VIROME OF GRAPEVINE GENETIC COLLECTIONS

Russian vineyards are an underexplored reservoir of viral genetic diversity. The use of metagenomics methods allows to obtain information about the virome of a plant and can be used to establish the etiology of a new disease.

Microsatellite DNA-markers in the study of the gene pool of fruit crops

This article describes development of multilocus SSR-markers sets for genotyping Pyrus, Prunus, and Malus from various genetic collections of the South of Russia. Generated multiplex sets of SSR-markers were used in the certification of cultivated varieties and in the analysis of the genetic structure of Pyrus, Prunus and Malus species collections. The results of SSR genotyping of pear, apple, plum and sweet cherry made it possible to establish genetic relationships between varieties, including groups of modern varieties of Russian and foreign breeding and, in turn, local autochthonous varieties. In general, the use of these multiplexes has confirmed their effectiveness in solving the assigned tasks.

Was this an ending? The destruction of samples and deletion of records from the UK Police National DNA Database

Between December 2012 and September 2013 the United Kingdom government oversaw one of the largest destructions of a collection of human-derived samples ever conducted. Approximately 7,753,000 DNA samples and 1,766,000 DNA computerized profiles associated with the UK's policing National DNA Database (NDNAD) were destroyed or deleted. This paper considers this moment of exceptional erasure and the consequent implementation of new processes for routinely discarding and keeping samples and their associated computer records. It is divided into two parts. The first discusses the rapid growth of the NDNAD; the changing legal, ethical and political landscape within which it was promoted and contested; and the developments that led to the decision to limit its scope. The second shifts focus to the operational challenge of implementing the destruction of samples and deletion of records. The NDNAD case allows us to examine the labour and continuing uncertainties involved in erasure of biological data and the emerging norms and practices associated with collecting DNA in differing formats. It also sheds new light on the importance, interconnection and ongoing instability of the ethical and practical biovalue of genetic collections: as the paper argues, far from ending the NDNAD, a more rigorous regime of erasure has helped, for the moment at least, to secure its future.

PLANTS GENETIC RESOURCES IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS – THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF FOOD, ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL SECURITY OF THE COUNTRY

Breeding of new domestic varieties of economically useful plants for different purposes (food, fodder, technical, medicinal, decorative, etc.) is the basis for food, environmental and social security of the republic population. Therefore, preservation, study, mobilization and rational use of genetic resources in the context of global climate change and steady increase of anthropogenic pressure on nature is a planetary problem. The welfare and life of the present and future generations of mankind depends on successful solution of this problem. The paper presents history in chronicles of genetic resources preservation in the Republic of Belarus – from conception of this trend to the present day. Particular attention is paid to the presentation of the results obtained by the implementing organizations of the State Program “Plant Gene Pool” over a 17-year period (2000-2017), including 11 academic institutions and 2 higher educational institutions of the republic. The contribution of each organization to the national genetic bank formation is reflected. Basic, active, working, field, double, target, indicative, core and training collections of the main resource crops, economically significant crops and forest-forming species were formed by their efforts. The largest and most valuable genetic collections of 7 implementing organizations are included in the State Register of Scientific Objects, which constitute the national treasure of the Republic. These collections are a source of valuable genetic material and, at the same time, they are successfully used in scientific, environmental, educational and other programs. Currently, genetic collections in general include over 78,300.00 specimens belonging to 1,680.00 species of crop plants and their wild relatives. 1,016.00 varieties of crop plants were created based on them. The paper also reflects the main approaches and perspectives of preservation and rational use of the plant gene pool. Sophisticated and time-consuming processes of genetic collections formation in modern hard economic and regional natural conditions, taking into account the results of similar studies of other states, will serve as a scientific and information basis for increasing efficiency and improving work in this direction. In practical terms, the high level of species, variety and form biological diversity of genetic collections serves as a guarantee for their efficient use in crop production and selection as sources and donors of valuable genetic material.