Underground nuclear explosions: tectonic utility and dangers

The tectonic strain energy released by several underground nuclear explosions has been calculated through an analysis of seismic surface waves. The proportionally great amount of energy released in certain events suggests the possible uses for, as well as the hazards of, underground testing.     

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...     

用遗传均差表示春小麦株高的遗传变异大小

春小麦自交后代株高的分布一般符合正态分布.在一个正态分布群体中,大数的中选个体平均值称为大数平均值(μ1),小数的中选个体平均值称为小数平均值(μ2).在中选率相同时(p1=p2),大数平均值(μ1)减去小数平均值(μ2)的差值称为均差(J).由表型均差推导出遗传均差,不同春小麦基因型株高的遗传均差各不相同,株高遗传均差的平均数最大是35.6cm,株高遗传均差的平均数最小是7.36cm,用株高遗传均差表示株高的遗传变异的大小.     

AFLP分子标记技术及其在蔬菜遗传育种中的应用进展

扩增片段长度多态性(AFLP)技术是检测DNA多态性的一种分子标记技术.本文介绍了AFLP分子标记技术的基本原理、技术流程及特点,及其在蔬菜遗传与育种中的应用进展,并对其前景进行了展望.     

Expanding the genetic code of Escherichia coli

A unique transfer RNA (tRNA)/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair has been generated that expands the number of genetically encoded amino acids in Escherichia coli. When introduced into E. coli, this pair leads to the in vivo incorporation of the synthetic amino acid O-methyl-l-tyrosine into protein in response to an amber nonsense codon. The fidelity of translation is greater than 99%, as determined by analysis of dihydrofolate reductase containing the unnatural amino acid. This approach should provide a general method for increasing the genetic repertoire of living cells to include a variety of amino acids with novel structural, chemical, and physical properties not found in the common 20 amino acids.     

Analysis of genetic distribution and population genetic structure of the MyoD gene in 10 pig breeds

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) data was applied to analyze the distribution of the MyoD gene in 10 pig breeds and pig breed crosses. The population genetic information about genetic distribution, variation, and heterozygosity of the MyoD gene in different breed populations were analyzed. Based on the allele frequency, genetic distance and evolution distance among each breed populations were calculated and Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic mean (UPGMA) phylogenetic tree was gained based on the evolution distances between populations. The results indicated that the distribution of the MyoD genotype kept in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in most tested groups but not in Duroc (D) and Duroc6(Landrance × Yorkshire) (DLY) population. Generally, the genetic diversity of the MyoD gene was abundant and these tested breed populations had high genetic variations. The evolution of the MyoD gene was under natural selection pressure. On the phylogenetic tree, 10 pig breeds were divided into 4 clusters. The first cluster consisted of four breeds developed from Landrace. The second cluster was two indigenous Chinese pig breeds. The third cluster was three breeds developed from Duroc. The fourth cluster was a Tibetan pig breed. The constitution of the topology of the phylogenetic tree was consistent with the breeding history of each pig breed. From this experiment, we can conclude that some RFLP data obtained from functional gene can be used in the genetic deviation research between some closely related species or between different populations in certain species. __________ Translated from Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica, 2007, 38(1): 1–7 [译自: 畜牧兽医学报]     

Global mapping of the yeast genetic interaction network

A genetic interaction network containing approximately 1000 genes and approximately 4000 interactions was mapped by crossing mutations in 132 different query genes into a set of approximately 4700 viable gene yeast deletion mutants and scoring the double mutant progeny for fitness defects. Network connectivity was predictive of function because interactions often occurred among functionally related genes, and similar patterns of interactions tended to identify components of the same pathway. The genetic network exhibited dense local neighborhoods; therefore, the position of a gene on a partially mapped network is predictive of other genetic interactions. Because digenic interactions are common in yeast, similar networks may underlie the complex genetics associated with inherited phenotypes in other organisms.