Epigenetic age signatures in bones.

Age prediction can help identify skeletal remains by limiting the search range for a missing person. Although age prediction methods based on odontology and anthropology are frequently used in the forensic field, DNA methylation is particularly promising age-predictive biomarker. In this study, we generated genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of bone samples from 32 identified skeletal remains with an age at death ranging from 31 to 96 years.

The identification of elephant ivory evidences of illegal trade with mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and hypervariable D-loop region.

DNA analysis of elephant ivory of illegal trade was handled in this work. The speciation and geographical origin of nine specimens of elephant ivory were requested by the police. Without national authorization, the suspect had purchased processed ivory seals from January to May, 2011 by Internet transactions from a site in a neighboring country.

Population genetics and mutational events at 6 Y-STRs in Korean population.

Haplotype frequencies for 6 Y-STRs (DYS522, DYS533, DYS549, DYS570, DYS576 and DYS643) were determined in 539 unrelated Korean males. A total of 375 haplotypes were observed with the overall haplotype diversity of 0.9967.

Genetic polymorphisms of 16 Y chromosomal STR loci in Korean population.

Allele frequencies and haplotypes of 16 Y chromosomal STR loci included in the AmpFlSTR((R)) Yfilertrade mark system were obtained from a sample of 526 unrelated Korean male individuals. A total of 478 haplotypes were observed in the 526 individuals studied, of which 440 were unique. The overall haplotype diversity for the 16 Y-STR loci was 0.

Sesquiterpenoids isolated from the flower buds of Tussilago farfara L. inhibit diacylglycerol acyltransferase.

Inhibition of acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), which is a key enzyme in triglyceride synthesis in eukaryotic organisms, has been proposed as one of the drug targets for treating obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Bioassay-guided fractionation of EtOH extract of the flower buds of Tussilago farfara , using an in vitro DGAT enzyme assay, resulted in the isolation of four known sesquiterpenoids, tussilagonone (1), tussilagone (2), 7beta-(3-ethyl-cis-crotonoyloxy)-1alpha-(2-methylbutyryloxy)-3,14-dehydro-Z-notonipetranone (3), and 8-angeloylxy-3,4-epoxy-bisabola-7(14),10-dien-2-one (4). DGAT1 inhibitory activity was studied by in vitro DGAT assay using rat liver microsomes and HepG2 cell microsomes.