Understanding the Past to Preserve the Future: Genomic Insights Into the Conservation Management of a Critically Endangered Waterbird.

To ensure the success of genetic rescue, we must minimise the potential negative effects of outbreeding depression that may arise from selecting source populations. The difficulty in assessing the likelihood of outbreeding depression has hindered its consideration in endangered species conservation. However, genomic research offers feasible indications.

Migratory birds modulate niche tradeoffs in rhythm with seasons and life history.

Movement is a key means by which animals cope with variable environments. As they move, animals construct individual niches composed of the environmental conditions they experience. Niche axes may vary over time and covary with one another as animals make tradeoffs between competing needs.

Molecular Identification and Karyological Analysis of a Rampant Aspen L. (Salicaceae) Clone.

A rampant highly heterozygous aspen ( L.) clone has been revealed in course of population genetic diversity analysis in a native stand in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. Here we report the results of karyological analysis showing that this highly vigorous clone is diploid (2 = 38) while typically triploid aspen demonstrates increased growth rate and resistance to aspen trunk rot caused by fungus .

Application of Microsatellite Loci for Molecular Identification of Elite Genotypes, Analysis of Clonality, and Genetic Diversity in Aspen Populus tremula L. (Salicaceae).

Testing systems for molecular identification of micropropagated elite aspen (Populus tremula L.) genotypes were developed on the base on microsatellite (SSR) loci. Out of 33 tested microsatellite loci, 14 were selected due to sustainable PCR amplification and substantial variability in elite clones of aspen aimed for establishment of fast-rotated forest plantations.

A digestive prolyl carboxypeptidase in Tenebrio molitor larvae.

Prolyl carboxypeptidase (PRCP) is a lysosomal proline specific serine peptidase that also plays a vital role in the regulation of physiological processes in mammals. In this report, we isolate and characterize the first PRCP in an insect. PRCP was purified from the anterior midgut of larvae of a stored product pest, Tenebrio molitor, using a three-step chromatography strategy, and it was determined that the purified enzyme was a dimer.

DSN depletion is a simple method to remove selected transcripts from cDNA populations.

A novel DSN-depletion method allows elimination of selected sequences from full-length-enriched cDNA libraries. Depleted cDNA can be applied for subsequent EST sequencing, expression cloning, and functional screening approaches. The method employs specific features of the kamchatka crab duplex-specific nuclease (DSN).

Molecular dissection of Penelope transposable element regulatory machinery.

Penelope-like elements (PLEs) represent a new class of retroelements identified in more than 80 species belonging to at least 10 animal phyla. Penelope isolated from Drosophila virilis is the only known transpositionally active representative of this class. Although the size and structure of the Penelope major transcript has been previously described in both D.