Hybridization of Sugarcane and Other Grasses for Novel Traits

2016 ◽  
pp. 33-48
Keyword(s):  
Novel Traits

scholarly journals Hox genes are essential for the development of eyespots in Bicyclus anynana butterflies

Genetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuji Matsuoka ◽  
Antónia Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
Hox Genes ◽  
Bicyclus Anynana ◽  
Hox Gene ◽  
Novel Traits ◽  
Anterior Posterior ◽  
Anterior Posterior Axis

Abstract The eyespot patterns found on the wings of nymphalid butterflies are novel traits that originated first in hindwings and subsequently in forewings, suggesting that eyespot development might be dependent on Hox genes. Hindwings differ from forewings in the expression of Ultrabithorax (Ubx), but the function of this Hox gene in eyespot development as well as that of another Hox gene Antennapedia (Antp), expressed specifically in eyespots centers on both wings, are still unclear. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to target both genes in Bicyclus anynana butterflies. We show that Antp is essential for eyespot development on the forewings and for the differentiation of white centers and larger eyespots on hindwings, whereas Ubx is essential not only for the development of at least some hindwing eyespots but also for repressing the size of other eyespots. Additionally, Antp is essential for the development of silver scales in male wings. In summary, Antp and Ubx, in addition to their conserved roles in modifying serially homologous segments along the anterior–posterior axis of insects, have acquired a novel role in promoting the development of a new set of serial homologs, the eyespot patterns, in both forewings (Antp) and hindwings (Antp and Ubx) of B. anynana butterflies. We propose that the peculiar pattern of eyespot origins on hindwings first, followed by forewings, could be due to an initial co-option of Ubx into eyespot development followed by a later, partially redundant, co-option of Antp into the same network.

scholarly journals Exploring Two Honey Bee Traits for Improving Resistance Against Varroa destructor: Development and Genetic Evaluation

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Matthieu Guichard ◽  
Benoît Droz ◽  
Evert W. Brascamp ◽  
Adrien von Virag ◽  
Markus Neuditschko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Genetic Evaluation ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Apis Mellifera Mellifera ◽  
Novel Traits ◽  
Resistance Traits

For the development of novel selection traits in honey bees, applicability under field conditions is crucial. We thus evaluated two novel traits intended to provide resistance against the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor and to allow for their straightforward implementation in honey bee selection. These traits are new field estimates of already-described colony traits: brood recapping rate (‘Recapping’) and solidness (‘Solidness’). ‘Recapping’ refers to a specific worker characteristic wherein they reseal a capped and partly opened cell containing a pupa, whilst ‘Solidness’ assesses the percentage of capped brood in a predefined area. According to the literature and beekeepers’ experiences, a higher recapping rate and higher solidness could be related to resistance to V. destructor. During a four-year field trial in Switzerland, the two resistance traits were assessed in a total of 121 colonies of Apis mellifera mellifera. We estimated the repeatability and the heritability of the two traits and determined their phenotypic correlations with commonly applied selection traits, including other putative resistance traits. Both traits showed low repeatability between different measurements within each year. ‘Recapping’ had a low heritability (h2 = 0.04 to 0.05, depending on the selected model) and a negative phenotypic correlation to non-removal of pin-killed brood (r = −0.23). The heritability of ‘Solidness’ was moderate (h2 = 0.24 to 0.25) and did not significantly correlate with resistance traits. The two traits did not show an association with V. destructor infestation levels. Further research is needed to confirm the results, as only a small number of colonies was evaluated.

A CYC-RAD-DIV-DRIF interaction likely pre-dates the origin of floral monosymmetry in Lamiales

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aniket Sengupta ◽  
Lena C. Hileman
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Tomato Fruit ◽  
Regulatory Interaction ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Regulatory Interactions ◽  
Developmental Program ◽  
Novel Traits ◽  
Carpel Development ◽  
Outstanding Question

Abstract BackgroundAn outstanding question in evolutionary biology is how genetic interactions defining novel traits evolve. They may evolve either by de novo assembly of previously non-interacting genes or by en bloc co-option of interactions from other functions. We tested these hypotheses in the context of a novel phenotype—Lamiales flower monosymmetry—defined by a developmental program that relies on regulatory interaction among CYCLOIDEA , RADIALIS , DIVARICATA , and DRIF gene products. In Antirrhinum majus (snapdragon), representing Lamiales, we tested whether components of this program likely function beyond their previously known role in petal and stamen development. In Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), representing Solanales which diverged from Lamiales before the origin of Lamiales floral monosymmetry, we additionally tested for regulatory interactions in this program. ResultsWe found that RADIALIS , DIVARICATA , and DRIF are expressed in snapdragon ovaries and developing fruit, similar to their homologs during tomato fruit development. Additionally, we found that a tomato CYCLOIDEA ortholog positively regulates a tomato RADIALIS ortholog. ConclusionOur results provide preliminary support to the hypothesis that the developmental program defining floral monosymmetry in Lamiales was co-opted en bloc from a function in carpel development. This expands our understanding of novel trait evolution facilitated by co-option of existing regulatory interactions.

The Nature and Analysis of Phenotypic Transitions

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Jane West-Eberhard
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Adopted Children ◽  
Psychological Traits ◽  
Origin Of Species ◽  
Classical Mythology ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
Novel Traits ◽  
Famous Book ◽  
The Common ◽  
Vertebrate Eye

Part II is about origins: how do new traits arise from old phenotypes? People of all ages are fascinated by the question of origins. Origins are the common concern of evolutionists and creationists, of ethnic historians, of Mormon geneologists and the Daughters of the American Revolution, of adopted children searching for their biological parents— indeed, of all who have wondered where Johnny got his patience, his sense of humor, or his big nose. Darwin was a clever publicist when he titled his most famous book The Origin of Species. He touched deep human chords by discussing not only the origin of species but the origin of marvellously complex morphological and psychological traits—specialized limbs, sexual behavior, intelligence, heroism, and the vertebrate eye, to mention just a few. Research on selection and adaptation may tell us why a trait persisted and spread, but it will not tell us where a trait came from. This is why evolutionary biology inevitably intersects with developmental biology, and why satisfactory explanations of ultimate (evolutionary) causation must always include both proximate causes and the study of selection. Novel traits originate via the transformation of ancestral phenotypes during development. This transformational aspect of evolutionary change has been oddly neglected in modern evolutionary biology, even though it is an integral part of human curiosity about origins in other fields. From classical mythology to modern-day childrens’ books, origins are explained in terms of transformations of the phenotype, alongside attention to developmental mechanisms and adaptive functions. Consider this excerpt from The Apeman’s Secret (Dixon, 1980), a Hardy Boys adventure book: . . . [T]he Apeman hated cruelty of any kind. Whenever he saw crooks or villians do something nasty to a helpless victim, he would fly into a rage. This would change his body chemistry and cause him to revert to the savage state. . . .

A HIGLY EFFICIENT PROCEDURE FOR GENERATING CARNATION PLANTS WITH NOVEL TRAITS

2000 ◽  
pp. 49-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ovadis ◽  
A. Zuker ◽  
T. Tzfira ◽  
E. Shklarman ◽  
G. Scovel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Efficient Procedure ◽  
Novel Traits ◽  
Plants With Novel Traits

scholarly journals Genetic correlations among selected traits in Canadian Holsteins

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Martin ◽  
C. Baes ◽  
K. Houlahan ◽  
C.M. Richardson ◽  
J. Jamrozik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Indirect Selection ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Genomic Evaluation ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Novel Traits ◽  
Evaluation Models ◽  
Selected Traits ◽  
Fertility Traits

In the Canadian dairy industry, there are currently over 80 traits routinely evaluated, and more are considered for potential selection. Particularly, in the last few years, recording has commenced for several new phenotypes required to introduce novel traits with high economic importance into the selection program. However, without a systematic estimation of the genetic correlations that exist among traits, the potential results of indirect selection are unknown. Therefore, 29 traits representative of the trait diversity for first lactation Canadian animals were selected. Their two-by-two genetic correlations were estimated from a dataset of 62 498 first lactation Holstein cows, using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Gibbs sampling approach. The general tendencies among the groups of traits confirm that production traits are negatively correlated with fertility traits and that functional traits are positively correlated with one another. The association of udder depth with fertility and disease resistance has also been highlighted. This contribution offers a comprehensive overview of current estimates across traits and includes correlations with novel traits that constitute an original addition to the literature. These new estimates can be used for newly developed genomic evaluation models and possibly lead to more accurate estimations of the dairy cows’ overall genetic merit.

Isozyme analysis, chromosome pairing, and fertility of Lycopersicon esculentum × Solanum lycopersicoides diploid backcross hybrids

Genome ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 783-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger T. Chetelat ◽  
Charles M. Rick ◽  
Joseph W. DeVerna
Keyword(s):  
Lycopersicon Esculentum ◽  
Chromosome Pairing ◽  
Linkage Mapping ◽  
Intergeneric Hybridization ◽  
Morphological Markers ◽  
Stainable Pollen ◽  
Mendelian Segregation ◽  
Solanum Lycopersicoides ◽  
Novel Traits ◽  
Backcross Hybrids

The wild nightshade Solanum lycopersicoides possesses potentially valuable traits for tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) improvement. Male sterility of the intergenic F1 hybrid and its stylar rejection of tomato pollen have until recently prevented introgression. In the work herein described, ovule fertility was detected in the F1 hybrid following pollinations with S. lycopersicoides. Pollinations of the F1 with L. pennellii derived bridging hybrids resulted in a BC1 population of 65 plants. BC2 seed was obtained from most BC1 individuals. Male fertility of the BC1 plants ranged from 0 to 66% acetocarmine-stainable pollen. Of the 43 plants scored, 41 were diploids (2n = 24) and 2 were aneuploids (2n = 25 and 2n = 26). Chromosome pairing of the BC1 at diakinesis and metaphase I averaged 11.1 bivalents per pollen mother cell. BC1 and BC2 plants were scored for 19 isozyme and morphological markers covering 10 of the 12 S. lycopersicoides chromosomes. Significant deviations from Mendelian segregation were observed for seven loci, with an excess of homozygotes (+/+) in all cases. Wa, which controls the white anther trait of S. lycopersicoides, was mapped to within 15 centiMorgans (cM) of Got-4, while Mdh-4 was closely linked to Pgi-1 (<2 cM). Plants heterozygous for the S. lycopersicoides allele (+/s) at Dia-2, Skdh-1, Wa, and Aco-1 showed significantly lower pollen stainability than homozygotes (+/+). Skdh-1 and Got-3 heterozygotes had less chromosome pairing at meiosis than homozygotes. These hybrids will permit the introgression of novel traits from S. lycopersicoides into tomato.Key words: tomato, segregation, linkage mapping, quantitative trait loci, intergeneric hybridization.

scholarly journals Unleashing Natural Competence in Lactococcus lactis by Induction of the Competence Regulator ComX

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Mulder ◽  
Michiel Wels ◽  
Oscar P. Kuipers ◽  
Michiel Kleerebezem ◽  
Peter A. Bron
Keyword(s):  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Streptococcus Thermophilus ◽  
Starter Cultures ◽  
Natural Competence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Competence Gene ◽  
Gene Sets ◽  
Novel Traits

ABSTRACT In biotechnological workhorses like Streptococcus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis, natural competence can be induced, which facilitates genetic manipulation of these microbes. However, in strains of the important dairy starter Lactococcus lactis, natural competence has not been established to date. However, in silico analysis of the complete genome sequences of 43 L. lactis strains revealed complete late competence gene sets in 2 L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains (KW2 and KW10) and at least 10 L. lactis subsp. lactis strains, including the model strain IL1403 and the plant-derived strain KF147. The remainder of the strains, including all dairy isolates, displayed genomic decay in one or more of the late competence genes. Nisin-controlled expression of the competence regulator comX in L. lactis subsp. lactis KF147 resulted in the induction of expression of the canonical competence regulon and elicited a state of natural competence in this strain. In contrast, comX expression in L. lactis NZ9000, which was predicted to encode an incomplete competence gene set, failed to induce natural competence. Moreover, mutagenesis of the comEA-EC operon in strain KF147 abolished the comX-driven natural competence, underlining the involvement of the competence machinery. Finally, introduction of nisin-inducible comX expression into nisRK-harboring derivatives of strains IL1403 and KW2 allowed the induction of natural competence in these strains also, expanding this phenotype to other L. lactis strains of both subspecies. IMPORTANCE Specific bacterial species are able to enter a state of natural competence in which DNA is taken up from the environment, allowing the introduction of novel traits. Strains of the species Lactococcus lactis are very important starter cultures for the fermentation of milk in the cheese production process, where these bacteria contribute to the flavor and texture of the end product. The activation of natural competence in this industrially relevant organism can accelerate research aiming to understand industrially relevant traits of these bacteria and can facilitate engineering strategies to harness the natural biodiversity of the species in optimized starter strains.

scholarly journals Multiple recent co-options of Optix associated with novel traits in adaptive butterfly wing radiations

EvoDevo ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud Martin ◽  
Kyle J McCulloch ◽  
Nipam H Patel ◽  
Adriana D Briscoe ◽  
Lawrence E Gilbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Butterfly Wing ◽  
Novel Traits

scholarly journals Neofunctionalization of embryonic head patterning genes facilitates the positioning of novel traits on the dorsal head of adult beetles

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1834) ◽  
pp. 20160824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo E. Zattara ◽  
Hannah A. Busey ◽  
David M. Linz ◽  
Yoshinori Tomoyasu ◽  
Armin P. Moczek
Keyword(s):  
Rna Interference ◽  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Gene Network ◽  
Evolutionary Novelty ◽  
Developmental Evolution ◽  
Flour Beetles ◽  
Novel Traits ◽  
Adult Head ◽  
Conserved Gene ◽  
Embryonic Head

The origin and integration of novel traits are fundamental processes during the developmental evolution of complex organisms. Yet how novel traits integrate into pre-existing contexts remains poorly understood. Beetle horns represent a spectacular evolutionary novelty integrated within the context of the adult dorsal head, a highly conserved trait complex present since the origin of insects. We investigated whether otd1/2 and six3 , members of a highly conserved gene network that instructs the formation of the anterior end of most bilaterians, also play roles in patterning more recently evolved traits. Using ablation-based fate-mapping, comparative larval RNA interference (RNAi) and transcript sequencing, we found that otd1/2 , but not six3 , play a fundamental role in the post-embryonic formation of the adult dorsal head and head horns of Onthophagus beetles. By contrast, neither gene appears to pattern the adult head of Tribolium flour beetles even though all are expressed in the dorsal head epidermis of both Onthophagus and Tribolium . We propose that, at least in beetles, the roles of otd genes during post-embryonic development are decoupled from their embryonic functions, and that potentially non-functional post-embryonic expression in the dorsal head facilitated their co-option into a novel horn-patterning network during Onthophagus evolution.

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