Vocalizations produced by humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calves recorded in Hawaii.

Although humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calves are reported to vocalize, this has not been measurably verified. During March 2006, an underwater video camera and two-element hydrophone array were used to record nonsong vocalizations from a mother-calf escort off Hawaii. Acoustic data were analyzed; measured time delays between hydrophones provided bearings to 21 distinct vocalizations produced by the male calf.

Allelic variation of the porcine alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase 1 (GGTA1) gene.

The alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase 1 enzyme (GGTA1) produces the alpha-Gal epitopes, responsible for pig-to-human hyperacute xenograft rejection. Recently, efforts have been directed at inactivating the porcine GGTA1 gene in order to reduce hyperacute rejection. As very little is known about the genetic variability of this key gene among pig breeds, we investigated the variation in its nucleotide sequence, by amplification of the entire coding region with the use of polymerase chain reaction followed by DNA sequencing.

A sensitive method for detecting variation in copy numbers of duplicated genes.

Gene duplications are common in the vertebrate genome, and duplicated loci often show a variation in copy number that may have important phenotypic effects. Here we describe a powerful method for quantification of duplicated copies based on pyrosequencing. A reliable quantification was obtained by amplification of the duplication break-point and a corresponding nonduplicated sequence in a competitive PCR assay.