Homoeologous chromosome pairing: frequency differences in inbred and intraspecific hybrid polyploid ferns

The homosporous fern Ceratopteris thalictroides (Parkeriaceae) has evolved a polyploid genetic system that serves to store and release genetic variability in spite of self-fertilization and Mendelian homozygosity. This is demonstrated by the segregation of a gametophyte mutant within two inbred tetraploid lines and in their intraspecific hybrid. The segregation behavior can be explained by a model involving a duplicated locus and regular homoeologous chromosome pairing. Homoeologous pairing occurs at low levels in the inbred lines and at a high level in the hybrid, indicating intraspecific differences in chromosome pairing affinities.     

Solar energy for village development

The National Academy of Sciences held a joint workshop with the Government of Tanzania last August on the potential of solar energy for the villages of that country. Costs of five solar technologies (mini-hydroelectric generators, wind, methane generation from organic wastes, photovoltaic cells, and flat-plate solar collectors) were compared with costs of diesel-generated electricity and with electricity from the national grid. Each of the five technologies is either now competitive with diesel or will be in a few years. Although the figures presented are not conclusive since they are derived from calculations rather than an actual test, the results are encouraging enough to warrant serious testing in Third World villages.     

Residential natural gas consumption: evidence that conservation efforts to date have failed

A new short-term natural gas consumption model is developed, tested against American Gas Association sales data, and applied to the question of the effectiveness of conservation efforts. The results indicate that unit residential gas-heating sales per heating degree-day have remained constant in four major gas-consuming regions during the period 1974 to 1976 and that heating sales have not been affected by the recent sharp changes in price.     

PERINATAL FOAL MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH A HERPESVIRUS

An outbreak of perinatal foal mortality associated with a herpesvirus is described. Twenty two foals either were still-born, or died soon after birth, or were weak and soon developed severe respiratory signs, or were normal at birth and developed respiratory symptoms 18 to 24 hours later. Elevated temperatures, heart and respiratory rates were constant features. The animals were severely leucopaenic, and showed an absolute neutropaenia. At autopsy the lungs were enlarged, and showed varying degrees of aeration and moderate to severe oedema and congestion. Histopathology showed an acute focal necrotising bronchiolitis with the presence of intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies. Herpesvirus was recovered from 9 foals in cell culture and identified by electron microscopy.