Harnessing genomics and biotechnology to improve global health equity

With decisive and timely action, genome-related biotechnology can be harnessed to improve global health equity. In June 2002 in Kananaskis, Canada, leaders of the G8 industrial nations will develop an action plan to support implementation of the New African Initiative. By extending their discussion of health issues raised in the New African Initiative to include genomics, G8 leaders could signal their intention to increase global health equity by preventing a health genomics divide from developing. There are already some early and growing examples of genome-related biotechnology being applied successfully to health problems in developing countries. But how can genomics be systematically harnessed to benefit health in developing countries? We propose a five-point strategy, including research, capacity strengthening, consensus building, public engagement, and an investment fund.     

Interhemispheric asymmetries of the modular structure in human temporal cortex

Language-relevant processing of auditory signals is lateralized and involves the posterior part of Brodmann area 22. We found that the functional lateralization in this area was accompanied by interhemispheric differences in the organization of the intrinsic microcircuitry. Neuronal tract tracing revealed a modular network of long-range intrinsic connections linking regularly spaced clusters of neurons. Although the cluster diameter was similar in both hemispheres, their spacing was about 20 percent larger in the left hemisphere. Assuming similar relations between functional and anatomical architecture as in visual cortex, the present data suggest that more functionally distinct columnar systems are included per surface unit in the left than in the right area 22.     

Evolution of immunoglobulin polypeptide chains: carboxy-terminal of an IgM heavy chain

The dipeptide sequence at the carboxy-terminal of a heavy (micro) chain from a human macroglobulin ( IgM) is tyrosylcysteine, although the reverse sequence, cysteinyltyrosine, has not been rigorously excluded. The presence of cysteine at the carboxy-terminal was predicted from a recognition of the chemical homologies among the polypeptide chains of immunoglobulins, and their probable evolutionary origin.     

Cover crop effects on nitrogen load in tile drainage from Walnut Creek Iowa using root zone water quality (RZWQ) model

Studies quantifying winter annual cover crop effects on water quality are mostly limited to short-term studies at the plot scale. Long-term studies scaling-up water quality effects of cover crops to the watershed scale provide more integrated spatial responses from the landscape. The objective of this research was to quantify N loads from artificial subsurface drainage (tile drains) in a subbasin of the Walnut Creek, Iowa (Story county) watershed using the hybrid RZWQ-DSSAT model for a maize (Zea mays L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and maize-maize-soybean rotations in all phases with and without a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop during a 25-year period from 1981 to 2005. Simulated cover crop dry matter (DM) and N uptake averaged 1854 and 36 kg ha⁻¹ in the spring in the maize-soybean phase of the 2-year rotation and 1895 and 36 kg ha⁻¹ in the soybean-maize phase during 1981-2005. In the 3-year rotation, cover crop DM and N uptake averaged 2047 and 44 kg ha⁻¹ in the maize-maize-soybean phase, 2039 and 43 kg ha⁻¹ in the soybean-maize-maize phase, and 1963 and 43 kg ha⁻¹ in the maize-soybean-maize phase during the same period. Annual N loads to tile drains averaged 29 kg ha⁻¹ in the maize-soybean phase and 25 kg ha⁻¹ in the soybean-maize phase compared to 21 and 20 kg ha⁻¹ in the same phases with a cover crop. In the 3-year rotation, annual N loads averaged 46, 43, and 45 kg ha⁻¹ in each phase of the rotation without a cover crop and 37, 35, and 35 kg ha⁻¹ with a cover crop. These results indicate using a winter annual cover crop can reduce annual N loads to tile drains 20-28% in the 2-year rotation and 19-22% in the 3-year rotation at the watershed subbasin scale over a 25-year period.