2016-12-23T18:52:10

Phylogeographical studies are typically based on haplotype data, occasionally on nuclear markers such as microsatellites, but rarely combine both. This is unfortunate because the use of markers with contrasting modes of inheritance and rates of evolution might provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of a species' history. Here we present a detailed study of the phylogeography of the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, using 1098 bp of the mitochondrial ND2 gene from 45 localities from across its Palaearctic range to infer population history. In addition, we re-analysed a large microsatellite data set available for this species and compared the results of both markers to infer population relationships and the historical processes influencing them. We show that mtDNA, the most popular marker in phylogeography studies, yielded a misleading result, and would have led us to conclude erroneously that a single expansion had taken place in Europe. Only by combining the mitochondrial and microsatellite data sets are we able to reconstruct the species' history and show two colonization events in Europe, one before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and one after it. Combining markers also revealed the importance of Asia Minor as an ancient refugium for this species and a source population for the expansion of the greater horseshoe bat into Europe before the LGM.

No abstract

Many plant‐derived agents are being used to treat cancer, including taxol, vinblastine, vincristine, or camptothecin and podophyllotoxin derivatives, among others. Plant biotechnology can provide a new tool for the production of anticancer agents but in spite of considerable efforts to produce vinblastine and vincristine in cell cultures and knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway of Catharanthus roseus alkaloids, the biotechnological production of taxol has only been achieved at an industrial level by companies such as Phyton Biotech and Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics. Podophyllotoxin was isolated as the active antitumor agent from the roots of Podophyllum species and more recently from the genus Linum and others. Etoposide, teniposide, and etophos are semi‐synthetic derivatives of podophyllotoxin and are used in the treatment of cancer. Biotechnological approaches, including the use of cell cultures, biotransformation, or metabolic engineering techniques to manipulate the biosynthetic pathway, represent an alternative for the production of podophyllotoxin and are discussed in this review.

No abstract

The prevalence of childhood obesity is alarmingly high in the State of Kuwait and exceeds the prevalence rates reported from neighbouring countries and from North America.

ABSTRACT:Effects of contaminated soil with spent oil on germination, above ground height and biomass of six herbaceous plant species were investigated by conducting a general phytotoxicity test and growth inhibition assessment. Six local plant species were used in order to investigate plant's ability to germinate and survive in a gradient of contaminated soil with spent oil. The species selected for this experiment include one species of Fabaceae (Medicago truncatular), four species of Gramineae (Bromous mermis, Secal seral, Triticum sativa and Agropyron deserterum) and one species of Linaceae (Linum ussitasimum). Inhibitory effect of contaminated soil on germination, height of young seedling and dry weight were measured. In this study an artificial soil with a light texture included 85% sand, 10% silt and 5% clay was used. The exposure to the contaminated soil carried out using four consecutive concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100 g/kg). Results obtained from the current investigation indicate that all species perform dose-dependent responses to the contaminated soils. Reduction in germination, above ground height and biomass for all species were significantly (P < 0.05) different when compared to their controls, however, Medicago truncatular performed the highest and Linum ussitatisimum the lowest inhibitory effect for germination, above ground height and dry weight of seedling.

Water quality, diatom species composition and biomass estimates were performed in the Gharasou River in western Iran. Five sites along the River Gharasou were sampled every month from April to September 2005. Physical and chemical factors (pH, NO 3 -N, PO 4 -P, dissolved oxygen, total suspend solids, total dissolved solids, conductivity, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand) were measured along with biological properties of the periphyton including biomass, ash-free dry mass, chlorophyll-a concentration and the taxonomic composition diatom assemblages. Information from the diatom assemblage was used to calculate the Trophic Diatom Index and biovolume. The TDI was significantly correlated with measures of human disturbance at the sites (e.g. PO 4 -P, NO 3 -N and dissolved oxygen) as well as to biomass measures (chlorophyll a, ash-free dry mass and biovolume). The sensitivity of the TDI and its component metrics to environmental stressors supports the use of this index for monitoring ecological conditions in streams in Iran and to aid diagnosis of the cause of their impairment.