scholarly journals Evaluating candidate agents of selective pressure for cystic fibrosis

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M Poolman ◽  
Alison P Galvani
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Typhoid Fever ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
European Descent

Cystic fibrosis is the most common lethal single-gene mutation in people of European descent, with a carrier frequency upwards of 2%. Based upon molecular research, resistances in the heterozygote to cholera and typhoid fever have been proposed to explain the persistence of the mutation. Using a population genetic model parameterized with historical demographic and epidemiological data, we show that neither cholera nor typhoid fever provided enough historical selective pressure to produce the modern incidence of cystic fibrosis. However, we demonstrate that the European tuberculosis pandemic beginning in the seventeenth century would have provided sufficient historical, geographically appropriate selective pressure under conservative assumptions. Tuberculosis has been underappreciated as a possible selective agent in producing cystic fibrosis but has clinical, molecular and now historical, geographical and epidemiological support. Implications for the future trajectory of cystic fibrosis are discussed. Our result supports the importance of novel investigations into the role of arylsulphatase B deficiency in cystic fibrosis and tuberculosis.

scholarly journals War and the evolution of belligerence and bravery

2008 ◽  
Vol 275 (1653) ◽  
pp. 2877-2885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Lehmann ◽  
Marcus W Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Human Evolution ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Population Genetic Model ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Subdivided Population ◽  
Enhancing Resources

Tribal war occurs when a coalition of individuals use force to seize reproduction-enhancing resources, and it may have affected human evolution. Here, we develop a population-genetic model for the coevolution of costly male belligerence and bravery when war occurs between groups of individuals in a spatially subdivided population. Belligerence is assumed to increase an actor's group probability of trying to conquer another group. An actor's bravery is assumed to increase his group's ability to conquer an attacked group. We show that the selective pressure on these two traits can be substantial even in groups of large size, and that they may be driven by two independent reproduction-enhancing resources: additional mates for males and additional territory (or material resources) for females. This has consequences for our understanding of the evolution of intertribal interactions, as hunter-gatherer societies are well known to have frequently raided neighbouring groups from whom they appropriated territory, goods and women.

Belief in evolved belief systems: Artifact of a limited evolutionary model?

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 537-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler J. Wereha ◽  
Timothy P. Racine
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetic ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Evolutionary Model ◽  
Developmental Model ◽  
Population Genetic Model ◽  
Developmental Relationship

AbstractBelief in evolved belief systems stems from using a population-genetic model of evolution that misconstrues the developmental relationship between genes and behaviour, confuses notions of “adapted” and “adaptive,” and ignores the fundamental role of language in the development of human beliefs. We suggest that theories about the evolution of belief would be better grounded in a developmental model of evolution.

scholarly journals Role of epithelial HCO3− transport in mucin secretion: lessons from cystic fibrosis

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (6) ◽  
pp. C1222-C1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Quinton
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Epithelial Transport ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Anion Channel ◽  
Molecular Defect ◽  
Inherited Disease ◽  
Mucin Secretion ◽  
American Physiological Society

The invitation to present the 2010 Hans Ussing lecture for the Epithelial Transport Group of the American Physiological Society offered me a unique, special, and very surprising opportunity to join in saluting a man whom I met only once, but whose work was the basis, not only for my career, but also for finding the molecular defect in the inherited disease cystic fibrosis (CF). In this context, I will venture to make the tribute with a new explanation of why a mutation in a single gene that codes for an anion channel can cause devastation of multiple epithelial systems with pathogenic mucus. In so doing, I hope to raise awareness of a new role for that peculiar anion around which so much physiology revolves, HCO3−. I begin by introducing CF pathology as I question the name of the disease as well as the prevalent view of the basis of its pathology by considering: 1) mucus, 2) salt, and 3) HCO3−. I then present recent data showing that HCO3− is required for normal mucus discharge, and I will close with conjecture as to how HCO3− may support mucus discharge and why the failure to transport this electrolyte is pathogenic in CF.

scholarly journals Cystic fibrosis -- therapeutic challenge in cystic fibrosis children

2004 ◽  
Vol 151 (Suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S77-S80 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Staab
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Fatal Outcome ◽  
Hormone Treatment ◽  
Sweat Glands ◽  
Poor Nutritional Status ◽  
Secretory Glands ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane ◽  
Main Factor

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease with fatal outcome in Caucasians with a frequency of 1 in 2500 life births. It is caused by mutations in a single gene on the long arm of chromosome 7 encoding a protein called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR). The defect in CFTR leads to pathological changes in all organs with mucus-secretory glands, e.g. airways, pancreas, gut, biliary tract, vas deferens and sweat glands. Despite impressive advances in understanding the molecular basis of the disease, life expectancy is still limited in CF and chronic infection of the lung resulting in fibrosis and bronchiectasis followed by respiratory insufficiency is still the main factor in morbidity and the leading cause of death. Poor nutritional status is one of the major problems in the vicious cycle of chronic inflammation and lung destruction and its impact on outcome in lung function has been demonstrated. The possible role of growth hormone treatment in this context will be discussed.

The Evolution of Haploid, Diploid and Polymorphic Haploid-Diploid Life Cycles: The Role of Meiotic Mutation

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 893-898
Author(s):  
David W Hall
Keyword(s):  
Parameter Space ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Population Genetic Model ◽  
Meiosis I

Abstract Here I present a simple population genetic model to investigate the evolution of polymorphic haploiddiploid life cycles. The key feature of the model is the assumption of mutation occurring during meiosis. I show that, in addition to regions favoring haploid or diploid life cycles, there are substantial regions of the parameter space under which polymorphic haploid-diploid life cycles are expected to evolve.

A Court in Decline? Examining the Regality Court Records of Melrose, Roxburghshire, 1657–84

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Vivienne Dunstan
Keyword(s):  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Court Records ◽  
Seminal Work

McIntyre, in his seminal work on Scottish franchise courts, argues that these courts were in decline in this period, and of little relevance to their local population. 1 But was that really the case? This paper explores that question, using a particularly rich set of local court records. By analysing the functions and significance of one particular court it assesses the role of this one court within its local area, and considers whether it really was in decline at this time, or if it continued to perform a vital role in its local community. The period studied is the mid to late seventeenth century, a period of considerable upheaval in Scottish life, that has attracted considerable attention from scholars, though often less on the experiences of local communities and people.

Muscovy and the Tatars

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-431
Author(s):  
Bulat R. Rakhimzianov
Keyword(s):  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
The Political ◽  
East European ◽  
Central Eurasia ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mutual Relations ◽  
Forest Line ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract This article explores relations between Muscovy and the so-called Later Golden Horde successor states that existed during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries on the territory of Desht-i Qipchaq (the Qipchaq Steppe, a part of the East European steppe bounded roughly by the Oskol and Tobol rivers, the steppe-forest line, and the Caspian and Aral Seas). As a part of, and later a successor to, the Juchid ulus (also known as the Golden Horde), Muscovy adopted a number of its political and social institutions. The most crucial events in the almost six-century-long history of relations between Muscovy and the Tatars (13–18th centuries) were the Mongol invasion of the Northern, Eastern and parts of the Southern Rus’ principalities between 1237 and 1241, and the Muscovite annexation of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates between 1552 and 1556. According to the model proposed here, the Tatars began as the dominant partner in these mutual relations; however, from the beginning of the seventeenth century this role was gradually inverted. Indicators of a change in the relationship between the Muscovite grand principality and the Golden Horde can be found in the diplomatic contacts between Muscovy and the Tatar khanates. The main goal of the article is to reveal the changing position of Muscovy within the system of the Later Golden Horde successor states. An additional goal is to revisit the role of the Tatar khanates in the political history of Central Eurasia in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Common Law Constitutionalism

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Legal Profession ◽  
Legal Institutions ◽  
Law System ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Law System

This chapter shows how common law pleading, the use of common law vocabulary, and substantive common law rules lay at the foundation of every colony’s law by the middle of the eighteenth century. There is some explanation of how this common law system functioned in practice. The chapter then discusses why colonials looked upon the common law as a repository of liberty. It also discusses in detail the development of the legal profession individually in each of the thirteen colonies. Finally, the chapter ends with a discussion of the role of legislation. It shows that, although legislation had played an important role in the development of law and legal institutions in the seventeenth century, eighteenth-century Americans were suspicious of legislation, with the result that the output of pre-Revolutionary legislatures was minimal.

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