Epigenetic Regulation of Phenotypic Sexual Plasticity Inducing Skewed Sex Ratio in Zebrafish.

The plasticity of sexual phenotype in response to environmental conditions results in biased sex ratios, and their variation has an effect on population dynamics. Epigenetic modifications can modulate sex ratio variation in species, where sex is determined by genetic and environmental factors. However, the role of epigenetic mechanisms underlying skewed sex ratios is far from being clear and is still an object of debate in evolutionary developmental biology.

α/β-Hydrolase D16B Truncation Results in Premature Sperm Capacitation in Cattle.

Recently it was shown that a specific form of male infertility in Holstein cattle was caused by a nonsense variant in the α/β-hydrolase domain-containing 16B () gene resulting in a protein truncation at amino acid position 218 (p.218Q*) and loss of function. Lipidomics showed that the absence of ABHD16B influenced the content of phosphatidylcholine (PC), ceramide (Cer), diacylglycerol (DAG), and sphingomyelin (SM) in variant carrier sperm membranes.

Relationship between reticular pH parameters and potential on-farm indicators in the early lactation of dairy cows.

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is an important nutritional disorder affecting animal welfare and economy of milk production. Definitions rely on ruminal pH but due to limitations of its measurement, indicators reflecting low pH are highly desirable. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between reticular pH and 18 on-farm indicators in milk, blood, faeces, urine and chewing behaviour in early lactating dairy cows.

Characterization of an In Vivo Neutralizing Anti-Vaccinia Virus D8 Single-Chain Fragment Variable (scFv) from a Human Anti-Vaccinia Virus-Specific Recombinant Library.

A panel of potent neutralizing antibodies are protective against orthopoxvirus (OPXV) infections. For the development of OPXV-specific recombinant human single-chain antibodies (scFvs), the IgG repertoire of four vaccinated donors was amplified from peripheral B-lymphocytes. The resulting library consisted of ≥4 × 10 independent colonies.

Genotypic and Dietary Effects on Egg Quality of Local Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses Fed with Faba Beans.

The quality of chicken eggs is an important criterion for food safety and the consumers' choice at the point of sale. Several studies have shown that egg quality can be influenced by the chickens' genotype and by the composition of the diet. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of faba beans as a substitute for soybeans in the diet of chickens originating from traditional low-performance breeds in comparison with high-performing laying type hens and their crosses on egg quality parameters.

In Silico Prediction of Transcription Factor Collaborations Underlying Phenotypic Sexual Dimorphism in Zebrafish ().

The transcriptional regulation of gene expression in higher organisms is essential for different cellular and biological processes. These processes are controlled by transcription factors and their combinatorial interplay, which are crucial for complex genetic programs and transcriptional machinery. The regulation of sex-biased gene expression plays a major role in phenotypic sexual dimorphism in many species, causing dimorphic gene expression patterns between two different sexes.

Identification and Functional Annotation of Genes Related to Bone Stability in Laying Hens Using Random Forests.

Skeletal disorders, including fractures and osteoporosis, in laying hens cause major welfare and economic problems. Although genetics have been shown to play a key role in bone integrity, little is yet known about the underlying genetic architecture of the traits. This study aimed to identify genes associated with bone breaking strength and bone mineral density of the tibiotarsus and the humerus in laying hens.

Correction: Jansen, S., et al. Relationship between Bone Stability and Egg Production in Genetically Divergent Chicken Layer Lines. 2020, , 850.

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Bone Health or Performance? Adaptation Response of Genetically Divergent Chicken Layer Lines to a Nutritive Calcium Depletion.

In modern laying hybrids, calcium (Ca) homeostasis is immensely challenged by daily eggshell calcification. However, excessive mobilization of Ca from bones may lead to osteoporosis, which then manifests in a high incidence of poor bone quality. The aim of this study was to characterize the hens' adaptation response to an alternating dietary Ca restriction.

Egg Production and Bone Stability of Local Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses Fed with Faba Beans.

Poultry production is raising concerns within the public regarding the practice of culling day-old chicks and the importation of soy from overseas for feedstuff. Therefore, an alternative approach to poultry production was tested. In two consecutive experiments, two traditional chicken breeds, Vorwerkhuhn and Bresse Gauloise, and White Rock as a commercial layer genotype as well as crossbreds thereof were fed diets containing either 20% vicin-rich or vicin-poor faba beans, though addressing both subjects of debate.

An Innovative Concept for a Multivariate Plausibility Assessment of Simultaneously Recorded Data.

The aim of this work was to develop an innovative multivariate plausibility assessment (MPA) algorithm in order to differentiate between 'physiologically normal', 'physiologically extreme' and 'implausible' observations in simultaneously recorded data. The underlying concept is based on the fact that different measurable parameters are often physiologically linked. If physiologically extreme observations occur due to disease, incident or hormonal cycles, usually more than one measurable trait is affected.

Relationship between Bone Stability and Egg Production in Genetically Divergent Chicken Layer Lines.

Impaired animal welfare due to skeletal disorders is likely one of the greatest issues currently facing the egg production industry. Reduced bone stability in laying hens is frequently attributed to long-term selection for increased egg production. The present study sought to analyse the relationship between bone stability traits and egg production.

Growth Performance of Local Chicken Breeds, a High-Performance Genotype and Their Crosses Fed with Regional Faba Beans to Replace Soy.

The faba bean ( L.) is a native protein crop and considered a promising alternative to soybeans. Due to its anti-nutritive substances such as vicin and convicin (VC) its use in animal nutrition has been restricted.

Assessing breed integrity of Göttingen Minipigs.

Background: Göttingen Minipigs (GMP) is the smallest commercially available minipig breed under a controlled breeding scheme and is globally bred in five isolated colonies. The genetic isolation harbors the risk of stratification which might compromise the identity of the breed and its usability as an animal model for biomedical and human disease. We conducted whole genome re-sequencing of two DNA-pools per colony to assess genomic differentiation within and between colonies.

Efficient phenotypic sex classification of zebrafish using machine learning methods.

Sex determination in zebrafish by manual approaches according to current guidelines relies on human observation. These guidelines for sex recognition have proven to be subjective and highly labor-intensive. To address this problem, we present a methodology to automatically classify the phenotypic sex using two machine learning methods: Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs) based on the whole fish appearance and Support Vector Machine (SVM) based on caudal fin coloration.

Genetic mechanism underlying sexual plasticity and its association with colour patterning in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Background: Elevated water temperature, as is expected through climate change, leads to masculinization in fish species with sexual plasticity, resulting in changes in population dynamics. These changes are one important ecological consequence, contributing to the risk of extinction in small and inbred fish populations under natural conditions, due to male-biased sex ratio. Here we investigated the effect of elevated water temperature during embryogenesis on sex ratio and sex-biased gene expression profiles between two different tissues, namely gonad and caudal fin of adult zebrafish males and females, to gain new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sex determination (SD) and colour patterning related to sexual attractiveness.

Influence of a Sustained Release Deslorelin Acetate Implant on Reproductive Physiology and Associated Traits in Laying Hens.

The aim of this study was to develop an animal model with non-laying hens which would allow for investigation of the relationship between egg production and common diseases in hens. A total of 40 Lohmann Selected Leghorn hens were kept for 20 weeks in a floor housing system in two groups: group "Adult" (21 weeks of age) and group "Juvenile" (14 weeks of age). In each group, 10 hens were administered a 4.

Phenotypic plasticity induced using high ambient temperature during embryogenesis in domesticated zebrafish, Danio rerio.

Ambient temperature during early stages of life has a substantial effect on physiological processes, eliciting phenotypic plasticity during zebrafish developmental stages. Zebrafish are known to possess a noteworthy ability to modify their phenotype in dependence of environmental factors. However, there is a poor understanding of the effects of temperature during embryogenesis, which influences the biological functions such as survival ability and masculinization in later developmental stages.

Efficiency of different strategies to mitigate ascertainment bias when using SNP panels in diversity studies.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels have been widely used to study genomic variations within and between populations. Methods of SNP discovery have been a matter of debate for their potential of introducing ascertainment bias, and genetic diversity results obtained from the SNP genotype data can be misleading. We used a total of 42 chicken populations where both individual genotyped array data and pool whole genome resequencing (WGS) data were available.

Comparative analysis of the susceptibility to biocides and heavy metals of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates of human and avian origin, Germany.

A total of 174 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolates collected from humans (n=140) and healthy broiler chickens (n = 34) was included in the study. The MIC values of alkyl diaminoethyl glycin hydrochloride, benzethonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine, acriflavine, copper sulfate, silver nitrate and zinc chloride were determined by the broth microdilution method. Significant differences in MIC distributions were found between human and avian isolates and between CTX-M-, SHV- and TEM-type ESBL E.

Factors affecting the success of resynchronization protocols with or without progesterone supplementation in dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to investigate factors that influence the success of resynchronization protocols for bovines with and without progesterone supplementation. Cow synchronized and not found pregnant were randomly assigned to two resynchronization protocols: ovsynch without progesterone (P4) supplementation (n = 66) or with exogenous P4 administered from Days 0 to 7 (n = 67). Progesterone levels were measured on Days 0 and 7 of these protocols as well as 4 and 5 days post-insemination.

Learning to smell: repeated exposure increases sensitivity to androstenone, a major component of boar taint.

This study aimed to assess whether repeated exposure affects subjects' ability to detect androstenone. Olfactory acuity of 77 female and 44 male subjects (age 37.5 ± 11.

Sensory evaluation of boar loins: trained assessors' olfactory acuity affects the perception of boar taint compounds.

This study investigated the impact of assessors' varying olfactory acuity on the perceived intensity of androstenone and skatole odour and flavour in boar loins. To discriminate sensitive (SENS) and highly sensitive (SENSHIGH) panellists, two levels of androstenone were used on smell strips. Sensitivity was defined as the correct identification of the androstenone strip in three replicate triangle tests.

Consumer perception of boar meat as affected by labelling information, malodorous compounds and sensitivity to androstenone.

This study aimed to assess the influence of two label conditions on the acceptance of boar meat. A central location test was conducted with 145 consumers each assessing 4 pieces of pork loin. Samples varied with respect to two factors: actual meat type (boar vs.