Looking for the sponge loop: analyses of detritus on a Caribbean forereef using stable isotope and eDNA metabarcoding techniques.

Coral reefs are biodiverse ecosystems that rely on trophodynamic transfers from primary producers to consumers through the detrital pathway. The sponge loop hypothesis proposes that sponges consume dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and produce large quantities of detritus on coral reefs, with this turn-over approaching the daily gross primary production of the reef ecosystem. In this study, we collected samples of detritus in the epilithic algal matrix (EAM) and samples from potential sources of detritus over two seasons from the forereef at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize.

Comparative analysis of fish environmental DNA reveals higher sensitivity achieved through targeted sequence-based metabarcoding.

Environmental DNA (eDNA)-based methods of species detection are enabling various applications in ecology and conservation including large-scale biomonitoring efforts. qPCR is widely used as the standard approach for species-specific detection, often targeting a fish species of interest from aquatic eDNA. However, DNA metabarcoding has the potential to displace qPCR in certain eDNA applications.

Harnessing the power of eDNA metabarcoding for the detection of deep-sea fishes.

The deep ocean is the largest biome on Earth and faces increasing anthropogenic pressures from climate change and commercial fisheries. Our ability to sustainably manage this expansive habitat is impeded by our poor understanding of its inhabitants and by the difficulties in surveying and monitoring these areas. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has great potential to improve our understanding of this region and to facilitate monitoring across a broad range of taxa.

The genetic architecture of Stargardt macular dystrophy (STGD1): a longitudinal 40-year study in a genetic isolate.

Stargardt disease (STGD1) is a form of inherited retinal dystrophy attributed to variants affecting function of the large ABCA4 gene and is arguably the most complex monogenic disease. Therapeutic trials in patients depend on identifying causal ABCA4 variants in trans, which is complicated by extreme allelic and clinical heterogeneity. We report the genetic architecture of STGD1 in the young genetically isolated population of Newfoundland, Canada.

Melatonin Improves The Developmental Competence of Goat Oocytes.

Background: DNA methylation is one the epigenetic mechanisms, which is critically involved in gene expression. This phenomenon is mediated by DNA methyl-transferases and is affected by environmental stress, including in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes. Melatonin, as an antioxidant, may theoretically be involved in epigenetic regulation via reductions of reactive oxygen species.

The influence of semen quality on male pronucleus demethylation process during ICSI cycle.

There is growing evidence that the spermatozoon's epigenetic structure is of the utmost importance in the health of the future embryo. Following fertilization, sperm chromatin undergoes epigenetic reprogramming including DNA demethylation and remethylation, which resets gene expression. In some infertile patients, it is inevitable that sperm cells that are not within the range of normal human sperm parameters will be used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Pronuclear epigenetic modification of protamine deficient human sperm following injection into mouse oocytes.

Epigenetic abnormalities and abnormal chromatin structure in sperm may lead to male infertility. Protamine deficiency is among the disorders of chromatin structure in sperm. The study of epigenetic changes in male pronuclei is necessary since abnormal sperm is sometimes used to create embryos using assisted reproductive techniques.

Lymphoid lineage differentiation potential of mouse nuclear transfer embryonic stem cells.

Stem cells therapy is considered as an efficient strategy for the treatment of some diseases. Nevertheless, some obstacles such as probability of rejection by the immune system limit applications of this strategy. Therefore, several efforts have been made to overcome this among which using the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and nuclear transfer embryonic stem cell (nt-ESCs) are the most efficient strategies.