The origin of Mosuo people as revealed by mtDNA and Y chromosome variation

The Mosuo, living in the Lugu Lake area in northwest Yunnan Province, China, is the only matriarchal population in China. The Mosuo was officially identified as Naxi nationality although its relationship with Naxi remains controversial. We studied the gen

Chromosomes of Crossopriza lyoni (Blackwall 1867), intraindividual numerical chromosome variation in Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski 1874), and the distribution pattern of NORs (Araneomorphae, Haplogynae, Pholcidae)

Pholcidae (Haplogynae) encompasses 967 described species, of which only 14 have been cytogenetic analyzed. Several chromosomal features have already been described including presence of meta- and sub-metacentric chromosomes and sex determination chromosome system (SDCS) of the X, X1X2Y, and X1X2 types, which contrast with the telo- and acrocentric chromosomes and SDCS of the X1X2 type typical of entelegyne spiders. To obtain further cytogenetic information for the family, we examined two pholcid species, Crossopriza lyoni (Blackwall 1867) and Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski 1874) using both conventional staining and silver staining techniques. Crossopriza lyoni exhibited 2n = 23 = 22 + X in males and 2n = 24 = 22 + XX in females, while P. globosus showed 2n = 15 = 14 + X and 4n = 30 = 28 + 2X, both in male adults, 2n = 16 = 14 + XX in female adults and embryos, and 2n = 15 = 14 + X in male embryos. Both species revealed predominately metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes and a SDCS of the X/XX type. The cytogenetic data obtained in this work and those already recorded for C. lyoni indicate interpopulational and intraspecific numerical chromosome variation, suggesting the presence of chromosomal races or cytotypes in this species. The intraindividual numerical chromosome variation observed in male adult specimens of P. globosus may be explained by the presence of cytoplasmatic bridges between germ cells. The use of the silver staining technique to reveal the nucleolar organizer region (NOR) showed that chromosome pairs 4 and 6 and the X chromosome in C. lyoni are telomeric NOR-bearers, and that the chromosome pair 2 in P. globosus possesses a proximal NOR in the long arm.

The role of chromosome variation in the speciation of the red brocket deer complex: the study of reproductive isolation in females

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Numerical chromosome polymorphism in Mikania cordifolia Willd. (Asteraceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Different responses to doxorubicin-induced chromosome aberrations in Brazilian deer species

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

High chromosome variability and the presence of multivalent associations in buthid scorpions

In this study, we investigated the mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of 11 Buthidae scorpion species, belonging to three genera (Ananteris, Rhopalurus and Tityus), to obtain detailed knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying the intraspecific and/or interspecific diversity of chromosome number and the origin of the complex chromosome associations observed during meiosis. The chromosomes of all species did not exhibit a localised centromere region and presented synaptic and achiasmatic behaviour during meiosis I. Spermatogonial and/or oogonial metaphase cells of these buthids showed diploid numbers range from 2n = 6 to 2n = 28. In most species, multivalent chromosome associations were observed in pachytene and postpachytene nuclei. Moreover, intraspecific variability associated with the presence or absence of chromosome chains and the number of chromosomes in the complex meiotic configurations was observed in some species of these three genera. Silver-impregnated cells revealed that the number and location of nucleolar organiser regions (NORs) remained unchanged despite extensive chromosome variation; notably, two NORs located on the terminal or subterminal chromosome regions were commonly observed for all species. C-banded and fluorochrome-stained cells showed that species with conspicuous blocks of heterochromatin exhibited the lowest rate of chromosomal rearrangement. Based on the investigation of mitotic and meiotic cells, we determined that the intraspecific variability occurred as a consequence of fission/fusion-type chromosomal rearrangements in Ananteris and Tityus species and reciprocal translocation in Rhopalurus species. Furthermore, we verified that individuals presenting the same diploid number differ in structural chromosome organisation, giving rise to intraspecific differences of chromosome association in meiotic cells (bivalent-like elements or chromosome chains). © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

白杄体细胞胚胎发生及其植株再生的研究

本文以白杄的合子胚为材料，建立了体细胞胚胎发生及其植株再生系统．通过对影响体细胞胚胎发生的主要因素的系统研究，实现了体细胞胚的高频率发生。运用扫描电镜、整体染色封片及石蜡切片等方法全面观察了体细胞胚胎发生过程中的形态学、细胞学及组织化学变化。建立了胚性细胞悬浮系，测定了几个重要生长参数的变化动态，优化了体细胞胚的液体培养条件。采用垂直平板聚丙烯酰胺电泳方法分析了体细胞胚胎发生过程中三种同工酶的变化。通过压片法观察了长期继代过程中胚性愈伤组织细胞及其再生植株根尖细胞染色体数目的变化。具体结果如下： 合子胚在4-6 ℃低温条件下保存1~3个月后，接种于LP+2mg/L2.4-D+lmg/L 6-BA的培养基上，黑暗条件下培养1个月后，产生浅黄色、褐色和白色半透明三种愈伤组织，其中白色半透明愈伤组织是胚性愈伤组织。黑暗中胚性愈伤组织在MS+lmg/L 2，4-D+lmg/L KT的继代培养基上可保持旺盛的增殖能力和分化潜力。当胚性愈伤组织转到MS+5mg/L ABA+50g/L PEG+5mg/L AgN03的分化培养基上，1个月后可产生大量正常的子叶期成熟体细胞胚。成熟体细胞胚在相对湿度为75%的条件下干化20天后，转到含0.5%活性炭的无激素1/2MS基本培养基上，约40天后长出1.5—2.5cm的根，约60天后长出真叶。光，ABA、蔗糖、AgN03 PEG浓度是影响体细胞胚胎发生的主要因素。 在相同的培养条件下，以新产生的子叶期体细胞胚为外植体，也可诱导体细胞胚胎发生。 胚性愈伤组织起源于合子胚子叶和下胚轴的表皮及表皮下的一些细胞。胚性愈伤组织中的一些单个胚性细胞经过第一次分裂产生两个细胞，即胚细胞和胚柄细胞，它们继续进行分裂几次以后形成胚性胚柄团结构。胚性胚柄团在分化培养基上可发育为成熟的子叶期胚。体细胞胚的成熟过程大致可分四个时期：胚性胚柄团、球形胚至鱼雷形胚、子叶前期胚和子叶期成熟胚。通过PAS反应研究后发现，在体细胞胚发育过程中，淀粉粒在胚性胚柄团时期开始积累，至心形胚时期达到积累高峰，子叶胚时期仅在器官原基及其附近细胞肉有淀粉粒分布。结果表明，淀粉是体细胞胚胎发生的一种重要能量来源。 在初始细胞密度为3.O%（鲜重）、摇床转速为150r/min的条件下，用与固体培养基成分相似的液体培养基对胚性愈伤组织进行悬浮培养，胚性愈伤组织的生长率大大提高。在悬浮培养过程中，培养物的鲜重、干重、紧实细胞体积及胚性胚柄团数目依次在6～10天内达到高峰。培养液的pH值和电导率分别在6—8天达到最低点。 胚性和非胚性愈伤组织的三种同工酶酶谱都明显不同;胚性愈伤组织的过氧化物酶和酸性磷酸酯酶活性较高，而非胚性愈伤组织的酯酶活性较高。体细胞胚发育过程中，三种同工酶酶谱都呈规律性变化;j活性都有逐渐增强的趋势，但酸性磷酸酯酶活性到了最后时期又突然下降。 胚性愈伤组织经过长期继代后，生长率和分化能力没有明显变化，但有些细胞内染色体数目发生了无规律的变化( 2n=7—24，2n>28)，而再生植株根尖细胞染色体数目比较稳定( 2n=28).

Evidence for an apartheid-like social structure in early Anglo-Saxon England

The role of migration in the Anglo-Saxon transition in England remains controversial. Archaeological and historical evidence is inconclusive, but current estimates of the contribution of migrants to the English population range from less than 10 000 to as many as 200 000. In contrast, recent studies based on Y-chromosome variation posit a considerably higher contribution to the modern English gene pool (50-100%). Historical evidence suggests that following the Anglo-Saxon transition, people of indigenous ethnicity were at an economic and legal disadvantage compared to those having Anglo-Saxon ethnicity. It is likely that such a disadvantage would lead to differential reproductive success. We examine the effect of differential reproductive success, coupled with limited intermarriage between distinct ethnic groups, on the spread of genetic variants. Computer simulations indicate that a social structure limiting intermarriage between indigenous Britons and an initially small Anglo-Saxon immigrant population provide a plausible explanation of the high degree of Continental male-line ancestry in England.

Determinação do número cromossômico de espécies arbóreas nativas com potencial madeireiro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudos cromossômicos em anuros das famílias Hylidae rafinesque, 1815 e Leptodactylidae werner, 1896 (Amphibia: Anura)

Embora exista uma grande diversidade de complementos cromossômicos em Leptodactylidae (2n = 18 a 2n = 26) e Hylidae (2n = 20 a 2n = 32), a elevada fragmentação de dados limita o acesso a informações sobre as origens e os mecanismos responsáveis por esta diversidade. Isto provavelmente tem influenciado que os dados citogenéticos tenham sido principalmente utilizados na caracterização do status de espécies mais do que incluídos amplamente em análises filogenéticas. Este trabalho aborda, por meio de dados citogenéticos, aspectos evolutivos de três grandes grupos de anuros de ampla distribuição na região Neotropical. O gênero Leptodactylus é agrupado com Hydrolaetare, Paratelmatobius e Scythrophrys na família Leptodactylidae. Os antecedentes cromossômicos neste gênero indicam variações nos números diplóides de 2n = 18 a 2n = 26, assim como variações nos números fundamentais (número de braços autossômicos, NF) e nas posições das Regiões Organizadoras do Nucléolo (NOR). Os resultados das análises de 26 espécies de Leptodactylus empregando diversas técnicas representa, provavelmente, a análise citogenética mais inclusiva realizada no gênero Leptodactylus até o momento, e os resultados constituem um marco para a proposição de hipóteses consistentes de evolução cromossômica no gênero. A tribo Lophyiohylini agrupa atualmente 81 espécies distribuídas em 10 gêneros. A informação citogenética é escassa e restrita apenas a 12 espécies. São aqui apresentados comparativamente dados citogenéticos em espécies dos gêneros Argenteohyla, Itapotihyla, Phyllodytes, Trachycephalus e Osteocephalus. Os resultados indicam que, com exceção de O. buckleyi (2n = 26; NF = 50) e P. edelmoi (2n = 22; NF = 44), todas as demais espécies analisadas coincidem com os dados citogenéticos disponíveis, que indicam um 2n = 24 (NF = 48) na maioria das espécies cariotipadas, com NOR e constrições secundarias (CS) localizadas no par 11. Entretanto, em Phyllodytes edelmoi e Argentohyla siemersi pederseni, essas regiões localizam-se nos pares 2 e 5, respectivamente. Blocos heterocromáticos foram associados às CS adicionais (sítios frágeis) em Osteocephalus, mas não em Trachycephalus. Dados citogenéticos nos gêneros Nyctimantis e Tepuihyla, assim como técnicas com maior poder de resolução e estudos mais inclusivos, são necessários para compreender melhor a evolução cromossômica da tribo. A tribo Dendropsophini atualmente agrupa os gêneros Scinax, Pseudis, Scarthyla, Sphaenorhynchus, Xenohyla e Dendropsophus. Os dados citogenéticos registrados em todos os gêneros revelaram uma elevada diversidade cariotípica com grandes variações nos números diplóides (2n = 22 em Scarthyla; 2n = 24 em Scinax e Xenohyla; 2n = 24, 24 +1-2B e 26 em Sphaenorhynchus; 2n = 24 e 28 em Pseudis; e, 2n = 30 em Dendropsophus). O 2n = 24 observado em X. truncata indica que o 2n = 30constitui uma sinapomorfia do gênero Dendropsophus. A localização das NOR no par 7 é uma característica compartilhada por espécies dos gêneros Scarthyla, Xenohyla, Pseudis e Sphaenorhynchus, com algumas exceções nos dois últimos (P. caraya e S. carneus). Entretanto, o gênero Dendropsophus exibe uma interessante diversidade em relação a número e localização das NOR. Por outro lado, a distribuição de heterocromatina apresentou padrões variáveis, particularmente gênero Pseudis. Embora exista uma excepcional variação cromossômica neste grupo, a informação fragmentária em alguns gêneros dificulta a formulação de hipóteses consistentes sobre o papel dos cromossomos na evolução do grupo.

Genetic evidence for different male and female roles during cultural transitions in the British Isles

Human history is punctuated by periods of rapid cultural change. Although archeologists have developed a range of models to describe cultural transitions, in most real examples we do not know whether the processes involved the movement of people or the movement of culture only. With a series of relatively well defined cultural transitions, the British Isles present an ideal opportunity to assess the demographic context of cultural change. Important transitions after the first Paleolithic settlements include the Neolithic, the development of Iron Age cultures, and various historical invasions from continental Europe. Here we show that patterns of Y-chromosome variation indicate that the Neolithic and Iron Age transitions in the British Isles occurred without large-scale male movements. The more recent invasions from Scandinavia, on the other hand, appear to have left a significant paternal genetic legacy. In contrast, patterns of mtDNA and X-chromosome variation indicate that one or more of these pre-Anglo-Saxon cultural revolutions had a major effect on the maternal genetic heritage of the British Isles.

Common variation in the CYP17A1 and IFIT1 genes on chromosome 10 does not contribute to the risk of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a complex disease involving multiple susceptibility genes and environmental factors. Our previous studies on endometriosis identified a region of significant linkage on chromosome 10q. Two biological candidate genes (CYP17A1 and IFIT1) located on chromosome 10q, have previously been implicated in endometriosis and/or uterine function. We hypothesized that variation in CYP17A1 and/or IFIT1 could contribute to the risk of endometriosis and may account for some of the linkage signal on chromosome 10q. We genotyped 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CYP17A1 and IFIT1 genes including SNP rs743572 previously associated with endometriosis in 768 endometriosis cases and 768 unrelated controls. We found no evidence for association between endometriosis and individual SNPs or SNP haplotypes in CYP17A1 and IFIT1. Common variation in these genes does not appear to be a major contributor to endometriosis susceptibility in our Australian sample.

Nucleotide variation and recombination along the fourth chromosome in Drosophila simulans

The fourth chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster and its sister species are believed to be nonrecombining and have been a model system for testing predictions of the effects of selection on linked, neutral variation. We recently examined nucleotide variat

X-chromosome genetic variation in São Paulo State (Brazil) population

As data on X-chromosomal short tandem repeats (X-STRs) for the Brazilian population are scarse, the aim of this study was to determine the allele frequencies of five X-STRs (DXS6854, DXS7424, DXS101, DXS6808 and DXS7132) in the São Paulo State, Brazil. No deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed, with the exception of DXS101. The forensic efficiency parameters demonstrated that DXS101 was the most informative marker. Population comparisons revealed that the X-STR profile sampled in the state of São Paulo was more similar to European and African populations than Asiatic populations reported in this work.