From Preferred to Actual Mate Characteristics: The Case of Human Body Shape

The way individuals pair to produce reproductive units is a major factor determining evolution. This process is complex because it is determined not only by individual mating preferences, but also by numerous other factors such as competition between mates. Consequently, preferred and actual characteristics of mates obtained should differ, but this has rarely been addressed. We simultaneously measured mating preferences for stature, body mass, and body mass index, and recorded corresponding actual partner's characteristics for 116 human couples from France. Results show that preferred and actual partner's characteristics differ for male judges, but not for females. In addition, while the correlation between all preferred and actual partner's characteristics appeared to be weak for female judges, it was strong for males: while men prefer women slimmer than their actual partner, those who prefer the slimmest women also have partners who are slimmer than average. This study therefore suggests that the influences of preferences on pair formation can be sex-specific. It also illustrates that this process can lead to unexpected results on the real influences of mating preferences: traits considered as highly influencing attractiveness do not necessarily have a strong influence on the actual pairing, the reverse being also possible

A small XY chromosomal region explains sex determination in wild dioecious V. vinifera and the reversal to hermaphroditism in domesticated grapevines

Publis014-agap-029Background In Vitis vinifera L., domestication induced a dramatic change in flower morphology: the wild sylvestris subspecies is dioecious while hermaphroditism is largely predominant in the domesticated subsp. V. v. vinifera. The characterisation of polymorphisms in genes underlying the sex-determining chromosomal region may help clarify the history of domestication in grapevine and the evolution of sex chromosomes in plants. In the genus Vitis, sex determination is putatively controlled by one major locus with three alleles, male M, hermaphrodite H and female F, with an allelic dominance M > H > F. Previous genetic studies located the sex locus on chromosome 2. We used DNA polymorphisms of geographically diverse V. vinifera genotypes to confirm the position of this locus, to characterise the genetic diversity and traces of selection in candidate genes, and to explore the origin of hermaphroditism. Results In V. v. sylvestris, a sex-determining region of 154.8 kb, also present in other Vitis species, spans less than 1% of chromosome 2. It displays haplotype diversity, linkage disequilibrium and differentiation that typically correspond to a small XY sex-determining region with XY males and XX females. In male alleles, traces of purifying selection were found for a trehalose phosphatase, an exostosin and a WRKY transcription factor, with strikingly low polymorphism levels between distant geographic regions. Both diversity and network analysis revealed that H alleles are more closely related to M than to F alleles. Conclusions Hermaphrodite alleles appear to derive from male alleles of wild grapevines, with successive recombination events allowing import of diversity from the X into the Y chromosomal region and slowing down the expansion of the region into a full heteromorphic chromosome. Our data are consistent with multiple domestication events and show traces of introgression from other Asian Vitis species into the cultivated grapevine gene pool. La vigne domestiquée, Vitis vinifera ssp. vinifera, cultivée pour la production de fruit et de vin à travers le monde, dérive de la vigne sauvage, Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris, sous-espèce endémique de l'Eurasie. Au cours de la domestication, le système de reproduction a évolué de la diécie à l'hermaphrodisme. Nous montrons que la région du sexe est sous le contrôle d'une région chromosomique qui couvre au maximum 154kpbp, moins de 1% du chromosome 2. La caractérisation de ce locus en terme de diversité haplotypique, de signature de sélection et de déséquilibre de liaison a permis de révéler un système de détermination sexuelle de type XY. La petite taille de cette région chromosomique semble indiquer un stade très précoce dans l'évolution de chromosomes sexuels, malgré que la diécie soit le trait ancestral chez toutes les espèces de Vitis, ayant divergé du sous-genre Muscadinia il y a plusieurs millions d'années. L'analyse des distances génétiques entre haplotypes dans le locus du sexe a révélé que l'hermaphrodisme observé chez la vigne domestiquée résulte de la mutation de l'allèle mâle présent chez la vigne sauvage. Le réseau d'haplotypes a montré qu'en plus de la contribution de V. sylvestris, une autre espèce de Vitis asiatique a pu contribuer à la constitution du génome actuel de la vigne cultivée moderne. Ces travaux résultent d'une collaboration entre l'équipe DAAV d'AGAP et l'UMR CBAE (Montpellier)

Vagus nerve stimulation: State of the art of stimulation and recording strategies to address autonomic function neuromodulation

International audienceObjective. Neural signals along the vagus nerve (VN) drive many somatic and autonomic functions. The clinical interest of VN stimulation (VNS) is thus potentially huge and has already been demonstrated in epilepsy. However, side effects are often elicited, in addition to the targeted neuromodulation. Approach. This review examines the state of the art of VNS applied to two emerging modulations of autonomic function: heart failure and obesity, especially morbid obesity. Main results. We report that VNS may benefit from improved stimulation delivery using very advanced technologies. However, most of the results from fundamental animal studies still need to be demonstrated in humans

Diversity and evolution of traits implicated in reproduction biology and in domestication syndrom in wild grape (Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris) and domesticated grape (Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa)

La domestication est un processus évolutif complexe au sein duquel les pressions de sélection exercées par l'Homme conduisent à des changements morphologiques et physiologiques importants qui permettent de différencier sans ambigüité les espèces domestiquées de leurs ancêtres sauvages. Les récentes études archéobotaniques, génétiques et génomiques sur différentes plantes annuelles telles que notamment, le maïs (Zea mays L.), le riz (Oryza sativa L.) ou la tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.) ont considérablement fait progresser notre compréhension de la domestication des plantes. A la différence des espèces annuelles, la domestication des plantes pérennes, en particulier les espèces fruitières, reste énigmatique.Dans ce contexte, l'objectif de ce travail est de contribuer à la compréhension du processus de domestication d'une plante pérenne fruitière emblématique, la vigne (Vitis vinifera L.) à travers l'étude de la diversité et de l'évolution de deux caractères majeurs du syndrome de domestication : la forme du pépin et le système de reproduction. Nos travaux sur la morphologie du pépin appréhendée par la méthode des transformées elliptiques de Fourier ont révélé des relations significatives entre la forme du pépin, le statut taxonomique (sauvage – domestiqué), l'origine géographique des cépages et leurs liens de parenté corroborant les résultats d'analyses génétiques acquises antérieurement. D'autre part, le changement de forme du pépin se produisant au cours de la domestication serait intimement lié à l'augmentation de la taille de la baie due aux pressions de sélection exercée par l'Homme. Concernant la transition de la diécie vers l'hermaphrodisme opérée au cours de la domestication, l'analyse du polymorphisme de séquences du locus du sexe a révélé que les vignes domestiquées seraient les descendantes d'individus mâles capables de produire des baies. Le patron de diversité de ces mêmes séquences corrobore l'idée d'un événement de domestication majeur de la vigne dans le Proche Orient et témoigne de l'existence d'introgressions du compartiment domestiqué par le compartiment sauvage dans l'Ouest du bassin Méditerranéen.Domestication is a complex evolutionary process in which, human selection pressures lead to great morphological and physiological changes that allow to differentiate domesticated species from their wild ancestors. Recent archaeobotanical, genetic and genomic studies of various annual crops such as maize (Zea mays L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) have significantly advanced our understanding of plant domestication. However, the domestication of perennial plants, particularly fruit trees, remains poorly documented compared to the domestication of annual crop plants.In this framework, this work aims to contribute to the understanding of the domestication process of the emblematic perennial plant, the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) through the study of diversity and evolution of two major traits of the domestication syndrome: the seed shape and the reproductive system. Our work on seed shape based on the method of the elliptic Fourier transforms revealed significant relationships between seed shape, the taxonomic status (wild – domesticated), the geographic origin of cultivars and their parentage relationships, corroborating former results from genetic analysis. On the other hand, seed shape changes occurred during domestication seem to be linked to the increase of the berry size as the consequence of major human selection pressures. Regarding the transition from diecy to hermaphroditism to diecy operated during domestication, the analysis of sequence polymorphism in the sex locus revealed that domesticated grapevine would be the descendant of wild male individuals able to produce berries. The pattern of diversity of these sequences supports the hypothesis of the occurrence of a major domestication event in the Near East and testify of introgressions of Western European cultivars by local wild grapes

Diversité et évolution chez Vitis vinfera L. de traits impliqués dans lle syndrome de domestication et dans la biologie de la reproduction

La domestication est un processus évolutif complexe au sein duquel les pressions de sélection exercées par l'Homme conduisent à des changements morphologiques et physiologiques importants qui permettent de différencier sans ambigüité les espèces domestiquées de leurs ancêtres sauvages. Les récentes études archéobotaniques, génétiques et génomiques sur différentes plantes annuelles telles que notamment, le maïs (Zea mays L.), le riz (Oryza sativa L.) ou la tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.) ont considérablement fait progresser notre compréhension de la domestication des plantes. A la différence des espèces annuelles, la domestication des plantes pérennes, en particulier les espèces fruitières, reste énigmatique.Dans ce contexte, l'objectif de ce travail est de contribuer à la compréhension du processus de domestication d'une plante pérenne fruitière emblématique, la vigne (Vitis vinifera L.) à travers l'étude de la diversité et de l'évolution de deux caractères majeurs du syndrome de domestication : la forme du pépin et le système de reproduction. Nos travaux sur la morphologie du pépin appréhendée par la méthode des transformées elliptiques de Fourier ont révélé des relations significatives entre la forme du pépin, le statut taxonomique (sauvage domestiqué), l'origine géographique des cépages et leurs liens de parenté corroborant les résultats d'analyses génétiques acquises antérieurement. D'autre part, le changement de forme du pépin se produisant au cours de la domestication serait intimement lié à l'augmentation de la taille de la baie due aux pressions de sélection exercée par l'Homme. Concernant la transition de la diécie vers l'hermaphrodisme opérée au cours de la domestication, l'analyse du polymorphisme de séquences du locus du sexe a révélé que les vignes domestiquées seraient les descendantes d'individus mâles capables de produire des baies. Le patron de diversité de ces mêmes séquences corrobore l'idée d'un événement de domestication majeur de la vigne dans le Proche Orient et témoigne de l'existence d'introgressions du compartiment domestiqué par le compartiment sauvage dans l'Ouest du bassin Méditerranéen.Domestication is a complex evolutionary process in which, human selection pressures lead to great morphological and physiological changes that allow to differentiate domesticated species from their wild ancestors. Recent archaeobotanical, genetic and genomic studies of various annual crops such as maize (Zea mays L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) have significantly advanced our understanding of plant domestication. However, the domestication of perennial plants, particularly fruit trees, remains poorly documented compared to the domestication of annual crop plants.In this framework, this work aims to contribute to the understanding of the domestication process of the emblematic perennial plant, the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) through the study of diversity and evolution of two major traits of the domestication syndrome: the seed shape and the reproductive system. Our work on seed shape based on the method of the elliptic Fourier transforms revealed significant relationships between seed shape, the taxonomic status (wild domesticated), the geographic origin of cultivars and their parentage relationships, corroborating former results from genetic analysis. On the other hand, seed shape changes occurred during domestication seem to be linked to the increase of the berry size as the consequence of major human selection pressures. Regarding the transition from diecy to hermaphroditism to diecy operated during domestication, the analysis of sequence polymorphism in the sex locus revealed that domesticated grapevine would be the descendant of wild male individuals able to produce berries. The pattern of diversity of these sequences supports the hypothesis of the occurrence of a major domestication event in the Near East and testify of introgressions of Western European cultivars by local wild grapes.MONTPELLIER-BU Sciences (341722106) / SudocSudocFranceF

Momocs: Outline Analysis Using R

We introduce here Momocs, a package intended to ease and popularize modern morphometrics with R, and particularly outline analysis, which aims to extract quantitative variables from shapes. It mostly hinges on the functions published in the book entitled Modern Morphometrics Using R by Claude (2008). From outline extraction from raw data to multivariate analysis, Momocs provides an integrated and convenient toolkit to students and researchers who are, or may become, interested in describing the shape and its variation. The methods implemented so far in Momocs are introduced through a simplistic case study that aims to test if two sets of bottles have different shapes

Assessing past agrobiodiversity of Prunus avium L. (Rosaceae): a morphometric approach focussed on the stones from the archaeological site Hoˆtel-Dieu (16th century, Tours, France)

International audienceAbundant and diverse Prunus fruitstone remains from cherries, plums, sloes, peaches, etc. are frequently recovered from archaeological waterlogged contexts such as wells, latrines, lake dwellings etc. in Europe. The distinction between most of the Prunus species, based on traditional morphological characters of the fruit stones, is usually not problematic. However the discrimination between P. avium L., P. cerasus L. and related cherry species, based on classical criteria alone, often turns out to be ambiguous because of the increasing number of varieties which have been bred since Roman times. By combining geometric and traditional morphometrical approaches, the overall variation in shape and size of stones from French and Swiss excavations dating from the 1st century to the 16th century A.D. were assessed. Among these important archaeobotanical data, the detailed examination of 100 waterlogged stones from the 16th century Hôtel-Dieu cesspit at Tours, France, revealed that the morphological diversity is structured into two distinct morphotypes which diverge mainly according to geometrical features. Finally, the comparison between morphological features of these well-preserved archaeological stones and modern reference material including P. avium, P. cerasus and P. 9 gondouinii, suggests that these two morphotypes,which have been initially attributed to P. avium (long stones)and P. avium/cerasus (rounded stones) according to traditionalmorphological parameters, would correspond to twodifferent cultivated varieties, both belonging to Prunusavium. Results presented in this work constitute new andpreliminary data obtained during the development of thisproject that throw light on morphological variability andbiosystematic aspects

Comparative analysis of the expression of sex candidate genes in flower of dioecious and hermaphrodite grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp.)

International audienceVitis vinifera L. can be divided into two subspecies, V. vinifera subsp. vinifera, the cultivated grapevine, and its wild ancestor, V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris. Three flower types have been described: hermaphrodite and female in some varieties of vinifera, and male or female flowers in sylvestris. We have conducted an expression analysis of the functional genes candidate to sex determination in the newly defined sex locus described by Picq et al (2014) using four flower types. The candidate gene Ethylene overproducer-1 (ETO1) localized in the sex locus region and which inhibits the enzyme activity of the enzyme ACS (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase) was showed highly significantly different expression pattern according to the sex flower. Other genes studied in the sex locus do not reveal significant different expression patterns. For genes located outside of the sex locus, only the SAUR (Small auxin up RNAs) protein and the ACS gene showed different expression among sex flowers. Therefore, as ETO1 is only expressed in female and hermaphrodite flowers, it could be a good candidate for the recessive female fertility mutation and ACS copy could be implied in the reaction cascade leading to the inhibition of stamens in female flowers. However, the ETO1 only negatively interacts with type 2 ACS and our ACS phylogeny analysis confirmed that the VviACS copy is not type 2. Therefore, it is unlikely that there is such molecular interaction in grapevine. Another hypothesis could be that the molecular mechanisms that regulated the activity of VviACS2 are induced by the VvETO1 protein regulating the activity of both families of ACS type I and type 2. The last gene showing differential expression according to sex is the SAUR protein. This gene consists in early auxin response genes family playing key role in hormonal and environmental signals. Our results pointed out that one gene (ETO1) inside of the flower sex locus region and two genes (ACS, SAUR) located outside of the sex locus region, could be considered as putative candidate genes for the control of sexual traits in grapevine

New Amines for CO2 Capture. IV. Degradation, Corrosion, and Quantitative Structure Property Relationship Model

International audienceDegradation of 22 compounds was evaluated in stainless steel batch reactors at 140 °C for 14 days under a pressure of 0.5 MPa (mixture of 75% CO2, 20% N2, and 5% O2). For each run, two corrosion coupons, one carbon steel (XC38) and one stainless steel (304Ti), were immersed in aqueous solutions of amines to determine corrosion due to degraded solutions. Two additional coupons were put in the vapor phase above solutions. At the end of the run, corrosion rates were evaluated through weight-loss measurements. The amounts of remaining starting material were determined with a quantitative gas chromatography method. Corrosion and degradation data were compared with those of a benchmark molecule (MEA, monoethanolamine), tested under the same conditions. Results indicate that some molecules are less corrosive and have a better chemical stability than MEA. In addition, a quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) model was built that can be applied to predict compound degradation