Nanotechnologies Applied to the Analysis of the Animal Genome

Veterinary Research Communications - Ajmone Marsan, P., Tramontana, S. and Mazza, R., 2007. Nanotechnologies applied to the analysis of the animal genome. Veterinary Research Communications,...     

Nanotechnologies applied to the analysis of the animal genome

Whole genome sequence information and high throughput technologies are speeding up the investigation of cellular processes leading to the phenotypic expression of genetic information. Nanotechnologies provide innovative tools to accomplish this task, increasing throughput and sensitivity and decreasing cost and time of analyses. Goals as ambitious as the sequencing of a mammalian-sized genome in a matter of hours, and of detecting gene expression from a single cell, are just around the corner. Animal breeding will benefit from these advances in the understanding of the genetic basis of complex traits and in the application of molecular information for marker and gene assisted selection.     

Three-dimensional mapping of dislocation avalanches: clustering and space/time coupling

There is growing evidence for the complex, intermittent, and heterogeneous character of plastic flow. Here we report a three-dimensional mapping of dislocation avalanches during creep deformation of an ice crystal, from a multiple-transducers acoustic emission analysis. Correlation analysis shows that dislocation avalanches are spatially clustered according to a fractal pattern and that the closer in time two avalanches are, the larger the probability is that they will be closer in space. Such a space/time coupling may contribute to the self-organization of the avalanches into a clustered pattern.     

The effect of reducing conditions on the solubility of phosphorus in a diverse range of European agricultural soils

The effects of reducing conditions on solubility of phosphorus (P) can directly influence water quality. The release of P is enhanced although the P is not directly involved in reduction processes. We here compare the responses to flooding of 12 overfertilized agricultural soils in widely varying pedological and management regimes, belonging to seven World Reference Base groups. The redox potential initially ranged from 305 to 515 mV and decreased to ?157 to ?195 mV within 32 days. The onset of reducing conditions led to an increase in the concentration of soluble P. The maximum rate of solubilization occurred within 1–3 weeks under reducing conditions, and the steady‐state concentrations of P never exceeded 200 μmol dm^?3. Four stages in the development of the reduction process are identified, and a simple empirical model describes the change in concentrations of soluble P. The potential of P release under reduction is positively correlated with the soil saturation with P. Flooding over a few weeks triggered the release of large amounts of P. Constant pe + pH is related to constant concentration of molybdate‐reactive P, suggesting that soluble P is effectively buffered so that P will be immobilized. In general the solubilization of P under reducing conditions is likely to be aggravated by the increased soil P status that has resulted from overfertilization of agricultural land with P. These findings bear on the establishment and long‐term effectiveness of riparian buffer zones where phosphorus is likely to accumulate by the interception of drainage.     

Safety Risks for Animals Fed Genetic Modified (GM) Plants

GM plants are widely grown all over the world, but many constraints still tend to discourage their use in Europe. Potential risks suggested to be associated with the use of GM are unexpected gene effects, allergenic potential, antibiotic resistance, gene flow. GM feed safety is presently evaluated by adopting the concept of GM substantial equivalence, by comparison with non-GM isogenic crops. Comparison is based on a wide spectrum of chemical components and on livestock performance. From the available experimental data, currently utilized GM plants appear safe and show no effects on animals or animal products. Hence, although they potentially exist, safety risks caused by the use of GM plants appear to be so low as be negligible in comparison with their potential benefits, if appropriately designed. GM plants represent a valuable option for future breeding, to increase yield while reducing the use of pesticides, improve plant adaptation to unfavourable environments, and produce better quality crops, also from a nutritional point of view. Nonetheless, GM crops are novel foods and the assessment of their safety using a scientific sound approach seems essential to protect the environment, as well as the health of humans and livestock.

     

Extending earthquakes' reach through cascading

Earthquakes, whatever their size, can trigger other earthquakes. Mainshocks cause aftershocks to occur, which in turn activate their own local aftershock sequences, resulting in a cascade of triggering that extends the reach of the initial mainshock. A long-lasting difficulty is to determine which earthquakes are connected, either directly or indirectly. Here we show that this causal structure can be found probabilistically, with no a priori model nor parameterization. Large regional earthquakes are found to have a short direct influence in comparison to the overall aftershock sequence duration. Relative to these large mainshocks, small earthquakes collectively have a greater effect on triggering. Hence, cascade triggering is a key component in earthquake interactions.     

Parent material uniformity and degree of weathering in a soil chronosequence, northwestern Italy

The uniformity of the parent material and degree of weathering of the soils of a chronosequence developed during the Pleistocene were investigated using optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Uniformity of the parent material was assessed by two criteria: the ratios of resistant minerals, and their specific elements, in the heavy fraction (S.G. > 2.96 g · cm⁻³). There was some variation between heavy mineral ratios but there was less variation between ratios from the chemical data, and on this basis it was concluded that the parent material of each of the three soils in the sequence was uniform. SEM examination confirmed that the resistant minerals had remained unaltered although some Ti-bearing minerals showed some alteration. The degree of chemical weathering, as expressed by the ratio of mobile to non-mobile elements, and by Parker's Index, increased from the youngest to the oldest soil.     

Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and milk production traits in Italian Brown cattle

Italian Brown is a cattle breed largely exploited in the production of many dairy products in Italy, including typical and traditional cheeses. For this reason, the improvement of selection methods is of economic relevance while a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms regulating milk production is of general scientific interest. We selected a total of 561 samples, representing virtually all Italian Brown bull population, to test for association between milk production traits and 29 known genes harbouring 106 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). After filtering, a total of 31 SNPs in 22 candidate genes and 473 bulls were retained. Associations between each SNP and milk traits were tested by a mixed model approach, obtaining seven significantly associated SNPs, two of which (in β-Lactoglobulin) associated with all traits, and four (in Chemokin receptor I, αs1 casein, k casein, fatty acid synthase, thyroid hormone responsive and Oxytocin prepropetide genes) associated with at least one trait.     

Safety risks for animals fed genetic modified (GM) plants

GM plants are widely grown all over the world, but many constraints still tend to discourage their use in Europe. Potential risks suggested to be associated with the use of GM are unexpected gene effects, allergenic potential, antibiotic resistance, gene flow. GM feed safety is presently evaluated by adopting the concept of GM substantial equivalence, by comparison with non-GM isogenic crops. Comparison is based on a wide spectrum of chemical components and on livestock performance. From the available experimental data, currently utilized GM plants appear safe and show no effects on animals or animal products. Hence, although they potentially exist, safety risks caused by the use of GM plants appear to be so low as be negligible in comparison with their potential benefits, if appropriately designed. GM plants represent a valuable option for future breeding, to increase yield while reducing the use of pesticides, improve plant adaptation to unfavourable environments, and produce better quality crops, also from a nutritional point of view. Nonetheless, GM crops are novel foods and the assessment of their safety using a scientific sound approach seems essential to protect the environment, as well as the health of humans and livestock.     

Safety Risks for Animals Fed Genetic Modified (GM) Plants

GM plants are widely grown all over the world, but many constraints still tend to discourage their use in Europe. Potential risks suggested to be associated with the use of GM are unexpected gene effects, allergenic potential, antibiotic resistance, gene flow. GM feed safety is presently evaluated by adopting the concept of GM substantial equivalence, by comparison with non-GM isogenic crops. Comparison is based on a wide spectrum of chemical components and on livestock performance. From the available experimental data, currently utilized GM plants appear safe and show no effects on animals or animal products. Hence, although they potentially exist, safety risks caused by the use of GM plants appear to be so low as be negligible in comparison with their potential benefits, if appropriately designed. GM plants represent a valuable option for future breeding, to increase yield while reducing the use of pesticides, improve plant adaptation to unfavourable environments, and produce better quality crops, also from a nutritional point of view. Nonetheless, GM crops are novel foods and the assessment of their safety using a scientific sound approach seems essential to protect the environment, as well as the health of humans and livestock.