Salt Tolerance Gene in Soybean Found

Article:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150109100949.htm

Published: January 9^th 2015

By: University of Adelaide 

        “Soybean is the fifth largest crop in the world in terms of both crop area planted and amount harvested,” according to Associate Professor Matthew Gilliham, a researcher at the University of Adelaide. “But many commercial crops are sensitive to soil salinity and this can cause major losses to crop yields.” In addition, “the area of salt-affected agricultural land is rapidly increasing and is predicted to double in the next 35 years.”

        After examining the genetic sequences of many different soybean varieties, researchers from the University of Adelaide have identified a specific gene in soybean that can be bred to better tolerate soil salinity. This gene was lost when soybeans were bred in areas without salinity. However, this has left the soybeans susceptible to the increase of soil salinity over the years. By identifying the gene, scientists are now able to use genetic markers to ensure that the salt tolerance gene will be maintained in future soybean crops. This information can also be used to find similar genes in other crops, such as wheat and grapevine, in order to selectively breed them for their enhanced salt tolerance.

        This article relates to our study of genetics. In class for the GMO lab, we used restriction enzymes to identify genetic sequences in the DNA of our food that were genetically modified. The scientists at the University of Adelaide also needed to identify the sequence for the salt tolerance gene. We also learned about genetic markers, stretches of DNA that are variable among individuals, which the scientists are using to selectively breed. This is an example of artificial selection, as it is the selective breeding of domesticated soybeans to produce the salt tolerance gene. This is in contrast with natural selection, a topic discussed in this unit, since the traits that become more common in a population are the ones humans choose.

Evolution of Wildlife in a City Environment

A group of scientists went to Highbridge Park in Washington Heights, New York to study wildlife in a city environment. Among them were biologist Jason Munshi-South, Stephan Harris, a PhD candidate in biology at CUNY, and Erin Dimech, a master's student in conservation biology at Columbia.
To carry on their research, they set up one hundred red flags in park and beside each there were rectangular boxes baited with bird seeds which were used as a trap to catch mice. Munshi-South and his colleagues caught many white-footed mice in NYC's remaining spots of greenery and took snips of their tails, from which they could extract DNA.
As part of their research, they knew that before the 1700s white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) roamed the vast woodlands that once covered NYC. But New York City's expansion sliced up that native habitat into scattered fragments of greenery, isolating numerous groups of mice. Such geographic isolation drives evolution and can even split a single species into two.
After their research, they found out that the geographic isolation and the environmental changes led mice in different part of the city to have different traits that enabled it to survive in its environment. Munshi-South and his colleagues found that the different groups of white-footed mice in the city varied a lot genetically.
They also found that the white-footed mice as a whole seem to be evolving new traits that mice from rural areas outside the city lack. For example, some mice had genetic mutations that help them neutralize toxic metals in polluted soil or speed up their sperm in response to the sexual competition in their overcrowded metropolitan homes.
Munshi-South predicted that these mice might not be the only ones that have been throught evolution in the city environment. Rats in NYC for example, have become more genetically distinct from one another on a block-by-block and seem to be resistant to rat poison used by people to kill rats.
Other scientists have also found evolution taking place in many cities around the world. At Bernard, Rebecca Calissi has found out the city life changes pigeon's brain and their immune system.Researchers in Australia have discovered that golden-orb weaving spiders living in cities have evolved bigger bodies and larger ovaries for increased reproductive capacity. And biologists in Netherlands have learned that birds in urban areas sing at a higher pitch to be heard.

This article relates to our unit of evolution in many ways. First, this article is about the evolution of wildlife in a city environment. We have learned that the result of natural selection is adaptation and natural selection in the cause of evolution. In the case of the white-footed mice in the article, the mice which traits that are better suited to the city environment survive and are able to reproduce more. This cause more mice with the certain trait to arise. The article also shows that during the process of evolution, species can divide into several groups by chance. As NYC expanded, the habitat of white-footed mice got split apart and this geographic isolation of mice is causing them to evolve separately. Therefore, the article shows an example of the process of evolution which we are studying this unit.

Work Cited 

Jabr, Ferris. "Urban Ecologists Are Studying How Wildlife Have Evolved to Fit Their City Environment, Block by Block." Daily Intelligencer. New York Media LLC., 07 Jan. 2015. Web. 11 Jan 2015. <http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/01/uptown-mice-are-different-from-downtown-mice.html?mid=emailshare_dailyintel>.

Rats as big as sheep: Rodents could evolve to fill niches as larger mammals go extinct

URL: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/rats-as-big-as-sheep-rodents-could-evolve-to-fill-niches-as-larger-mammals-go-extinct-9105626.html

Title: Rats as big as sheep: Rodents could evolve to fill niches as larger mammals go extinct

Author: Independent Staff

Date: Tuesday 04 February 2014

Scientists hypothesize that rats could evolve to be as large as sheep to fill vacant niches if large mammals become extinct. Rats a super adaptable, so as large mammals become extinct over time, the rats could take their places. For example, when dinosaurs lived, mammals were all tiny because the large ecological niches were occupied. However, when the dinosaurs became extinct, mammals evolved into many different, larger forms, including horses and mammoths. Given time, rats could grow to be enormous rodents. The largest extinct rodent known, Josephoartegasia monesi, was larger than a bull and weighed over a ton, showing rodents have the potential to be incredibly large. Also, there are “rat islands” where rats, introduced by humans, have become the dominant species. They are also very hard to remove and outcompete other species. Gigantism is when a small creature fills the ecological niche left by a large species. Scientists also expect rats to evolve in many other ways depending on the circumstances. They could be thin, fat, slow, fast, or even aquatic. Rats are expected to produce a remarkable variety of descendants.

This article connects to what we are talking about in class involving the finches evolving to fill the unoccupied niches of the Galapagos Islands. Much like the size and shape of the finches’ beaks evolved, the size of the rats’ bodies could evolve.

 

Gecko reasearch

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150107204906.htm

Scientists found that some geckos which lost the ability to stick to surfaces through evolutionary processes gained adaptations in other methods of locomotion such as burrowing or running. The more elaborate grips were lost, but through that natural selection created more diversity. Although there are advantages to such complicated features, they can also get in the way and can be disabled by the same procedures that created them.

We are currently studying the driving forces behind evolution and diversification, and this research demonstrates how evolution is constantly in motion and how the natural variation in geckos (quality of sticky feet pads) can cause them to diversify to occupy new niches.

Global Warming's Affect on Evolution in the Arctic

URL: http://www.designntrend.com/articles/30592/20141213/global-warming-impact-evolution-artic-animals.htm
Published: December 13, 2014
Author: Randall Mayes

As a result of the drastic temperature increase in the Arctic, many species are migrating into new habitats where similar species live, and these species are interbreeding. One example of this is grizzly bears moving to the polar bear's habitat. Although scientist aren't able to know exactly how many crosses between a polar bear and a grizzly bear there are, over the past couple years they have found several crosses. This new hybrid species could dominate the polar bear and grizzly bear species to the point where these original species become extinct. 

This article relates to our unit of evolution that we are studying right now. We are learning about how many similar species evolved from one common ancestor long ago, and by the process of adaptation, the ancestor became many species, each one modified for their specific niche. This article shows evolution happening today, specifically a disruption that may change the future species living in the Arctic. 

The Evolution of Human Color Vision

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141218210100.htm
December 18, 2014
Emory Health Sciences

Scientists have spent two decades studying the evolution that resulted in the color vision humans have today. Our vision is the result of numerous mutations of five major opsin genes over millions of years to transform into the ability to see a spectrum of colors from the dim view our primate ancestors had.

This article directly relates to what we have learned because we have learned about Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection.This article shows the mutations our ancient population experienced to ultimately result in our ability to see color. These mutations led to variation in the gene pool. Those with better vision had a higher survival rate and therefore the mutation was passed down.

USDA Approves a New, GM Potato

Grace Longwell
Dempsey - Period 7
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/08/business/genetically-modified-potato-from-simplot-approved-by-usda.html?_r=0

In this article, the practice and recent approval of genetically modified potatoes is the main topic. This new potato theoretically is resistant to bruising, and will not contain the chemical, acrylamide, when fried, which supposedly has been causing cancer in humans. Most genetically modified crops (i.e. soy, corn) have no benefit to the consumers, only the farmers. However, this newfangled potato can have positive effects on both those who produce it and those who eat it. There are lots of questions and uncomfort with genetically modified food and many people are against it. Before this potato, tomatoes, corn, alfalfa and beets were all genetically modified and approved between 1994 and 2010. These crops seem to be good, but lots of people are against popular food companies (mainly McDonald’s) using them for their products, especially french fries. One of things that this potato has going for it is that Monsanto did not genetically modify it, Simplot did. Simplot is a well known and well regarded name in the potato industry, and many people trust them when they say that this potato is good for us.

All of the discussion and debate about genetically modified foods (potatoes in particular) has a large connection to our past unit in biology. We learned about PCR and how the scientists replicate a desired gene to help and modify the food. We also were given the task of researching many different pros and cons of genetically modified food and debating about it against our classmates.

This article further represents the split between people who support the use/production of genetically modified food and those who do not. There is an evident benefit of less acrylamide when the potato is fried. Anti-GMO people will say that this needs to be clearly marked as a genetically modified product so we know what we are ingesting, but the supporters do not see the point in that if it is only benefitting people. People who are against the use of GMOs think that big companies like McDonald’s (who goes through a lot of potatoes making french fries) should not use these new potatoes because then they will be so more mainstream and hard to escape. The genetically modified food debate is a long one, and scientists only keep extending it more.