IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY
Year:2010 | Volume:23 | Issue:3|Papers Count:20

The Y chromosome simple tandem repeats (STRs), residing out of the pseudoautosomal region, pass down through the father to the male offspring, represent suitable markers for evolutionary studies and tracing human migration through male lineage as well as paternity testing and forensic genetics. In this study the common Y chromosome STRs polymorphisms were investigated among 100 unrelated male individuals that were selected randomly from Tehran population; the sample can roughly (at least in providing a general profile of existing YSTR alleles and haplotypes) be a good representative of Iran's general population due to the mixed nature of the people living in Tehran. Using a PCR based approach, the polymorphisms of nine Y chromosome specific STR markers, including DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393, were investigated. These markers are defined as the European Minimal Haplotypes (EMH). The PCR products were run on a 1.5% agarose gel, followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for further resolution as minor differences in repeat numbers might not be resolved by conventional agarose gel electrophoresis. Gene Diversity (GD), which is a measure of allelic polymorphism, calculated for each marker. DYS385 was shown to be the most polymorphic allele and DYS391 showed the lowest polymorphism in this study. Haplotypes Diversity (HD), calculated for assessment of haplotypes distributions, found to be over 0.999. This may warrant applying some of Y-STR markers possibly in forensics, paternity testing and also in comparative studies among different ethnic groups of Iran as well as for further application in global studies due to diversity of ethnic groups residing in Iran.

In order to optimize the production of a-amylase by Aspergillus oryzae, the statistical design of experiments by Taguchi Method was performed. In order to have a solid base for judging about the suitability of this method, a full factorial experiment, encompassing all of the factors and their levels was also included in the experiments.The results showed that among four factors of: C/N ratio, pH, type of nitrogen source and amount of phosphate, the most effective one was the type of the nitrogen source. As nitrogen source, sodium nitrate, while soluble starch was used as carbon source, in a C/N ratio of 3/1, was superior to ammonium sulfate. Comparison between full factorial design, with 36 treatments, and Taguchi design, with only 9 treatments, showed that there is a complete similarity in the optimum condition, that was proposed. This study indicated that Taguchi method can be used in optimization of production condition in microbiological culture development, instead of full factorial one. The amount of enzyme produced after these two methods of designing of experiments, was about 170 D/ml, which shows a suitable of compatibility of Taguchi method in such studies.

High seedling vigour of rice is one of the important traits in establishment of seedling in direct planting system and drought and saline environments. In order to mapping of germination traits were used from F2:3 populations derived from tarom-mahalli and Khazar crosses. Linkage map based on SSR markers was derived using 74 polymorphic markers in 12 linkage groups and 192 F2 individuals. This map covered 1231.5 cM of the rice genome. The phenotypic values were collected from 192 F3 families. The loci related to germination traits, were detected using of simple and composite interval mapping. qGR-l0 had a major effect on germination rate and explained 60.97 % of total phenotypic variability. Additive effects in this region were positive and increased germination rate. The allele from tarom-mahalli in qRL-l and qRL-IO increased root length, 0.31 and 0.88 respectively. qGR-7, qRL-lO and qSL-l can be used as a potential target to be genetically manipulated by marker-assisted selection in rice germination traits breeding methods.

Study of the morphological characteristics and genetic diversity in plant inherited stores in order to classify the germplasm and preventing from genetic erosion is one of the basic and fundamental steps in the most breeding programs. This study aims to gather and identify the germplasm of Cucumis melo L. species from different areas of Iran and assessment of genetic diversity using morphological and molecular markers. Twenty one morphological traits were measured on 30 accession of Cucumis melo L. The cluster analysis of morphological data was down using UPGMA method and SPSS software. RAPD analysis was performed using 12 primers. Regimentation of accessiones, display 7 groups of separable of genetic in similarity of 82 percent. The polymorphism was determined 82 percent. Results showed that RAPD marker could slightly segregate the botanic variety of melon, and little genetic distance between them showed high similarity in this genomes.

This study aims to assessment of genetic diversity between Iranian sugarcane clones (released clones) and foreign cultivars and also identifies unknown accessions collected from Iran by 65 and 7 RAPD markers and SSR markers, respectively. Twenty-eight RAPD and seven SSR markers were polymorphic and produced a PCR product and number of fragments amplified by the RAPD and SSR polymorphic markers ranged from 6-27 (with an average of 15.1) and 5-14 (with an average of 9.33), respectively.Both molecular markers revealed a high degree of genetic diversity in sugarcane germplasm also; RAPD and SSR markers could separate identify accessions collected from Iran. For both markers a high similarity in dendrogram topologies was obtained although some differences were observed. All dendrograms, including that obtained by the combined use of both types of marker data, depicted relationships among the cultivars, depending upon their geographic region and/or pedigree information. The results of analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that genetic differentiation among cultivars within each region was greater than between regions.We also used 6 sorghum and 1 maize SSR primers pair for exploring the cross transferability of sorghum and maize SSR markers to sugarcane but none of them, showed amplification products.

Thermostable alkaline proteases are a group of the most important industrial enzymes that have many applications due to function and withstand under harsh conditions such as alkaline pH ranges, high temperature and presence of chemical denaturants. In this case, isolation and screening of new enzymes with effective properties and also optimization of purification methods is the first step in researching and expanding of these biocatalyst products. In this research, purification and recovery of thermostable alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis strain in aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) containing polyethylene glycol and sodium citrate was studied. The best conditions for enzyme purification was obtained in system composed of 22% (w/w) PEG-l0000, 18% (w/w) sodium citrate and 12% (w/w) NaCI at pH 8.0. The purification parameters such as partition coefficient of enzyme, yield, recovery, purification factor and specific activity values were achieved 37.86, 97.77%, 177.5%, 27 and 3325.79 U/mg protein, respectively. The molecular weight of enzyme was estimated to be 41kDa by SDS-PAGE.The kinetic properties of Km and Vmax were also calculated as 2.21 mM and 0.26 D/ml, respectively.

Siahlan mountainous region an arduous heights is situated in the central Alborz Mountains, between 36o28' and 36o45' northern latitudes and 50o38' and 50o60' eastern longitudes, with an altitude rang from 2140 to 4175 m, in Rudbar Alamut region on east-north of Ghazvin province and bounded to the north by Mazandaran province in Tonekabun and on the east by Taleghan mountain. Plants were collected by common methods in floristic studies and were identifird using indispensable references. In this survey a total of 245 species has been identified from Siahlan region which belong to 42 families and 186 genera. The largest families in the region are Asteraceae (42 species), Fabaceae (29 species), Lamiaceae (24 species), Poaceae (21 species), Apiaceae (20 , species), Brassicaceae (19 species). The life form of plant species were determined by using of Ranunkiaer’s method that including: 5% Phanerophytes, 2% Geophytes, 72% Hemicryptophytes, 2% Chamaephytes and 14% Therophytes, 4% Hemicryptophytes-helophyte, 1% Therophytes-helophyte and one species Geophytes-Hemicryptophytes.This area is geographically located in Irano-Turanian region. A considerable number of species (147 species) belongs to Irano-Turanian region. The Irano-Turanian/Euro- Siberian species with (68), Irano-Turanianl Saharo-Sindian (1), Irano-Turanian-Euro- Siberian/Saharo-Sindian/species (13), poly-regional (16 species) were phytogeographic elements of the region. From 245 identified species, the number of medicinal, endemic and helophyte species were 50, 39 and 13 respectively. Also a new species was recognized in the region.

Shirbot is a commercially valuable fish and biological attributes of it is crucial for achieving a suitable technique of breeding, so a survey was conducted on spring of 1999 upon 72 specimens in Dalaki River, located on Boushehr province (south of Iran).Specimens belonged to three age group: 1+, 2+, 3+, and in both sexes, 2+ was the most abundant. meristic traits including dorsal fin ray, anal fin ray pectoral fin ray, ventral fin ray, anterior gill rakers, posterior gill rakers, number of barbels and the average length of one of them, the number of lateral line scales, the number of predorsal scale, the number of caudal peduncle scale were examined. Morphometric measurements was calculated as the ratio of standard length including: The ratio of standard length to head length, to body depth, to pectoral fin length, to ventral fin length, to predorsal length and the ratio of head length to snout length, to pectoral fin length, to ventral fin length.The smallest as well as the largest specimen were males with the length of 68 and 264 mm respectively. Growth model studied separately among females and males. In females growth was positive allometric, (b=3.27), and in males growth was negative allometric, (b=1.7). RLG indicates the feeding regimes of fishes and was estimated in this survey. Barbus is an omnivorous fish with regard to the result of RLG and this indicator reduced in both sexes as long as they were growing and reflects changes in the feeding strategy into carnivorous. GSI was increased as the age goes up, but the rate of increasing was higher in males. In contrast to males, females were getting mature in age 3+. Condition factor was increased in males and no change in females. Moment growth coefficient was higher in females and in both groups of ages, 2+ & 3+ was higher than in 1+ & 2+.

Jasmonate is one of the naturally occurring plant growth regulators involved in various aspects of plant development and response to biotic and abiotic stress. In this study the effects of salinity stress and methyl jasmonate on some growth parameters such as shoot and root length, chlorophyll a, b, flavonoids, anthocyanine, protein, Na+, K+ions content of both leaves and roots of the 2 varieties (Isfahan, IL111) of Carthamus tinctorius were measured. When plants had 3 to 4 fully expanded leaves were irrigated for two weeks with 0, 6, l2 ds/m (0, 0.06 M, 0.013 M) soluble sodium chloride. Plants also were sprayed with methyl jasmonate 0, 0.1, 0.5 mM for 1 week. After two weeks plant were harvested. Salinity and MeJA reduced root length, shoot length, and chlorophyll in two variety. MeJA increased anthocyanine, in IL111 variety. Salinity increased leaf Na+ and reduced K+ in IL111 variety.

Cold stress is one of the environmental stresses that causes certain physiological, morphological and biochemical changes in plant. During temperature stress, active oxygen species (AOS) is produced in organelle which puts plant life in danger. Low temperature is one of the abiotic stresses that are the principal cause of crop failure world wide, dipping average yields for most major crops. Soybean is native to warm habitat and is cultivated in temperate regions like Iran. It exhibits symptoms of injury, when exposed to low non-freezing temperatures. It is now known that exposure of chilling sensitive plants like soybean to temperatures slightly above chilling conditions, reduces chilling injury. This strategy is one way that makes plant to tolerate cold stress.Plants in their vegetative growth phase were exposed to 15oC (cold-acclimated) or 25oC (nonacclimated) for 24h, under 250 mmol m-2s-1 photosynthetically active radiations (PAR). Then all plants were exposed to 4oC (chilling temperature) for 24h and allowed to recover at 25oC for 24h. The contents of photosynthetic pigments, respiration rate and proline contents in leaves and roots were analyzed.The results showed that chilling sensitive soybean plants can be made tolerant to cold (4oC) by cold acclimation via exposing the plants to nonfreezing low temperatures.

Variation in vegetation of forest gaps predominant by several factors. Unerring, the role of physiographic factors within gaps biodiversity process is very considerable. Hence, the relation of vegetation with physiographic positions was investigated within 59 forest gaps in Fagus forests of Lalis located in Chalous. Elevation range classified in three classes (1100-1200, 1200-1300, and 1300-1400) and slope in five classes (%0-20, %20- 40, %40-60, %60-80, %80-100), also. Aspects quantified by Azimuth, and plant species abundance annotated within gaps. Determination of relation between biodiversity indices and physiographic factors were accomplished by correlation coefficients.Results showed that, differences in mean quantities of biodiversity were significant for increasing of elevation. In survey of slope classes, differences in mean quantities of Simpson, Margalef and Peet indices a strong negatively correlation for the increase of slope, but other indices lacked significant correlation. Also in survey of aspects with differences in mean quantities of Shannon-Wiener, Menhinick, Peet and Camargo indices were significant correlation, and totality northern aspects devoted in most of biodiversity indices quantities.

Cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world. Inflammation and coagulation are two important risk factors of Cardiovascular disease. In this study, the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum on inflammatory and coagulation factors in hypercholesterolemic rabbits was studied and its effect was compared with lovastatin.25 adult male Newzeland rabbits were randomly divided into five groups of five and were fed for 60 days as follows: basic diet, high cholesterol, basic diet along with Hypericum extract (l50 mg/kg), high cholesterol along with Hypericum extract (150 mg/kg) and high cholesterol along with lovastatin (10 mg/kg). Blood samples were taken at the beginning, one month later and at the end of the study in order to measure their serum factors. The result showed that both the extract and lovastatin reduced significantly C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), fibrinogen and platelet compared with high cholesterol group. Therefore Hypericum by decreasing inflammation and coagulation risk factor cause prevention of atherosclerosis also results showed that the extract in more effective to decrease cardiovascular risk factor than lovastatin.

Gomishan lagoon is one of the international wetlands which covers 17700 hectars with 1.5 m in depth. It is located in north eastern of Bandar Turkaman in Golestan Province.It is limited to Atrak river in north, Gorgan river in south and separates from Caspian sea by chain of sandy hills in west. In this study, we had a plan to make flora list of Gomishan. The investigation showed there were 116 species. Halocnemum strobilaceum had grown in east and southeast but Calamogrostis pseudophragmites and Aster tripolium were observed in end of southeast of it. Plant colonies of two last species were proportionate reversely with depth of water. Halophytes plants such as Halocnemun strobilaceum, Salicornia europaea, Salsola rigida, Halostachys caspica, Tamarix ramosissimum and T galica observed in east mostly. The most important halophytes species in east were Halocnemun strobilaceum, Salicornia herbacea Aquatic plants Potamogeton pectinatus, Zannichelia palusteris, Ruppia maritima, Ceratophylum demerosum were in north and northwest, they have grown in shallow deep or have brought near the edge of lagoon by water. Small populations of Phragmites australis, Juncus spp. have been seen in northwest. These results showed that Gomishan lagoon is rich in vegetation and flora of aquatic plants but halophytes plants were remarkable in east and northeast because of salinity.

The urohyal bone is a single median solid bone with anterior tip generally connected to the ventral hypohyal and to the first basibranchial and the posterior end attached to the pectoral girdle by means of muscle. This bone has been generally used for age determination, but recently it has been distinguished that its morphology is diverse in different groups of fishes such that could be used in fish taxonomy. In the present study, the morphology of urohyal in 19 species fishes from 17 genera, 6 families and 5 orders of Caspian Sea basin has been studied. Results showed that the urohyals were varied in ventral, dorsal and lateral shape, presence and number of process in the anterior part, origin of dorsal keel (distance from anterior tip), groove in ventral portion and some other attributes. In studied cyprinid fish, the ventral part of the urohyal forms a triangular facet, which may be with or without groove. All the members of Leuciscinae have the same urohyal with two-branched anterior part. But in Cyprininae, it is not twobranched.Base on the morphology of urohyal in different groups of studied fish, it seems that Acheilognathinae, Squalliobarbinae and Leuciscinae are close to each other that the other subfamilies. In Gobiidae and Esocidae, the urohyallack ventral sides or it is reduced. Based on the urohyal bone morphology we prepared a pictorial key for identification of some fishes of Caspian Sea basin for the first time.

The alien ctenophore leidyi was entered from the Black Sea into the Caspian Sea by late 1990s. It has been reported that the M. leidyi caused the dramatic decrease of zooplonkton and pelagic fish stock in the Caspian Sea. In this study, spatial and temporal distribution of M.leidyi was studied during year 2004 in four transects Bandar Anzali, Khazarabad, Turkman and Miankaleh in the south coasts of the Caspian Sea. Results showed that M. leidyi achieved maximum abundance and biomass (6061±5830 n.m2 and 745±715.9 g.m2) in the upper layer of 50 (0-20) m depth during autumn. The Minimum biomass and abundance (22.78±9.64 g.m2 and 385±226 n.m2) of the ctenophore were measured in the coasts regions (5 and 10 m depth) during spring.The biomass and abundance of M. leidyi were more in southeastern of Caspian Sea than the southwestern. Larvae (<5 mm) contributed about 85% total abundance of the population. The maximum size of the measured M. leidyi was 64 mm in length. The effects of abiotic factors on distribution of M. leidyi was discussed.