Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Minyan Yuan, Xueqing Zheng, Jiaojiao Jing, Yang Li, Nianke Liu, Yaling Song
Summary: This study evaluated the association between SYN2, PPARG, RAF1, TIMP4, and IQSEC1 polymorphisms in 3p25 and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the Chinese Han population. IQSEC1-rs2686742 was found to be correlated with the onset of OSCC, and several SNPs in IQSEC1 and PPARG genes were significantly associated with clinical characteristics of OSCC. IQSEC1-rs2600322 was shown to have an important role in the survival of OSCC patients, and various SNPs influenced survival outcomes. Functional annotation revealed changes in transcript levels of IQSEC1 and PPARG genes in OSCC tissues.
Review
Biology
Molly A. Albecker, Laetitia G. E. Wilkins, Stacy A. Krueger-Hadfield, Samuel M. Bashevkin, Matthew W. Hahn, Matthew P. Hare, Holly K. Kindsvater, Mary A. Sewell, Katie E. Lotterhos, Adam M. Reitzel
Summary: The study discusses the evolution of complex life cycles, proposing three hypotheses on how selection may affect organisms with complex life cycles. It suggests a within-generation experimental design to gain insight into composite selection across life cycle stages. Sampling requirements for many systems are challenging but achievable, with plants and marine invertebrates being excellent systems for exploring how organisms with complex life cycles may adapt to climate change.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jesse R. Lasky, Emily B. Josephs, Geoffrey P. Morris
Summary: A fundamental goal in plant biology is to identify and understand the variation underlying plants' adaptation to their environment. Genotype-environment associations (GEAs) use statistical associations between allele frequency and environment of origin to test the hypothesis that allelic variation at a given gene is adapted to local environments. Despite the rapid adoption of these methods, many important questions remain about the interpretation of GEA findings, which arise from fundamental unanswered questions on the genetic architecture of adaptation and limitations inherent to association-based analyses. When combined with a rigorous hypothesis testing framework, GEAs may facilitate our understanding of the molecular basis of climate adaptation for plant improvement.
Article
Ecology
Sandra M. Kahl, Christian Kappel, Jasmin Joshi, Michael Lenhard
Summary: This study sampled the model plant Silene vulgaris across Europe and exposed the offspring to a climate change scenario for central Europe in a greenhouse experiment, revealing population structure through whole-genome sequencing. Three major genetic clusters of S. vulgaris in Europe were identified, with genetic diversity decreasing with latitude. While different genetic clusters showed significant differences in biomass-related traits and flowering days, half of the traits exhibited parallel response patterns to the experimental climate change scenario, suggesting the importance of phenotypic plasticity in the adaptation of this widely distributed species.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cinnamon S. Mittan-Moreau, Crystal Kelehear, Luis Felipe Toledo, Jamie Bacon, Juan M. Guayasamin, Andrew Snyder, Kelly R. Zamudio
Summary: This study investigated the establishment success of cane toads across their introduced range by examining the roles of introduction history and genetic diversity. The researchers found that Florida populations were more closely related to native Central American lineages, and there were high levels of diversity and population structure in the native range, supporting the idea that cane toads are a species complex. The study also revealed that introduced populations have slightly lower genetic diversity compared to native populations.
Article
Ophthalmology
Xiao Chun Ling, Eugene Yu-Chuan Kang, Kuan-Jen Chen, Nan-Kai Wang, Laura Liu, Yen -Po Chen, Yih-Shiou Hwang, Chi-Chun Lai, Shun -Fa Yang, Wei -Chi Wu
Summary: This study investigated the associations between VEGF polymorphisms and ROP risk. The results showed that in female ROP patients, those with VEGF rs3025035 CT and a combination of CT and TT genotypes had significantly higher risks of severe ROP. Female ROP infants with VEGF rs3025010 C alleles had a lower risk of ROP severity.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Yanqing Liu, Chaoting Lan, Bingxiao Li, Ning Wang, Xiaoyu Zuo, Lihua Huang, Yuxin Wu, Yun Zhu
Summary: By genotyping, it was found that the rs2054675 and rs707265 single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the CYP2B6 gene are associated with increased susceptibility to the severe HSCR subtype in southern Chinese children.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenwen Wei, Xin Wang, Yuanzhong Zhou, Xuejun Shang, Hongsong Yu
Summary: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a severe pregnancy complication that can lead to maternal mortality. Various genetic factors have been shown to play an important role in the occurrence and development of PIH. This review summarizes the genetic risk factors involved in the renin-angiotensin system, endothelin system, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and other functional networks that may contribute to the pathogenesis of PIH.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena A. Erofeeva
Summary: Hormetic trade-offs, characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition, can occur in various organisms and biological levels. These trade-offs can involve different functional traits or the same trait endpoints. The asynchronous responses of indicators to low-dose stressors are key factors leading to hormetic trade-offs. These trade-offs can have diverse effects on preconditioning, offspring, and population fitness. Additionally, they may contribute to evolutionary processes such as genotype selection and the assimilation of adaptive phenotypes through the Baldwin effect.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Jinyu Li, Longqing Shi, Wei Chen, Yi Mao, Liette Vasseur, Geoff Gurr, Minsheng You, Shijun You
Summary: The study on the tea green leafhopper found that climatic differences play a significant role in the subpopulation differentiation of the leafhopper, which explains the observed increase in outbreak frequency under climate change. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of molecular genetic approaches in studying the effects of environmental heterogeneity on natural population genetic variation.
ENTOMOLOGIA GENERALIS
(2023)
Article
Biology
James A. deMayo, Reid S. Brennan, Melissa H. Pespeni, Michael Finiguerra, Lydia Norton, Gihong Park, Hannes Baumann, Hans G. Dam
Summary: Phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary adaptation can help populations cope with global change, but the limits and costs of adaptation under multiple stressors are not well understood. This study found that a copepod species, Acartia hudsonica, initially experienced a decline in fitness under the combined effects of ocean warming and acidification, but fully recovered within four generations, indicating an adaptive response and synergy between stressors. However, in the long term, the fitness of the adapted lineage was lower compared to the ambient conditions, suggesting a cost to producing phenotypes adapted to both warming and acidification. The study also found sustained phenotypic plasticity in the adapted lineage, even when exposed to different environments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diane Z. Chase, Jose Lobo, Gary M. Feinman, David M. Carballo, Arlen F. Chase, Adrian S. Z. Chase, Scott R. Hutson, Alanna Ossa, Marcello Canuto, Travis W. Stanton, L. J. Gorenflo, Christopher A. Pool, Barbara Arroyo, Rodrigo Liendo Stuardo, Deborah L. Nichols
Summary: Urban adaptation to climate change is a global challenge. Efforts to leverage insights from the urban past have been hindered by disciplinary silos and misconceptions about prehistoric urban settlements, especially in prehispanic Mesoamerica. However, advances in archaeology have significantly enhanced our understanding of prehispanic urbanism in Mesoamerica, highlighting its resilience and adaptation to environmental change. This calls for a dialogue among urban archaeologists, sustainability scientists, and researchers interested in urban adaptation to climate change, aiming to shift the focus from failure and collapse to resilience and factors that fostered adaptation and sustainability.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ayse Tenger-Trolander
Summary: In this review, the author discusses the controversial activity of rearing monarch butterflies in captivity and later releasing them, due to potential negative effects on the wild population. The review also examines the current evidence for how captive rearing and breeding could impact monarch fitness in the wild, as well as the implications for conserving monarchs and other species.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Christopher S. Ealand, Bhavna G. Gordhan, Edith E. Machowski, Bavesh D. Kana
Summary: Ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infections are driven by various variants with different abilities to evade the immune system. Changes in the S-gene, specifically SNPs, can significantly alter the virus's ability to infect host cells and potentially reduce vaccine efficacy and prior immunity. A rapid and scalable approach to detecting these variants is crucial for monitoring new infections. In this study, qPCR assays targeting specific SNPs in the S-gene were developed and successfully used to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants in clinical specimens. The robustness of the approach was confirmed by independent Sanger sequencing. These assays offer an easy and scalable method for targeted detection of variant-defining SNPs in a clinical setting.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Costanzo, Jing Hou, Vincent Messier, Justin Nelson, Mahfuzur Rahman, Benjamin VanderSluis, Wen Wang, Carles Pons, Catherine Ross, Matej Usaj, Bryan-Joseph San Luis, Emira Shuteriqi, Elizabeth N. Koch, Patrick Aloy, Chad L. Myers, Charles Boone, Brenda Andrews
Summary: Through analyzing the rewiring of genetic networks in yeast under different environmental conditions, new differential interactions were discovered, highlighting functional connections between different gene pairs. However, the majority of genetic interactions remained stable across different conditions, suggesting that the global yeast genetic interaction network is robust to environmental perturbations and reflects the fundamental functional architecture of a eukaryotic cell.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sylvain Schmitt, Niklas Tysklind, Myriam Heuertz, Bruno Herault
Summary: Research shows that tree species in tropical forests have genetically determined growth strategies in response to treefall gaps and adapt to different light and competition environments. Fast-growing genotypes are more common in light-enriched environments, while slow-growing genotypes are more common in shaded environments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina de Miguel, Isabel Rodriguez-Quilon, Myriam Heuertz, Agathe Hurel, Delphine Grivet, Juan Pablo Jaramillo-Correa, Giovanni G. Vendramin, Christophe Plomion, Juan Majada, Ricardo Alia, Andrew J. Eckert, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez
Summary: A decade of genetic association studies has shown that complex traits are determined by multiple genetic loci, each with a small effect-size. This study used a multilocus approach to estimate the degree of polygenicity in fitness-related traits of a long-lived plant, maritime pine, and analyzed its variation across environments and years. The results showed a remarkably stable degree of polygenicity across traits, environments, and years, with evidence of local adaptation and negative selection.
Article
Plant Sciences
Nicole Moreira Veto, Dragos Postolache, Frank L. Guzman Escudero, Elia Vajana, Ricardo Burgo Braga, Fabiano Salgueiro, Rogerio Margis, Giovanni G. Vendramin, Andreia C. Turchetto-Zolet
Summary: This study investigates population genetic structure and adaptive genetic diversity in Eugenia uniflora, a tropical tree species. The study finds spatial population structuring and higher genetic diversity in southern populations. It also identifies candidate loci potentially involved in local adaptation.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Jelena M. M. Aleksic, Milan Mataruga, Vanja Danicic, Branislav Cvjetkovic, Dordije Milanovic, Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin, Camilla Avanzi, Andrea Piotti
Summary: Studying the transmission of genetic diversity between generations is crucial for assessing the survival prospects of fragmented forest tree populations. This is especially urgent for rare, endangered species at high risk of extinction and highly susceptible to climate change. In this study, the gene flow patterns of the IUCN red-listed Serbian spruce population were assessed for the first time using parentage analysis. The results showed that fire disturbance triggered natural regeneration and increased pollen immigration. The study provides essential information for the dynamic management and conservation of this rare and endangered species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ivan Scotti, Hadrien Lalague, Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio, Caroline Scotti-Saintagne, Rose Ruiz Daniels, Delphine Grivet, Francois Lefevre, Philippe Cubry, Bruno Fady, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez, Anne Roig, Isabelle Lesur-Kupin, Francesca Bagnoli, Vanina Guerin, Christophe Plomion, Philippe Rozenberg, Giovanni G. Vendramin
Summary: Microgeographical adaptation occurs when directional selection persists despite gene flow. This study investigates the patterns of genomic divergence in four European and Mediterranean conifers with different life-history traits and ecological requirements. The results show that selection is strong in all species but affects different loci in each. Within-population diversity at microgeographical scales is likely to be a reservoir of adaptive potential.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sean Hoban, Michael W. Bruford, Jessica M. da Silva, W. Chris Funk, Richard Frankham, Michael J. Gill, Catherine E. Grueber, Myriam Heuertz, Margaret E. Hunter, Francine Kershaw, Robert C. Lacy, Caroline Lees, Margarida Lopes-Fernandes, Anna J. MacDonald, Alicia Mastretta-Yanes, Philip J. K. McGowan, Mariah H. Meek, Joachim Mergeay, Katie L. Millette, Cinnamon S. Mittan-Moreau, Laetitia M. Navarro, David O'Brien, Rob Ogden, Gernot Segelbacher, Ivan Paz-Vinas, Cristiano Vernesi, Linda Laikre
Summary: The goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) have evolved to include maintaining genetic diversity, restoring genetic connectivity, developing national conservation strategies, and reporting on these using feasible indicators.
CONSERVATION GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ricardo Alia, Eduardo Notivol, Jose Climent, Felipe Perez, Diana Barba, Juan Majada, Jose Manuel Garcia del Barrio
Summary: Seed sourcing strategies are crucial for identifying genetic material that meets future climatic conditions and social demands. This study analyzes different local seed sourcing approaches and their limitations. The research confirms the abundance of local species and genetic pools, but highlights the differences in their importance and constraints related to approved materials and seed production areas. The study suggests alternative pools to meet social demands under current regulations on marketing of reproductive materials.
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Luis Sampedro, Ricardo Alia
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Juliette Archambeau, Marta Benito Garzon, Marina de Miguel, Benjamin Brachi, Frederic Barraquand, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez
Summary: This study empirically tested the effects of environmental selection and population admixture on genetic variation in maritime pine populations. The results showed that populations experiencing colder winters had lower genetic variation for early height growth, while within-population genetic variation was not influenced by environmental heterogeneity or admixture. These findings provide insights into the adaptive potential of populations to changing environments.
Article
Ecology
Felix Gugerli, Sabine Brodbeck, Bertalan Lendvay, Benjamin Dauphin, Francesca Bagnoli, Willem O. van Der Knaap, Willy Tinner, Maria Hohn, Giovanni G. Vendramin, Cesar Morales-Molino, Christoph Schworer
Summary: The study aimed to understand the historical climate shifts and their impact on Pinus cembra. The research combined genetic structure and palaeoecological findings to identify putative refugia and re-colonisation routes. The results suggest that P. cembra survived the Last Glacial Maximum in southern regions and expanded into its current range during the Late Glacial.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sean Hoban, Jessica M. da Silva, Alicia Mastretta-Yanes, Catherine E. Grueber, Myriam Heuertz, Margaret E. Hunter, Joachim Mergeay, Ivan Paz-Vinas, Keiichi Fukaya, Fumiko Ishihama, Rebecca Jordan, Viktoria Koppa, Maria Camilla Latorre-Cardenas, Anna J. MacDonald, Victor Rincon-Parra, Per Sjogren-Gulve, Naoki Tani, Henrik Thurfjell, Linda Laikre
Summary: Recent scientific evidence emphasizes the importance of maintaining and monitoring genetic diversity for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Three genetic diversity indicators, including non-DNA based assessments, have been proposed for reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity and other conservation initiatives. These indicators allow for an approximation of genetic diversity using existing demographic and geographic information, informing policy decisions. Ongoing efforts in calculating and applying these indicators, as well as addressing implementation challenges, are described, highlighting the potential of using existing biodiversity observation data to report on genetic diversity.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexis Marchesini, Andrea Silverj, Sara Torre, Omar Rota-Stabelli, Matteo Girardi, Iacopo Passeri, Ilaria Fracasso, Federico Sebastiani, Cristiano Vernesi
Summary: In this study, the European beech was subjected to whole-genome resequencing, revealing clear genetic differentiation at the chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nuclear genome levels. The divergence between the Alpine and Apennine populations was dated back to approximately 660 thousand years ago, indicating a long history of separation. This information has important conservation implications for the adaptation of this tree species to ongoing climate changes.
Article
Forestry
Yusuf Kurt, Burcu Cengel, Ercan Velioglu, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez, Delphine Grivet, Nuray Kaya
Summary: The aim of this study was to characterize and compare genetic resources of Aleppo pine and Brutia pine in the Mediterranean Basin. By analyzing 56 populations from eight countries, it was found that the genetic diversity of Brutia pine was slightly higher than that of Aleppo pine. Furthermore, Aleppo pine populations showed clear east-west differentiation, while Brutia pine populations did not exhibit any spatial genetic pattern.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marjana Westergren, Juliette Archambeau, Marko Bajc, Rok Damjanic, Adelaide Theraroz, Hojka Kraigher, Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez
Summary: This study examined the response of European beech to selection under field conditions. The results showed that larger trees with higher fruit production and early male flowering had higher total fecundity, while trees with longer growth season had lower total fecundity (directional selection). Stabilizing selection on spring phenology was found for female fecundity, indicating the impact of late frosts on selection. Compared to other studies, this research found relatively low to moderate heritability and evolvability for most traits. The study suggests that forest tree populations, such as European beech, can locally adapt even at short time scales.
Article
Forestry
Sanna Olsson, Guia Giovannelli, Anne Roig, Ilaria Spanu, Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin, Bruno Fady
Summary: Using the subsection Pinus as an example, this study explains the issue of weak support in phylogenetic studies of closely related pine species and suggests that popular genetic markers are not recommended for species identification purposes in European pines.
IFOREST-BIOGEOSCIENCES AND FORESTRY
(2022)