Contrasting migratory journeys and changes in hippocampal astrocyte morphology in shorebirds.

Semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) migration to the Southern Hemisphere includes a 5-day non-stop flight over the Atlantic Ocean, whereas semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) migration, to the same area, is largely over land, with stopovers for feeding and rest. We compared the number and 3D morphology of hippocampal astrocytes of Ch. semipalmatus before and after autumnal migration with those of C.

Autosomal SNPs study of a population sample from Southern Portugal and from a sample of immigrants from Guinea-Bissau residing in Portugal.

In recent years, autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been comprehensively investigated in forensic research due to their usefulness in certain circumstances in complementing short tandem repeats (STRs) analysis, or even for use on their own when analysis of STRs fails. However, as with STRs, in order to properly use SNP markers in forensic casuistic we need to understand the population and forensic parameters in question. As a result of Portugal's colonial history during the time of empire, and the subsequent process of decolonization, some African individuals migrated to Portugal, giving rise to large African and African-descendent communities.

Characterization of GlobalFiler loci in Angolan and Guinean populations inhabiting Southern Portugal.

We analyzed the GlobalFiler short tandem repeat (STR) loci for 152 and 70 unrelated individuals from Angolan and Guinean immigrant populations inhabiting Southern Portugal, respectively. After Bonferroni correction, no significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage disequilibrium were detected for either population. For the Angolan population, SE33 was the most informative marker.

Analysis of 17 STR data on 5362 southern Portuguese individuals-an update on reference database.

The main objective of this work consisted of the updating of allele frequencies and other relevant forensic parameters for the 17 autosomal STR loci provided by the combination of the two types of kits used routinely in our laboratory casework: AmpF/STR Identifiler(®) and the Powerplex(®) 16 Systems. This aim was of significant importance, given that the last study on these kits within the southern Portuguese population dates back to 2006, and, as a consequence, it was necessary to correct the deviation caused by population evolution over the last ten years so that they might be better applied to our forensic casework. For this reason genetic data from 5362 unrelated Caucasian Portuguese individuals from the south of Portugal who were involved in paternity testing casework from 2005 to 2014 was used.

Assessment of IrisPlex-based multiplex for eye and skin color prediction with application to a Portuguese population.

DNA phenotyping research is one of the most emergent areas of forensic genetics. Predictions of externally visible characteristics are possible through analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms. These tools can provide police with "intelligence" in cases where there are no obvious suspects and unknown biological samples found at the crime scene do not result in any criminal DNA database hits.

Population data of the GlobalFiler(®) Express loci in South Portuguese population.

Allele frequencies and other relevant forensic parameters for 21 loci studied with GlobalFiler(®) Express amplification kit (Life Technologies) were calculated in a population of individuals residing in the south of Portugal. Blood stain samples were obtained from a total of 502 unrelated individuals involved in paternity testing casework and directly PCR amplified with GlobalFiler(®) Express following manufacturer's instructions. This kit comprises all the loci included in the extended European Standard Set (ESS) and in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), besides the very polymorphic D2S441, D19S433, and SE33.

Population data of the AmpFlSTR® NGM™ loci in South Portuguese population.

Allele frequencies and other relevant forensic parameters for 15 loci studied with AmpFlSTR(R) NGM™ kit were calculated in a population of individuals residing in the south of Portugal. Blood stain samples were obtained from a total of 452 unrelated individuals involved in paternity testing casework. The kit has five loci - D10S1248, D22S1045, D2S441, D1S1656 and D12S391 not present in any other kit used in our laboratory (Powerplex 16 System and Identifiler Plus).

Spotted-dick, a zinc-finger protein of Drosophila required for expression of Orc4 and S phase.

The highly condensed chromosomes and chromosome breaks in mitotic cells of a Drosophila mutant, spotted-dick/pita, are the consequence of defects in DNA replication. Reduction of levels of Spotted-dick protein, by either RNAi or mutation, leads to the accumulation of cells that have DNA content intermediate to 2N and 4N in proliferating tissues and also compromises endoreduplication in larval salivary glands. The Spotted-dick Zinc-finger protein is present in the nuclei of cells committed to proliferation but necessary in cells undertaking S phase.