PGT-M for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1: development of a STR panel and a report of two clinical cases.

Purpose: To present the developed preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) and the outcomes of IVF with PGT.

Methods: PGT was performed for two unrelated couples from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) with the risk of SCA1 in one spouse. We have developed a system for PGT of a monogenic disease (PGT-M) for SCA1, which includes the analysis of a panel of 11 polymorphic STR markers linked to the ATXN1 gene and a pathogenic variant of the ATXN1 gene using nested PCR and fragment analysis.

Larch Forests of Middle Siberia: Long-Term Trends in Fire Return Intervals.

Fire history within the northern larch forests of Central Siberia was studied (65+°N). Fires within this area are predominantly caused by lightning strikes rather than human activity. Mean fire return intervals (FRI) were found to be 112 ± 49 years (based on fire scars) and 106 ± 36 years (based on fire scars and tree natality dates).

Tree Wave Migration Across an Elevation Gradient in the Altai Mountains, Siberia.

The phenomenon of "tree waves" (hedges and ribbons) formation within the alpine ecotone in Altai Mountains and its response to observed air temperature increase was considered. At the upper limit of tree growth Siberian pine () forms hedges on windward slopes and ribbons on the leeward ones. Hedges were formed by prevailing winds and oriented along winds direction.

Climate-induced mortality of Siberian pine and fir in the Lake Baikal Watershed, Siberia.

Siberian pine () and fir () (so called "dark needle conifers", DNC) showed decreased radial growth increment within the Lake Baikal watershed since the 1980s with increasing mortality recorded since the year 2000. Tree ring width was strongly correlated with vapor pressure deficit, aridity and root zone moisture. Water stress from droughts made trees more susceptible to insect attacks causing mortality in about 10% of DNC stands within the Lake Baikal watershed.