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The carbon isotope discrimination properties of a representative of each of the three types of photosynthetic bacteria Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum, Rhodospirillum rubrum and Chromatium and of the C3-alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii were determined by measuring the ratio of 13CO2 to 12CO2 incorporated during photoautotrophic growth. 2. Chromatium and R. rubrum had isotope selection properties similar to those of C3-plants, whereas Chlorobium was significantly different. 3. The results suggest that Chromatium and R. rubrum assimilate CO2 mainly via ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase and the associated reactions of the reductive pentose phosphate cycle, whereas Chlorobium utilizes other mechanisms. Such mechanisms would include the ferredoxin-linked carboxylation enzymes and associated reactions of the reductive carboxylic acid cycle.

The ripening of avocado fruit is associated with the expression of a number of mRNAs concomitant with overt changes in texture and flavor. Two overlapping cDNAs for a mRNA that accumulates during ripening were identified.

Real-time nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) is an isothermal method specifically designed for amplification of RNA. Fluorescent molecular beacon probes enable real-time monitoring of the amplification process. Successful identification, utilizing the real-time NASBA technology, was performed on a microchip with oligonucleotides at a concentration of 1.0 and 0.1 microM, in 10- and 50-nL reaction chambers, respectively. The microchip was developed in a silicon-glass structure. An instrument providing thermal control and an optical detection system was built for amplification readout. Experimental results demonstrate distinct amplification processes. Miniaturized real-time NASBA in microchips makes high-throughput diagnostics of bacteria, viruses, and cancer markers possible, at reduced cost and without contamination.