A large scale screen for genes (3rd chromosome) related to Wingless signaling pathway

A wing specific F 1 genetic screen was carried out using the powerful Drosophila genetic system, combined with yeast FRT/FLP and GAL4/UAS system. Form the wing phenotypes and germline clone embryonic cuticle phenotypes observed in these mutant alleles, a number of mutant alleles of known or unknown genes were isolated. Among them, fifteen mutant alleles related to Wingless signal transduction were further isolated; the arm of these mutations located were determined, and their location in the chromosome were roughly mapped.     

Beyond the Central Dogma: Model-Based Learning of How Genes Determine Phenotypes

In an introductory biology course, we implemented a learner-centered, model-based pedagogy that frequently engaged students in building conceptual models to explain how genes determine phenotypes. Model-building tasks were incorporated within case studies and aimed at eliciting students’ understanding of 1) the origin of variation in a population and 2) how genes/alleles determine phenotypes. Guided by theory on hierarchical development of systems-thinking skills, we scaffolded instruction and assessment so that students would first focus on articulating isolated relationships between pairs of molecular genetics structures and then integrate these relationships into an explanatory network. We analyzed models students generated on two exams to assess whether students’ learning of molecular genetics progressed along the theoretical hierarchical sequence of systems-thinking skills acquisition. With repeated practice, peer discussion, and instructor feedback over the course of the semester, students’ models became more accurate, better contextualized, and more meaningful. At the end of the semester, however, more than 25% of students still struggled to describe phenotype as an output of protein function. We therefore recommend that 1) practices like modeling, which require connecting genes to phenotypes; and 2) well-developed case studies highlighting proteins and their functions, take center stage in molecular genetics instruction.     

单体型装配问题的研究现状

单核苷酸多态性（SNP）是指不同个体DNA序列上的单个碱基的差异,是人类基因组中最丰富的遗传变异。单体型是指位于一条染色体上或某一区域的一组相关联的SNP等位基因。研究表明在复杂性疾病研究方面,由多个变异位点组合构成的单体型所携带的信息比单个的SNP数据的信息更有价值,由此衍生了单体型装配问题。文章论述了SNP,单体型,基因型的定义,综述了求解单一个体单体型装配问题的主要模型及算法,同时阐述了求解群体单体型装配问题的5种方法及算法。     

Reading disability and chromosome 6p21.3: evaluation of MOG as a candidate gene

Linkage analysis has localized a gene influencing specific reading disability (dyslexia) to 6p21.3. The myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) gene, which maps to this region, was selected as a candidate. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein is a membrane protein, a member of the immunoglobin superfamily, that is found on the outermost lamellae of mature myelin. Although the exact function of this protein is unknown, its presence in the central nervous system and the hypothesized relationship between dyslexia and temporal processing rate as well as a suggested relationship with intelligence made this gene a candidate for dyslexia. Analysis of the coding exons and adjacent splice sites in a subset of 22 children with dyslexia from 10 sibships found a missense mutation in exon 4 in 2 of the sibships. This change from the published sequence also occurred in 86 of 96 random controls, making it considerably less frequent in this small sample of individuals with dyslexia. Subsequent typing of this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in 74 nuclear families in which at least one child had reading disability showed no significant difference in frequency from the controls, however. Sib-pair linkage analysis with these families did not show significant linkage with the SNP nor with a separate polymorphic dinucleotide repeat marker in the MOG gene (MOG31/32), but association analysis identified two alleles of MOG31/32 that were associated with reading disability phenotypes with a low level of significance. Thus, although alleles in the MOG gene may be in linkage disequilibrium with a locus that contributes to reading disability, it is unlikely that the MOG gene itself is involved.     

The external validity of age- versus IQ-discrepancy definitions of reading disability: lessons from a twin study.

Recent research has raised the question of whether age- and IQ-discrepancy forms of reading disability (RD) are distinguishable in terms of either their underlying linguistic deficit or their response to treatment, thus threatening the external validity of the traditional distinction between specific reading retardation and reading backwardness. The present study pursued the external validity of this distinction in three domains: (a) genetic etiology, (b) sex ratio and clinical correlates, and (c) neuropsychological profiles. Each of these domains was explored in the RD (n = 640) and control (n = 436) twins participating in the Colorado Reading Project (514 males, 562 females, with an overall mean age of 12.42 years). Little evidence for external validity was found in terms of the clinical correlates of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), immune disorders, or handedness. Most importantly, there was no evidence of differential genetic etiology of the two phenotypes in this sample, in that deficits in both phenotypes were similarly heritable (h2g = .40 and .46 for age and IQ phenotypes, respectively) and the genetic correlation between them was high (rG = .88 to .96). However, the genetic and neuropsychological profile analyses did suggest that age- and IQ-discrepancy definitions of RD may relate differentially to component reading processes, such as phonological awareness and orthographic coding.     

冠心病患者载脂蛋白B基因多态性的研究

应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)研究了103例冠心病患者和100例正常人载脂蛋白B(apoB)基因上四个位点的遗传多态性及其与冠心病的关联。结果显示:(1)apoB基因上xbaI和EcoRI酶切位点的少见x~ 和E~-等位基因,VNTR的3＇VNTR-B等位基因不同程度地与冠心病有关联。(2)xbaI酶切位点的多态性与Ins/Del多态性及VNTR多态性呈联锁不平衡关系,多个突变点共位于同一染色体上时冠心病的危险性明显增加。(3)基因单体型对冠心病的危险性具有独立判别意义。综上结果提示,apoB基因可能是冠心病多基因中的一个易感基因。     

基于杨梅基因组鸟枪法测序开发的107个SSR标记及其在品系鉴定中应用

研究目的：开发多态性高的基因组简单重复序列（SSR）标记,为杨梅遗传多样性、遗传图谱构建及品种鉴定相关研究奠定基础。 创新要点：从杨梅全基因组鸟枪法测序数据中新开发了107个SSR标记,并应用于品种间遗传多样性分析及品系鉴定。 研究方法：应用生物信息学软件从基因组测序数据中搜索SSR位点并设计相应引物,添加通用的M13尾巴和荧光标识筛选多态性高的SSR标记。 重要结论：开发的107个基因组SSR标记可以广泛应用于杨梅种质资源和遗传育种研究,鉴定出三个杨梅新品系。     

The genetic and environmental covariation among psychopathic personality traits, and reactive and proactive aggression in childhood

The present study investigated the genetic and environmental covariance between psychopathic personality traits with reactive and proactive aggression in 9- to 10-year-old twins (N = 1,219). Psychopathic personality traits were assessed with the Child Psychopathy Scale (D. R. Lynam, 1997), while aggressive behaviors were assessed using the Reactive Proactive Questionnaire (A. Raine et al., 2006). Significant common genetic influences were found to be shared by psychopathic personality traits and aggressive behaviors using both caregiver (mainly mother) and child self-reports. Significant genetic and nonshared environmental influences specific to psychopathic personality traits and reactive and proactive aggression were also found, suggesting etiological independence among these phenotypes. Additionally, the genetic relation between psychopathic personality traits and aggression was significantly stronger for proactive than reactive aggression when using child self-reports.     

Allelic frequency distributions of 21 non-combined DNA index system STR loci in a Russian ethnic minority group from Inner Mongolia, China

We studied the allelic frequency distributions and statistical forensic parameters of 21 new short tandem repeat (STR) loci and the amelogenin locus, which are not included in the combined DNA index system (CODIS), in a Russian ethnic minority group from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. A total of 114 bloodstain samples from unrelated individuals were extracted and co-amplified with four fluorescence-labeled primers in a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system. Using capillary electrophoresis, the PCR products of the 21 STR loci were separated and genotyped. A total of 161 alleles were observed in the Russian ethnic minority group, and corresponding allelic frequencies ranged from 0.0044 to 0.5965. The 21 non-CODIS STR loci of the Russian ethnic minority group were characterized by high genetic diversity and therefore may be useful for elucidating the population’s genetic background, for individual identification, and for paternity testing in forensic practice.     

Why are hyperactivity and academic achievement related?

Although a negative association between hyperactivity and academic achievement is well documented, little is known about the genetic and/or environmental mechanisms responsible for the association. The present study explored links between parent and teacher ratings of hyperactive behavior problems and teacher-assessed achievement in a sample of 1,876 twin pairs (mean age 7.04 years). The results did not differ across rater, nor were there significant differences between males or females or for twins in the same or different classrooms. Hyperactivity was significantly correlated with achievement. Multivariate model-fitting analyses revealed significant genetic and nonshared environmental covariance between the two phenotypes. In addition, bivariate heritabilities were substantial, indicating that the phenotypic correlations between hyperactivity and achievement were largely mediated by genetic influences.     

Assessment of genetic diversity by simple sequence repeat markers among forty elite varieties in the germplasm for malting barley breeding

The genetic diversity and relationship among 40 elite barley varieties were analyzed based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) genotyping data. The amplified fragments from SSR primers were highly polymorphic in the barley accessions investigated. A total of 85 alleles were detected at 35 SSR loci, and allelic variations existed at 29 SSR loci. The allele number per locus ranged from 1 to 5 with an average of 2.4 alleles per locus detected from the 40 barley accessions. A cluster analysis based on the genetic similarity coefficients was conducted and the 40 varieties were classified into two groups. Seven malting barley varieties from China fell into the same subgroup. It was found that the genetic diversity within the Chinese malting barley varieties was narrower than that in other barley germplasm sources, suggesting the importance and feasibility of introducing elite genotypes from different origins for malting barley breeding in China.     

Examining genetic and environmental effects on social aggression: a study of 6-year-old twins

Using a genetic design of 234 six-year-old twins, this study examined (a) the contribution of genes and environment to social versus physical aggression, and (b) whether the correlation between social and physical aggression can be explained by similar genetic or environmental factors or by a directional link between the phenotypes. For social aggression, substantial (shared and unique) environmental effects but only weak genetic effects were found. For physical aggression, significant effects of genes and unique environment were found. Bivariate modeling suggests that social and physical aggression share most of their underlying genes but only very few overlapping environmental factors. The correlation between the two phenotypes can also be explained by a directional effect from physical to social aggression.     

Transfection and expression of exogenous gene in laying hens oviduct in vitro and in vivo

To examine whether or not the regulatory sequence of chicken ovalbumin gene can drive transgene expression specifically in hen oviduct, the authors constructed an oviduct-specific expression vector (pOV), containing 3.0 kilobases (kb) of the 5'-flanking sequence and 3.0 kb of the 3'-flanking sequence of the chicken     

一类非线性动力系统的设计与电路实现

提出了一类非线性动力系统——分数阶多翅膀混沌系统的理论设计和电路实现方法。基于一个分数阶线性系统,通过设计一个非线性状态反馈控制器,能产生不同分数阶的多翅膀混沌吸引子。以分数阶6-,8-,10-翅膀混沌系统的产生为例,进行了改进型模块化电路设计,并给出了实验结果,证实了所设计方法的有效性和可行性。     

Extremely high frequency of autoimmune-predisposing alleles in medieval specimens

The precise etiology and reasons for the increase in incidence of autoimmune disorders still remain unclear, and although both genetic and environmental factors have been proven to shape individual predisposition, it is not known which of the factors, if not both, is responsible for the boom observed during the last decades. In order to establish whether a higher frequency of autoimmune-predisposing alleles may explain this increase we took advantage of ancient DNA methodology to establish the genetic predisposition, conferred by cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 （CTLA4） ＋49A/G and human leukocyte antigens （HLA） DQBI^57, in population inhabiting Poland in the Middle Ages. After successful typing of 42 individuals from a 12th-14th＇s century archeological burial site, we found that frequencies of the predisposing alleles in the medieval population were higher than they are at present, suggesting thus that the recently observed incidence increase results most probably from factors of other than genetic nature.     

Cognitive modelling and the behaviour genetics of reading

While it is well known that reading is highly heritable, less has been understood about the bases of these genetic influences. In this paper, we review the research that we have been conducting in recent years to examine genetic and environmental influences on the particular reading processes specified in the dual‐route cognitive model of reading. We argue that a detailed understanding of the role of genetic factors in reading acquisition requires the delineation and measurement of precise phenotypes, derived from well‐articulated models of the reading process. We report evidence for independent genetic influences on the lexical and nonlexical reading processes represented in the dual‐route model, based on studies of children with particular subtypes of dyslexia, and on univariate and multivariate genetic modelling of reading performance in the normally reading population.     

Evidence for Common Etiological Influences on Early Literacy Skills in Kindergarten

Understanding how the etiology of print awareness and phonological awareness are related to the etiology of decoding can provide insights into the development of word reading. To address this issue, we examined the degree of overlap among etiological influences of prereading skills in 1,252 twin pairs in kindergarten. Genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental factors were significant for all three literacy phenotypes. The majority of genetic and shared environmental influence on decoding was due to common factors that included print awareness and phonological awareness. Notably, only a single genetic factor contributed to all three literacy phenotypes, but there was additional shared environmental influence common to phonological awareness and decoding. Findings suggest commonalities in the etiology of prereading literacy skills that could inform work on the development of reading skill.     

蜜蜂悬停飞行时柔性翅气动特性

对蜜蜂悬停飞行时二维柔性翅气动特性进行了研究．建立了昆虫飞行的4种坐标系,包括地面坐标系、贴体坐标系、固定翼坐标系和柔性翼坐标系,分别表示昆虫的位置、姿态、翅膀运动形式及变形．对4种坐标系间的变换进行了研究,并指出在二维刚性翅研究中利用椭圆坐标系可以提高计算精度,减少计算量．建立了二维柔性翅模型,分析了气动力、力矩及功率变化情况．对计算结果进行了分析,并指出扑动开始及结束阶段大的升力和阻力峰值的产生是平动加速、加速旋转及马格纳斯效应的叠加;小的峰值归因于凸向来流和凹向来流作用;与压力、压力力矩和平动功率相比,黏性力、黏性力矩及转动功率较小,可以忽略．     

Optimization of biotransformation from phytosterol to androstenedione by a mutant Mycobacterium neoaurum ZJUVN-08

Biotransformation of phytosterol(PS) by a newly isolated mutant Mycobacterium neoaurum ZJUVN-08 to produce androstenedione has been investigated in this paper.The parameters of the biotransformation process were optimized using fractional factorial design and response surface methodology.Androstenedione was the sole product in the fermentation broth catalyzed by the mutant M.neoaurum ZJUVN-08 strain.Results showed that molar ratio of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin(HP-β-CD) to PS and substrate concentrations were the two most significant factors affecting androstenedione production.By analyzing the statistical model of three-dimensional surface plot,the optimal process conditions were observed at 0.1 g/L inducer,pH 7.0,molar ratio of HP-β-CD to PS 1.92:1,8.98 g/L PS,and at 120 h of incubation time.Under these conditions,the maximum androstenedione yield was 5.96 g/L and nearly the same with the non-optimized(5.99 g/L),while the maximum PS conversion rate was 94.69% which increased by 10.66% compared with the non-optimized(84.03%).The predicted optimum conditions from the mathematical model were in agreement with the verification experimental results.It is considered that response surface methodology was a powerful and efficient method to optimize the parameters of PS biotransformation process.     

Reuse of waste frying oil for production of rhamnolipids using Pseudomonas aeruginosa zju.u1M

In this work,rhamnolipid production was investigated using waste frying oil as the sole carbon source. By culture in shaking flasks,a naturally isolated strain synthesized rhamnolipid at concentration of 12.47 g/L and its mutant after treatment by UV light increased this productivity to 24.61 g/L. Fermentation was also conducted in a 50 L bioreactor and the productivity reached over 20 g/L. Hence,with a stable and high productive mutant strain,it could be feasible to reuse waste frying oil for rhamnolipid production on industrial scale.