scholarly journals Soft Selective Sweep on Chemosensory Genes Correlates with Ancestral Preference for Toxic Noni in a Specialist Drosophila Population

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Erina A. Ferreira ◽  
Sophia Lambert ◽  
Thibault Verrier ◽  
Frédéric Marion-Poll ◽  
Amir Yassin
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Selective Sweep ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Population Genomics ◽  
Morinda Citrifolia ◽  
Major Question ◽  
Host Plant Specialization ◽  
Chemosensory Genes ◽  
Combine Population

Understanding how organisms adapt to environmental changes is a major question in evolution and ecology. In particular, the role of ancestral variation in rapid adaptation remains unclear because its trace on genetic variation, known as soft selective sweep, is often hardly recognizable from genome-wide selection scans. Here, we investigate the evolution of chemosensory genes in Drosophila yakuba mayottensis, a specialist subspecies on toxic noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruits on the island of Mayotte. We combine population genomics analyses and behavioral assays to evaluate the level of divergence in chemosensory genes and perception of noni chemicals between specialist and generalist subspecies of D. yakuba. We identify a signal of soft selective sweep on a handful of genes, with the most diverging ones involving a cluster of gustatory receptors expressed in bitter-sensing neurons. Our results highlight the potential role of ancestral genetic variation in promoting host plant specialization in herbivorous insects and identify a number of candidate genes underlying behavioral adaptation.

scholarly journals The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (48) ◽  
pp. e2104642118
Author(s):  
Marty Kardos ◽  
Ellie E. Armstrong ◽  
Sarah W. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Samantha Hauser ◽  
Philip W. Hedrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Adaptive Potential ◽  
Biodiversity Crisis ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Functional Genetic Variation

The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field of conservation biology has placed too much focus on conserving genome-wide genetic variation, and that the field should instead focus on managing the subset of functional genetic variation that is thought to affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate the feasibility and likely benefits of this approach in conservation. We find that population genetics theory and empirical results show that conserving genome-wide genetic variation is generally the best approach to prevent inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential from driving populations toward extinction. Focusing conservation efforts on presumably functional genetic variation will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, and counterproductive when prioritized over genome-wide genetic variation. Given the increasing rate of habitat loss and other environmental changes, failure to recognize the detrimental effects of lost genome-wide genetic variation on long-term population viability will only worsen the biodiversity crisis.

scholarly journals The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Kardos ◽  
Ellie Armstrong ◽  
Sarah W Fitzpatrick ◽  
Samantha Hauser ◽  
Philip Hedrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Adaptive Potential ◽  
Biodiversity Crisis ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Functional Genetic Variation

The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field of conservation biology has placed too much focus on the conservation of genome-wide genetic variation, and that this approach should be replaced with another that focuses instead on managing the subset of functional genetic variation that is thought to affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate the feasibility and likely benefits of this approach in conservation. We find that population genetics theory and empirical results show that the conserving genome-wide genetic variation is generally the best approach to prevent inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential from driving populations towards extinction. Focusing conservation efforts on presumably functional genetic variation will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, and counterproductive when prioritized over genome-wide genetic variation. Given the increasing rate of habitat loss and other environmental changes, failure to recognize the detrimental effects of lost genome-wide variation on long-term population viability will only worsen the biodiversity crisis.

Genetic background of cholesterol absorption efficacy. The role of Niemann–Pick C1-like 1 receptor and its genetic variation in lipid metabolism

2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (34) ◽  
pp. 1376-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariann Harangi ◽  
István Balogh ◽  
János Harangi ◽  
György Paragh
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Genetic Background ◽  
Cholesterol Absorption ◽  
Niemann Pick

A Niemann–Pick C1-like-1 egy szterolfelismerő domént tartalmazó membránfehérje, amelyet nagy számban expresszálnak csúcsi felszínükön a bélhámsejtek. Az utóbbi évek vizsgálatai azt igazolták, hogy ez a fehérje szükséges a szabad koleszterin bejutásához a bélhámsejtekbe a bél lumenéből. Biokémiai vizsgálatok azt igazolták, hogy a Niemann–Pick C1-like-1-hez kötődik az ezetimib, amely egy hatékony koleszterinfelszívódást gátló szer. A bélből történő koleszterinfelszívódás ütemében és az ezetimibkezelés hatékonyságában tapasztalt egyéni eltérések hátterében felmerült néhány Niemann–Pick C1-like-1 génvariáció oki szerepe.

Variation in the morphology and flowering time of cluster clover (Trifolium glomeratum L.) and its relationship to distribution in southern Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
FP Smith ◽  
PS Cocks ◽  
MA Ewing
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Flowering Time ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Summer Maximum ◽  
Maximum Temperatures ◽  
Pattern Of Variation ◽  
Growth Habits

Cluster clover is a widely distributed and ecologically successful introduced legume in southern Australia. In an attempt to understand the role of genetic variation in this success, morphological and physiological traits were measured in 94 accessions from southern Australia and 6 from the Mediterranean basin. Flowering time ranged from 105 to 185 days after sowing, but was not strongly correlated with annual rainfall or length of growing season at the site of collection. Variation in other traits partitioned the populations into two morphs which, apart from flowering time and leaf marker, were largely homogeneous. The morphs differed significantly in floret number per inflorescence (22 v. 32-37) and seed mass (379 8g v. 523 8g), had different growth habits and strong within-morph associations between leaf markers and stipule and petal coloration. The morphs differed in their distributions within southern Australia and the pattern of distribution was related to summer maximum temperatures, winter minimum temperatures and spring rainfall. These results demonstrate that genetic variation has been important to the success of cluster clover and suggests that the variation is organized. The pattern of variation observed and its relationship to ecogeography is consistent with findings for other highly inbreeding species. A map of the species distribution in Western Australia is presented.

Centering microbes in the emerging role of integrative biology in understanding environmental change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebony I Weems ◽  
Noé U de la Sancha ◽  
Laurel J Anderson ◽  
Carlos Zambrana-Torrelio ◽  
Ronaldo P Ferraris
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Scale Effects ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Integrative Biology ◽  
Concerted Effort ◽  
Ecosystem Disturbance

Synopsis We argue that the current environmental changes stressing the Earth’s biological systems urgently require study from an integrated perspective to reveal unexpected, cross-scale interactions, particularly between microbes and macroscale phenomena. Such interactions are the basis of a mechanistic understanding of the important connections between deforestation and emerging infectious disease, feedback between ecosystem disturbance and the gut microbiome, and the cross-scale effects of environmental pollutants. These kinds of questions can be answered with existing techniques and data, but a concerted effort is necessary to better coordinate studies and data sets from different disciplines to fully leverage their potential.

scholarly journals The Protective Role of Butyrate against Obesity and Obesity-Related Diseases

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 682
Author(s):  
Serena Coppola ◽  
Carmen Avagliano ◽  
Antonio Calignano ◽  
Roberto Berni Canani
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Predisposing Factor ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Individual

Worldwide obesity is a public health concern that has reached pandemic levels. Obesity is the major predisposing factor to comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The common forms of obesity are multifactorial and derive from a complex interplay of environmental changes and the individual genetic predisposition. Increasing evidence suggest a pivotal role played by alterations of gut microbiota (GM) that could represent the causative link between environmental factors and onset of obesity. The beneficial effects of GM are mainly mediated by the secretion of various metabolites. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) acetate, propionate and butyrate are small organic metabolites produced by fermentation of dietary fibers and resistant starch with vast beneficial effects in energy metabolism, intestinal homeostasis and immune responses regulation. An aberrant production of SCFAs has emerged in obesity and metabolic diseases. Among SCFAs, butyrate emerged because it might have a potential in alleviating obesity and related comorbidities. Here we reviewed the preclinical and clinical data that contribute to explain the role of butyrate in this context, highlighting its crucial contribute in the diet-GM-host health axis.

scholarly journals Monitoring studies should consider temporal variability to reveal relations between cyanobacterial abundance and environmental variables

2015 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 1717-1726 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIANA WOJCIECHOWSKI ◽  
ANDRÉ A. PADIAL
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Environmental Variability ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Cyanobacteria Blooms ◽  
Environment Variables ◽  
Sampling Points ◽  
The Relationship

One of the main goals of monitoring cyanobacteria blooms in aquatic environments is to reveal the relationship between cyanobacterial abundance and environmental variables. Studies typically correlate data that were simultaneously sampled. However, samplings occur sparsely over time and may not reveal the short-term responses of cyanobacterial abundance to environmental changes. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that stronger cyanobacteria x environment relationships in monitoring are found when the temporal variability of sampling points is incorporated in the statistical analyses. To this end, we investigated relationships between cyanobacteria and seven environmental variables that were sampled twice yearly for three years across 11 reservoirs, and data from an intensive monitoring in one of these reservoirs. Poor correlations were obtained when correlating data simultaneously sampled. In fact, the 'highly recurrent' role of phosphorus in cyanobacteria blooms is not properly observed in all sampling periods. On the other hand, the strongest correlation values for the total phosphorus x cyanobacteria relationship were observed when we used the variation of sampling points. We have also shown that environment variables better explain cyanobacteria when a time lag is considered. We conclude that, in cyanobacteria monitoring, the best approach to reveal determinants of cyanobacteria blooms is to consider environmental variability.

scholarly journals The Role of the Innate Immune System in Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: An Eye on Microglia

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Ridolfi ◽  
Cinzia Barone ◽  
Elio Scarpini ◽  
Daniela Galimberti
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Neuronal Function ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
The Central Nervous System

In the last few years, genetic and biomolecular mechanisms at the basis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) have been unraveled. A key role is played by microglia, which represent the immune effector cells in the central nervous system (CNS). They are extremely sensitive to the environmental changes in the brain and are activated in response to several pathologic events within the CNS, including altered neuronal function, infection, injury, and inflammation. While short-term microglial activity has generally a neuroprotective role, chronic activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, including AD and FTLD. In this framework, the purpose of this review is to give an overview of clinical features, genetics, and novel discoveries on biomolecular pathogenic mechanisms at the basis of these two neurodegenerative diseases and to outline current evidence regarding the role played by activated microglia in their pathogenesis.

Genetic Variation of Serotonin Function and Cognitive Control

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1923-1931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Strobel ◽  
Gesine Dreisbach ◽  
Johannes Müller ◽  
Thomas Goschke ◽  
Burkhard Brocke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Continuous Performance ◽  
Continuous Performance Task ◽  
Performance Task ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Related Personality

Although it is widely accepted that serotonin plays a pivotal role in the modulation of anxiety- and depression-related personality traits as well as in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders and depression, the role of serotonin in cognition is less clear. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of serotonin in cognitive behaviors by examining the impact of genetic variation in key regulators of serotonergic neurotransmission on behavioral measures in a cognitive control task. Eighty-five healthy participants performed a cued continuous performance task (the AX Continuous Performance Task [AXCPT]) and were genotyped for polymorphisms in the transcriptional control regions of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene (TPH2 G-703T; rs4570625) and the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR). The core result was that individuals lacking the rare TPH2 T allele were not faster than T allele carriers, but committed fewer errors and were less variable in responding. These findings parallel those of a recent study where an enhancement of executive control in individuals without the rare TPH2 T/T genotype was observed. Together with recent evidence that individuals without the T allele exhibit higher scores in anxiety- and depression-related personality traits, our results underscore the role of the TPH2 G-703T polymorphism in the modulation of behavior and raise the intriguing possibility that genetic variants associated with higher negative emotionality may have beneficial effects on some cognitive functions.

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