Genetic Learning: A New Conceptual Framework for Studying the Impact of the Environment on Changes in Genetic Behavior

Research shows that genetic material and environment are engaged in an ongoing conversation, one that dictates both physiology and psychology. In this paper we argue that genetic material and environment are not engaged in a single conversation but rather multiple types of conversations, and offer researchers a set of conceptual tools to better understand what nature and nurture are saying to one another. In Part I we highlight three types of activity that can be studied: behavior, changes in behavior, and learning. We define what it means to say that learning has taken place and highlight different ways in which living organisms do so. In Part II we apply this analysis to the genetic level. We argue that until now, the life and social sciences have primarily focused on two types of genetic activity (genetic behavior and changes in genetic behavior), while a third (genetic learning) is still waiting to be explored systematically. In Part III we consider how our approach better organizes past, present, and future work on genetic activity (heuristic value) and opens up a new research area centered on genetic learning (generative value).

Estimation of the genetic activity of epinephrine hydrotartrate on the model of erythrocytes in peripheral blood in mice

The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic activity of erythrocytes in peripheral on the model of peripheral blood erythrocytes in mice. The studies were carried out on mice (males) of the C 57B4/6 line weighing 20 g (1,5–2 months of age). For each experimental and control variant, six males were taken. The animals were kept in vivarium conditions according to international criteria for rinofix bedding, food and water ad libitum. When determining the genetic effects, the adrenergic receptor ligand was injected subcutaneously once. After 8 hours, a mutation inducer, an alkylating drug, cyclophosphamide, was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 30 mg/kg. Before the end of the experiment in 2,5 hour, mice were injected intraperitoneally with 2.5 mg/kg of colchicine. 24 hours after injection, the animals were euthanized by delongation. The number of erythrocytes with micronuclei was counted from 2000 analyzed cells. The greatest antimutagenic effect (87,5%) of epinephrine hydrotartrate, a stimulator of α- and β-adrenergic receptors, was found at doses of 5 and 0,5 mg/kg.

Genetic activity during early plant embryogenesis

Seeds are essential for human civilization, so understanding the molecular events underpinning seed development and the zygotic embryo it contains is important. In addition, the approach of somatic embryogenesis is a critical propagation and regeneration strategy to increase desirable genotypes, to develop new genetically modified plants to meet agricultural challenges, and at a basic science level, to test gene function. We briefly review some of the transcription factors (TFs) involved in establishing primary and apical meristems during zygotic embryogenesis, as well as TFs necessary and/or sufficient to drive somatic embryo programs. We focus on the model plant Arabidopsis for which many tools are available, and review as well as speculate about comparisons and contrasts between zygotic and somatic embryo processes.

Effect of lead on polytenic chromosomes from salivary glands of Chironomus Plumosus L. and Glyptotendipes Glaucus Mg. (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Background. Experimental conditions allow to determine the structural and functional changes of polytene chromosomes under the influence of free ions of an individual metal. Materials and methods. C. plumosus (L.) and G. glaucus (Mg) larvae were placed in solutions of lead nitrate: 0.01, 0.02, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/l. Exposure 12 h. Analysis of preparations of polytene chromosomes was carried out using the Carl Zeiss PrimoStar microscope. The functional activity factor of the nucleolus organizer (NOR), the coefficient of genetic activity of the Balbiani ring (BRR) was calculated. Results. Equations of the dependence of the change in the coefficients: NOR = 5,1870,01 lnC for C. plumosus and NOR = 2,110,03 lnC for G. glaucus; BRR = 1,5040,04 lnC for C. plumosus and BRR = 2,018 + 0,03 lnC for G. glaucus. Conclusion. With an increase in the concentration of lead in both C. plumosus and G. glaucus decreases NOR, which implies a decrease in the intensity of protein biosynthesis processes. BRR decreases in C. plumosus and increases in G. glaucus. The different genome reactions of the two species indicate the existence of different mechanisms of adaptation to lead ions

POLYTENE CHROMOSOMES OF GLYPTOTENDIPES GLAUCUS MG. (DIPTERA, CHIRONOMIDAE) AS TEST – OBJEKT TO STUDY TOXIC EFFECTS OF LEAD IONS

Results of the analysis of cytogenetic effects of lead ions on polytene chromosomes of Glyptotendipes glaucus Mg are reported. The functional state of polytene chromosomes was determined via computation: chromosome compactness index (CR); coefficient of genetic activity of the nucleolar organizer (NOR) and coefficient of genetic activity of the Balbiani ring (BR). With increase of the lead nitrate solution concentration, the compactness index increases, that is, the chromosomes compactness decreases: medians of CR values (when measuring shoulder E) in the control are 6.05, for the maximum concentration studied they are 7.3. As a result of the of lead ions action, the activity of the nucleolar organizer genes decreases: medians of the NOR values decrease from 2.3 in the control to 2.0 for the highest concentrations used in the experiment. The activity of the Balbiani ring genes increases with the growing concentration of the lead nitrate solution: medians of the BR values in the control are 1.45, for the maximum studied concentration they are 1.95. The G. glaucus genome responds ambiguously to the change in the lead ions concentration in the medium: the coefficient of the nucleolar organizer’s genetic activity decreases, while the genetic activity of the Balbiani ring, on the contrary, increases.

A robust transcriptional program in newts undergoing multiple events of lens regeneration throughout their lifespan

Newts have the ability to repeatedly regenerate their lens even during ageing. However, it is unclear whether this regeneration reflects an undisturbed genetic activity. To answer this question, we compared the transcriptomes of lenses, irises and tails from aged newts that had undergone lens regeneration 19 times with the equivalent tissues from young newts that had never experienced lens regeneration. Our analysis indicates that repeatedly regenerated lenses showed a robust transcriptional program comparable to young never-regenerated lenses. In contrast, the tail, which was never regenerated, showed gene expression signatures of ageing. Our analysis strongly suggests that, with respect to gene expression, the regenerated lenses have not deviated from a robust transcriptional program even after multiple events of regeneration throughout the life of the newt. In addition, our study provides a new paradigm in biology, and establishes the newt as a key model for the study of regeneration in relation to ageing.

Further observations on the activity of Y chromosome heterochromatin in Rumex thyrsiflorus

Observation of premeiotic nuclei of plants containing different numbers (from one to five) of Y chromosomes reveal that is such plants prior to meiosis all Y chromosomes are in fuzzy state, while in nuclei of tapetal cells or nuclei from anther stalk the number of big chromocentres is directly correlated with the number of Y chromosomes in given plants. This finding provides a further indication of genetic activity of Y chromosomes in this particular stage of the life cycle (premeiosis). Another indication of genetical activity of Y chromosomes was obtained from analysis of the rate of RNA synthesis in premeiosis. It was found that PMC's in the last premeioitc interphase exhibit a high rate of 3H-uridine incorporation. Thus in PMC's the fuzzy appearance of Y chromosomes coincides with intensive RNA synthesis.