Ability of Wildlife Overpasses to Provide Connectivity and Prevent Genetic Isolation

Abstract:  We reviewed research on wildlife overpasses in the context of their genetic effectiveness to provide connectivity between population patches that have been isolated by road construction. The potential ecological consequences of such habitat fragmentation include reduction of gene flow between subpopulations and hence an increase in genetic differentiation and a decrease in genetic diversity. Among the solutions to provide connectivity between patches isolated by roads, wildlife overpasses are one of the most expensive alternatives. Despite the high costs associated with their construction, most of the studies assessing their use by wildlife remain observational, reporting evidence for passage use but few data on the number of individual crossings. Moreover, the use itself of wildlife overpasses does not appear sufficient to assess their effectiveness from a genetic viewpoint because a minimum number of individuals is required to assure gene flow between population patches and because the spatiotemporal dimension of individual movements and demographic parameters of subpopulations must be considered. So far, there is no evidence that wildlife overpasses do or do not efficiently address genetic issues. This lack of data is probably due to the fact that few mitigation efforts have implemented monitoring programs that incorporate sufficient experimental designs into pre- and postconstruction evaluation. To assess the genetic effectiveness of wildlife overpasses, long-term monitoring programs, including fieldwork and genetic analyses, are needed.     

Prenatal detection of mosaic isochromosome 20q: a fourth report with abnormal phenotype

We described a new case of mosaic isochromosome 20q revealed by amniocentesis. The propositus presented with craniofacial dysmorphism, clubfeet, and vertebral abnormalities. A 46,XX,i(20)(q10)[14]/46,XX[1] karyotype was confirmed by FISH on cultured cells. The pregnancy was terminated. From review of literature, fetus with mosaic isochromosome 20q identified on amniocentesis are most likely to be phenotypically and cytogenetically normal after birth. So we performed CGH and array-CGH to exclude another possible imbalance. We discuss here the possible relation between this chromosomal abnormality and the abnormal phenotype. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基因工程菌在富营养化水体中应用的试验研究

实验模拟了自然状况下水体富营养化的一般过程。利用基因工程菌消氮细菌及沉淀细菌对实验水体进行生物修复。得出：在微生物处理下,水体的营养物质浓度不断降低,水体的浊度下降,透明度升高,使得实验水体的水质得到了明显的改善。     

投影寻踪技术在突发事件风险分类评级中的应用——以广东省雷电灾害风险评价为例

针对目前突发事件风险等级评价半定量化、等级的分辨率较粗糙的不足,使用投影寻踪、遗传算法和模拟技术建立了突发事件风险分类评级过程,该评价过程体现了较强的客观性以及等级连续性的特点。运用该评价过程建立了广东省雷电灾害风险评价模型,对广东省雷电灾害进行实证研究。结果显示,风险评价结果与实际情况具有很强的一致性,体现了该风险评价过程的合理性。     

微塑料及金属在黄浦江地表水环境的赋存特征及与金属抗性基因的相关性分析

城市河流是微塑料(MPs)及重金属污染的“热点”区域,在污染迁移中起到重要作用.然而同样作为抗性基因赋存及释放的重要媒介,鲜有研究考察了流域MPs、金属与金属抗性基因(MRGs)的关联.为此,调研了10个黄浦江站点水样的金属及MPs的污染特征,并基于宏基因组学对水样及提取的MPs上的MRGs及可移动遗传元件(MGEs)进行分析.结果显示,表层水中ρ[锑(Sb)]平均值最高,为(3.16±0.419)μg·L^-1. MPs的丰度平均值为(1.78±0.84)n·L^-1,位于工业区和人口密集区的MPs丰度显著高于农业区和低人口密度的区域.纤维状、“小粒径”(<0.5 mm)的聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(PET)是最主要的MPs类型.所有样本中共检出18类MRGs,其中水样中MRGs的相对丰度为1.68±0.21.最主要的MRGs亚型是merR和ruvB,分别为汞和多重金属抗性基因的亚型.相关性分析表明,水中的铬和镍与MRG-Cr、MRG-Ni和多重金属抗性基因之间存在显著正相关.MPs上MRGs的相对丰度为1.63±0.53,最主要的MRGs亚型...     

海南岛及邻近陆地拟细鲫的种群遗传分化和亲缘地理过程

为了解海南岛及邻近陆地拟细鲫(Aphyocypris normalis)的遗传分化和亲缘地理过程,采用线粒体细胞色素b(Cyt b)对9个种群共124个个体的遗传多样性和遗传分化进行评估,并探讨这一物种的亲缘地理结构及演化历史.结果显示,在1 140 bp的序列中,共检测到87个核苷酸变异位点,定义了34个单倍型.基于...     

Risks Associated with Genetic Modification: – An Annotated Bibliography of Peer Reviewed Natural Science Publications

We present an annotated bibliography of peer reviewed scientific research highlighting the human health, animal welfare, and environmental risks associated with genetic modification. Risks associated with the expression of the transgenic material include concerns over resistance and non-target effects of crops expressing Bt toxins, consequences of herbicide use associated with genetically modified herbicide-tolerant plants, and transfer of gene expression from genetically modified crops through vertical and horizontal gene transfer. These risks are not connected to the technique of genetic modification as such, but would be present for any conventionally produced crops with the same heritable traits. In contrast, other risks are a direct consequence of the method used in gene manipulation. These come about because of the unstable nature of the transgene and vectors used to insert it, and because of unpredictable interactions between the transgene and the host genome. The debate over the release of genetically modified organisms is not merely a scientific one; it encompasses economics, law, ethics, and policy. Any discussion on these levels does, however, need to be informed by sound science. We hope that the scientific references provided here will provide a useful starting point for further debate.