scholarly journals Like Mother, Like Daughter: Adults’ Judgements about Genetic Inheritance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Menendez ◽  
Olympia Mathiaparanam ◽  
Vienne Seitz ◽  
David Liu ◽  
Andrea Marquardt Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Formal Education ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Genetic Inheritance ◽  
Knowing How ◽  
Eye Color ◽  
Systematic Biases ◽  
Probabilistic Process

Do people think about genetic inheritance as a deterministic or probabilistic process? Do adults display systematic biases when reasoning about genetic inheritance? Knowing how adults think about genetic inheritance is valuable, both for understanding the developmental endpoint of these concepts and for identifying biases that persist even after formal education. We examined adults’ reasoning about genetic inheritance for familiar and unfamiliar animals. First, participants were presented with animals that varied in eye color and were asked to judge whether each could be the offspring of a particular set of animal parents that had either the same or different eye colors. The potential offspring had eye colors that were either identical to the parents, blended the parents’ eye colors, or differed from the parents. Next, participants predicted how six offspring of the animal parents would look. Participants judged a variety of choices as possible—not only the ones resembling the parents—suggesting that they thought genetic inheritance was a probabilistic process. Additionally, many participants thought that female offspring would look more like their mothers and male offspring would look more like their fathers. Thus, systemic biases in reasoning about inheritance persist into adulthood.

Sex differences in prenatal programming of hypertension by dexamethasone

2021 ◽  
pp. 153537022110032
Author(s):  
Issa Alhamoud ◽  
Susan K Legan ◽  
Jyothsna Gattineni ◽  
Michel Baum
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Plasma Renin ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Thick Ascending Limb ◽  
Protein Abundance ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
Prenatal Programming ◽  
Transporter Protein ◽  
Renal Tubular

Prenatal dexamethasone has been shown to increase blood pressure in male offspring but the mechanism for the increase in blood pressure is unclear. The present study examined if prenatal programming by maternal injection of dexamethasone on days 15 and 16 of gestation affected the blood pressure comparably in female and male offspring. Our hypothesis was that males would be affected by prenatal dexamethasone to a greater extent than females and that either an increase in renal tubular transporter abundance or an increase in renin or aldosterone system would be associated with hypertension with prenatal programming. Prenatal dexamethasone increased blood pressure at two months and six months of age and resulted in proteinuria and albuminuria at six months in male but not female rat offspring. There was no effect of prenatal dexamethasone on blood pressure and proteinuria at one month in male and in female offspring. While prenatal dexamethasone increased male renal thick ascending limb sodium potassium two chloride cotransporter protein abundance at two months, prenatal dexamethasone on days 15 and 16 of gestation did not affect transporter abundance in males at other ages, nor did it affect proximal tubule sodium/hydrogen exchanger or distal convoluted tubule sodium chloride cotransporter protein abundance at any age. There was no difference in systemic renin or aldosterone in the prenatal dexamethasone group compared to same sex controls. In conclusion, male but not female offspring have an increase in blood pressure and urinary protein excretion with prenatal dexamethasone. The increase in blood pressure with prenatal programming was not associated with a consistent increase in renal tubular transporter protein abundance, nor plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone.

PERFORMANCE OF DWARF BROILER BREEDERS IN LAYING CAGES AND FLOOR PENS AND OF NORMAL BREEDERS IN FLOOR PENS

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 741-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. STRAIN ◽  
A. P. PILOSKI
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Broiler Breeders ◽  
Feed Costs

Dwarf broiler breeders in single-bird cages (DC), in floor pens (DF) and normal broiler breeders in floor pens (NF) were compared for their own and their offspring’s performance. No differences were observed in rate of egg production at 147–329 days of age between the NF and DF birds (48 vs. 47%) whereas the DC birds laid at the rate of 40%. Hen-housed egg numbers for the same period followed the same general pattern (NF, 81; DF, 82; DC, 70 eggs/bird). DF and DC birds consumed less feed per dozen eggs than the NF birds (3.4 vs. 4.3 kg/doz). Egg weights in the early part of the production cycle were not significantly different among the groups but at 294 days of age the normal birds laid larger eggs than the dwarfs (65 vs. 62 g). Dwarfs in cages reached 50% production earlier than the DF or NF birds. Female offspring from the three groups grew at the same rate and weighed 1.7 kg at 56 days of age but there were significant differences in feed conversion (NF, 2.46; DF, 2.43; DC, 2.53 kg/kg body weight produced). Male offspring had small but not statistically significant differences in body weight at 56 days (NF, 2.16; DF, 2.12; DC, 2.09 kg) or feed conversion (NF, 2.30; DF, 2.29; DC, 2.34 kg/kg body weight). Mortality in the offspring ranged from 2.7 to 9.2% but did not differ significantly. Income over feed costs per broiler started did not differ from the three groups regardless of the meat price – feed price combination considered. However, when profit was computed on a breeder hen basis, the DF females were more profitable than either the NF or DC females.

Prevention of diet-induced obesity and impaired glucose tolerance in rats following administration of leptin to their mothers

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (5) ◽  
pp. R1810-R1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire J. Stocker ◽  
Ed Wargent ◽  
Jacqueline O'Dowd ◽  
Claire Cornick ◽  
John R. Speakman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Fat Pad ◽  
Plasma Insulin Concentration ◽  
Obesogenic Diet ◽  
Tolerance Curve

Absence of leptin is known to disrupt the development of energy balance regulatory mechanisms. We investigated whether administration of leptin to normally nourished rats affects energy balance in their offspring. Leptin (2 mg·kg−1·day−1) was administered from day 14 of pregnancy and throughout lactation. Male and female offspring were fed either on chow or on high-fat diets that elicited similar levels of obesity in the sexes from 6 wk to 15 mo of age. Treatment of the dams with leptin prevented diet-induced increases in the rate of weight gain, retroperitoneal fat pad weight, area under the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance curve, and fasting plasma insulin concentration in female offspring. In the male offspring, the diet-induced increase in weight gain was prevented and increased fat pad weight was reduced. Energy intake per rat was higher in response to the obesogenic diet in male offspring of saline-treated but not leptin-treated dams. A similar trend was seen in 3-mo-old female offspring. Energy expenditure at 3 mo of age was higher for a given body weight in female offspring of leptin-treated compared with saline-treated dams when these animals were fed on the obesogenic diet. A similar trend was seen for male rats fed on the obesogenic diet. Thus leptin levels during pregnancy and lactation can affect the development of energy balance regulatory systems in their offspring.

scholarly journals Programming effects of maternal and gestational obesity on offspring metabolism and metabolic inflammation

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Chang ◽  
H. Hafner ◽  
M. Varghese ◽  
C. Griffin ◽  
J. Clemente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Maternal Obesity ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Normal Diet ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Metabolic Inflammation ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract With the increasing prevalence of obesity in women of reproductive age there is a need to understand the ramifications of this on offspring. The purpose of this study is to investigate the programming effects of maternal obesity during preconception and the preconception/gestational period on adiposity and adipose tissue inflammation in offspring using an animal model. Adult female C57Bl/6J mice were assigned either normal diet, high fat diet (HFD) prior to pregnancy, or HFD prior to and through pregnancy. Some offspring were maintained on normal diet while others started HFD later in life. Offspring were assessed for body composition and metabolic responses. Lipid storing tissues were evaluated for expansion and inflammation. Male offspring from the preconception group had the greatest weight gain, most subcutaneous adipose tissue, and largest liver mass when introduced to postnatal HFD. Male offspring of the preconception/gestation group had worsened glucose tolerance and an increase in resident (CD11c−) adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) when exposed to postnatal HFD. Female offspring had no significant difference in any parameter between the diet treatment groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that prenatal and pregnancy windows have independent programming effects on offspring. Preconception exposure affects body composition and adiposity while gestation exposure affects metabolism and tissue immune cell phenotypes.

Sexual maturation and fertility of male and female mice exposed prenatally and postnatally to trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds

1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Al-Hamood ◽  
A. Elbetieha ◽  
H. Bataineh
Keyword(s):  
Hexavalent Chromium ◽  
Sexual Maturation ◽  
Potassium Dichromate ◽  
Reproductive Toxicity ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Mice ◽  
Chromium Compounds

The reproductive toxicity of trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds was investigated in male and female mice exposed to 1000 ppm chromium chloride and potassium dichromate via their mother during gestational and lactational periods. Fertility was reduced in male offspring exposed to either trivalent or hexavalent chromium compounds. Body weights and weights of testes, seminal vesicles and preputial glands were reduced in trivalent-exposed male offspring. The exposure of female mice offspring to trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds delayed sexual maturation. Fertility was reduced in female offspring exposed to either trivalent or hexavalent chromium compounds. The exposure of female mice to hexavalent chromium compound reduced the number of implantations and viable fetuses respectively. Body weight and weights of ovaries and uteri were reduced in trivalent-exposed female offspring. The results indicate that under our experimental conditions, the exposure of male and female mice offspring to either trivalent or hexavalent chromium compounds during gestational and lactational periods impair reproductive functions and fertility in adulthood.

scholarly journals Maternal Choline Supplementation During Gestational Diabetes Causes Long-Term Phenotypic Changes in Offspring (P11-132-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter Korsmo ◽  
Kaydine Edwards ◽  
Bhoomi Dave ◽  
Chauntelle Jack-Roberts ◽  
Xinyin Jiang
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Gestational Diabetes ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Blood Glucose Control ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
York Academy

Abstract Objectives Using a mouse gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) model, this study investigated whether maternal choline supplementation (MCS) could alter postnatal growth and metabolic abnormalities associated with GDM. Methods C57BL/6 mice were either fed a low fat (LF, 10kcal % fat) control diet or a high fat (HF, 60kcal % fat) diet prior to and during pregnancy to induce GDM. These mice received either 25mM choline (MCS) or plain drinking water, After weaning, offspring were fed the HF diet for 6 weeks before glucose tolerance testing and dissection. Results In male offspring from MCS-GDM mothers, we observed a decrease in fasting blood glucose levels and an increase in glucose tolerance when comparing to other groups (P < 0.05). Liver choline metabolite measurements demonstrated that free choline content was lower (P = 0.01) in the MCS-GDM male offspring than control GDM male offspring; there is also an increase in liver sphingomyelin concentrations (P = 0.007) in female offspring from MCS-GDM compared to control GDM dams. Conclusions MCS during GDM leads to improvements in blood glucose control in male mouse offspring exposed to a postnatal HF environment. Funding Sources NIGMS and NIDDK; New York Academy of Sciences.

scholarly journals Assessment of growth and metabolism characteristics in offspring of dehydroepiandrosterone-induced polycystic ovary syndrome adults

Reproduction ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 152 (6) ◽  
pp. 705-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Huang ◽  
Jiang-Man Gao ◽  
Chun-Mei Zhang ◽  
Hong-Cui Zhao ◽  
Yue Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Potential Growth ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
Developmental Characteristics

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive disorder that has many characteristic features including hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance and obesity, which may have significant implications for pregnancy outcomes and long-term health of women. Daughters born to PCOS mothers constitute a high-risk group for metabolic and reproductive derangements, but no report has described potential growth and metabolic risk factors for such female offspring. Hence, we used a mouse model of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS to study the mechanisms underlying the pathology of PCOS by investigating the growth, developmental characteristics, metabolic indexes and expression profiles of key genes of offspring born to the models. We found that the average litter size was significantly smaller in the DHEA group, and female offspring had sustained higher body weight, increased body fat and triglyceride content in serum and liver; they also exhibited decreased energy expenditure, oxygen consumption and impaired glucose tolerance. Genes related to glucolipid metabolism such as Pparγ, Acot1/2, Fgf21, Pdk4 and Inhbb were upregulated in the liver of the offspring in DHEA group compared with those in controls, whereas Cyp17a1 expression was significantly decreased. However, the expression of these genes was not detected in male offspring. Our results show that female offspring in DHEA group exhibit perturbed growth and glucolipid metabolism that were not observed in male offspring.

scholarly journals Reproductive potential and nesting effects of Osmia rufa (syn. bicornis) female (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Giejdasz ◽  
Monika Fliszkiewicz ◽  
Andrea Bednárová ◽  
Natraj Krishnan
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Nesting Behavior ◽  
Solitary Bee ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Individual Female ◽  
The Family ◽  
Number Of Cells

Abstract The red mason bee Osmia rufa is a solitary bee belonging to the family Megachilidae, and is prone to nest in aggregations. Each female builds a nest separately in pre-existing cavities such as holes in wood and walls or empty plant stems. This is done by successively setting the cells in a linear series. In this study, we elucidate the nesting behavior and the reproductive potential of a single O. rufa female. The reproductive potential of nesting females was evaluated after the offspring finished development. We observed that an individual female may colonize up to five nest tubes and build 5-34 cells in them (16 on an average). During the nesting time the number of cells decreased with the sequence of nest tubes colonized by one female, which built a maximum of 11 cells in the first occupied nest and 5 cells in the last (fifth nest). Our observations indicated that 40% of nesting females colonized one nest tube as compared to 7% colonizing five nest tubes. Furthermore, in subsequent nest tubes the number of cells with freshly emerged females gradually decreased which was the reverse with males. Thus, the sex ratio (proportion of male and female offspring) may change during the nesting period. The female offspring predominated in the first two nesting tubes, while in the subsequent three tubes male offspring dominated. We also cataloged different causes of reduction in abundance of offspring in O. rufa females such as parasitization or problem associated with moulting.

scholarly journals Prenatal corticosterone exposure programs sex-specific adrenal adaptations in mouse offspring

2017 ◽  
Vol 232 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
J S M Cuffe ◽  
E L Turton ◽  
L K Akison ◽  
H Bielefeldt-Ohmann ◽  
K M Moritz
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Adrenal Weight ◽  
Zona Fasciculata ◽  
Foetal Development ◽  
Plaque Deposition ◽  
Acth Receptor ◽  
Long Term Impact

Maternal stress can impair foetal development and program sex-specific disease outcomes in offspring through the actions of maternally produced glucocorticoids, predominantly corticosterone (Cort) in rodents. We have demonstrated in mice that male but not female offspring prenatally exposed to Cort (33 µg/kg/h for 60 h beginning at E12.5) develop cardiovascular/renal dysfunction at 12 months. At 6 months of age, renal function was normal but male offspring had increased plasma aldosterone concentrations, suggesting that altered adrenal function may precede disease. This study investigated the long-term impact of prenatal exposure to Cort on adrenal growth, morphology and steroidogenic capacity as well as plasma Cort concentrations in offspring at postnatal day 30 (PN30), 6 months and 12 months of age. Prenatal Cort exposure decreased adrenal volume, particularly of the zona fasciculata, in male offspring at PN30 but increased both relative and absolute adrenal weight at 6 months of age. By 12 months of age, male Cort-exposed offspring had reduced absolute adrenal weight in association with increased adrenal plaque deposition (lipogenic pigmentation). Plasma Cort concentrations were elevated in male 6-month offspring but not at other ages. mRNA expression of Mc2r (ACTH receptor) was increased in males at PN30, and Cyp11a1 expression was decreased at 6 and 12 months of age. There were no changes in the adrenals of female Cort-exposed offspring. This study demonstrates that prenatal Cort exposure induces offspring adrenal gland dysfunction in an age- and sex-specific manner, which may contribute to long-term programmed disease in male offspring after maternal stress.

scholarly journals Depot- and sex-specific effects of maternal obesity in offspring’s adipose tissue

2016 ◽  
Vol 230 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Lecoutre ◽  
Barbara Deracinois ◽  
Christine Laborie ◽  
Delphine Eberlé ◽  
Céline Guinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthase ◽  
Maternal Obesity ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Rapid Weight Gain ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor ◽  
Accelerated Growth

According to the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept, alterations of nutrient supply in the fetus or neonate result in long-term programming of individual body weight (BW) setpoint. In particular, maternal obesity, excessive nutrition, and accelerated growth in neonates have been shown to sensitize offspring to obesity. The white adipose tissue may represent a prime target of metabolic programming induced by maternal obesity. In order to unravel the underlying mechanisms, we have developed a rat model of maternal obesity using a high-fat (HF) diet (containing 60% lipids) before and during gestation and lactation. At birth, newborns from obese dams (called HF) were normotrophs. However, HF neonates exhibited a rapid weight gain during lactation, a key period of adipose tissue development in rodents. In males, increased BW at weaning (+30%) persists until 3months of age. Nine-month-old HF male offspring was normoglycemic but showed mild glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, and hypercorticosteronemia. Despite no difference in BW and energy intake, HF adult male offspring was predisposed to fat accumulation showing increased visceral (gonadal and perirenal) depots weights and hyperleptinemia. However, only perirenal adipose tissue depot exhibited marked adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia with elevated lipogenic (i.e. sterol-regulated element binding protein 1 (Srebp1), fatty acid synthase (Fas), and leptin) and diminished adipogenic (i.e. peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparγ), 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-Hds1)) mRNA levels. By contrast, very few metabolic variations were observed in HF female offspring. Thus, maternal obesity and accelerated growth during lactation program offspring for higher adiposity via transcriptional alterations of visceral adipose tissue in a depot- and sex-specific manner.

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