Genome-wide analysis reveals adaptation to high altitudes in Tibetan sheep.

Tibetan sheep have lived on the Tibetan Plateau for thousands of years; however, the process and consequences of adaptation to this extreme environment have not been elucidated for important livestock such as sheep. Here, seven sheep breeds, representing both highland and lowland breeds from different areas of China, were genotyped for a genome-wide collection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The FST and XP-EHH approaches were used to identify regions harbouring local positive selection between these highland and lowland breeds, and 236 genes were identified. We detected selection events spanning genes involved in angiogenesis, energy production and erythropoiesis. In particular, several candidate genes were associated with high-altitude hypoxia, including EPAS1, CRYAA, LONP1, NF1, DPP4, SOD1, PPARG and SOCS2. EPAS1 plays a crucial role in hypoxia adaption; therefore, we investigated the exon sequences of EPAS1 and identified 12 mutations. Analysis of the relationship between blood-related phenotypes and EPAS1 genotypes in additional highland sheep revealed that a homozygous mutation at a relatively conserved site in the EPAS1 3' untranslated region was associated with increased mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular volume. Taken together, our results provide evidence of the genetic diversity of highland sheep and indicate potential high-altitude hypoxia adaptation mechanisms, including the role of EPAS1 in adaptation.

Effect of oxidation treatment on the adsorption and the stability of mercury on activated carbon.

Oxidation treatment on the adsorption and the stability of Hg on activated carbon (AC) was inrestigated. Both MnO2-AC and FeCl3-AC were produced during oxidation treatment. The measurement of modified AC's mercury adsorption capacity was conducted in a simulated coal-fired flue gas by adsorbing test apparatus. TCLP and column leaching methods were used to test the stability of mercury adsorbed on ACs. The results indicate that the oxidation treatment changed the pore structure of the AC and modified the carbon surface by creating chemical components such as MnO4-, Mn4+, O, NO3-, Fe3+, Cl-, etc. The Hg sorption capacity on MnO2-AC or FeCl3-AC was about three times higher than that of untreated carbon. In addition, the mercury control cost of each of the formers was about the half cost of the untreated carbon. The stability of Hg absorption was studied, it found that mercury adsorbed on the oxidation treated AC was not better than that of untreated carbon. It could concluded that the insoluble form of Hg is very important to the stability of mercury adsorbed on AC. This study suggests that the FeCl3-AC is the best absorbent for Hg with high adsorption capacity, better Hg adsorption stability in leaching environment, and lower cost among the three ACs tested.