Ancient uniparental DNAs in distinguishing the competing theories of molecular evolution and modern human origins

Analyses of extant people have resulted in two models for the uniparental DNA phylogenetic trees of modern humans rooted in either Africa or East Asia. The Africa model is based on the neutral theory. The Asia model is reached from the maximum genetic diversity (MGD) theory. To test the two competing theories, we examined published data of ancient uniparental DNAs. Many ancient samples belonging to a terminal haplogroup were found to have mutated only in some, but not all, of the sites that define a more basal haplogroup. This pattern was found for the non-controversial haplogroups shared by the two competing models, and also for the haplogroups specific to the Asia model. Furthermore, many ancient samples that do not belong to some of the haplogroups of the Africa model nonetheless had mutations in them, which makes it impossible to unambiguously assign them to a haplogroup within the Africa model. Finally, uniparental DNAs of archaic humans were found to carry some modern alleles present in the first uniparental DNAs in the Asia model, indicating convergent evolution. Therefore, the data from ancient DNAs have verified the MGD theory and the actual existence of the haplogroups specific to the Asia model.

ANALYSIS OF FORESTS’ GENETIC VULNERABILITY AND ARGUMENTS TO REDUCE DEFORESTATION

Forests play an essential role in protecting natural resources such as soil, water and environmental services. The aims of the current study are to analyze definitions involving issues such as forest cover and its vulnerability, as well as to present arguments to help reducing deforestation. Solutions focused on mitigating tree vulnerability are herein presented, namely: genetic conservation and local creation of genetic databases on natural forests; pursuit of maximum genetic diversity to maintain reproduction index and avoid cloning effects; scientifically investigating how to help trees to adapt to environmental changes; use of genetic improvement and programs such as Payment for Environmental Services, Bolsa Floresta Program, Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration and ABC Program to reduce deforestation in tropical forests.

Tripartite genome of all species

Neutral theory has dominated the molecular evolution field for more than half a century, but it has been severely challenged by the recently emerged Maximum Genetic Diversity (MGD) theory. However, based on our recent work of tripartite human genome architecture, we found that MGD theory may have overlooked the regulatory but variable genomic regions that increase with species complexity. Here we propose a new molecular evolution theory named Increasing Functional Variation (IFV) hypothesis. According to the IFV hypothesis, the genome of all species is divided into three regions that are ‘functional and invariable’, ‘functional and variable’ and ‘non-functional and variable’. While the ‘non-functional and variable’ region decreases as species become more complex, the other two regions increase.

FRAGARIA GERMPLASM FROM MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN

Introgression of Fragaria vesca, the diploid wild strawberry, and F. × ananassa, the octoploid cultivated strawberry, into octoploid F. virginiana collected from Minnesota and Wisconsin was suggested by gynodioecy and cluster analysis. Nine morphological traits separated collections into two main clusters, one associated with the northern hardwoods, and the other in the prairie-forest floristic province. Under field conditions, wild female clones were rated similarly to check cultivars for fruit set and plant productivity but always significantly higher than wild hermaphrodites, Increases in yield might be gained by selecting female clones for incorporation into a breeding program. Breeders anticipating rapid transfer of traits from the wild might concentrate on collections from the prairie-forest floristic province, since these materials contain F. × ananassa traits. Maximum genetic diversity would be gained using collection from both floristic provinces.

FRAGARIA GERMPLASM FROM MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN

Introgression of Fragaria vesca, the diploid wild strawberry, and F. × ananassa, the octoploid cultivated strawberry, into octoploid F. virginiana collected from Minnesota and Wisconsin was suggested by gynodioecy and cluster analysis. Nine morphological traits separated collections into two main clusters, one associated with the northern hardwoods, and the other in the prairie-forest floristic province. Under field conditions, wild female clones were rated similarly to check cultivars for fruit set and plant productivity but always significantly higher than wild hermaphrodites, Increases in yield might be gained by selecting female clones for incorporation into a breeding program. Breeders anticipating rapid transfer of traits from the wild might concentrate on collections from the prairie-forest floristic province, since these materials contain F. × ananassa traits. Maximum genetic diversity would be gained using collection from both floristic provinces.