ABSTRACT
The dynamic activity of transposable elements (TEs) contributes to the vast diversity of genome size and architecture among plants. Here, we examined the genomic distribution and transposition activity of long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) in Arabidopsis thaliana (Ath) and three of its relatives, Arabidopsis lyrata (Aly), Eutrema salsugineum (Esa), and Schrenkiella parvula (Spa), in Brassicaceae. Our analyses revealed the distinct evolutionary dynamics of Gypsyretrotransposons, which reflects the different patterns of genome size changes of the four species over the past million years. The rate of Gypsy transposition in Aly is approximately five times more rapid than that of Ath and Esa, suggesting an expanding Aly genome. Gypsy insertions in Esa are strictly confined to pericentromeric heterochromatin and associated with dramatic centromere expansion. In contrast, Gypsy insertions in Spa have been largely suppressed over the last million years, likely as a result of a combination of an inherent molecular mechanism of preferential DNA removal and purifying selection at Gypsy elements. Additionally, species-specific clades of Gypsy elements shaped the distinct genome architectures of Aly and Esa.
Subject(s)
Brassicaceae/genetics , Evolution, Molecular , Genome Size , Genome, Plant , Genomics , Phylogeny , Retroelements , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Abstract Lactase non-persistence (leading to primary lactose intolerance) is a genetically dependent inability to digest lactose in adulthood. As part of the human adaptation to dairying, the human lactase LCT-13910C/T mutation (which propagates adult expression of lactase) developed, spread and participated in the adaptation to dairying. This variant is associated with lactase activity persistence, and its carriers are able to digest lactose. We compared the frequencies of lactase 13910C/T (rs4988235) genotypes in Czechs/Slavs (N = 288) and Czech Gypsies/Roma (N = 300), two ethnically different groups where this polymorphism has not yet been analysed. Allelic frequencies significantly differed between the populations (p < 0.0001). In Czechs/Slavs, the lactase persistence T allele was present in 76% of the individuals, which is in agreement with frequencies among geographically neighbouring populations. In the Czech Gypsy/Roma population, only 27% of the adults were carriers of at least one lactase persistence allele, similar to the Indian population. In agreement with this result, dairy product consumption was reported by 70.5% of Czechs/Slavs and 39.0% of the Czech Gypsy/Roma population. Both in the Czech Gypsy/Roma and in the Czech/Slavs populations, the presence of carriers of the lactase persistence allele was similar in subjects self-reporting the consumption of unfermented/fresh milk, in comparison to the others.
ABSTRACT
Abstract The Asian gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a serious pest of forest and shade trees in many Asian and some European countries. However, there have been few studies of L. dispar genetic information and comprehensive genetic analyses of this species are needed in order to understand its genetic and metabolic sensitivities, such as the molting mechanism during larval development. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to sequence the transcriptome of the Asian subspecies of the gyspy moth, after which a comprehensive analysis of chitin metabolism was undertaken. We generated 37,750,380 high-quality reads and assembled them into contigs. A total of 37,098 unigenes were identified, of which 15,901 were annotated in the NCBI non-redundant protein database and 9,613 were annotated in the Swiss-Prot database. We mapped 4,329 unigenes onto 317 pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway database. Chitin metabolism unigenes were found in the transcriptome and the data indicated that a variety of enzymes was involved in chitin catabolic and biosynthetic pathways.
ABSTRACT
RESUMO Referenciados pela abordagem não consensual da Teoria das Representações Sociais, objetivou-se investigar os processos de ancoragem psicológica e social frente às representações sociais de mulher cigana, o que permite analisar a modulação dos objetos sociais a partir do posicionamento interindividual e das experiências compartilhadas pelos sujeitos da representação segundo seu contexto sociocultural de inserção. Participaram do estudo 643 sujeitos não ciganos, brasileiros e italianos, com idade média de 22,81 anos (DP=5,73). Aplicando a análise de correspondência lexical, o processo de ancoragem psicológica indicou a formulação de oito clusters, que caracterizam diferentes representações, segundo as dimensões: mágico-religiosa, maternidade e cuidado com o grupo-família, exclusão social e figuras do feminino. Por meio da análise do processo de ancoragem social, verificou-se que variáveis como contato, sexo e nacionalidade atuam na modulação dessas diferentes representações sobre o objeto, produzindo ambiguidades que, historicamente, têm orientado processos de discriminação contra grupos ciganos.
ABSTRACT Based on the non-consensual approach of the Theory of Social Representations, the present study aimed to investigate the processes of social and psychological anchoring regarding the social representations of the gypsy woman, dimension which allows analyzing the modulation of the social objects from the interindividual positioning and the experiences shared by subjects of the representation according to their sociocultural context of insertion. The study included 643 non-gypsy, Brazilian and Italian individuals with mean age of 22.81 years (SD=5.73). Once lexical correspondence analysis was conducted, the process of psychological anchoring indicated the formation of eight clusters, which characterize different representations, according to the following dimensions: magical-religious, maternity and care of the family-group, social exclusion, and female figures. Through the analysis of the social anchoring process, we verified that variables such as contact, gender, and nationality act in the modulation of these different representations over the object, producing ambiguities that have historically led to processes of discrimination against gypsy groups.
ABSTRACT
Metagenomics research has been developed over the past decade to elucidate the genomes of the uncultured microorganisms with an aim of understanding microbial ecology. On the other hand, it has also been provoked by the increasing biotechnological demands for novel enzymes, antibiotic and signal mimics. The gut microbiota of insects plays crucial roles in the growth, development and environmental adaptation to the host insects. Very recently, the insect microbiota and their genomes (microbiome), isolated from insects were recognized as a major genetic resources for bio-processing industry. Consequently, the exploitation of insect gut microbiome using metagenomic approaches will enable us to find novel biocatalysts and to develop innovative strategies for identifying smart molecules for biotechnological applications. In this review, we discuss the critical footstep in extraction and purification of metagenomic DNA from insect gut, construction of metagenomic libraries and screening procedure for novel gene identification. Recent innovations and potential applications in bioprocess industries are highlighted.
ABSTRACT
Metagenomics research has been developed over the past decade to elucidate the genomes of the uncultured microorganisms with an aim of understanding microbial ecology. On the other hand, it has also been provoked by the increasing biotechnological demands for novel enzymes, antibiotic and signal mimics. The gut microbiota of insects plays crucial roles in the growth, development and environmental adaptation to the host insects. Very recently, the insect microbiota and their genomes (microbiome), isolated from insects were recognized as a major genetic resources for bio-processing industry. Consequently, the exploitation of insect gut microbiome using metagenomic approaches will enable us to find novel biocatalysts and to develop innovative strategies for identifying smart molecules for biotechnological applications. In this review, we discuss the critical footstep in extraction and purification of metagenomic DNA from insect gut, construction of metagenomic libraries and screening procedure for novel gene identification. Recent innovations and potential applications in bioprocess industries are highlighted.
ABSTRACT
Através da Teoria da Identidade Social procurou-se conhecer os estereótipos presentes no imaginário rural associados ao grupo cigano, bem como os sentimentos associados a esta etnia. Foram entrevistadas 10 mulheres não-ciganas, moradoras de uma comunidade rural brasileira. Realizou-se a organização dos dados através do software ALCESTE. A análise das informações nos permitiu identificar o sentimento de medo como importante orientador das práticas relacionadas aos ciganos, confirmando características presentes no imaginário social amplamente difundido acerca desta etnia. Estão presentes os clássicos estereótipos de ladrões, malfeitores e amaldiçoados. Discute-se a dinâmica identitária provocada pelo conflito entre a comunidade rural e os ciganos, enfatizando os processos que orientam o campo de identificação e diferenciação endo/exogrupal.
Through the Theory of Social Identity our objective was to know the stereotypes present in the rural imaginary related to the gypsy group, and the feelings associated with this ethnic group. Ten women, non-gypsies, residents of a rural Brazilian community, participated in this study. We analyzed the data through the ALCESTE software. The analysis of the information obtained has allowed us to identify the feeling of fear as the main mediator of practices related to the gypsies, confirming characteristics widely present in the social imaginary about this ethnic group. There are present the classic stereotypes of thieves, criminals and the cursed. It discusses the dynamics of identity provoked by the conflict between the rural community and the gypsies, emphasizing the processes that guide the field of identification and differentiation in/out-group.
ABSTRACT
A despeito da presença cigana no Brasil desde o século XVI, o conhecimento acerca do seu modo de vida é ainda insipiente. A literatura revela que as práticas sociais dirigidas ao povo cigano são pautadas em fortes estigmas relacionados a uma identidade considerada estranha e perigosa. O presente estudo descreve os processos identitários vinculados a um grupo da etnia Calon que busca a valorização de sua cultura e práticas endogrupais, reafirmando características que consideram positivas, de modo a compensar os estereótipos fortemente negativos que lhes são atribuídos. Verificou-se que a identidade cigana se sustenta nas estratégias de resistência criadas pelo grupo para que seus membros se reconheçam como parte da cultura cigana em constante confronto com as culturas não-ciganas.
e about their way of life is still insipient. Literature shows that social practices aimed at the gypsy people are based on strong stigmas related to an identity considered strange and dangerous. The present study describes the identity processes related to a group of the Calon ethnicity that seeks the promotion of their culture and their group practices, reaffirming characteristics that they consider positive, in order to offset the very negative stereotypes attributed to them. It was found that the gypsy identity is sustained through strategies of resistance created by the group for its members to recognize themselves as part of the gypsy culture in constant confrontation with the non-gypsy cultures.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Ethnicity , Gender Identity , RomeABSTRACT
Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae displayed marked developmental resistance within an instar to L. dispar M nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) regardless of the route of infection (oral or intrahemocoelic) in a previous study, indicating that in gypsy moth, this resistance has a systemic component.In this study, gypsy moth larvae challenged with the Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AMEV) showed developmental resistance within the fourth instar to oral, but not intrahemocoelic, inoculation. In general, gypsy moth is considered refractory to oral challenge with AMEV, but in this study, 43% mortality occurred in newly molted fourth instars fed a dose of 5×106 large spheroids of AMEV; large spheroids were found to be more infectious than small spheroids when separated by a sucrose gradient. Developmental resistance within the fourth instar was reflected by a 2-fold reduction in mortality (18%-21%) with 5×106 large spheroids in larvae orally challenged at 24, 48 or 72 h post-molt. Fourth instars were highly sensitive to intrahemocoelic challenge with AMEV; 1PFU produced approximately 80% mortality regardless of age within the instar. These results indicate that in gypsy moth, systemic developmental resistance may be specific to LdMNPV, reflecting a co-evolutionary relationship between the baculovirus and its host.
ABSTRACT
Retroelements are a diversified fraction of eukaryotic genomes, with the Ty1/copia and Ty3/gypsy groups being very common in a large number of plant genomes. We isolated an internal segment of the Ty3/gypsy retroelement of Cestrum strigilatum (Solanaceae) using PCR amplification with degenerate primers for a conserved region of reverse transcriptase. The isolated segment (pCs12) was sequenced and showed similarity with Ty3/gypsy retroelements of monocotyledons and dicotyledons. This segment was used as probe in chromosomes of C. strigilatum and Cestrum intermedium. Diffuse hybridization signals were observed along the chromosomes and more accentuated terminal signals in some chromosome pairs, always associated with nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). The physical relationship between the hybridization sites of pCs12 and pTa71 ribosomal probes was assessed after sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Hybridization signals were also detected in the B chromosomes of these species, indicating an entail among the chromosomes of A complement and B-chromosomes.