scholarly journals Prospects in Connecting Genetic Variation to Variation in Fertility in Male Bees

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1251
Author(s):  
Garett P. Slater ◽  
Nicholas M. Smith ◽  
Brock A. Harpur
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Pesticide Use ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Native Bee

Bees are economically and ecologically important pollinating species. Managed and native bee species face increasing pressures from human-created stressors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and introduced pathogens. There has been increasing attention towards how each of these factors impacts fertility, especially sperm production and maintenance in males. Here, we turn our attention towards another important factor impacting phenotypic variation: genetics. Using honey bees as a model, we explore the current understanding of how genetic variation within and between populations contributes to variation in sperm production, sperm maintenance, and insemination success among males. We conclude with perspectives and future directions in the study of male fertility in honey bees and non-Apis pollinators more broadly, which still remain largely understudied.

scholarly journals All in the family: TGF-β family action in testis development

Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Itman ◽  
Sirisha Mendis ◽  
Badia Barakat ◽  
Kate Lakoski Loveland
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Testis Development ◽  
The Family ◽  
Mammalian Testis

To achieve and maintain fertility, the adult mammalian testis produces many generations of sperm. While testicular integrity is established in the fetus and develops further in juvenile life, sperm production does not ensue until much later in life, following the onset of puberty. Signals from the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of proteins are vital for governance of testis development and spermatogenesis, and this review discusses our current understanding of the mechanisms and processes in which they have been implicated with a focus on the fetal and juvenile testis.

scholarly journals Evaluating indirect genetic effects of siblings using singletons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Howe ◽  
David Evans ◽  
Gibran Hemani ◽  
George Davey Smith ◽  
Neil Martin Davies
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Genetic Effects ◽  
Polygenic Risk Score ◽  
Indirect Genetic Effects ◽  
Molecular Genetic Evidence ◽  
Older Siblings

Estimating effects of parental and sibling genotypes (indirect genetic effects) can provide insight into how the family environment influences phenotypic variation. There is growing molecular genetic evidence for effects of parental phenotypes on their offspring (e.g. parental educational attainment), but the extent to which siblings affect each other is currently unclear.Here we used data from samples of unrelated individuals, without (singletons) and with biological full-siblings (non-singletons), to investigate and estimate sibling effects. Indirect genetic effects of siblings increase (or decrease) the covariance between genetic variation and a phenotype. It follows that differences in genetic association estimates between singletons and non-singletons could indicate indirect genetic effects of siblings.We used UK Biobank data to estimate polygenic risk score (PRS) associations for height, BMI and educational attainment in singletons (N = 50,143) and non-singletons (N = 328,549). The educational attainment PRS association estimate was 12% larger (95% C.I. 3%, 21%) in the non-singleton sample than in the singleton sample, but the height and BMI PRS associations were consistent. Birth order data suggested that the difference in educational attainment PRS associations was driven by individuals with older siblings rather than firstborns. The relationship between number of siblings and educational attainment PRS associations was non-linear; PRS associations were 24% smaller in individuals with 6 or more siblings compared to the rest of the sample (95% C.I. 11%, 38%). We estimate that a 1 SD increase in sibling educational attainment PRS corresponds to a 0.025 year increase in the index individual’s years in schooling (95% C.I. 0.013, 0.036).Our results suggest that older siblings influence the educational attainment of younger siblings, adding to the growing evidence that effects of the environment on phenotypic variation partially reflect social effects of germline genetic variation in relatives.

scholarly journals Recent advances in understanding necrotizing enterocolitis

F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mashriq Alganabi ◽  
Carol Lee ◽  
Edoardo Bindi ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Agostino Pierro
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽  
Advanced Disease ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Disease Development ◽  
Current Management ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Factors Associated

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a devastating intestinal disease affecting preterm infants. In spite of ongoing research and advancement in neonatal care, mortality remains high, especially in infants with advanced disease. The mechanism of disease development, the progression of intestinal injury, and management remain areas of ongoing research and controversy. In this review, we examine our current understanding of the disease, its epidemiology, the risk factors associated with the development of the disease, and its pathophysiology. We also describe current management and new emerging research highlighting potential future directions.

Genetic Interaction of Hils1 with Tnp1 Is Essential for Normal Sperm Production and Male Fertility.

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 (Suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 462-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuxia Wu ◽  
Huili Zheng ◽  
Larisa Wiggins ◽  
Christopher von Bartheld ◽  
Ming Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Genetic Interaction ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Normal Sperm

scholarly journals How diverse can rare species be on the margins of genera distribution?

AoB Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Backes ◽  
Geraldo Mäder ◽  
Caroline Turchetto ◽  
Ana Lúcia Segatto ◽  
Jeferson N Fregonezi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Founder Effects ◽  
Geographical Isolation ◽  
Genetic Diversity And Structure ◽  
Genetic Patterns

Abstract Different genetic patterns have been demonstrated for narrowly distributed taxa, many of them linking rarity to evolutionary history. Quite a few species in young genera are endemics and have several populations that present low variability, sometimes attributed to geographical isolation or dispersion processes. Assessing the genetic diversity and structure of such species may be important for protecting them and understanding their diversification history. In this study, we used microsatellite markers and plastid sequences to characterize the levels of genetic variation and population structure of two endemic and restricted species that grow in isolated areas on the margin of the distribution of their respective genera. Plastid and nuclear diversities were very low and weakly structured in their populations. Evolutionary scenarios for both species are compatible with open-field expansions during the Pleistocene interglacial periods and genetic variability supports founder effects to explain diversification. At present, both species are suffering from habitat loss and changes in the environment can lead these species towards extinction.

Rapid recovery of spermatogenesis after mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, and prednisone chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease.

1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 3488-3495 ◽  
Author(s):  
M L Meistrich ◽  
G Wilson ◽  
K Mathur ◽  
L M Fuller ◽  
M A Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hodgkin's Disease ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Sperm Count ◽  
Hodgkin’S Disease ◽  
Spermatogenic Cells ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Human Male ◽  
Sperm Counts ◽  
Abdominal Radiotherapy ◽  
Upper Abdominal

PURPOSE Because the effects of mitoxantrone on human male fertility were unknown, we determined prospectively the effects of three courses of mitoxantrone (Novantrone), vincristine (Oncovin), vinblastine, prednisone (NOVP) chemotherapy on the potential for fertility of men with Hodgkin's disease (HD). PATIENTS AND METHODS Semen analyses were performed on 58 patients with stages I-III HD before, during, and after chemotherapy and after the sperm count recovered from the effects of abdominal radiotherapy that was given after chemotherapy. RESULTS Before the initiation of treatment, 84% of the patients were normospermic. Sperm counts declined significantly within 1 month after the start of NOVP chemotherapy. In the month after chemotherapy, 38% of patients were azoospermic, 52% had counts < 1 million/ mL, and 10% had counts between 1 and 3 million/mL. Between 2.6 and 4.5 months after the completion of chemotherapy, sperm counts recovered rapidly to normospermic levels in 63% of patients. In the remaining patients who were followed up for at least 1 year after standard upper abdominal radiotherapy, counts also recovered to normospermic levels. CONCLUSION NOVP chemotherapy, like most other regimens, produced marked temporary effects or spermatogenesis. However, sperm production recovered very rapidly, within 3 to 4 months after the end of NOVP chemotherapy. This pattern was caused by killing differentiating spermatogenic cells, but there was little cytotoxicity or inhibition of stem cells from mitoxantrone or the other drugs. After the combination of NOVP plus abdominal radiotherapy, sperm counts and motility were restored in most patients to pretreatment levels, which were compatible with normal fertility.

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