Fossil evidence for the origin of aquatic locomotion in archaeocete whales

Recent members of the order Cetacea (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) move in the water by vertical tail beats and cannot locomote on land. Their hindlimbs are not visible externally and the bones are reduced to one or a few splints that commonly lack joints. However, cetaceans originated from four-legged land mammals that used their limbs for locomotion and were probably apt runners. Because there are no relatively complete limbs for archaic archaeocete cetaceans, it is not known how the transition in locomotory organs from land to water occurred. Recovery of a skeleton of an early fossil cetacean from the Kuldana Formation, Pakistan, documents transitional modes of locomotion, and allows hypotheses concerning swimming in early cetaceans to be tested. The fossil indicates that archaic whales swam by undulating their vertebral column, thus forcing their feet up and down in a way similar to modern otters. Their movements on land probably resembled those of sea lions to some degree, and involved protraction and retraction of the abducted limbs.     

Mutations in the pericentrin (PCNT) gene cause primordial dwarfism

Fundamental processes influencing human growth can be revealed by studying extreme short stature. Using genetic linkage analysis, we find that biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the centrosomal pericentrin (PCNT) gene on chromosome 21q22.3 cause microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II) in 25 patients. Adults with this rare inherited condition have an average height of 100 centimeters and a brain size comparable to that of a 3-month-old baby, but are of near-normal intelligence. Absence of PCNT results in disorganized mitotic spindles and missegregation of chromosomes. Mutations in related genes are known to cause primary microcephaly (MCPH1, CDK5RAP2, ASPM, and CENPJ).     

Method for obtaining ovine uterine secretions from unilaterally pregnant ewes

Development of the ovine conceptus was confined to the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum (CL) by placing a ligature around that uterine horn at a point near the uterine body on day 5 of pregnancy. On day 140 of gestation, seven of 10 ewes were still pregnant and from 21 to 815 ml of uterine fluid (488 +/- 94 ml, X +/- SEM) were collected from the nongravid uterine horn. Total recoverable protein (X +/- SEM) was 13.4 +/- 3.4 grams. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the reduced proteins in presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that protein composition of uterine fluid was distinct from that of colostrum, serum, amniotic fluid, and allantoic fluid, and revealed the presence of two major polypeptides with molecular weights of about 57,000 and 58,500, respectively, plus numerous other minor components. Gel filtration on columns of Sephadex G-200 and Sepharose CL-6B suggested that these polypeptides formed a series of aggregates of high molecular weight when kept under nonreducing conditions. Glucose (.18 +/- .03 mg/ml), but not fructose, was present in uterine fluid. In addition, high levels of prostaglandin F (451.4 +/- 83.3 ng/ml) were present.     

Chemical Composition and Ruminal Degradability of Spineless Cactus Grown in Northeastern Brazil

A study was conducted to determine chemical composition and ruminal nutrient degradability of eight spineless cactus cultivars grown in northeastern Brazil. Results showed that neutral detergent fiber was similar for all cultivars and averaged 249 g · kg^-1 ± 7.3 SEM. Acid detergent fiber ranged between 148 g · kg^-1 and 207 g · kg^-1 with some significant differences between cultivars. Starch and water-soluble carbohydrates were similar for all cultivars and averaged 198 g · kg^-1 ± 6.3 SEM and 155 g · kg^-1 ± 9.0 SEM, respectively. Protein content was less than 50 g · kg^-1 with some significant differences between cultivars. Calcium was the mineral with the highest concentration followed by potassium and magnesium with no differences between cultivars. Effective ruminal degradability of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber were unaffected by cultivar and averaged 701 g · kg^-1 ± 8.4 SEM and 503 g · kg^-1 ± 5.8 SEM, respectively. It was concluded that cultivars had little impact on chemical composition and ruminal degradability of spineless cactus. Based on chemical composition and in situ ruminal degradability, spineless cactus can be considered an excellent source of fermentable carbohydrates for grazing and nongrazing ruminants. Because of its high carbohydrate quality, spineless cactus can be used an emergency feed or as part of a complete diet providing that the diet contains an adequate amount of degradable protein.     

Characterization of methanol-soluble and methanol-insoluble proteins from developing peanut seed

The 85% methanol-soluble proteins are known to specifically contribute to the production of flavor of roasted peanut. To determine the nature of the 85% methanol-soluble proteins, they were isolated from the peanut seed, and the 85% methanol-soluble (MS) and 85% methanol-insoluble (MIS) fractions were characterized using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and capillary electrophoresis. The results showed that the 85% MS fraction contained lower amounts (9-10%) of protein than the MIS fraction (15-33%). Protein content of the MIS fraction increased more significantly during seed maturation than it did in the MS fraction. Unlike the protein, free amino acids and soluble sugars levels of the MS fraction decreased significantly during seed maturation. The 85% MS fraction contained predominantly low molecular weight (<20 kDa) proteins/polypeptides, whereas the MIS fraction contained a mixture of polypeptides with molecular weight between 14 kDa and 90 kDa. SDS-PAGE showed no major changes in the polypeptide composition of the MS fraction during seed maturation. Capillary electrophoretic analysis revealed major qualitative and quantitative changes in the protein and polypeptide composition of the MS and MIS fractions during seed maturation. Fatty acid analysis of these fractions indicated that the MS fraction is lipoprotein in nature and rich in oleic and linoleic acids.     

The changing landscape of mangroves in Bangladesh compared to four other countries in tropical regions

Loss of mangroves and consequent habitat fragmentation is a major concern throughout the world's tropical countries. Conversion of mangrove habitat due to aquaculture, agriculture, urbanization and industrialization, ecotourism, overlapping bureaucracy and conflicting policies is occurring at a striking rate. This paper reviews the trends of mangrove area changes in Bangladesh and compares them with four other countries in tropical regions that have significant mangrove areas. The rate of mangrove loss from the 1980 to 2005 was calculated using the compound interest rate formula for its explicit biological implication. In Bangladesh, the area of mangroves was found to have increased due to its higher accretion rate. In India the rate of mangrove loss had fallen. The rate of mangrove loss in Malaysia in the 1990s(-0.008 ha·a-1) was higher than the 1980s(-0.004 ha·a-1). In Indonesia, the rate decreased, from the 1980s(-0.018 ha·a-1) to the 1990s(-0.010 ha·a-1). Finally in Myanmar the rate of mangrove loss gradually accelerated. Aquaculture was found to be the common cause of mangrove conversion in the regions. Loss of mangroves is now a prominent global issue, associated with the loss of biodiversity, deterioration of habitat integrity, climatic changes, the amount of carbon sequestration, and resulting sea-level rise. Therefore, a systematic evaluation of these environmental impacts is prerequisite to realize sustainable mangrove management.     

Inter and intra-population variability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> (L.) characterized by RAPD and ISSR markers and development of population-specific SCAR markers

Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) is an oil-bearing species with multiple uses and considerable potential as a bioenergy crop. The present investigation has been undertaken to assess the extent of genetic diversity in a representative set of 42 accessions of J. curcas encompassing different crop growing regions in India along with a non-toxic genotype from Mexico as a prelude for utilization of promising and genetically divergent materials in the breeding programmes. Molecular polymorphism was 42.0% with 400 RAPD primers and 33.5% with 100 ISSR primers between accessions indicating modest levels of genetic variation in the Indian germplasm. The within-population variation based on RAPD polymorphism was 64.0% and was on par with the inter-population variation. Polymorphic ISSR markers have been identified that could differentiate the Indian accessions from the Mexican genotype and two of them were converted to SCAR markers. The SCAR primer pair ISPJ1 amplified a 543 bp fragment in all the Indian populations, while ISPJ2 with a specific amplicon of 1,096 bp was specific to the Mexican genotype. Population-specific bands have been identified for the accession from Kerala (2 RAPD markers), Neemuch-1 from Rajasthan (1 each of RAPD and ISSR markers) and the non-toxic genotype from Mexico (17 RAPD and 4 ISSR markers), which serve as diagnostic markers in genotyping. The study indicates an immediate need for widening the genetic base of J. curcas germplasm through introduction of accessions with broader geographical background.