影响克隆牛生产效率之因素研究

为了提高牛体细胞克隆的效率,比较了不同融合电压对核移植胚发育的影响,其中1.7kv/cm电场强度,获得了较高的融合率、卵裂率和囊胚率,分别为67.14%,76.59%和29.16%。比较了血清饥饿处理体细胞对核移植效率的影响,血清饥饿处理体细胞后,融合率、卵裂率和囊胚率分别为68.91%,74.79%和28.26%,与非血清饥饿处理的相比没有明显差异(分别为60.96%,71.91%和20.31%,P>0.05)。而且胚胎移植后的怀孕率和产犊率也没有差异(分别为29.17%,8.33%和33.33%,16.66%,P>0.05)。另外,通过加强克隆牛的产后护理,可以提高克隆牛的成活率。总之,优化生产克隆牛的各环节因素,可以从整体上提高克隆牛的生产效率。     

育成貂生长指标及其相互关系的研究

106头美洲水貂的后裔,根据性别分别测定其2.5、4,5、6.5月龄和屠宰取皮时的体长、胸围、体重及屠宰后肠道和楦皮的长度.结果表明育成貂的生长存在性别间的显著差异,公貂快于母貂(p<0.01).生长的最强时间在2.5～4.5月龄.随着水貂日龄的增长,体躯指数逐渐增加,体长与植皮长的相关程度也越来越高.体长、胸围与体重之间的相关系数分别为:公貂 0.7529和 0.6358,母貂 0.6606和0.5203。     

Fluorescence-force spectroscopy maps two-dimensional reaction landscape of the holliday junction

Despite the recent advances in single-molecule manipulation techniques, purely mechanical approaches cannot detect subtle conformational changes in the biologically important regime of weak forces. We developed a hybrid scheme combining force and fluorescence that allowed us to examine the effect of subpiconewton forces on the nanometer scale motion of the Holliday junction (HJ) at 100-hertz bandwidth. The HJ is an exquisitely sensitive force sensor whose force response is amplified with an increase in its arm lengths, demonstrating a lever-arm effect at the nanometer-length scale. Mechanical interrogation of the HJ in three different directions helped elucidate the structures of the transient species populated during its conformational changes. This method of mapping two-dimensional reaction landscapes at low forces is readily applicable to other nucleic acid systems and their interactions with proteins and enzymes.     

White fat progenitor cells reside in the adipose vasculature

White adipose (fat) tissues regulate metabolism, reproduction, and life span. Adipocytes form throughout life, with the most marked expansion of the lineage occurring during the postnatal period. Adipocytes develop in coordination with the vasculature, but the identity and location of white adipocyte progenitor cells in vivo are unknown. We used genetically marked mice to isolate proliferating and renewing adipogenic progenitors. We found that most adipocytes descend from a pool of these proliferating progenitors that are already committed, either prenatally or early in postnatal life. These progenitors reside in the mural cell compartment of the adipose vasculature, but not in the vasculature of other tissues. Thus, the adipose vasculature appears to function as a progenitor niche and may provide signals for adipocyte development.     

Orangutan cultures and the evolution of material culture

Geographic variation in some aspects of chimpanzee behavior has been interpreted as evidence for culture. Here we document similar geographic variation in orangutan behaviors. Moreover, as expected under a cultural interpretation, we find a correlation between geographic distance and cultural difference, a correlation between the abundance of opportunities for social learning and the size of the local cultural repertoire, and no effect of habitat on the content of culture. Hence, great-ape cultures exist, and may have done so for at least 14 million years.