Silence of the genes

The 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Andrew Fire and Craig Mello for discovering “RNA interference—genesilencing by double-stranded RNA”. The Nobel Committee at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden selected them for the award for unraveling “a fundamental mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information” that is “already being widely used in basic science as a method to study the function of genes and may lead to novel therapies in the future”. This has been one of the fastest Nobel Prizes conferred in physiology or medicine, considering that Fire and Mello published their path-breaking article in the journal Nature in 1998, less than ten years ago. Utpal Nath is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, IISc. His laboratory is studying the genetic mechanisms of plant development. Saumitra Das is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, IISc. His laboratory is interested in the translational control of cellular and viral RNA.     

晋东南地区民间野生植物利用初步调查

文章从野果利用、野菜利用、代茶利用、代粮利用、食用油利用、食疗利用、药用利用、生产利用和生活用品利用9个方面对晋东南地区民间利用野生植物的传统文化进行了探讨 ,发现有很多比较独特的文化现象     

植物抗铅机理进展

现代高科技的发展也增加了铅污染的途径和机会。综合论述了植物对重金属铅的抵抗贯穿于整个矿质元素的吸收、运输与分布之中,通过物理隔离和形成化学螯合物完成生理抵抗。     

植物多倍体基因组的形成与进化

多倍化是植物进化变异的自然现象，也是促进植物发生进化改变的重要力量。在被子植物中，约 70％的种类在进化史中曾发生过一次或多次多倍化的过程。目前的研究结果表明，自然界绝大多数多倍体是通过未减数配子的融合而形成的，并且很多多倍体种是通过多次独立的多倍化过程而重复发生的。由多倍化所导致的重复基因在多倍体基因组中可能有三种不同的命运，即：保持原有的功能、基因沉默或分化并执行新的功能。多倍化以后，重复基因组的进化动态则主要表现在染色体重排和“染色体二倍化”、不同基因组之间的相互渗透、以及核-质之间的相互作用等方面。     

现代居室植物景观设计探析

本文通过现代居室植物景观的概念、作用,室内植物布置的原则以及室内主要场所的绿化装饰方面的论述,试图对现代居室的环境改善起到推动作用,从而促进人们的身心健康。     

Modeling the adoption rates of manufacturing technology innovations by small US manufacturers: a longitudinal investigation

This study provides conclusive evidence to support the view that small plants are slower than larger plants to adopt manufacturing innovations. This empirical study based on over 1000 US manufacturing plants engaged in producing discrete products, studies the adoption of manufacturing technologies in small plants relative to large plants between 1993 and 1997.Under the assumption that small manufacturers are disadvantaged, several federal and state programs have been created to assist small manufacturers in acquiring and adopting manufacturing innovations. Through quantification of technology adoption in small manufacturing firms, this study’s findings reveal which manufacturing innovations are in greater need of governmental assistance programs. While small plants are making progress over time in catching up with larger plants in computerized technology use, they are not making similar progress in adopting manufacturing technology innovations in soft technologies. Several propositions for future research and recommendations for public policy are offered.     

南阳市兰科植物花卉资源现状及利用

通过大量调查，将南阳市兰科植物花卉资源分为：观花、观叶、既观花又观叶三大类，并提出保护、开发利用的初步设想。     

Why biosecurity matters: students’ knowledge of biosecurity and implications for future engagement with biosecurity initiatives

Background: Research on biosecurity is important as New Zealand’s agricultural export-driven economy is susceptible to biosecurity threats. Because New Zealand is reliant on the primary industries to drive its economy, bovine diseases such as foot and mouth could have a devastating effect on the economy.

Purpose: Making sure that the general public are aware of the importance of maintaining biosecurity is crucial in order to protect New Zealand’s economy, human health, the environment, and social and cultural values. New Zealand Year 9 students’ knowledge of biosecurity was gauged as these students represented the next generation of individuals tasked to maintain biosecurity in New Zealand.

Design: A qualitative approach using the interpretive mode of inquiry was used to investigate the knowledge about biosecurity with New Zealand Year 9 students. Questionnaires and interviews were the data collection tools.

Sample: One hundred and seventy-one students completed a questionnaire that consisted of Likert-type questions and open-ended questions. Nine students were interviewed about their knowledge.

Results: The findings showed that New Zealand Year 9 students lacked specific knowledge about unwanted plants, animals and microorganisms. These students saw illicit drug plants as unwanted plants and mainly saw possums as unwanted animals in New Zealand. Their knowledge about unwanted microorganisms in New Zealand was dominated by human-disease-causing microbes. A lack of knowledge of biosecurity issues in New Zealand was seen as the major factor in these students limited understanding of biosecurity.

Conclusions: Based on these findings, it can be said that knowledge of an issue is critical in enabling individuals to develop an understanding about biosecurity. Explicit teaching of biosecurity-related curriculum topics could provide New Zealand Year 9 students with an opportunity to develop knowledge about biosecurity in New Zealand.     

地方高师院校花卉线描课程教学的调适

美术教育是地方高师院校展开素质教育的必备内容之一．高师美术教育教学质量的高低直接影响着基础美术教育的发展。从根本上形成美术教育的良性循环态势，依赖于高师美术教育教学的改革。这里从客观的角度并结合地域的教育资源，对花卉线描课程的教学理念、教学内容、教学方法和教学手段的教学改革和实践加以总结分析，并针对具体的教学问题提出了相应的解决措施。     

川西冬虫夏草分布及生境中种子植物区系研究

通过对四川西部冬虫夏草分布及生境的详细调查并对生境中种子植物区系地理特征进行分析。结果表明：在川西,海拔4,200—4,900米的高山草甸是冬虫夏草主要的生境,生境中植物种类较少,以草本为主,灌丛多是低矮或垫状灌丛,极少有高大乔木分布,主要伴生植物是珠芽蓼、圃穗蓼、垂叶黄精、小大黄、土大黄和金露梅等,盖度70％-85％;分布区内共出现种子植物269种（草本植物250种,灌木19种）,隶属于38科、136属,优势科为未本科和菊科,优势属不明显;植物区系地理成分多样,有11个分布类型和8个变型,温带性质明显（温带科率为76．00％,属率为86．67％）,以北温带为主,缺乏热带分布型和中国特有分布型,特有现象不明显。