Coat colour in marsupials: genetic variants at the locus determine grey and black fur of the brushtail possum.

The possession of fur or hair is a defining characteristic of mammals and can occur in a variety of colours and patterns. While genetic determinants of coat colour are well described in eutherian 'placental' mammals, the other major mammalian infraclass, marsupials, is grossly understudied. The fur of the common brushtail possum (), an iconic native mammal found throughout Australia and introduced into Aotearoa New Zealand, possesses two main colour morphs: grey and black.

Neutral markers reveal complex population structure across the range of a widespread songbird.

Understanding how both contemporary and historical physical barriers influence gene flow is key to reconstructing evolutionary histories and can allow us to predict species' resilience to changing environmental conditions. During the last glacial maximum (LGM), many high latitude North American bird species were forced into glacial refugia, including mountain bluebirds (). Within their current breeding range, mountain bluebirds still experience a wide variety of environmental conditions and barriers that may disrupt gene flow and isolate populations.

Recombinant Alpha-1 Antitrypsin-Fc Fusion Protein INBRX-101 in Adults With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: A Phase 1 Study.

Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is characterized by low alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) levels, predisposing individuals to lung disease. The standard of care, plasma-derived AAT (pdAAT), is delivered as weekly infusions to maintain serum AAT concentrations ≥11µM (≈50% of those in healthy individuals). INBRX-101, a recombinant human AAT-Fc fusion protein, was designed to have a longer half-life and achieve higher AAT levels than pdAAT.

Association between protein intake and muscle wasting in critically ill children: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Survival from pediatric critical illness in high-income countries is high, and the focus now must be on optimizing the recovery of survivors. Muscle mass wasting during critical illness is problematic, so identifying factors that may reduce this is important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between quadricep muscle mass wasting (assessed by ultrasound), with protein and energy intake during and after pediatric critical illness.

RADseq data reveal widespread historical introgression in four familiar North American songbirds.

Population genetic structure is influenced by a combination of contemporary and historical events; however, this structure can be complicated by ongoing gene flow. While it is well known that contemporary hybridization occurs frequently among many closely related species, it often remains uncertain as to which populations are involved in introgression events, and this can be even more difficult to infer when introgression is historical. Here we use restriction-site associated DNA sequencing to look at the level of introgression among four species of songbirds in North America: the black-capped, mountain, boreal, and chestnut-backed chickadee.