.https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/ics_fellow_lectures/1071/thumbnail.jp

Method, vectors, cells, seeds and kits for stacking genes into a single genomic site

Methods of gene stacking are described herein. The methods can be used to repeatedly add genes into a chosen locus in a precise manner, which ensures co-segregation of all introduced genes and contributes to the stabilization of gene expression. In addition, methods of removing any additional foreign DNA elements such as selectable markers are provided. Seed stocks or cell lines comprising a gene stacking site, vectors containing an insert flanked by target sites for a site-specific DNA recombinase for use in the methods and kits for carrying out the methods are also provided herein