Genetic analysis of east and west coast populations of Penaeus monodon from India based on random amplified polymorphic DNA

The east and west coast populations of wild Penaeus monodon in India were genetically characterized by RAPD analysis using six highly polymorphic primers reported earlier. The average genetic similarities within populations, based on profiles generated by all the six primers, were 0.828 and 0.851 for the east and west coast populations, respectively, values with individual primers ranging from 0.744 to 0.889. The average genetic similarity between populations across all the primers was 0.774. The number of bands found to be polymorphic were 38 (51.35%) and 37 (50.68%) in the east and west coast populations, respectively. Primer 5 yielded the highest level of polymorphism (63.63%) in the east coast population whereas primer 3 yielded the lowest level of polymorphism (36.36%) in the west coast population. The study reveals the existence of genetic variation in P. monodon stocks providing scope for genetic improvement through selective breeding. It also provides baseline data for future work on population structure analysis of P. monodon.

On the comparative fishing experiments with a four-seam and a two-seam trawls on the east coast

Fishing experiments were undertaken to study the relative utility of a newly designed four seam type net on a conventional two seam net at the centre along the East Coast in both inshore and deeper zones (up to 100m.) and the results indicated that the new four seam net has given higher catch rate of 6 to 8% more with higher catch rate of fish supposed to belong to off bottom region. Further this gear found more selective in obtaining Lactarius, which is one of the good variety of fish from trawlers, in both quantity as well as in quality. In terms of horizontal spread this new net gave less on comparison with the conventional two seam net, thereby showed corresponding increase in vertical spread; but warp tension remained more or less same in both the gear. Both gear have worked equally well in majority of depth ranges experimented with optimum spread. Finally the results indicated that the new net can work well from the present trawlers along the coast.

Evolutionary history of the mtDNA 9-bp deletion in Chinese populations and its relevance to the peopling of east and southeast Asia

In total, 1218 Chinese from twelve ethnic groups and nine Han geographic groups were screened for the mtDNA 9-bp deletion motif. The frequency of the 9-bp deletion in all samples was 14.7% but ranged from 0% to 32% in the various ethnic groups. Three individuals had a triplication of the 9-bp segment. Phylogenetic and demographic analyses of the mtDNA hypervariable segment 1 (HVS1) sequences suggest that the 9-bp deletion occurred more than once in China. The majority of the Chinese deletion:haplotypes (about 90%) have a common origin as a mutational event following an initial expansion of modem humans in eastern Asia. Other deletion haplotypes and the three haplotypes with a 9-bp triplication may have arisen independently in the Chinese, presumably by replication error. HVS1 haplotype analysis suggests two possible migration routes of the 9-bp deletion in east and southeast Asia. Both migrations originated in China with one route leading to the Pacific Islands via Taiwan, the other to southeast Asia and possibly the Nicobar Islands. Along both routes of peopling, a decrease in HVS1 diversity of the mtDNA haplotypes is observed. The "Polynesian motif (16217T/C, 16247A/G, and 16261C/T)" and the 16140T/C, 16266C/A, or C/G polymorphisms appear specific to each migration route.

Molecular systematics of Xenocyprinae (Teleostei : Cyprinidae): Taxonomy, biogeography, and coevolution of a special group restricted in east Asia

We surveyed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation in the subfamily Xenocyprinae from China and used these data to estimate intraspecific, interspecific, and intergeneric phylogeny and assess biogeographic scenarios underlying the geographic structu

Genetic evidence for an East Asian origin of domestic dogs

The origin of the domestic dog from wolves has been established, but the number of founding events, as well as where and when these occurred, is not known. To address these questions, we examined the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation among 654

Molecular phylogeny of wood mice (Apodemus, Muridae) in East Asia

Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (1140 bp) and nuclear IRBP (1152 bp) genes were used to assess the evolutionary history of Apodemus, using the complete set of Asian species. Our results indicate that speciation in Asia involved three radiations, which supports an earlier study. The initial radiation yielded A. argenteus (Japanese endemic), A. gurkha (Nepalese endemic), and the ancestral lineage of the remaining Asian species. This lineage subsequently diverged into four groups: agrarius-chevrieri (agrarius group), draco-latronum-semotus (draco group), A. peninsulae, and A. speciosus (Japanese endemic). The final step consisted of divergence within two species groups as a consequence of the geography of the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau and Taiwan. The ecological ability of two Apodemus-species to inhabit one locality via niche partitioning likely drove the second radiation and shaped the basic geographical pattern seen today: A. argenteus and A. speciosus in Japan, A. agrarius and A. peninsulae in northern China, and the A. agrarius and A. draco groups in southern China. The three radiations are estimated to have occurred 7.5, 6.6, and 1.8-0.8 Mya respectively, using the IRBP clock, based on rat-mouse divergence 12 Mya. (C) 2003 The Linnean Society of London.

Phylogeny of East Asian mitochondrial DNA lineages inferred from complete sequences

The now-emerging mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) population genomics provides information for reconstructing a well-resolved mtDNA phylogeny and for discerning the phylogenetic status of the subcontinentally specific haplogroups. Although several major East Asian mtDNA haplogroups have been identified in studies elsewhere, some of the most basal haplogroups, as well as numerous minor subhaplogroups, were not yet determined or fully characterized. To fill the lacunae, we selected 48 mtDNAs from >2,000 samples across China for complete sequencing that cover virtually all ( sub) haplogroups discernible to date in East Asia. This East Asian mtDNA phylogeny can henceforth serve as a solid basis for phylogeographic analyses of mtDNAs, as well as for studies of mitochondrial diseases in East and Southeast Asia.

Survey on the idle capacity of fish processing (freezing) plants in India - 2. East coast

The extent of idle capacity in the fish processing (freezing) plants in the east coast of India estimated by stratified random sampling and the factors responsible for the same are reported. The estimates of idle capacity of fish processing plants in the east coast for the years 1978 and 1979 were respectively 75.9% and 72.5% on the basis of 250 working days per annum and double shift per day. The percentage errors of estimates worked out to 6.9 for 1978 and 4.7 for 1979. The corresponding figures were worked out on the basis of 200 working days also. Substantial under-utilisation of plants in all the maritime states in the east coast accounted mainly to non-availability of raw material, high cost of production, shortage of power, scarcity of ice and potable water during peak season and frequent labour troubles.

Evolution and biogeography of talpid moles from continental East Asia and the Japanese islands inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences

We sequenced the cytochrome b gene from two little-studied mammal species from the highlands of Southwest China, the long-tailed mole Scaptonyx fusicaudus and the gracile shrew-like mole Uropsilus gracilis. This data was used to examine the phylogenetic r

Low “penetrance” of phylogenetic knowledge in mitochondrial disease studies

An up-to-date view of the worldwide mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeny together with an evaluation of the conservation of each site is a reliable tool for detecting errors in mtDNA studies and assessing the functional importance of alleged pathogenic mutations. However, most of the published studies on mitochondrial diseases make very little use of the phylogenetic knowledge that is currently available. This drawback has two inadvertent consequences: first, there is no sufficient a posteriori quality assessment of complete mtDNA sequencing efforts; and second, no feedback is provided for the general mtDNA database when apparently new mtDNA lineages are discovered. We demonstrate, by way of example, these issues by reanalysing three mtDNA sequencing attempts, two from Europe and another one from East Asia. To further validate our phylogenetic deductions, we completely sequenced two mtDNAs from healthy subjects that nearly match the mtDNAs of two patients, whose sequences gave problematic results. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Species diversity of the subgenus Amiota (s. str.) Loew, 1862 (Diptera, Drosophilidae) in southern China

A total of 38 Amiota (s. str.) species (about 40% of the world total) are reported from southern China, with descriptions of 23 new species, i.e. sinuata species-group: aculeata Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov., subsinuata Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov., xishuangbanna Chen and Aotsuka, sp. nov.; basdeni species-group: brevipartita Chen and Gao, sp. nov., curvispina Chen and Gao, sp. nov., lipingae Chen and Gao, sp. nov., huae Chen and Gao, sp. nov., longispina Chen and Gao, sp. nov.; taurusata species-group: asymmetrica Chen and Takamori, sp. nov.; femorata Chen and Takamori, sp. nov., yixiangensis Chen and Takamori, sp. nov.; alboguttata species-group: ailaoshanensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., arcuata Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., dehiscentia Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., jizushanensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., latitabula Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., luguhuensis Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., nozawai Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., paraspinata Chen and Watabe, sp. nov., shangrila Chen and Watabe, sp. nov.; and ungrouped: fuscicata Chen and Zhang, sp. nov., wangi Chen and Zhang, sp. nov., wuyishanensis Chen and Zhang, sp. nov. A key to all species from southern China is provided. The Amiota fauna of southern China at the species-group level is compared with that of six geographic regions. The subgenus Amiota is assumed to have originated and produced many species-groups in the Oriental region of East Asia, and then the basdeni, alboguttata and rufescens species-groups might have spread to Europe and North-Central America throughout the Palearctic region of East Asia and both the apodemata, sinuata and nagatai species-groups to tropical regions of South-East Asia.

Population phylogenomic analysis of mitochondrial DNA in wild boars and domestic pigs revealed multiple domestication events in East Asia

Background: Previously reported evidence indicates that pigs were independently domesticated in multiple places throughout the world. However, a detailed picture of the origin and dispersal of domestic pigs in East Asia has not yet been reported. Results: