Integration of molecular genetic technology with quantitative genetic technology for maximizing the speed of genetic improvement

To date,most genetic progress for quantita-tive traits in livestock has been made by selec-tion on phenotype or on estimates of breedingvalues(BBV)derived from phenotype,withoutknowledge of the number of genes that affect thetrait or the effects of each gene.In this quantita-tive genetic approach to genetic improvement,the genetic architecture of traits of interest hasessentially been treated as a‘black box’.De-spite this,the substantial rates of genetic im-provement that have been and continue to be a-chie...     

Progress toward human gene therapy

Current therapies for most human genetic diseases are inadequate. In response to the need for effective treatments, modern molecular genetics is providing tools for an unprecedented new approach to disease treatment through an attack directly on mutant genes. Recent results with several target organs and gene transfer techniques have led to broad medical and scientific acceptance of the feasibility of this "gene therapy" concept for disorders of the bone marrow, liver, and central nervous system; some kinds of cancer; and deficiencies of circulating enzymes, hormones, and coagulation factors. The most well-developed models involve alteration of mutant target genes by gene transfer with recombinant pathogenic viruses in order to express new genetic information and to correct disease phenotypes--the conversion of the swords of pathology into the plowshares of therapy.     

Construction of a general human chromosome jumping library, with application to cystic fibrosis

In many genetic disorders, the responsible gene and its protein product are unknown. The technique known as "reverse genetics," in which chromosomal map positions and genetically linked DNA markers are used to identify and clone such genes, is complicated by the fact that the molecular distances from the closest DNA markers to the gene itself are often too large to traverse by standard cloning techniques. To address this situation, a general human chromosome jumping library was constructed that allows the cloning of DNA sequences approximately 100 kilobases away from any starting point in genomic DNA. As an illustration of its usefulness, this library was searched for a jumping clone, starting at the met oncogene, which is a marker tightly linked to the cystic fibrosis gene that is located on human chromosome 7. Mapping of the new genomic fragment by pulsed field gel electrophoresis confirmed that it resides on chromosome 7 within 240 kilobases downstream of the met gene. The use of chromosome jumping should now be applicable to any genetic locus for which a closely linked DNA marker is available.     

水稻白叶枯病抗性研究进展

白叶枯病是世界水稻重要病害之一,且已成为研究植物和病原菌互作的模式,对该病的研究对其它病害有借鉴意义。目前已鉴定出29个抗白叶枯病基因,其中17个基因被定位到染色体上,4个基因已被克隆,在这些工作的基础上,已通过分子标记辅助选择和转基因方法育成了一些抗病新品系,展示了水稻抗白叶枯病分子育种的广阔前景。     

What can progeroid syndromes tell us about human aging?

Human genetic diseases that resemble accelerated aging provide useful models for gerontologists. They combine known single-gene mutations with deficits in selected tissues that are reminiscent of changes seen during normal aging. Here, we describe recent progress toward linking molecular and cellular changes with the phenotype seen in two of these disorders. One in particular, Werner syndrome, provides evidence to support the hypothesis that the senescence of somatic cells may be a causal agent of normal aging.     

Looking backward to move forward: early detection of neurodegenerative disorders

Early detection of neurodegenerative disorders would provide clues to the underlying pathobiology of these diseases and would enable more effective diagnosis and treatment of patients. Recent advances in molecular neuroscience have begun to provide the tools to detect diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and others early in their course and potentially even before the development of clinical manifestations of disease. These genetic, imaging, clinical, and biochemical tools are being validated in a number of studies. Early detection of these slowly progressive diseases offers the promise of presymptomatic diagnosis and, ultimately, of disease-modifying medications for use early in disease and during the presymptomatic period.     

东乡野生稻种质资源的抗性研究进展

为了更加深入研究和利用东乡野生稻种质资源,对东乡野生稻种质资源的抗性鉴定(抗病性、抗虫性和抗逆性)、抗性遗传分析、抗性基因分子标记定位及抗性基因同源片段克隆等方面进行综述,展望了东乡野生稻抗性研究和利用的方向.     

玉米叶序对生候选基因筛选及克隆

根据近等基因系对生叶序玉米H4D与互生叶序玉米H4d的转录组测序数据筛选出的差异基因,结合玉米对生基因OPP-1和OPP-2的SSR分子标记定位,将19个玉米对生叶序差异基因进行了染色体定位。利用比较基因组学和生物信息学分析对染色体定位的差异基因进行了详细分析,发现11个对生叶序差异基因具有同源基因报道,对其进行荧光定量PCR验证后发现基因表达量变化与转录组数据较为一致,其中8个基因在对生中表达量显著提高,3个基因在对生中表达量下降。结合差异基因染色体定位与同源性分析,筛选确定了SSR标记定位之间的5个差异基因作为候选基因。启动子分析表明这些基因启动子区域发现了多个与激素和光信号诱导相关的作用元件。以对生玉米近等基因系H4D和H4d的四叶期茎尖生长点c DNA为模板,对候选基因进行克隆,成功克隆出GRMZM2G077744_T01,GRMZM2G064845_T01和GRMZM2G348959_T01基因。经测序和氨基酸序列比对,发现在H4D和H4d中,GRMZM2G077744_T01基因氨基酸序列同源性为97.30%,GRMZM2G064845_T01同源性为98.85%,GRMZM2G348959_T01同源性为98.50%。氨基酸序列上的差异可能与玉米叶序对生变异具有密切关系。     

Breaking wheat yield barriers requires integrated efforts in developing countries

Most yield progress obtained through the so called "Green Revolution", particularly in the irrigated areas of Asia, has reached a limit, and major resistance genes are quickly overcome by the appearance of new strains of disease causing organisms.New plant stresses due to a changing environment are difficult to breed for as quickly as the changes occur.There is consequently a continual need for new research programs and breeding strategies aimed at improving yield potential, abiotic stress tolerance and resistance to new, major pests and diseases.Recent advances in plant breeding encompass novel methods of expanding genetic variability and selecting for recombinants, including the development of synthetic hexaploid, hybrid and transgenic wheats.In addition, the use of molecular approaches such as quantitative trait locus(QTL) and association mapping may increase the possibility of directly selecting positive chromosomal regions linked with natural variation for grain yield and stress resistance.The present article reviews the potential contribution of these new approaches and tools to the improvement of wheat yield in farmer's fields, with a special emphasis on the Asian countries, which are major wheat producers, and contain the highest concentration of resource-poor wheat farmers.     

A balanced translocation in mice with a neurological defect

A semisterile male translocation heterozygote [t(2; 14) 1Gso] that exhibited neurological symptoms and an inability to swim (diver) was found among the offspring of male mice treated with triethylenemelamine. All breeding and cytogenetic data showed a complete concordance between translocation heterozygosity and the neurological disorders. Homozygosity for the translocation seemed to be lethal at an early embryonic stage. Despite the distinctive neurologic symptoms, no anatomic or histological defects in either the ear or in the central nervous system were observed. Thus, a balanced chromosomal translocation can produce disease with an inheritance pattern that mimics a single dominant gene defect.     

小麦白粉病抗病基因分子标记开发及应用研究进展

选育和利用抗病品种是防治白粉病最经济、有效、安全的措施,优异抗白粉病基因资源的挖掘及其紧密连锁分子标记的开发是开展抗白粉病分子标记育种的基础.目前,国内外已命名了分布于16条染色体上的39个位点共55个白粉病抗病基因,其中30个已开发出分子标记,另外还发现数个与成株期抗性相关的数量性状位点.综述了国内外小麦白粉病抗病基因的定位、来源、分子标记开发、克隆,以及白粉病抗病基因的分子标记育种的最新研究进展,并分析了当前小麦抗白粉病育种存在的主要问题及解决建议.     

Connecting chromosomes,crisis, and cancer

Cancer is a disease of impaired genome stability. The molecular forces that maintain genome integrity and sense altered chromosome structure are invariably subverted in cancer cells. Here, we explore the contrasting contributions of telomeres in the initiation and suppression of cancer and review the evidence supporting a role for telomere dysfunction as a mechanism driving the radical chromosomal aberrations that typify cancer genomes. Recent work suggests that passage of cells through crisis in the setting of deactivated DNA damage checkpoints provides a mutational mechanism that can generate the diverse genetic alterations required for cancer initiation. A greater understanding of telomere-induced crisis and the cell's crisis management mechanisms should guide the rational development of new therapeutics for cancer and other disorders.     

Mitotic misregulation and human aging

Messenger RNA levels were measured in actively dividing fibroblasts isolated from young, middle-age, and old-age humans and humans with progeria, a rare genetic disorder characterized by accelerated aging. Genes whose expression is associated with age-related phenotypes and diseases were identified. The data also suggest that an underlying mechanism of the aging process involves increasing errors in the mitotic machinery of dividing cells in the postreproductive stage of life. We propose that this dysfunction leads to chromosomal pathologies that result in misregulation of genes involved in the aging process.     

Genomic priorities and public health

Given the continuing difficulty of identifying genes for complex disorders in a robust, replicable manner, and the extensive resources devoted to this effort, it is becoming increasingly important to analyze the relative benefits of genomics research for public health applications and for the understanding of disease pathogenesis. To establish priorities for genetics research, we review and evaluate several characteristics of selected exemplary complex diseases, including phenotypic accuracy, knowledge of specific and nonspecific genetic and environmental risk factors, and population prevalence and impact. We propose that complex diseases with the strongest evidence for genetic etiology, limited ability to modify exposure or risk factors, and high public health impact should have the highest priority for genetics research.     

Advances in studies on the physiological and molecular regulation of barley tillering

Tillering is a crucial trait closely associated with yield potential and environmental adaptation in cereal crops, regulated by the synergy of endogenous(genetic) and exogenous(environmental) factors. The physiological and molecular regulation of tillering has been intensively studied in rice and wheat. However, tillering research on barley is scarce. This review used the recent advances in bioinformatics to map all known and potential barley tiller development genes with their chromosomal genet...     

辣椒抗病分子育种研究进展

辣椒起源于南美洲,16 世纪传入中国。辣椒的营养价值高,在保健、美容、食品、医药、制暴等行业均有重要作用,已成为我国最重要的蔬菜作物之一,栽培面积逐渐增加、目前位居我国蔬菜作物之首。辣椒栽培过程中会遭受各种病害的侵袭,给生产造成重大损失。通过化学防治方法、农业防治措施等可以在一定程度上减轻病虫为害,但选用抗病品种是防治病害最经济有效的措施。随着分子生物学的发展,抗病分子育种与常规育种方法相结合是将来取得突破的发展方向。近年来,辣椒抗病分子育种机理取得了重要成果,尤其是抗病分子机理取得一系列成果。 分子育种主要包括两部分：一是分子标记辅助育种,首先必须找到分子标记,分子标记分为基因标记、构建分离群体进行连锁分析获得的标记以及通过大量材料测序进行关联分析获得的标记;二是基因工程育种,前提是分离获得抗病基因,然后将抗病基因导入到经济性状优良的育种材料中,或者通过基因编辑技术或基因沉默技术使负向调控的基因发生突变,从而提高植株抗病性。该文从辣椒抗病性分子标记及其辅助选择、辣椒抗病分子机理、采用基因工程技术获得抗病辣椒种质（抗病毒病、抗青枯病和抗疫病）等方面进行综合介绍,并对辣椒抗病分子育种的发展趋势和研究重点进行展望。