Hydra as an object in evolutionary research

Hidra je radijalno simetrična slatkovodna višestanična životinja. Pripada vrlo staroj skupini Cnidaria koja je najbliža vanjska grupa grupi Bilateria. Kod žarnjaka se prvi puta u životinjskom svijetu pojavljuju određeni sustavi kao što su imunološki, živčani i optjecajni sustav, epitel i definirana građa tijela. Hidra se koristi kao model u istraživanjima vezanim uz regeneraciju, pojavu glavnih tjelesnih osi i razvitka građe tijela kod odvedenijih višestaničnih životinja. S obzirom na pojavu endosimbioze kod zelene hidre Hydra viridissima i jednostaničnih zelenih algi roda Chlorella, bitna je i za proučavanje simbiotskih odnosa. U ovom radu željela sam ukazati na osnovne karakteristike hidre te na neka evolucijska istraživanja vezana uz nju. Hidra se već više od 300 godina koristi u istraživanjima, pa tako i evolucijskim. Unaprjeđenjem metoda molekularne biologije i genetike otvaraju se nove mogućnosti eksperimentalnog proučavanja i boljeg razumijevanja evolucije višestaničnih organizama, u čemu će hidra kao bitan modalni organizam imati zasigurno vrlo važnu ulogu.Hydra is radially symmetric freshwater multicellular animal. Hydra belongs to an ancient group of Cnidaria, which is the nearest outgroup to Bilateria. Cnidarians are the first group of animals with immunologic, nervous and circulatory systems, epithel and defined body plan. Hydra is used as a model in research related to regeneration, the appearance of the main body axis and the development of body build in higher multicellular animals. Given the emergence of endosymbiosis between Hydra viridissima and unicellular green algal genus Chlorella, green hydra is essential for study of symbiotic relationships. In this paper, I wanted to point out the basic features of Hydra and some evolutionary research related thereto. Over 300 years it has been used in research, including evolutionary research. With advancement of molecular biology and genetics new posibilities are opened for experimental study and a better understanding of the evolution of multicellular organisms, in which the hydra as a significant modal organism has certainly a very important role

Hydra as an object in evolutionary research

Hidra je radijalno simetrična slatkovodna višestanična životinja. Pripada vrlo staroj skupini Cnidaria koja je najbliža vanjska grupa grupi Bilateria. Kod žarnjaka se prvi puta u životinjskom svijetu pojavljuju određeni sustavi kao što su imunološki, živčani i optjecajni sustav, epitel i definirana građa tijela. Hidra se koristi kao model u istraživanjima vezanim uz regeneraciju, pojavu glavnih tjelesnih osi i razvitka građe tijela kod odvedenijih višestaničnih životinja. S obzirom na pojavu endosimbioze kod zelene hidre Hydra viridissima i jednostaničnih zelenih algi roda Chlorella, bitna je i za proučavanje simbiotskih odnosa. U ovom radu željela sam ukazati na osnovne karakteristike hidre te na neka evolucijska istraživanja vezana uz nju. Hidra se već više od 300 godina koristi u istraživanjima, pa tako i evolucijskim. Unaprjeđenjem metoda molekularne biologije i genetike otvaraju se nove mogućnosti eksperimentalnog proučavanja i boljeg razumijevanja evolucije višestaničnih organizama, u čemu će hidra kao bitan modalni organizam imati zasigurno vrlo važnu ulogu.Hydra is radially symmetric freshwater multicellular animal. Hydra belongs to an ancient group of Cnidaria, which is the nearest outgroup to Bilateria. Cnidarians are the first group of animals with immunologic, nervous and circulatory systems, epithel and defined body plan. Hydra is used as a model in research related to regeneration, the appearance of the main body axis and the development of body build in higher multicellular animals. Given the emergence of endosymbiosis between Hydra viridissima and unicellular green algal genus Chlorella, green hydra is essential for study of symbiotic relationships. In this paper, I wanted to point out the basic features of Hydra and some evolutionary research related thereto. Over 300 years it has been used in research, including evolutionary research. With advancement of molecular biology and genetics new posibilities are opened for experimental study and a better understanding of the evolution of multicellular organisms, in which the hydra as a significant modal organism has certainly a very important role

Hydra as an object in evolutionary research

Hidra je radijalno simetrična slatkovodna višestanična životinja. Pripada vrlo staroj skupini Cnidaria koja je najbliža vanjska grupa grupi Bilateria. Kod žarnjaka se prvi puta u životinjskom svijetu pojavljuju određeni sustavi kao što su imunološki, živčani i optjecajni sustav, epitel i definirana građa tijela. Hidra se koristi kao model u istraživanjima vezanim uz regeneraciju, pojavu glavnih tjelesnih osi i razvitka građe tijela kod odvedenijih višestaničnih životinja. S obzirom na pojavu endosimbioze kod zelene hidre Hydra viridissima i jednostaničnih zelenih algi roda Chlorella, bitna je i za proučavanje simbiotskih odnosa. U ovom radu željela sam ukazati na osnovne karakteristike hidre te na neka evolucijska istraživanja vezana uz nju. Hidra se već više od 300 godina koristi u istraživanjima, pa tako i evolucijskim. Unaprjeđenjem metoda molekularne biologije i genetike otvaraju se nove mogućnosti eksperimentalnog proučavanja i boljeg razumijevanja evolucije višestaničnih organizama, u čemu će hidra kao bitan modalni organizam imati zasigurno vrlo važnu ulogu.Hydra is radially symmetric freshwater multicellular animal. Hydra belongs to an ancient group of Cnidaria, which is the nearest outgroup to Bilateria. Cnidarians are the first group of animals with immunologic, nervous and circulatory systems, epithel and defined body plan. Hydra is used as a model in research related to regeneration, the appearance of the main body axis and the development of body build in higher multicellular animals. Given the emergence of endosymbiosis between Hydra viridissima and unicellular green algal genus Chlorella, green hydra is essential for study of symbiotic relationships. In this paper, I wanted to point out the basic features of Hydra and some evolutionary research related thereto. Over 300 years it has been used in research, including evolutionary research. With advancement of molecular biology and genetics new posibilities are opened for experimental study and a better understanding of the evolution of multicellular organisms, in which the hydra as a significant modal organism has certainly a very important role

Volatile Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Phenolic Content of Istrian Garlic Ecotypes

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is among the most important vegetable crops used in diet because of its sensory properties and positive health effects. Local producers in Istria (Croatia) have preserved old garlic ecotypes primarily for domestic consumption. Such ecotypes are adapted to specific agro-ecological conditions of Istria and their biochemical properties have not been investigated yet. The aim of this study is to determine the diversity of Istrian garlic ecotypes based on their biochemical profile for further selection of ecotypes with higher biological value in breeding programs. Garlic bulbs were collected from nine locations in Istria and analyzed after two months by chromatographic and spectrometric techniques. Volatiles diallyl sulfide, methyl allyl disulfide, diallyl disulfide, methyl allyl trisulfide, and diallyltrisulfide showed less variability among ecotypes, while total phenolics ranged from 28.5 to 69.5 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh weight. Two ecotypes and a cultivar abundant in phenolics also showed high antioxidant capacity measured by FRAP or DPPH assays. Several ecotypes stood out with higher dry matter content indicating their potential for longer storage. It was assumed that the determined variability in composition could be partly attributed to different genotypes and growing conditions. This research can contribute to the preservation of garlic biodiversity in Istria as well as to the establishment of a garlic breeding program

Biological control of invasive Dryocosmus kuriphilus with introduced parasitoid Torymus sinensis in Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary

Background and purpose: Dryocosmus kuriphilus is considered as one of the major pests of sweet chestnut and the effective method of controlling its populations and damage is the biological control with its introduced parasitoid Torymus sinensis. T. sinensis is a univoltine, host specific parasitoid, phenologically synchronized and morphologically adapted to D. kuriphilus. It has a good dispersal ability, it builds up populations quickly and it effectively controls the pest already few years after the release. In this paper we describe the first results of the introduction and release of T. sinensis for controlling the populations of invasive D. kuriphilus in sweet chestnut forests and orchards in Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia. Materials and methods: Withered D. kuriphilus galls with T. sinensis larvae were collected in Torino vicinities, Italy, in March 2014 and March 2015. After emergence, males and females were put together, kept at 14°C and fed with liquid honey until the release. To confirm the establishment of the population of T. sinensis on release site from 2014 in Croatia morphological and DNA identification were used. Fresh galls from the release site of Pazin, Croatia were collected in spring 2015 and parasitism rates of T. sinensis were calculated. Results and conclusions: In total 10,590 females and 5,295 males of T. sinensis were released in sweet chestnut forests in Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia in 2014 and 2015. The minimum release number of T. sinensis was 100 females/50 males and the maximum was 1,200 females per site. Subsequent releases with a larger number of females (1,200 and 800 in two years) resulted in a rapid establishment of the population of T. sinensis and parasitism rates of 76% only one year after the first release was done. The establishment of the population of T. sinensis was confirmed with molecular analyses and morphological identification. Obtained haplotype sequences of T. sinensis have shown similarities with Torymus beneficus. Prior to the release of T. sinensis, all advantages and disadvantages of the introduction of this alien biocontrol species into natural stands in Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia have been considered

Uloga humora u medicini i djelovanje klaunova-doktora

Humor ima povoljne učinke na zdravlje jer štiti od negativnih utjecaja stresa i ublažava tjelesnu i emocionalnu bol. Djeluje relaksirajuće, umanjuje strah, tugu i anksioznost te poboljšava imunološki sustav, respiratorni i kardiovaskularni sustav. Omogućuje realniju procjenu situacije i distanciranje od stresa. U bolničkom okruženju korisna je metoda za smanjenje stresa i boli te za postizanje bolje suradnje pacijenata tijekom invazivnih pretraga. Djelovanje klaunova-doktora predstavlja jedinstven način primjene humora u bolničkom okruženju. Rezultati istraživanja potvrđuju da intervencije klaunova-doktora ublažavaju neke negativne učinke hospitalizacije na bolesnike, naročito djecu, jer donose zabavu i smijeh, mijenjaju raspoloženje i percepciju bolesti i liječenja te psihološki osnažuju osobu. Potvrđen je i pozitivan učinak klaunova-doktora na roditelje i članove obitelji bolesne djece, te bolničko osoblje. U radu su prikazane novije spoznaje o učinku humora na tjelesno i mentalno zdravlje te djelovanje klaunova-doktora u svijetu i Hrvatskoj

Spotting the pests of tomorrow—Sampling designs for detection of species associations with woody plants

Publication history: Accepted - 1 July 2019, Published - 4 August 2019.Aim Early warning against potentially harmful organisms of woody plant species can be achieved by sampling sentinel plants in exporting countries. However, it is unclear where sentinel plants can best be located, and how many samples are required and when and how often sampling optimally should take place for the adequate assessment of the biodiversity associated with the target plant species. We aimed to review spatial and temporal factors affecting associate biodiversity of single woody plant species and to develop guidance for the design of global biodiversity sampling studies. Location Worldwide. Taxon Insects and Fungi. Methods Literature about factors affecting the diversity of insects and fungi in association with single plant species on global, regional, local and different temporal scales was reviewed. Case studies of insect and fungal diversity, primarily collected on single plant species, and the cost of collecting and analysing samples from locations around the world were analysed. Results The review of the literature illustrated various factors affecting diversity, and the case studies allowed quantification of the relative impact of some spatial, temporal and financial aspects on captured biodiversity and, thus, illustrate the need to consider all possible factors that may affect the result of the sampling when deciding on a sampling design. Main conclusions Our study illustrates the factors that should be considered when deciding on the location and timing of sampling for sentinel plants, which is important because of the trade‐off between the number of samples and sampling locations needed to detect many of the species which may be potential pests, and the cost of (repeated) sampling in many locations. Decisions about the sampling design must be based on the objective of the sampling, but our recommendations apply irrespective of the targeted plant species or country.EuropeanCooperationinScienceandTechnology,Grant/AwardNumber:FP1401;SwissStateSecretariatforScience,EducationandResearchc,Grant/AwardNumber:C15.008