Heat-shock protein70 gene expression in four hatchery Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino populations using for marker-assisted selection

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are molecular chaperones that help organisms cope with stressful conditions. Here, we report on the growth rates and Hsp70 expressions in inbred and hybrid populations of abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino. In abalone, inbred populations expressed more Hsp70 than hybrid populations at all temperatures, except at very high temperatures close to the physiological limit. At benign temperatures, there was a clear trend towards higher Hsp70 expression in inbred than hybrid populations, whereas at higher temperatures, a trend in the opposite direction was observed. The temperature of maximal Hsp70 expression (T-peak) varied with the population type. The T-peak of inbred populations (26 degrees C) was lower than that of the hybrid populations (28 degrees C). The maximal inducible Hsp70 of inbred populations was higher than that of hybrid populations. The results showed a trend towards higher expression in inbred population at a lower temperature. These results provide direct experimental evidence that hybrids can cope with the intrinsic stress even at non-stressful temperatures. The constitutive Hsp70 may therefore be used for marker-assisted selection in a breeding programme.

小麦抗白粉病新基因PmCD1和抗条锈病基因YrCD的鉴定及分子标记筛选

本研究对自育小麦白粉病抗源“07鉴126”和条锈病抗源CD1437、CD0534-5进行抗性遗传分析和微卫星引物的筛选，建立了与PmCD1和YrCD抗病基因连锁的SSR分子标记，主要研究结果如下： 1.小麦白粉抗源“07鉴126”抗白粉病基因的鉴定和分子标记的建立 品系“07鉴126”对我国目前白粉菌强优势生理小种E09、E11和其它多种小种表现免疫或高度抵抗。Pm-sus是07鉴126的自然突变感病株。利用“07鉴126”和Pm-sus的F2抗病性分离群体进行抗条锈病性遗传分析和分子标记定位，结果表明，“07鉴126”的白粉抗性为显性单基因控制的全生育期抗性，暂命名为PmCD1；并筛选到了与PmCD1共分离的显性SSR分子标记Xbarc183。系谱分析和分子标记分析表明PmCD1来源于荆州黑麦。抗谱分析表明PmCD1不同于已知的黑麦抗白粉基因，是一个新的抗白粉病基因。Xbarc183这一分子标记的建立为PmCD1的分子标记辅助选择和抗病基因累加提供了方便。 2.小麦条锈抗源CD1437抗条锈病基因的鉴定和分子标记的建立 利用对优势条锈菌小种条中32免疫的小麦品系CD1437及其自然突变感病株Yr-sus杂交构建F2、F3抗病性分离群体。抗条锈病性遗传分析结果显示，1437的抗条锈性为显性单基因控制的全生育期抗性，该基因暂命名为YrCD。SSR分析发现，位于1B染色体上的7个SSR标记Xcfd65、Xgwm11、Xgwm18、Xbarc187、Xwmc406、 Xwmc419、Xwmc216依次分布在YrCD的一侧，与YrCD的遗传距离在1.7 cM至9.2 cM。YrCD和YrCH42的等位性分析显示二者可能为等位基因。YrCD和Yr24、Yr26的抗谱相似。系谱分析和分子标记分析表明贵农20是YrCD的供体。本研究推测YrCD、Yr24、Yr26和YrCH42可能是等位基因，并推测Yr-sus是缺失突变体。 3. 小麦条锈抗源CD0534-5抗条锈病基因的鉴定 利用对条中32免疫的小麦抗条锈病品系CD0534-5及其感病重组自交系CD0534-4建立F2抗病性分离群体。抗条锈病性遗传分析表明，CD0534-5的条锈抗性由两对独立的显性主效基因控制。用BSK法分析，发现其中一对基因与SSR分子标记Xgwm11、Xgwm18、Xwmc128、Xwmc419连锁，该基因是来源于贵农20的YrCD。另一抗性基因来源贵农19，是极有利用价值的未知抗性基因。 This study focused on the investigation and identification of a novel powdery mildew resistant gene PmCD1 in wheat lines 07jian126 and stripe rust resistant gene YrCD in wheat lines CD1482 and CD0534-5, and screened SSR markers tightly linked to them. The main results were as follows: 1.Identification and SSR markers screening of a novel powdery mildew PmCD1 in wheat line 07jian126. Using a Pm resistant wheat line 07jian126 and its Pm susceptible mutant, a F2 population was constructed. Pedigree and genetic analyses indicated that the Pm resistance in 07jian126 was tranderred from rye (Secale cereale L.) cv. Jinzhou and was controlled by a single dominant gene. Differential test using 21 Bgt isolates revealed that the Pm resistant gene in 07jian126 is novel and was temporarily designated as PmCD1. A dominant SSR marker Xbarc183/130 bp was found co-segregated with PmCD1 in the F2 population. The diagnostic band of Xbarc183/130 bp co-segregating with PmCD1 could be used as an ideal marker in marker-assisted-selection during wheat breeding program. 2. Identification and SSR markers mapping of yellow rust resistant gene YrCD in wheat line CD1437. Wheat line CD1437 was highly resistant to predominant Chinese stripe rust race CYR32 at both seedling and adult stages. A F2 population was developed from the cross of CD1437 and its Yr susceptible mutant Yr-sus. Genetic analysis indicated line CD1437 contains a single dominant gene, temporarily designated YrCD. Seven SSR markers on the chromosome 1BS including Xcfd65, Xgwm11, Xgwm18, Xbarc187, wmc406, Xwmc419and Xwmc216 were close linked to YrCD with a genetic dsitance 1.7 cM to 9.2 cM. YrCD came from wheat cultivar Guinong 20. Allelic test of CD1437 and Chinese cultivar Chuanmai 42 indicated that YrCD and YrCH42 were allelic. Reaction patterns of YrCD and Yr24, Yr26 to 21 PST isolates were the same. These results suggested that YrCD and Yr24, Yr26, YrCH42 might be allelic. 3.Detection and identification of yellow rust resistance genes in wheat line CD0534-5 Wheat line CD0534-5 was highly resistant to predominant Chinese stripe rust race CYR32, while its recombinant inbred line CD0534-4 was susceptible. Genetic analysis with a F2 population developed from the cross of CD0534-5 and CD0534-4 indicated line CD0534-5 contains two independent dominant genes. Four SSR markers on the chromosome 1BS including Xgwm11, Xgwm18, Xwmc128, Xwmc419 were found to linked with one gene in CD0534-5. According the locations of makers and pedigree, this gene in CD0534-5 was YrCD, from cultivar Guinong 20. Another resistant gene was from cultivar Guinong 19, different with those genes on 1B such as Yr10, Yr15, Yr5 etc, was a valuable resistant gene in wheat breeding.

糯小麦杂交后代的基因型鉴定及Wx基因的效应研究

糯小麦在食品加工业、淀粉加工业及其它工业上有着重要用途，是近年来许多国家小麦研究的重要课题。国外糯小麦选育尚未突破高产与糯性相结合的难点，国内目前还没有培育出高蛋白强筋型的糯小麦品种，这在一定程度上与缺乏合适的育种方法和高效、实用的糯小麦分子标记辅助育种技术有关。国内外对Wx基因效应的研究主要利用缺体－四体系、重组自交系或近等基因系，还未见有利用遗传背景相同的BC5F2代回交改良群体的报道。 糯性位点近等基因系是小麦淀粉品质育种的重要材料，而我国目前还没有一套中国栽培小麦遗传背景的糯性位点近等基因系。为了选育部分糯小麦、全糯小麦和中国栽培小麦遗传背景的糯性位点近等基因系，我们利用Wx蛋白电泳和高效实用的分子标记技术体系来鉴定糯小麦杂交后代的基因型，结果证明该体系能有效地用于糯小麦的分子标记辅助育种。以中国春糯性位点全套近等基因系为研究材料，对小麦Wx基因的6个STS标记和1个CAPS标记进行了筛选，改良PCR扩增条件以及产物检测方式后，从这些标记中筛选出3个标记，包括鉴定Wx-A1、Wx-D1位点的2个共显性STS标记和Wx-B1位点的1个显性STS标记。利用上述3个分子标记从BC5F2 代回交改良群体中筛选出了8种Wx基因型，经卡方检验，其分离比符合3对基因的分离比例，其中基因型为aabbdd的植株有2株，直链淀粉含量分别为1.81%和0.82%，为全糯小麦；基因型为AAbbdd，aabbDD的部分糯性植株各有1株，直链淀粉含量分别为15.24%和17.57%。以上4株植株的农艺性状和品质性状接近回交亲本“川育12”，并明显优于全糯材料“98Y1441”，表明采用回交法与Wx基因分子标记辅助选择相结合，有助于培育高产、优质的全糯和部分糯小麦。同时，本研究中建立的分子标记技术体系，也为选育具有中国栽培小麦遗传背景的糯性位点近等基因系奠定了基础。 在基因型鉴定的基础上，利用糯小麦杂交后代BC5F2代回交改良群体研究了各基因缺失降低直链淀粉含量的效果和各基因合成直链淀粉的能力，以及直链淀粉含量与农艺性状、品质性状、淀粉糊化特性等的相关性。缺失不同Wx基因的8种基因型，直链淀粉含量差异显著。研究单缺失基因型发现，减少效应最大的是Wx-B1b基因，Wx-B1b和Wx-D1b基因没有显著差异，减少效应最小的是Wx-A1b基因。研究双缺失基因型发现，Wx基因合成直链淀粉的能力，Wx-B1a基因最高，Wx-A1a基因最低，而Wx-B1a和Wx-D1a基因差异很小；直链淀粉含量与株高、穗长、小穗数、穗粒数、千粒重等农艺性状相关不显著，表明淀粉品质育种可以与高产育种实现有机结合；直链淀粉含量与SDS-沉降值呈显著负相关(r=-0.726)，说明直链淀粉含量降低在一定程度上有利于提高小麦营养与加工品质，这一结果至今未见有文献报道；全糯类型的淀粉糊化特性与其他类型显著不同，具有最高的峰值粘度和稀懈值，最低的低谷粘度、最终粘度、反弹值、峰值时间、糊化温度、起始糊化温度，表明糯小麦淀粉在食品和工业上具有特殊用途；稀懈值与直链淀粉含量呈极显著负相关(r=-0.969)，其他粘度参数与直链淀粉含量呈显著正相关(最终粘度r=0.797，低谷粘度r=0.910、反弹值r=0.954、峰值时间r=0.970、糊化温度r=0.962、起始糊化温度r=0.932)。以上结论可为糯小麦品种选育和淀粉品质改良提供理论依据。 Waxy wheat is very important in food processing industry, starch processing industry and the other industries, so it is a focus of wheat research in many countries these years. Foreign wheat breeders have not conquered the difficulty of high yield combined with waxy character, and there is no waxy wheat variety with high protein and strong gluten in China at present，all of which were caused by lacking proper breeding methods and effective, applied molecular markers-assisted selection technique at a certain extent. Until now, research about the effect of waxy genes mainly depended on nullisomic-tetrasomic lines, recombinant lines or near-isogenic lines, and it is lacking the reports of using improved BC5F2 backcross progenies under the common genetic background. Near-isogenic lines at the Wx loci are important materials for wheat starch quality breeding. However, there are no such lines under the Chinese cultivated wheat genetic background. To develop partial waxy wheats, waxy wheats and near-isogenic lines at the Wx loci under the Chinese cultivated wheat genetic background, we use SDS-PAGE of waxy proteins and effective, applied molecular marker-assisted selection technical system to identify the genotype of waxy wheat’s progenies. The results indicated that such a system is applicable in waxy wheat’s molecular marker-assisted selection effectively. A series of Chinese Spring Wx loci near-isogenic lines were used to identify the specific bands of six STS markers and one CAPS marker of Wx genes. After optimizing PCR amplification and separating of PCR products, three co-dominant and dominant STS-markers were identified at the Wx-A1, Wx-D1 and Wx-B1 loci, respectively, which were used to identify the genotype of waxy wheat’s progenies. Eight Wx genotypes were developed from the improved BC5F2 backcross progenies, which follows Mendelian segregation. Among them, there were two aabbdd waxy plants whose amylose content in the BC5F3 seeds were 1.81% and 0.82%, respectively. In addition, there were partial waxy plants (AAbbdd and aabbDD) whose amylose content in the BC5F3 seeds were 15.24 % and 17.57%, respectively. Most agronomic and quality traits of these four plants resembled those of the recurrent parent “Chuanyu 12”, and superior to waxy wheat parent “98Y1441”. This shows that backcross approach in combination with molecular marker-assisted selection of waxy genes is helpful to develop partial and full waxy wheat with good traits in the waxy wheat breeding program. At the same time, molecular marker-assisted selection technical system in this paper, also establish the base for breeding the near-isogenic lines at the Wx loci under the Chinese cultivated wheat genetic background. According to the results of genotype identification, we use waxy wheat’s improved BC5F2 backcross progenies to verify the effects of null alleles on reducing amylose content and determine the amylose synthesis capacity of each Wx gene independently, and investigate the relativity among amylose content with agonomic traits, quality traits, starch pasting properties respectively. There was significant difference in amylose content of the eight genotypes carrying different null Wx alleles. The reducing effect of the single null alleles was the most significant in Wx-B1b, followed by Wx-D1b and Wx-A1b, and there was no significant difference between Wx-B1b and Wx-D1b. The results of the double null lines further demonstrated that for the capacity of amylose synthesis, Wx-B1a was the highest, followed by Wx-D1a and Wx-A1a, and there was no significant difference between Wx-B1a and Wx-D1a. Amylose contents of the eight genotypes were not significantly correlated with plant height, spike length, spikelets per spike, grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, which showed that starch quality breeding could integrate with high yield breeding. Amylose contents of the eight genotypes were negatively significantly correlated with SDS-sedimentation value(r=-0.726), which suggested that reduction in amylose content is propitious to improve quality at a certain extent. Starch pasting properties of the full waxy type was significantly different from the other seven types, with the highest peak viscosity and breakdown, and lowest valley viscosity, final viscosity, setback, peak time, pasting temperature and starting pasting temperature. It indicated that waxy wheat starch has special use in food and industry. Breakdown was negatively significantly correlated with amylose contents (r=-0.969), and the other parameters were positively significantly correlated with amylose contents (r=0.797 for final viscosity, r=0.910 for trough viscosity, r =0.954 for setback, r =0.970 for peak time, r=0.962 for pasting temperature and r=0.932 for starting pasting temperature ). The results of the study are very useful for waxy wheat variety breeding and starch quality improvement.

A genetic linkage map of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei): sex-linked microsatellite markers and high recombination rates

Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is the leading species farmed in the Western Hemisphere and an economically important aquaculture species in China. In this project, a genetic linkage map was constructed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite markers. One hundred and eight select AFLP primer combinations and 30 polymorphic microsatellite markers produced 2071 markers that were polymorphic in either of the parents and segregated in the progeny. Of these segregating markers, 319 were mapped to 45 linkage groups of the female framework map, covering a total of 4134.4 cM; and 267 markers were assigned to 45 linkage groups of the male map, covering a total of 3220.9 cM. High recombination rates were found in both parental maps. A sex-linked microsatellite marker was mapped on the female map with 6.6 cM to sex and a LOD of 17.8, two other microsatellite markers were also linked with both 8.6 cM to sex and LOD score of 14.3 and 16.4. The genetic maps presented here will serve as a basis for the construction of a high-resolution genetic map, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) detection, marker-assisted selection (MAS) and comparative genome mapping.

QTL Mapping for Frond Length and Width in Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminarales, Phaeophyta) Using AFLP and SSR Markers

In Laminaria japonica Aresch breeding practice, two quantitative traits, frond length (FL) and frond width (FW), are the most important phenotypic selection index. In order to increase the breeding efficiency by integrating phenotypic selection and marker-assisted selection, the first set of QTL controlling the two traits were determined in F-2 family using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Two prominent L. japonicas inbred lines, one with "broad and thin blade" characteristics and another with "long and narrow blade" characteristics, were applied in the hybridization to yield the F-2 mapping population with 92 individuals. A total of 287 AFLP markers and 11 SSR markers were used to construct a L. japonica genetic map. The yielded map was consisted of 28 linkage groups (LG) named LG1 to LG28, spanning 1,811.1 cM with an average interval of 6.7 cM and covering the 82.8% of the estimated genome 2,186.7 cM. While three genome-wide significant QTL were detected on LG1 (two QTL) and LG4 for "FL," explaining in total 42.36% of the phenotypic variance, two QTL were identified on LG3 and LG5 for the trait "FW," accounting for the total of 36.39% of the phenotypic variance. The gene action of these QTL was additive and partially dominant. The yielded linkage map and the detected QTL can provide a tool for further genetic analysis of two traits and be potential for maker-assisted selection in L. japonica breeding.

栉孔扇贝抗鳗弧菌感染性状候选基因的多态性研究

栉孔扇贝（Chlamys farreri）是我国北方地区主要的养殖贝类之一，曾为沿海各省带来巨大的经济效益。但自1997年以来，陆续爆发的病害问题给扇贝养殖业造成了巨大的经济损失，严重影响了该产业的健康发展。目前认为培育抗病性强的扇贝优良品种是解决病害问题的根本途径。由于传统的育种方法费时费力，无法满足对良种的迫切需求，因此有必要通过分子手段加快抗病品种的培育步伐。标记辅助育种（marker assisted selection，MAS）是成功应用于动物育种中的分子手段之一，但由于缺乏与抗病性状相关的标记，MAS目前还无法在软体动物中得到应用。因此，寻找与抗病性状相关的分子标记是在软体动物中发展MAS的关键。 本研究利用鳗弧菌（Listonella anguillarum）对栉孔扇贝进行攻毒感染实验，初步得到敏感群体和抗病群体后采用PCR、PCR-RFLP、Bi-PASA PCR等方法研究了CfLysG、CfC1qDC和CfLITAF基因多态性及其与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌抗性的关系。 研究发现，栉孔扇贝CfLysG的基因序列中共有104个单核苷酸多态性（SNP）位点和29个插入/缺失（I/D）多态性位点。有17个多态性位点位于启动子区域，选择其中的-753 I/D、-391A/G和-284I/D多态性进行检测，发现这三个位点的基因型在敏感群体和抗病群体中的分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡（P>0.05）。其中-753 ID基因型和-284 ID基因在抗病群体中的频率高于在敏感群体中的频率，但两者之间无显著性差异（P>0.05）。-391 AG基因型在抗病群体中的频率显著高于敏感群体（P=0.007），表明-391 AG基因型与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌的抗性显著相关。为验证这一相关性，对-391位点不同基因型的扇贝进行攻毒感染实验。统计发现，具有-391 AA基因型的扇贝累计死亡率显著高于具有-391 AG基因型的扇贝（P=0.001），进一步证实了CfLysG基因-391 AG基因型与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌的抗性显著相关。CfLysG基因的外显子共有3处SNP，其中仅第三外显子上的+3473 A/C为非同义突变。统计分析表明，+3473位点不同基因型在敏感群体中的分布频率符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡（P>0.05），而在抗病群体中则偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡（P<0.01）。+3473 AA基因型在抗病群体中的频率显著高于在敏感群体中的频率（P=0.022），表明+3473 AA基因型与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌的抗性显著相关。CfLysG基因第1内含子存在+96 I/D和+487 I/D两处大片段的I/D多态性。统计发现，这两个位点的基因型在敏感群体和抗病群体中的分布频率均符合Hardy-Weinberg 平衡（P>0.05）。其中+96 DD基因型和+487 ID基因型在抗病群体中的频率均略高于在敏感群体中的频率，但两者之间无显著性差异（P>0.05）。表明这两个位点的多态性与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌的抗性无显著相关性。对CfLysG基因各多态性位点的统计分析表明，各位点之间存在不同程度的连锁不平衡，提示有单体型的存在。对19种频率>1%的单体型在敏感群体及抗病群体中的频率进行分析，发现-753 I/-391 G/-284 I/+96 I/+487 D/+3473 A单体型在抗病群体中的频率显著高于敏感群体（P=0.044），表明该单体型与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌的抗性显著相关。 在栉孔扇贝CfC1qDC基因cDNA序列上共发现14处SNP。对+423 T/C多态性与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌抗性的关系进行了分析。统计发现，+423位点各基因型在敏感群体和抗病群体中的分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡（P>0.05）。+423 TT基因型在抗病群体中的频率显著高于在敏感群体中的频率（P=0.005），表明+423 TT基因型与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌的抗性显著相关。 在栉孔扇贝CfLITAF基因cDNA序列中共发现3处SNP及1处I/D多态性。对+145 I/D多态性进行研究，发现所有敏感个体及抗病个体中均同时存在+145 位点所有等位基因，表明+145位点多态性与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌的抗性不相关。 以上研究表明，栉孔扇贝CfLysG基因-391 AG基因型、+3473 AA基因型、-753 I/-391 G/-284 I/+96 I/+487 D/+3473 A单体型以及CfC1qDC基因+423 TT基因型与栉孔扇贝对鳗弧菌的抗性显著相关，提示它们可作为与栉孔扇贝抗病相关的候选分子标记应用于贝类抗病育种中，为贝类的标记辅助育种提供参考。此外，抗病相关分子标记的发现还有利于加深对扇贝发病机理的理解，并有助于发掘预防及治疗贝类疾病的新方法。

Identification of quantitative trait loci for growth-related traits in the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

The locations and effects of quantitative trait loci (QTL) were estimated for nine characters for growth-related traits in the Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) using a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and SSR genetic linkage map. Twenty-eight putatively significant QTLs (LOD > 2.4) were detected for nine traits (shell length, shell width, total weight, shell weight, weight of soft part, muscle weight, gonad and digestive gland weight, mantle weight and gill weight). The percentage of phenotypic variation explained by a single QTL ranged from 8.0% to 35.9%. The significant correlations (P < 0.001) were found among all the growth-related traits, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were more than 0.81. For the female map, the QTL for growth were concentrated on groups 1 and 4 linkage maps. On the male map, the QTL that influenced growth-related traits gathered on the groups 1 and 9 linkage maps. Genetic linkage map construction and QTL analysis for growth-related traits are the basis for the marker-assisted selection and will eventually improve production and quality of the Pacific abalone.

Yellow perch strain evaluation I: Genetic variance of six broodstock populations

As a prelude to strain selection for domestication and future marker assisted selection, genetic variation revealed by microsatellite DNA was evaluated in yellow perch, Perca flavescens, from four wild North American populations collected in 2003-2004 (Maine, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania,), and two captive populations (Michigan and Ohio). For the loci examined, levels of heterozygosity ranged from H-e=0.04 to 0.88, genetic differentiation was highly significant among all population pairs, and effective migration ranged from low (N(e)m=0.3) to high (N(e)m=4.5). Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was regularly observed indicating significant departures from random mating. Instantaneous measures of inbreeding within these populations ranged from near zero to moderate (median F=0.16) and overall inbreeding levels averaged F-IS=0.18. Estimates of genetic diversity, Phi(ST), and genetic distance were highest between Michigan and all other broodstock groups and lowest between New York and Ohio. Genetic differentiation among groups did not correlate with geographic distance. Overall, the patterns of variation exhibited by the captive (Michigan and Ohio) populations were similar to patterns exhibited by the other wild populations, indicating that spawning and management practices to date have not significantly reduced levels of genetic variation. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genetic mapping of size-related quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) using AFLP and microsatellite markers

We constructed genetic linkage maps for the bay scallop Argopecten irradians using AFLP and microsatellite markers and conducted composite interval mapping (CIM) of body-size-related traits. Three hundred seventeen AFLP and 10 microsatellite markers were used for map construction. The female parent map contained 120 markers in 15 linkage groups, spanning 479.6 cM with an average interval of 7.0 cM. The male parent map had 190 markers in 17 linkage groups, covering 883.8 cM at 7.2 cM per marker. The observed coverage was 70.4% for the female and 81.1% for the male map. Markers that were distorted toward the same direction were closely linked to each other on the genetic maps, suggesting the presence of genes important for survival. Six size-related traits, shell length, shell height, shell width, total weight, soft tissue weight, and shell weight, were measured for QTL mapping. The size data were significantly correlated with each other. We subjected the data, log transformed firstly, to a principle component analysis and use the first principle component for QTL mapping. CIM analysis revealed one significant QTL (LOD=2.69, 1000 permutation, P<0.05) in linkage group 3 on the female parent map. The mapping of size-related QTL in this study raises the possibility of improving the growth of bay scallops through marker-assisted selection. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Rapidly Infrared-Assisted Cooperatively Self-Assembled Highly Ordered Multiscale Porous Materials

In this paper, cooperative self-assembly (CSA) of colloidal spheres with different sizes was studied. It was found that a complicated jamming effect makes it difficult to achieve an optimal self-assembling condition for construction of a well-ordered stacking of colloidal spheres in a relatively short growth time by CSA. Through the use of a characteristic infrared (IR) technique to significantly accelerate local evaporation on the growing interface without changing the bulk growing environment, a concise three-parameter (temperature, pressure, and IR intensity) CSA method to effectively overcome the jamming effect has been developed. Mono- and multiscale inverse opals in a large range of lattice scales can be prepared within a growth time (15-30 min) that is remarkably shorter than the growth times of several hours for previous methods. Scanning electron microscopy images and transmittance spectra demonstrated the superior crystalline and optical qualities of the resulting materials. More importantly, the new method enables optimal conditions for CSA without limitations on sizes and materials of multiple colloids. This strategy not only makes a meaningful advance in the applicability and universality of colloidal crystals and ordered porous materials but also can be an inspiration to the self-assembly systems widely used in many other fields, such as nanotechnology and molecular bioengineering.

Materials selection in mechanical design for microsensors and microactuators

Microsensors and microactuators are vital organs of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), forming the interfaces between controller and environment. They are usually used for devices ranging in size at sub-millimeter or micrometer level, transforming energy between two or more domains. Presently, most of the materials used in MEMS devices belong to the silicon material system, which is the basis of the integrated circuit industry. However, new techniques are being explored and developed, and the opportunities for MEMS materials selection are getting broader. The present paper tries to apply 'performance index' to select the material best suited to a given application, in the early stage of MEMS design. The selection is based on matching performance characteristics to the requirements. A series of performance indices are given to allow a wide range comparison of materials for several typical sensing and actuating structures, and a rapid identification of candidates for a given task. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of surface tension on the mode selection of vertically excited surface waves in a circular cylindrical vessel

Singular perturbation theory of two-time-scale expansions was developed in inviscid fluids to investigate patternforming, structure of the single surface standing wave, and its evolution with time in a circular cylindrical vessel subject to a vertical oscillation. A nonlinear slowly varying complex amplitude equation, which involves a cubic nonlinear term, an external excitation and the influence of surface tension, was derived from the potential flow equation. Surface tension was introduced by the boundary condition of the free surface in an ideal and incompressible fluid. The results show that when forced frequency is low, the effect of surface tension on the mode selection of surface waves is not important. However, when the forced frequency is high, the surface tension cannot be neglected. This manifests that the function of surface tension is to cause the free surface to return to its equilibrium configuration. In addition, the effect of surface tension seems to make the theoretical results much closer to experimental results.

The mechanism of pattern selection in coupled map lattices

The pattern selection of one-dimensional coupled map lattices is studied in this paper. It is shown by spatiotemporal variable separation that there exists a threshold wavelength in pattern selection which possesses wave-like structures in space and periodic chaotic motion in time.

High laser-induced damage threshold HfO2 films prepared by ion-assisted electron beam evaporation

HfO2 films were deposited by electron beam evaporation with different deposition parameters. The properties such as refractive index, weak absorption, and laser induced damage thresholds (LIDTs) of these films have been investigated. It was found that when pulsed Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser is used to investigate LIDT of films: Metallic character is the main factor that influences LIDTs of films obtained from Hf starting material by ion-assisted reaction, and films prepared with higher momentum transfer parameter P have fewer metallic character; The ion-assisted reaction parameters are key points for preparing high LIDT films and if the parameters are chose properly, high LIDT films can be obtained. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.