Transgene organization in rice engineered through direct DNA transfer supports a two-phase integration mechanism mediated by the establishment of integration hot spots

Organization of transgenes in rice transformed through direct DNA transfer strongly suggests a two-phase integration mechanism. In the “preintegration” phase, transforming plasmid molecules (either intact or partial) are spliced together. This gives rise to rearranged transgenic sequences, which upon integration do not contain any interspersed plant genomic sequences. Subsequently, integration of transgenic DNA into the host genome is initiated. Our experiments suggest that the original site of integration acts as a hot spot, facilitating subsequent integration of successive transgenic molecules at the same locus. The resulting transgenic locus may have plant DNA separating the transgenic sequences. Our data indicate that transformation through direct DNA transfer, specifically particle bombardment, generally results in a single transgenic locus as a result of this two-phase integration mechanism. Transgenic plants generated through such processes may, therefore, be more amenable to breeding programs as the single transgenic locus will be easier to characterize genetically. Results from direct DNA transfer experiments suggest that in the absence of protein factors involved in exogenous DNA transfer through Agrobacterium, the qualitative and/or quantitative efficiency of transformation events is not compromised. Our results cast doubt on the role of Agrobacterium vir genes in the integration process.

Backtracking leukemia to birth: Identification of clonotypic gene fusion sequences in neonatal blood spots

Epidemiological evidence has suggested that some pediatric leukemias may be initiated in utero and, for some pairs of identical twins with concordant leukemia, this possibility has been strongly endorsed by molecular studies of clonality. Direct evidence for a prenatal origin can only be derived by prospective or retrospective detection of leukemia-specific molecular abnormalities in fetal or newborn samples. We report a PCR-based method that has been developed to scrutinize neonatal blood spots (Guthrie cards) for the presence of numerically infrequent leukemic cells at birth in individuals who subsequently developed leukemia. We demonstrate that unique or clonotypic MLL-AF4 genomic fusion sequences are present and detectable in neonatal blood spots from individuals who were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at ages 5 months to 2 years and, therefore, have arisen during fetal hematopoiesis in utero. This result provides unequivocal evidence for a prenatal initiation of acute leukemia in young patients. The method should be applicable to other fusion genes in children with common subtypes of leukemia and will be of value in attempts to unravel the natural history and etiology of this major subtype of pediatric cancer.

Dominant-negative p53 mutations selected in yeast hit cancer hot spots.

Clinically important mutant p53 proteins may be tumorigenic through a dominant-negative mechanism or due to a gain-of-function. Examples for both hypotheses have been described; however, it remains unclear to what extent they apply to TP53 mutations in general. Here it is shown that the mutational spectrum of dominant-negative p53 mutants selected in a novel yeast assay correlates tightly with p53 mutations in cancer. Two classes of dominant-negative mutations are described; the more dominant one affects codons that are essential for the stabilization of the DNA-binding surface of the p53 core domain and for the direct interaction of p53 with its DNA binding sites. These results predict that the vast majority of TP53 mutations leading to cancer do so in a dominant-negative fashion.

Valores sociales en los spots publicitarios de bebidas emitidos en España en 2006

El objetivo principal de este artículo es señalar los valores sociales presentes en los spots de bebidas emitidos por televisión, en España, durante el año 2006. Se estudian los valores sociales que transmiten los anuncios al margen de su función comercial. En total, se han analizado 191 spots; para los que se detallan los valores atribuidos al producto y al consumidor. La salud, la juventud, la importancia de las relaciones sociales o de construirse una personalidad genuina son algunos de los principales valores e ideales transmitidos a través de los spots sometidos a estudio.

Observations of Sun Spots, 1739-1743

Eleven-page notebook containing John Winthrop's handwritten observations and calculations. Titled by Winthrop "Observations of 'Spots' on ye Sun with ye Naked Eye," this is the first known record of his scientific observations and records what he saw while examining the sun "with an 8 foot telescope from 6 a.m. til sun set" on the Boston Commons and concluding with "a considerable aurora borealis" that night (April 20, 1739). It has been speculated that his reference to the aurora borealis in these observations may indicate that he recognized the interrelation of the aurora borealis and sun spots, a concept which was not definitively established until the mid-nineteenth century.

EU enlargement to the Balkans: will the leopard change its spots? EPC Commentary, 29 September 2014

As the leadership of the European Union hands over the baton to a new management this autumn, will the winds of change blow also through the cobwebs of the EU’s enlargement agenda? Jean-Claude Juncker – the incoming President of the European Commission – has already promised to put the gearbox of further EU widening in neutral for the next five years of his mandate, and has designated the Austrian Johannes Hahn as Commissioner for the re-baptised portfolio of now European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, instructing him to focus on the Union’s political and economic ties with Southern and Eastern Europe, and in particular with the Balkans. Such an approach in the field of enlargement – once crowned the jewel of EU foreign policy – has all the appeal of a damp rag but does not necessarily depart from the festina lente strategy of the recent past. Inside the Union, political appetite and public support for expansion have been fizzling since Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007, and were then severely curbed in the context of the on-going crisis by growing fears of importing organised crime and migrants from the Balkans. Juncker’s logic of consolidation sounds depressingly similar to what it supposedly replaces and incidentally, it also fits neatly with the unambitious and inward-looking mantra favoured at present in discussions at all levels on the future of European integration, more generally. With the 28-member block determined to catch its breath in the immediate time period, and given that even the forerunner countries in the Balkans – that is, Montenegro and Serbia – will realistically need more than five years to complete their accession talks, what priorities should guide Commissioner Hahn, soon to be Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations – when they get down to business on 1 November?

The Canadian handbook and tourist's guide, giving a description of Canadian lake and river scenery and places of historical interest, with the best spots for fishing and shooting;

"A catalogue of the animals of British North America: Zoological": p. 189-190; "Ornithological": p. 190-196.

The Canadian handbook and tourist's guide; giving a description of Canadian lake and river scenery and places of historical interest with the best spots for fishing and shooting.

"A catalogue of the animals of British North America": p. [189]-196.

The hallowed spots of ancient London : historical, biographical and antiquarian sketches illustrative of places and events as they appeared and occurred in the olden time /

Mode of access: Internet.

Among English inns; the story of a pilgrimage to characteristic spots of rural England,

Maps on end-papers.

A drummer's experience, by J. S. Dearing. 103 half-tone illustrations representing beauty spots and noted scenes of the North American continent.

Mode of access: Internet.

Sonnets : written chiefly on picturesque spots, during a tour /

NUC pre-1956

Observations of the spots on the sun from November 9, 1853, to March 24, 1861, made at Redhill,

On t.-p.: The publication of this work was aided by a grant from the fund placed at the disposal of the Royal society by Her Majesty's Treasury.

Pleasant spots around Oxford.

Mode of access: Internet.

The leopard's spots : a romance of the white man's burden--1865-1900 /

Bound in a presentation binding of grey boards with white cloth spine stamped in gold; top edges gilt. Label mounted on endpaper: Author's presentation copy ...