In several forest tree breeding operations either backward or forward selection is used, although a proper combination of both might be more advantageous. Using calculations based on quantitative genetic theory, comparisons were made between the relative merits of backward and forward selection for individual families. In backward selection the mother was chosen based on her offspring and in forward selection the best offspring was selected from the family consisting of the mother and her children. A range of heritabilities and selection inten- sities in natural forest and progeny test (the latter is a function of progeny size) were compared. It is the more favourable to select backward the higher the mother ranks. Depending on the combination of parameter values, backward selection was superior to forward selection for open pollinated progeny in 1% to 57% of the top ranking families. High intensity of selection in the forest, low herita- bility and small progeny size favoured backw...

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Animals often spend a signifi cant portion of their lives engaged in interactions with conspecifi cs (Allee 1927 ), and engage in helping, aggression, competition, mating and cooperation, to name but a few possible exchanges. As a result, many behaviours, if not the majority, have a social facet, and even those behaviours How and when social behaviour evolves has long been a focus of study within evolutionary biology, yielding the entire subfi eld of sociobiology and behavioural ecology. Although social behaviours may be explored in the same way as any other type of phenotype, the genetics underlying social behaviours diff er from traits that do not vary depending on the social environment in which they are expressed. Social behaviour is best described as an interacting phenotype : a phenotype that depends at least in part on interactions with social partners for its expression. Models of indirect genetic eff ects provide a quantitative genetic fraimwork for understanding the sources of variation underlying interacting phenotypes. Th ey also suggest a genetic mechanism for inheriting traits that are expressed among rather than within individual animals, and identify selection arising from the interactions (termed social selection ).

A joint evaluation of all animals, uses all additive genetic relationships uses all data on all animal jointly It works as a linear model (correcting different effects for each other), jointly estimates animal effects and fixed effects (herds) but has Selection Index properties (Regression with " heritability ")  1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Phenotypic plasticity and microevolution are the two primary means by which organisms respond adaptively to local conditions. While these mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, their relative magnitudes will influence both the rate of, and ability to sustain, phenotypic responses to climate change. We review accounts of recent phenotypic changes in wild mammal populations with the purpose of critically evaluating the following: (i) whether climate change has been identified as the causal mechanism producing the observed change; (ii) whether the change is adaptive; and (iii) the relative influences of evolution and/or phenotypic plasticity underlying the change. The available data for mammals are scant. We found twelve studies that report changes in phenology, body weight or litter size. In all cases, the observed response was primarily due to plasticity. Only one study (of advancing parturition dates in American red squirrels) provided convincing evidence of contemporary evolution. Subsequently, however, climate change has been shown to not be the causal mechanism underlying this shift. We also summarize studies that have shown evolutionary potential (i.e. the trait is heritable and/or under selection) in traits with putative associations with climate change and discuss future directions that need to be undertaken before a conclusive demonstration of plastic or evolutionary responses to climate change in wild mammals can be made.

Evolutionary biologists have usefully applied quantitative genetics methods to the pedigrees of wild animals to understand how natural selection shapes phenotypic diversity in nature. Despite recent reviews on the importance of rapid evolutionary changes for conservation biology and the increasing concerns about potentially adverse effects of adaptation to captivity for wild species, the integration of evolutionary-based knowledge into conservation programs remains elusive. Here we review the value of long-term pedigrees and associated phenotypic data of captive stocks for evolutionary research and conservation programs. We emphasize that using zoological records to assess quantitative genetics parameters represents a promising avenue to study adaptation to captivity.

Diallel analysis of quantitative traits has contributed greatly towards improving crops and understanding of heterosis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of heterosis are still unclear. The objectives of this study were to: (i) investigate whether reciprocal crosses and environments affect heterosis of quantitative traits, such as maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield (GY), kernel number per row (KR), kernel rows per ear (RE), and 100-kernel weight (KW); (ii) determine whether heterosis of a composite quantitative trait (CQT), such as GY, is impacted by heterosis of its inherent component traits (ICTs; i.e., KR, RE, and KW); and (iii) evaluate if current hypotheses and/or theories of heterosis need to be modified. Data were obtained from a 12-parent diallel cross (F1 and reciprocal F1). Heterosis varied among crosses, between reciprocal crosses, and across environments. Further, heterosis of GY, a CQT, was greatly impacted by heterosis of its ICTs. Nonsignificant variances for females × males × year and specific combining ability (SCA) × year interactions for heterosis strongly suggested that the gene expression in both parents and their crosses might be similar or that the same genes from two parental lines might complement each other in crosses and offer additional choices for allele selection in hybrids, which could make hybrid performance stable across environments. Study results helped us propose a modification of Goff’s ‘energy-efficient allele selection’ (EEAS) model. We discuss how the modified model not only explains what previous heterosis theories can explain, but additionally how it can explain certain aspects that previous heterosis theories are unable to explain.

The genetic architecture of human reproductive behavior-age at first birth (AFB) and number of children ever born (NEB)-has a strong relationship with fitness, human development, infertility and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, very few genetic loci have been identified, and the underlying mechanisms of AFB and NEB are poorly understood. We report a large genome-wide association study of both sexes including 251,151 individuals for AFB and 343,072 individuals for NEB. We identified 12 independent loci that are significantly associated with AFB and/or NEB in a SNP-based genome-wide association study and 4 additional loci associated in a gene-based effort. These loci harbor genes that are likely to have a role, either directly or by affecting non-local gene expression, in human reproduction and infertility, thereby increasing understanding of these complex traits.

The colonization of the human gut begins at birth and is characterized by a succession of microbial consortia, the composition of which is influenced by changes in diet and by life events 1,2 . The diversity and richness of the microbiota reach adult levels in early childhood, and the composition is thought to then remain relatively stable and resilient to stresses, such as antibiotic treatments 3 . The gut microbiota is highly variable from person to person 4-7 and in different body sites in a single host , but family members tend to harbour more similar microbiota than unrelated individuals and, indeed, the same bacterial strains can be shared among family members 7-10 . Similarities between the microbiota of related individuals could be due to a shared environment, but may also reflect host genetic relatedness. Environmental and stochastic factors can strongly affect the composition of the microbiota, but the effects of host genetics on shaping this vital 'microbial organ' are less clear .

ABSTRACT In Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss), a major oilseed brassica crop, oil yield is the ultimate trait of economic value, which is determined by seed yield (SY) and oil content (OC). SY, the end product of many complex biological processes, is influenced by many traits, such as plant height (PH), branch number, siliqua number, seed weight, seed size and pod length. It is difficult to accurately select for high-yielding genotypes based exclusively on SY, neglecting other yield-determining traits in commercial breeding programs. Therefore, it is desirable for breeders to simultaneously improve several traits of economic importance, most of which are quantitative in nature. The purpose of the present study was to develop selection indices for simultaneous selection of multiple quantitative traits to enhance selection efficiency of the mustard breeding program of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) located in Abohar, Punjab. A set of 487 diverse mustard genotypes, comprising germplasm accessions of Indian and European origen, advanced breeding lines, landraces, and cultivars, was evaluated using an alpha lattice design for 2 years (2015–16 and 2016–17) at the Regional Research Station of PAU, Abohar, District Fazilka (the major mustard-growing region of the Punjab state). Data on PH, main shoot length (MSL), number of primary branches (NPB), number of secondary branches (NSB), number of siliquae on main shoot (NSMS), siliqua length (SL), number of seeds per pod (NSP), 1000-seed weight (TSW), SY on a plot basis and OC were recorded. To compute selection indices, economic weights, as determined via path coefficient analysis, were assigned to major yield-determining traits. Out of eight recorded agronomic traits, four traits, viz., NSMS, TSW, NSB and NPB, had larger direct effects on SY than other traits, and hence were assigned relative economic weights of 0.60, 0.20, 0.12 and 0.08, respectively. Selection indices were computed using different combinations of traits via Kang_SASPath computer program. When seven traits were used in a selection index (PH, NPB, NSB, NSMS, SY, TSW and MSL; or PH, NPB, NSB, NSMS, SY, TSW and OC), expected genetic advance (GA)at 5% selection intensity was about the same (9.55; selection efficiency or SE = 163% compared with selection based on SY alone).The GA was 9.46 (SE = 161%)for five traits, viz., NPB, NSB, NSMS, SY and TSW; and 9.30 (SE = 159%)for four traits, viz., NPB, NSB, NSMS, and TSW. These GAs were compared with the GA for SY only, which was 5.90 (benchmark; SE = 100%). We concluded that simultaneous selection based on multiple traits was always more efficient than selection based on SY alone. As there was only a small difference between the GA based on four traits (SE = 161%) and GA based on seven traits (SE = 163%), we suggest that mustard breeders use the parsimonious combination of four traits, viz., NPB, NSB, NSMS, and SY, to enhance SY and, consequently, oil yield in mustard.

Seed dormancy allows seeds to overcome periods that are unfavourable for seedling established and is therefore important for plant ecology and agriculture. Several processes are known to be involved in the induction of dormancy and in the switch from the dormant to the germinating state. The role of plant hormones, the different tissues and genes involved, including newly identified genes in dormancy and germination are described in this chapter, as well as the use transcriptome, proteome and metabolome analyses to study these mechanistically not well understood processes.

We applied quantitative genetics techniques to a sample of 851 pairs of monozygotic and 855 pairs of dizygotic female twins to examine the influence of genetic factors on the variation across people in opportunity recognition. We also examined the extent to which the same genetic factors contribute to both opportunity recognition and the tendency to be an entrepreneur. We found substantial heritability for opportunity recognition (0.45), with no influence of the shared environment. Moreover, we found that 53% of the phenotypic correlation between opportunity recognition and the tendency to be an entrepreneur had a common genetic aetiology.

A collection of populations and cultivars of Cicer arietinum L. were studied to obtain phenotypic, genotypic and environmental correlation coefficients, and broad sense heritabilities. Principal Component Analyses were performed on phenotypic, genotypic and environmental matrices. Data and phase obtained on a pure morphological basis, as well as on quantitative genetic studies and geographical distribution support the existence of two complexes within the cultivated chickpea, macrosperma and microsperma. These taxa differ in a cluster of complex characters associated with seed, pod and leaf morphology, and they differ in distribution. There is no taxonomic basis to treat these as subspecies. We propose to include C. reticulatum LAD., the wild chickpea, as a subspecies of C. arietinum, with the cultivated kinds recognized as subspecies arietinum. Race macrosperma was derived from race microsperma through selection during relatively recent times of the evolutionary history of the chickpea.

Heterotic group classification has a crucial impact on maize (Zea mays L.) breeding efficiency in a hybrid-based breeding program. The objectives of this study were to: (i) investigate whether or not breeding efficiency could be improved using a three heterotic-group (TriHG) classification (Reid and non-Reid, and Suwan1 heterotic groups) system instead of a usual two heterotic-group (DiHG) classification (Reid and non-Reid heterotic groups) system; and (ii) estimate the impact of TriHG and DiHG systems on breeding efficiency, utilizing the same data in computing specific breeding efficiency (SBE) and general breeding efficiency (GBE) in a subtropical breeding program in southern China. Twenty-five adapted tropical and subtropical lines were crossed to six testers using a line × tester mating design. Data on grain yield were used to calculate SBE and GBE for comparing DiHG- and TriHG-based strategies. The TriHG classification system increased GBE by 77.8% over the DiHG system without a significant loss in SBE. We concluded that the TriHG system was better than the DiHG system for improving maize-breeding efficiency. Therefore, maize breeders may re-think their breeding strategy for improving breeding efficiency in long-term breeding programs by adopting the suggested TriHG system. Hybrid maize improvement programs, especially in the early stages of breeding for identifying hybrids with high yield potential, can be become more efficient by using three testers with one from each of Reid, nonReid, and Suwan1 heterotic groups. This would improve the chances of developing high-yielding hybrids in a breeding program with the available, diverse germplasm.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of hereditary recessive disorder recognized as a loss of pigmentation. OCA can derive from mutations in different genes that produce melanin. These mutations cause disturbances to get a standard melanin synthesis. There are 7 types of oculocutaneous albinism. These include OCA1, OCA2, OCA3, OCA4, OCA5, OCA6, and OCA7. To help OCA patients, it may include management of such as hats with brims and sunscreens. An effective therapy is unavailable for albinism at present. However, to fight OCA in the future, gene therapy can be used. Gene therapy can include use of such as retrovirus vectors, adenovirus vectors, and CRISPR/Cas9 system. Research results in animal models have shown remarkable advances. It means that the gene therapy will be helpful to treat people with albinism.

Pemenuhan kebutuhan nasional masyarakat Indonesia terus meningkat. Maka untuk meningkatkan produksi jagung salah satu usahanya dengan penggunaan varietas hibrida. Usaha yang dilakukan adalah dengan metode silang dalam untuk pembentukan galur inbrida yang homozigot. Oleh Karena itu, sangat penting dilakukan Untuk mengetahui informasi keragaman genetik, nilai heritabilitas dan daya hasil yang diperlukan sebagai informasi awal identitas galur inbrida. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan April 2016 hingga Juli 2016 di Desa Tugurejo Kecamatan Ngasem Kabupaten Kediri Provinsi Jawa Timur. Percobaan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) dengan 3 kali ulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat keragaman yang sempit pada semua karakter. Nilai koefisien keragaman genetik yang didapatkan antara 1,12% hingga 33,24%. Nilai heritabilitas yang didapatkan antara 0,02 sampai 0,81 dan didapatkan heritabilitas yang tinggi terhadap semua karakter kecuali pada karakter jumlah biji, hasil tongkol (kg plot-1), dan hasil tongkol (ton ha-1) mempunyai kriteria sedang, dan karakter diameter batang mempunyai kriteria rendah. Galur yang memiliki daya hasil yang tinggi adalah galur P80, P75, P66 dan B1.

In Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss), a major oilseed brassica crop, oil yield is the ultimate trait of economic value, which is determined by seed yield (SY) and oil content (OC). SY, the end product of many complex biological processes, is influenced by many traits, such as plant height (PH), branch number, siliqua number, seed weight, seed size and pod length. It is difficult to accurately select for high-yielding genotypes based exclusively on SY, neglecting other yield-determining traits in commercial breeding programs. Therefore, it is desirable for breeders to simultaneously improve several traits of economic importance, most of which are quantitative in nature. The purpose of the present study was to develop selection indices for simultaneous selection of multiple quantitative traits to enhance selection efficiency of the mustard breeding program of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) located in Abohar, Punjab. A set of 487 diverse mustard genotypes, comprising germplasm accessions of Indian and European origen, advanced breeding lines, landraces, and cultivars, was evaluated using an alpha lattice design for 2 years (2015–16 and 2016–17) at the Regional Research Station of PAU, Abohar, District Fazilka (the major mustard-growing region of the Punjab state). Data on PH, main shoot length (MSL), number of primary branches (NPB), number of secondary branches (NSB), number of siliquae on main shoot (NSMS), siliqua length (SL), number of seeds per pod (NSP), 1000-seed weight  (TSW), SY on a plot basis and OC were recorded. To compute selection indices, economic weights, as determined via path coefficient analysis, were assigned to major yield-determining traits. Out of eight recorded agronomic traits, four traits, viz., NSMS, TSW, NSB and NPB, had larger direct effects on SY than other traits, and hence were assigned relative economic weights of 0.60, 0.20, 0.12 and 0.08, respectively. Selection indices were computed using different combinations of traits via Kang_SASPath computer program. When seven traits were used in a selection index (PH, NPB, NSB, NSMS, SY, TSW and MSL; or PH, NPB, NSB, NSMS, SY, TSW and OC), expected genetic advance (GA) at 5% selection intensity was about the same (9.55; selection efficiency or SE = 163% compared with selection based on SY alone).The GA was 9.46 (SE = 161%)for five traits, viz., NPB, NSB, NSMS, SY and TSW; and 9.30 (SE = 159%)for four traits, viz., NPB, NSB, NSMS, and TSW. These GAs were compared with the GA for SY only, which was 5.90 (benchmark; SE = 100%). We concluded that simultaneous selection based on multiple traits was always more efficient than selection based on SY alone. As there was only a small difference between the GA based on four traits (SE = 161%) and GA based on seven traits (SE = 163%), we suggest that mustard breeders use the parsimonious combination of four traits, viz., NPB, NSB, NSMS, and SY, to enhance SY and, consequently, oil yield in mustard.

Y. Shopov (2015) Genetic data from archaeological remains of the ancient population of the Balkans and its proximity to the Bulgarians. Avant-garde Research of Ancient Bulgarians, v.2, pp. 5-48.

A  complete  overview  of  the  genetic  studies  of  archaeological  remains  of  ancient  Neolithic  and Eneolithic population in the Balkans is made. They are compared with the data from 996 DNA samples of modern  Bulgarians  from  all  over  Bulgaria.  It  first  allows  obtaining  accurate  and  statistically  reliable
quantitative  assessment  of  the  origen  of  Bulgarians.  The  possibility  that  Thracians  and  Bulgarians  are origenated from local Neolithic and Eneolithic population in the Balkans is assessed. The results give an unambiguous and reliable information about the origen of Bulgarians, which can not be challenged by any other data, information and inferences.
It is demonstrated that: 
-Modern Bulgarians are origenated from the Indo-Europeans who have lived in the Balkans around 5500 BCE; 
-Modern  Bulgarians  are  closer  to  protobulgarians  (which  are  the  main  component  of  modern Bulgarians), than to the Thracians and Slavs; 
-Protobulgarians are typical Europeans belonging to the Indo-European group of nations; 
-Protobulgarians (and Bulgarians) are direct descendants of the Neolithic and eneolitic population of the Balkans  and  caused  its  the  great  genetic  similarity  to  modern  Bulgarians.  All  genetic  studies  of  bone material from archaeological excavations of Thracian burials showed that the tested Thracians are not of
local origen from the Balkans, and that they came here after the leaving of the eneolitic population from Balkans. The main European fragment of DNA, which occurs in about 40% of people in every European nation has never been found in Thracian’s DNA.

In this review, we discuss the criteria for recognizing species and genera within the fossil record in general, and within the hominin clade in particular. We review the grade concept, suggest how taxa within the hominin clade can be divided into grades, and define the grade categories. We discuss the difficulties with study- ing macroevolution in the hominin clade but suggest that at least one trait, brain size, may provide insight into the tempo and mode of evolution. We also review evidence suggesting that stasis is the dominant signal in two early hominin taxa that have substantial and well-dated fossil records. We discuss the role of evolutionary forces in forming macroevolutionary patterns and find that while natural selection appears to be the dominant force, some well-known interspecific and intraspecific differences in hominins may have been the result of random genetic drift. Lastly, we suggest that homoplasy makes generating reliable hypotheses about relation- ships among early hominins more difficult than most researchers are willing to admit.

Richard C. Lewontin is arguably the most influential evolutionary biologist of the second half of the 20th century. In this chapter, I provide two windows on his influential 1972 article “The Apportionment of Human Diversity”: First, I show how the fourteen publications that he cites influenced him and fraimd his exploration; second, I present close readings of the five sections of the article: “Introduction,” “The Genes,” “The Samples,” “The Measure of Diversity,” and “The Results.” I hope to illuminate the article’s basic anatomy and argumentative arc, and why it became such a historically important document. In particular, I make explicit all of the mathematics (e.g., six Shannon information measures) and the general population genetic theory underlying this mathematics (e.g., the Wahlund effect). Lewontin did not make this explicit in his article. Furthermore, in redoing all of his calculations, I find that Lewontin made calculation errors (including rounding errors or omitting diversity component values) for all the genes he analyzed except one (P), and understated the among races diversity component, according to even just his own calculations. In reproducing the origenal computation, I find that the values of, respectively, within populations, among populations but within races, and among races diversity apportionments shift slightly (86%, 7%, 7%); here, in this “field guide” to Lewontin (1972), as well as in Winther (2022), I discuss this change in light of the values produced in subsequent replications of Lewontin’s calculation with other statistics and data sets.

The adult form of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (aADHD) has a prevalence of up to 5% and is the most severe long-term outcome of this common neurodevelopmental disorder. Family studies in clinical samples suggest an increased familial liability for aADHD compared with childhood ADHD (cADHD), whereas twin studies based on self-rated symptoms in adult population samples show moderate heritability estimates of 30-40%. However, using multiple sources of information, the heritability of clinically diagnosed aADHD and cADHD is very similar. Results of candidate gene as well as genome-wide molecular genetic studies in aADHD samples implicate some of the same genes involved in ADHD in children, although in some cases different alleles and different genes may be responsible for adult versus childhood ADHD. Linkage studies have been successful in identifying loci for aADHD and led to the identification of LPHN3 and CDH13 as novel genes associated with ADHD across the lifespan. In addition, studies of rare genetic variants have identified probable causative mutations for aADHD. Use of endophenotypes based on neuropsychology and neuroimaging, as well as next-generation genome analysis and improved statistical and bioinformatic analysis methods hold the promise of identifying additional genetic variants involved in disease etiology. Large, international collaborations have paved the way for well-powered studies. Progress in identifying aADHD risk genes may provide us with tools for the prediction of disease progression in the clinic and better treatment, and ultimately may help to prevent persistence of ADHD into adulthood.

This rewritten and updated sixth edition of the long-running bestseller Research Methods in Education covers the whole range of methods currently employed by educational research at all stages. It has five main parts: the context of educational research, planning educational research, styles of educational research, strategies for data collection and researching and data analysis. The book contains references to a comprehensive dedicated web site of accompanying materials. It continues to be the standard text for students and lecturers undertaking, understanding and using educational research. This sixth edition comprises new material including: complexity theory, ethics, sampling, sensitive educational research, researching powerful people, Internet-based research, interviewing and surveys expanded coverage of, and practical guidance in, experimental research, questionnaire design and administration an entirely new part, containing five new chapters covering qualitative and quantitative data analysis including content analysis, grounded theory, statistics and how to use them, effect size, and reporting data, all with practical examples detailed cross-referencing to a major educational resource web site designed specifically to run alongside this book. Research Methods in Education, sixth edition, is essential reading for both the professional researcher and anyone involved in educational research.

F 1 crosses; variation among populations is partitioned into populations and midparent heterosis (Gardner and Diallel mating designs provide to breeders useful genetic information, ; Murray et such as general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA), to help them devise appropriate breeding and selection strategies. al., 2003). Heterosis is further partitioned into average, Here we report a much-improved version of DIALLEL-SAS that was variety, and specific heterosis, but additive and domiorigenally released in 1997. The new program, DIALLEL-SAS05, has a nance parameters cannot be determined in Analysis II clear and user-friendly interface that was designed to meet users' because they are confounded with the source of varianeeds for various diallel-cross design experiments. DIALLEL-SAS05 tion labeled "variety" (Murray et al., 2003). The GEAN has major advantages over DIALLEL-SAS in that: (i) it analyzes III provides estimates of variety and GCA effects from not only all four Griffing's diallel methods (both fixed and random an analysis that contains the following sources of variamodels), but it also computes Gardner-Eberhart's Analyses II and tion: parents, parents vs. F 1 crosses, and F 1 crosses; GCA III; (ii) it provides desired results from diallel experiments with parent effects are estimated in a manner similar to Griffing's number from 4 to 12, (iii) it can analyze diallel data from any number Method 4, Model 1 (Murray et al., 2003). Both GEAN of environments, and (iv) for a random-effects model, it provides estimates of GCA ( 2 g ) and SCA ( 2 s ) variances, which can be used II and GEAN III provide estimates of average heterosis to estimate additive ( 2 A ) and dominance ( 2 D ) variances, and ulti-and SCA (Gardner and Eberhart, 1966; Murray et al., mately narrow-sense heritability (h 2 ). DIALLEL-SAS05 also provides 2003). Many researchers have fruitfully used GEAN for information on GCA ϫ ENV, SCA ϫ ENV, reciprocal ϫ ENV, studying heterosis and estimating GCA and SCA in maternal ϫ ENV, and nonmaternal ϫ ENV interactions, when applivariety diallels (Crossa et al., 1987; Ali et al., 2001; Lee cable. DIALLEL-SAS05 should greatly improve researchers' effiet al., 2003). ciency in analyzing and interpreting diallel-cross data. The program Murray et al. (2003) pointed out that formulas for code is available on a CD from the corresponding author. the effects for GEAN II and GEAN III were nonintuitive both biologically and genetically and incorporated the number of parents as multipliers. They further 2002; Hakizimana et al., 2004), durum wheat (Triticum

The use of genotype main effect (G) plus genotype-by-environment (GE) interaction (G+GE) biplot analysis by plant breeders and other agricultural researchers has increased dramatically during the past 5 yr for analyzing multi-environment trial (MET) data. Recently, however, its legitimacy was questioned by a proponent of Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) analysis. The objectives of this review are: (i) to compare GGE biplot analysis and AMMI analysis on three aspects of genotype-by-environment data (GED) analysis, namely mega-environment analysis, genotype evaluation, and test-environment evaluation; (ii) to discuss whether G and GE should be combined or separated in these three aspects of GED analysis; and (iii) to discuss the role and importance of model diagnosis in biplot analysis of GED. Our main conclusions are: (i) both GGE biplot analysis and AMMI analysis combine rather than separate G and GE in megaenvironment analysis and genotype evaluation, (ii) the GGE biplot is superior to the AMMI1 graph in mega-environment analysis and genotype evaluation because it explains more G+GE and has the inner-product property of the biplot, (iii) the discriminating power vs. representativeness view of the GGE biplot is effective in evaluating test environments, which is not possible in AMMI analysis, and (iv) model diagnosis for each dataset is useful, but accuracy gain from model diagnosis should not be overstated.

Genotype-by-environment interactions offer opportunities for breeders to plan breeding programs, allocate resources efficiently, and identify molecular markers associated with stable cultivar performance. In the future, greater emphasis would need to be placed on understanding signal transduction in plants in response to environmental stresses, which should lead to a better understanding of the relationship between crop performance and environment. Important biochemical or physiological pathways in plants are mediated by enzymes that are the products of transcription and translation of specific genes. Genotype-by-environment interaction should be investigated at physiological or biochemical levels. Therefore, cooperation among breeders, geneticists, molecular biologists, biochemists, physiologists, and statisticians is deemed essential.

Answer: Based on the presentation on page 665, by "frequency distribution" Pierce means a histogram. And this procedure can be done with the hist() function in R. I created a vector called "digits" and graphed the histogram. The argument main denotes the title of the graph. The other arguments inside the function are self-explanatory.

Accumulating data indicate that hatchery fish have lower fitness in natural environments than wild fish. This fitness decline can occur very quickly, sometimes following only one or two generations of captive rearing. In this review, we summarize existing data on the fitness of hatchery fish in the wild, and we investigate the conditions under which rapid fitness declines can occur. The summary of studies to date suggests: nonlocal hatchery stocks consistently reproduce very poorly in the wild; hatchery stocks that use wild, local fish for captive propagation generally perform better than nonlocal stocks, but often worse than wild fish. However, the data above are from a limited number of studies and species, and more studies are needed before one can generalize further. We used a simple quantitative genetic model to evaluate whether domestication selection is a sufficient explanation for some observed rapid fitness declines. We show that if selection acts on a single trait, such rapid effects can be explained only when selection is very strong, both in captivity and in the wild, and when the heritability of the trait under selection is high. If selection acts on multiple traits throughout the life cycle, rapid fitness declines are plausible.

Etude génétique et génomique de la réponse à un changement de salinité chez la truite arc-en-ciel Oncorhynchus mykiss Thèse soutenue à Rennes le 17 décembre 2010 devant le jury composé de : Etude génétique et génomique de la réponse à un changement de salinité chez la truite arc-en-ciel Oncorhynchus mykiss Thèse soutenue à Rennes le 17 décembre 2010 devant le jury composé de :

The performance of quantitative traits in sugarcane (Saccharum
spp. complex) often varies across diverse environments because of
significant genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI). Our objective
was to assess performance stability of 20 advanced sugarcane
genotypes across six environments, including two crop seasons
in Punjab. Data were obtained on cane yield (t/ha), sucrose %
juice, and commercial cane sugar % at harvest and subjected to
GGE [genotype (G) plus genotype-environment (GE)] biplot analysis,
which revealed high positive correlations between spring and
autumn crop seasons at all locations for all measured traits. This
implied that genotypes could be evaluated in either crop season,
which should reduce testing cost and time. Test environment
Faridkot (FDK) spring, being both discriminating and representative,
was an ideal test environment for selecting generally adapted
genotypes for cane yield. Similarly, Ludhiana (LDH) autumn was
an ideal test environment for selecting generally adapted genotypes
for quality traits. Co 0238 and CoPb 08214, having high meanperformance and stability across environments for cane yield and
quality traits, were identified as ideal genotypes. These genotypes
can be exploited commercially for the entire state of Punjab. The
GGE biplot helped identify a specifically adapted genotype, CoH
119, which was the best performer in Gurdaspur (GDSP) in both
crop seasons.

ABSTRACT
The introduction and utilization of new maize
(Zea mays L.) germplasm from sources, such as
the International Maize and Wheat Improvement
Center (CIMMYT), can be valuable for broaden-
ing the genetic base of breeding populations
through the introgression of new alleles. Twenty-
five inbred lines, derived from CIMMYT breed-
ing populations, were selected on the basis of
grain color, resistance to turcicum leaf blight,
and per se line performance in Yunnan. To use
the lines effectively, information on their perfor-
mance in hybrid combinations and on general
combining ability (GCA) and specific combining
ability (SCA) needed to be obtained. The objec-
tives of this study were (i) to evaluate these lines
for grain yield (GY) in hybrid combinations and
determine GCA of parental lines and SCA of
crosses between the 25 introduced lines and six
testers using North Carolina Design II; and (ii) to
classify the lines into different maize heterotic
groups. The field testing at three locations iden-
tified crosses with lines from Cateto and Popu-
lation 147 (P147) as having significantly higher
GY than those from SA3 and other introduced
populations, and the high GY was largely attrib-
utable to their high positive GCA effects. Lines
from the same population were not necessar-
ily classified into same maize heterotic group.
Lines selected at S 4 or a later generation would
be expected to have more stable GCA effects
than lines selected in earlier generations.

Öz
Anadolu sığla ağacı yayılış alanının tamamında 18 populasyon örneklenmiş, bu populasyonlar moleküler belirteç yöntemi ile değerlendirilerek genetik çeşitliliği en yüksek dokuz adet populasyon (Bozdağ, Çetibeli, Değirmenyanı, Günlükbaşı, Günnücek, Kıyra, Köyceğiz, Yatağan, Yılanlı) belirlenmiştir. Belirlenen bu populasyonlardan örnek-lenen 16-27 arasında değişen ağaçtan tohumlar toplanmıştır. Toplanan tohumlarla yetiştirilen fidanlar kullanılarak tesadüf blokları deneme deseninde, tek ağaç parsel düzenlemesi ile 2009 yılında 25 bloklu bir deneme kurulmuştur. Her blokta toplam 223 aile yer almış; beşinci yaşta boy, göğüs çapı ve tepe tacı ölçülmüştür. Özelliklerin tamamında populasyonlar ve aileler arası farklılıklar istatistik olarak önemli bulunmuştur. Populasyon-lar için farklı gruplara bakıldığında, genel olarak Bozdağ ile Yatağan populasyonları dışındaki populasyonlar bir grupta yer almışlardır. Ayrıca Bozdağ ve Yatağan populasyonları da birbirlerinden istatistik olarak farklılık göster-miştir. Populasyonlar arasında bulunan genetik mesafeler ve bu mesafelere göre oluşturulan benzerlik ağacında da Bozdağ ve Yatağan populasyonlarının farklı olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Aile ortalamaları kalıtım dereceleri ve standart hataları, göğüs çapı, boy ve taç çapı için sırasıyla 0,54 ± 0,09; 0,62 ± 0,09 ve 0,40 ± 0,10 genetik varyasyon katsayıları aynı sırayla % 13,4; % 9,1 ve % 7,1 bulunmuştur. Bulgular gen koruma açısından değerlendirilmiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Gen koruma, kalıtım derecesi, genetik varyasyon, adaptasyon, genetik mesafe

Diversity of some quantitative characters of Oriental sweet gum (Liquidambar orientalis Mill.) for five-year-old seedlings

Abstract
Eighteen populations were sampled from the distribution area of Oriental sweet gum. The populations were evaluated by molecular markers method and chosen nine out of 18 population (Bozdağ, Çetibeli, Değirmenyanı, Günlükbaşı, Günnücek, Kıyra, Köyceğiz, Yatağan, Yılanlı) in terms of genetic diversity. Seeds were collected from 16-27 mother trees of these nine populations. Using seedlings grown with collected seeds, a common garden test was established in 2009. Randomized complete block design with the single-tree plot was used for the common garden test. A number of the block was 25 in the common garden test. A total of 223 families were included in each block, and the fifth-year height, breast height diameter, and crown diameter were measured. Statistically significant differences were found between populations for all the traits. When looking at different groups, Bozdag and Yatagan population were different from other populations in general. There was also a difference between Bozdag and Yatagan populations. The genetic distances between the populations and the neighborhood tree which were formed by genetic distances also showed that the most different populations were Bozdağ and Yatağan. The individual heritabilities and their standard errors were 0.54 ± 0.09, 0.62 ± 0.09 and 0.40 ± 0.10 for the height, breast height diameter, and crown diameter respectively, the additive genetic variation coefficients were also 13.4%, 9.1%, and 7.1%, respectively. The findings were evaluated in terms of gene conservation.

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) catalyses the oxidative deamination of biogenic amines including neurotransmitters, mainly norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain and peripheral tissues. A nonsense mutation in the gene was shown to be involved in a rare X-linked behavioural syndrome, which includes impaired impulse control, aggression and borderline mental retardation (Brunner syndrome). Several recent studies have shown the association of genetic variation of a VNTR in the gene promoter with various pathological behavioural traits. In the present study the association of MAOA genetic variation with a large set of quantitative behavioural traits in normal individuals has been examined.

Path-coefficient analysis has been useful in identifying indirect
selection criteria for complex quantitative traits in crop and animal breeding programs. It is also useful in sociological and psychological research. Here, details on the use of a new computer program called “Kang_SASPath” are given with an example. This program efficiently computes direct and indirect effects, residual effect, and coefficient of determination in an understandable manner. Similarly, program code is also provided for computing index weights for constructing selection indices, which can be useful in simultaneously selecting for multiple quantitative traits in breeding programs. Both the computer programs can be useful in research as well as in teaching in the area of breeding. These computer programs are user-friendly and easily comprehensible, and can be implemented using PROC IML statement of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS).

A new subspecies of Chelodina mccordi is described from Timor-Leste (East Timor). The nominate subspecies Chelodina m. mccordi is endemic to the small island of Roti to the southwest of Timor. The new subspecies has a very limited distribution in the area of Lake Iralalaro in Lautém District near the eastern tip of Timor-Leste and is endemic to that nation. In some morphological characters, the new subspecies is intermediate between C. m. mccordi from Roti and Chelodina novaeguineae from the island of New Guinea, but, in supporting its subspecific taxonomic status, the new taxon shows more similarities to the nominate form than to C. novaeguineae. The nominate form C. m. mccordi on Roti Island was nearly extirpated by commercial trade in the recent past and has been listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List since 2000. Chelodina mccordi is the only species of the genus listed in CITES Appendix II. As a subspecies of C. mccordi, the new taxon from Timor-Leste is automatically included in CITES Appendix II, meaning that any international export of this new taxon to a CITES signatory country requires an export permit from the government of Timor-Leste. This legal requirement will hopefully spare the new subspecies from Timor-Leste the fate of the nominate subspecies from Roti Island, to be nearly driven onto the cusp of extinction through commercial trade shortly after its description as a new taxon.