Inheritance Of Phenotype Research Articles

The Arabidopsis MADS-Domain Transcription Factor SEEDSTICK Controls Seed Size via Direct Activation of E2Fa.

Seed size is the result of complex molecular networks controlling the development of the seed coat (of maternal origin) and the two fertilization products, the embryo and the endosperm. In this study we characterized the role of Arabidopsis thaliana MADS-domain transcription factor SEEDSTICK (STK) in seed size control. STK is known to regulate the differentiation of the seed coat as well as the structural and mechanical properties of cell walls in developing seeds. In particular, we further characterized stk mutant seeds. Genetic evidence (reciprocal crosses) of the inheritance of the small-seed phenotype, together with the provided analysis of cell division activity (flow cytometry), demonstrate that STK acts in the earlier phases of seed development as a maternal activator of growth. Moreover, we describe a molecular mechanism underlying this activity by reporting how STK positively regulates cell cycle progression via directly activating the expression of E2Fa, a key regulator of the cell cycle. Altogether, our results unveil a new genetic network active in the maternal control of seed size in Arabidopsis.

Chromosomal Instability Drives Convergent and Divergent Evolution Traits in Mammalian CHO Lineages

Product quality control to avoid lot-to-lot variation is critical in biotherapeutic protein manufacturing and remains a challenge. Intrinsic genetic instability of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, as the primary expression host, has been implicated in production inconsistency yet the mechanism is poorly defined. Using a multi-omics approach, we systemically analyzed the variations of CHO lineages derived from a common CHO-K1 line derived from the original parental Puck lab ancestry. We identify a unique equilibrium between continuous random genetic variation of the CHO genome and select heritable traits driven by culture adaptation conditions, selection criteria, and genetic linkage. The inherited changes are associated with the selection pressures related to serum removal, adherent/suspension culture transition, protein expression and secretion capacity. Clonal cells continuously evolve demonstrating both unique and surprisingly common chromosome (Chr) structural rearrangement across lineages yielding signatures varying in frequency, magnitude and selectivity and highlighting that genetic and phenotypic inheritance is affected by gene location and linkage. We observed that a universally conserved haploid reduction of a region of Chromosome (Chr) 2 (36-60 mB), present after serum-free adaptation in suspension culture, was consistently inherited, suggesting a common chromosomal rearrangement for general adaptation of serum-free suspension culture. Genetic variations also included approximately ~200s insertions/deletions (INDELs), ~1000s single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and ~300-2000s copy number variations (CNVs), which are exacerbated after gene editing. Global staining patterns of H3K9 tri-methylation showed that Chr 9, 10 and X are significantly more heterochromatic as compared to other chromosomes, which is reverse correlated with integration frequency of recombinant DNA. Varying epigenetic mechanisms provide transcriptional regulation, resulting in stable inheritance of 11% - 64% transcriptomic changes through lineages. Together, these observations demonstrate a highly plastic, multi-dimensional ‘omics’ signature for CHO cells and points the way towards future chromosomal engineering and other synthetic biology interventions for rational design of optimal bioproduction hosts.

Increased risk of leukaemia in children with Down syndrome: a somatic evolutionary view.

Children show a higher incidence of leukaemia compared with young adolescents, yet their cells are less damaged because of their young age. Children with Down syndrome (DS) have an even higher risk of developing leukaemia during the first years of life. The presence of a constitutive trisomy of chromosome 21 (T21) in DS acts as a genetic driver for leukaemia development, however, additional oncogenic mutations are required. Therefore, T21 provides the opportunity to better understand leukaemogenesis in children. Here, we describe the increased risk of leukaemia in DS during childhood from a somatic evolutionary view. According to this idea, cancer is caused by a variation in inheritable phenotypes within cell populations that are subjected to selective forces within the tissue context. We propose a model in which the increased risk of leukaemia in DS children derives from higher rates of mutation accumulation, already present during fetal development, which is further enhanced by changes in selection dynamics within the fetal liver niche. This model could possibly be used to understand the rate-limiting steps of leukaemogenesis early in life.

The combined novel KCNQ1 frameshift I145Sfs*92 and nonsense W392X variants caused Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome in a Chinese infant presenting with sustained foetal bradycardia.

We report clinical and molecular analysis of an infant presenting with foetal bradycardia and clinical outcome of Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS). Clinical, electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiographic data were collected from members in a three-generation family. Whole exomes were amplified and sequenced for proband. The identified variants were verified in the remaining members. The pathogenicity of candidate variants was predicted using multiple software programmes. A 28-year-old non-consanguineous Chinese woman at 23 weeks' gestation presenting with sustained foetal bradycardia of 100 b.p.m. Immunological disorders and infection were excluded. The infant was delivered at 37 weeks' gestation with 2700-g birthweight. QTc was prolonged in both ECG and Holter recording. Hearing tests confirmed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Genetic testing demonstrated that the infant carried a novel frameshift c.431delC (p.I145Sfs*92) and a novel nonsense c.1175G>A (p.W392X) compound variants of KCNQ1 inherited from mother and father, respectively, in autosomal recessive inheritance. Only relative II-5 carrying heterozygous KCNQ1-I145Sfs*92 variant had prolonged QTc, while the other carriers did not have prolonged QT, suggesting an autosomal dominant inheritance of LQT1 phenotype with incomplete penetrance in the family. We report the novel frameshift KCNQ1-I145Sfs*92 and nonsense KCNQ1-W392X compound variants in autosomal recessive inheritance that caused JLNS presenting as sustained foetal bradycardia for the first time. Meanwhile, KCNQ1-I145Sfs*92 heterozygous variant demonstrated LQT1 phenotype in autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance.

KERAGAMAN SIFAT KUALITATIF AYAM KAMPUNG DI MINAHASA

THE DIVERSITY OF QUALITATIVE CHARACTERISTICS IN NATIVE CHICKEN AROUND MINAHASA. This study aims to determine the diversity of qualitative characteristics in native chicken around Minahasa Regency. A total of 292 adult chickens were used as samples taken randomly and analyzed using descriptive methods. The results showed that the phenotype frequency, color genotype and feather pattern were 0.000515. Trait frequencies of comb shape was 0.000458, cupping color was 0.9957, foot skin color was 0.9949, and spur shape was 0.000193. The degree of heterosigosity of qualitative characteristics of Kampung chickens in Minahasa on average was in the medium category (0.20) to high (0.50). The degree of heterosigosity of the phenotypic traits of native chicken in Minahasa indicated the relative low degree of inbreeding mating. Distribution of phenotypic inheritance of feather color, comb shape and shape of male foot spurs based on samples of native chicken populations were not in genetic equilibrium. The qualitative traits of native chickens in the Minahasa Regency showed a fairly high level of diversity. Key words: native chicken, qualitative characteristics.

Production of albino slayer through a combination of crossing in brushmouth (Hypostomus plecostomus, Linnaeus 1758) ornamental fish

The objectives of this research was to evaluate the inheritance of albino slayer phenotype in brushmouth (Hypostomus plecostomus, Linn 1758) through the crosses and reproduction performance. The crossing scheme consisted of reciprocal crosses between albino slayer and albino non slayer (SN, NS) and between albino slayer (SS), each spawning in pairs (1:1) with three replications and twice spawning. The fish used in this study were brushmouth fish (Hypostomus sp.) albino Slayer males 9.07 ± 0.5 cm, albino slayer females 8.96 ± 0.4 cm, albino non slayer males 8.87 ± 0.17 cm, and albino non slayer female 8.86 ± 0.16 cm. Slayer phenotype category was identified based on the caudal length fin with 4.43 ± 0.64 cm. Parameters determined included the phenotype distribution of albino slayer, total number of eggs, fertilization rate, hatching rate and survival rate. The results showed that all crossing schemes produced four phenotypes classes including normal slayer, normal non slayer, albino slayer and albino non slayer. The slayer phenotype of albino brushmouth was highest percentage (75%) in crossing with male albino slayer (SN, SS) and highest number of eggs, while the reciprocal crossing with female albino slayer (NS) produced albino slayer 55% and lower egg count. The ratio of tail fin length to body length in albino slayer phenotype was lower than normal phenotype of broom fish. The fertilization and hatching rates were not significantly different in all crosses; however the number of eggs decreased in the second spawning. The similar phenotype cross between albino slayer phenotypes (SS) resulted the best average of survival rate (92%).

Somatic hybrids of Sinapis alba + Brassica juncea: study of backcross progenies for morphological variations, chromosome constitution and reaction to Alternaria brassicae

The wild relatives of crops represent a rich reservoir of genes for introducing resilience to climate change into cultivated crops. To introgress genes from Sinapis alba, a wild relative of Brassicaceae, into Brassica juncea, a cultivated member of this family, we initially produced somatic hybrids between the two species and then produced a large number of backcross populations involving the two somatic hybrids (H1 and H2) with Brassica juncea. BC1 progeny were morphologically very similar. However, when they were challenge inoculated with a highly virulent Alternaria brassicae (ITCC No. 2542) culture under in vivo and in vitro conditions in two growing seasons, they showed wide variations in their disease reaction. Of the 40 BC1 lines tested in one season, 36 showed a resistant reaction. BC1F2 progenies derived from these resistant BC1 plants also showed resistance to Alternaria brassicae, indicating stable inheritance of the resistant phenotype. However, BC1F2 progenies showed a wide variation in morphological traits, including plant height, basal branching, leaf thickness, trichome density on leaves and stem. BC1 plants were examined by genomic in-situ hybridization (GISH) to determine their chromosome constitution. All five plants were found to possess 12 strong hybridization signals upon hybridization with a FITC-labeled S. alba-specific probe. GISH studies on BC1F2 plants indicated localized signals in addition to 12 full chromosome hybridization signals, suggesting alien introgressions into B. juncea that requires further validation. The BC2 generation was found to possess half of the haploid set of alien chromosomes. The BC1F2 and BC2 generations were further screened against A. Brassiceae and found to be resistant/tolerant.

Heritability for stroke: Essential for taking family history.

Background:There are many well-established factors that influence the risk of stroke including blood pressure, diabetes, low socioeconomic status and smoking, however, the shared genetic resource in members of a family effect on stroke predisposition. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have demonstrated evidence of a shared genetic source in stroke risk. This review considered the influence of family history as one of the main risk factors in stroke according to the literature.Methods:Literature review was obtained by searching for the key words "stroke", "family history" and "stroke gene" in PubMed. An overview has been made on the topics: relevance of stroke family history, family history assessment tools and specific candidate genes for stroke.Results:Family history of stroke is an important risk factor for the development of cerebrovascular diseases in addition to stroke subtypes in relatives who have reached the questionnaire and pedigree. While variation in a small number of loci showed Mendelian inheritance of stroke phenotypes, the genetic variations in several stroke risk loci are shared with multiple related vascular traits.Conclusion:This study highlighted the importance of family history in stroke phenotypes and current related genetics information. Increasing awareness of the importance of family history in stroke has the advantage of preventing exposure to stroke with health care.

Transgenerational Inheritance of Reproductive and Metabolic Phenotypes in PCOS Rats.

Androgen exposure of female fetuses could be an important factor in the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in subsequent generations. The present study aimed to investigate the transgenerational effects of PCOS on the growth, reproduction, and metabolism of the first- and second-generation offspring in rats. Female F0 rats received excessive dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) exposure to establish PCOS or the same amount of vehicle as controls. These F0 females were crossed with normal males to obtain control (C) and DHEA (D) F1 offspring, whereas F2 offspring were obtained by inter-crossing between F1 rats for 4 groups: (1) C♂-C♀; (2) D♂-C♀; (3) C♂-D♀ and (4) D♂-D♀. Compared with control groups, F1 and F2 offspring with ancestral DHEA exposure showed higher body weight with increasing age. In addition, female F1 and F2 offspring with ancestral DHEA exposure exhibited PCOS-like reproductive and metabolic phenotypes, including disrupted estrous cycles and polycystic ovaries, as well as increased serum levels of testosterone, impaired glucose tolerance and widespread metabolic abnormalities. Male offspring with ancestral DHEA exposure exhibited lower quality of sperms. These findings confirm the negative effects of excessive androgen exposure of female fetuses on subsequent generations.

Loss of phenotypic inheritance associated with ydcI mutation leads to increased frequency of small, slow persisters in Escherichia coli

Whenever a genetically homogenous population of bacterial cells is exposed to antibiotics, a tiny fraction of cells survives the treatment, the phenomenon known as bacterial persistence [G.L. Hobby et al., Exp. Biol. Med. 50, 281-285 (1942); J. Bigger, The Lancet 244, 497-500 (1944)]. Despite its biomedical relevance, the origin of the phenomenon is still unknown, and as a rare, phenotypically resistant subpopulation, persisters are notoriously hard to study and define. Using computerized tracking we show that persisters are small at birth and slowly replicating. We also determine that the high-persister mutant strain of Escherichia coli, HipQ, is associated with the phenotype of reduced phenotypic inheritance (RPI). We identify the gene responsible for RPI, ydcI, which encodes a transcription factor, and propose a mechanism whereby loss of phenotypic inheritance causes increased frequency of persisters. These results provide insight into the generation and maintenance of phenotypic variation and provide potential targets for the development of therapeutic strategies that tackle persistence in bacterial infections.

Statistics of correlated percolation in a bacterial community.

Signal propagation over long distances is a ubiquitous feature of multicellular communities, but cell-to-cell variability can cause propagation to be highly heterogeneous. Simple models of signal propagation in heterogenous media, such as percolation theory, can potentially provide a quantitative understanding of these processes, but it is unclear whether these simple models properly capture the complexities of multicellular systems. We recently discovered that in biofilms of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, the propagation of an electrical signal is statistically consistent with percolation theory, and yet it is reasonable to suspect that key features of this system go beyond the simple assumptions of basic percolation theory. Indeed, we find here that the probability for a cell to signal is not independent from other cells as assumed in percolation theory, but instead is correlated with its nearby neighbors. We develop a mechanistic model, in which correlated signaling emerges from cell division, phenotypic inheritance, and cell displacement, that reproduces the experimentally observed correlations. We find that the correlations do not significantly affect the spatial statistics, which we rationalize using a renormalization argument. Moreover, the fraction of signaling cells is not constant in space, as assumed in percolation theory, but instead varies within and across biofilms. We find that this feature lowers the fraction of signaling cells at which one observes the characteristic power-law statistics of cluster sizes, consistent with our experimental results. We validate the model using a mutant biofilm whose signaling probability decays along the propagation direction. Our results reveal key statistical features of a correlated signaling process in a multicellular community. More broadly, our results identify extensions to percolation theory that do or do not alter its predictions and may be more appropriate for biological systems.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of DNA Integration during Natural Transformation Reveals a Mode of Nongenetic Inheritance in Bacteria

Natural transformation (NT) is a major mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in microbial species that promotes the spread of antibiotic-resistance determinants and virulence factors. Here, we develop a cell biological approach to characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of homologous recombination during NT in Vibrio cholerae. Our results directly demonstrate (1) that transforming DNA efficiently integrates into the genome as single-stranded DNA, (2) that the resulting heteroduplexes are resolved by chromosome replication and segregation, and (3) that integrated DNA is rapidly expressed prior to cell division. We show that the combination of these properties results in the nongenetic transfer of gene products within transformed populations, which can support phenotypic inheritance of antibiotic resistance in both V.cholerae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Thus, beyond the genetic acquisition of novel DNA sequences, NT can also promote the nongenetic inheritance of traits during this conserved mechanism of horizontal gene transfer.

Deciphering the pig genome to understand gamete production

The field of livestock genomics has made considerable advances in the past decade. In the area of pig reproduction, a number of genome scans have identified several genomic regions associated with variation in reproductive measures ranging from ovulation rate, litter size and testis size. Additionally, several candidate genes have been associated with variation in litter size. These studies primarily focused on developing genetic markers to facilitate selection decisions. To date, their results have made minor contributions to commercial pig performance and our knowledge on the inheritance of complex phenotypes. With the availability of additional resources for pig, as well as from human and mouse studies, future studies should be directed to identifying genetic variation that affects biological processes. To reach this goal, teams of diversely trained scientists need to be formed that include geneticists, physiologists, molecular biologists and bioinformaticists. A diversified team of scientists equipped with all of the available research tools (genomic sequence data, expression arrays, knowledge of gene product functions, etc.) and appropriate swine populations should be able to decode the genome's hidden secrets on how it controls reproductive processes.

Sperm and seminal plasma RNAs: what roles do they play beyond fertilization?

The paternal contribution to the new individual is not just limited to half the diploid genome. Recent findings have shown that sperm delivers to the oocyte several components, including a complex population of RNAs, which may influence early embryo development and the long-term phenotype of the offspring. Although the majority of sperm RNAs may only represent spermatogenic leftovers with no further function, the male gamete provides a specific set of RNAs to the oocyte that is able to modulate gene expression in the preimplantation embryo. Those sperm transcripts include coding and non-coding RNAs that might either be translated by the oocyte machinery or directly regulate embryo gene expression at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. Interestingly, some sperm RNAs seem to be acquired during post-testicular maturation through active communication between sperm and epididymal and seminal exosomes released by the epididymis and the male accessory sex glands, respectively. Exosomes contained in the seminal plasma seem to not only interact with the spermatozoa but also with cells from the female reproductive tract, modulating their gene expression and influencing female immune response triggered by the semen. This review also considers the findings that indicate the role of semen RNAs in preimplantation embryo development and offspring phenotypes. In this regard, different studies supporting the hypothesis of paternal epigenetic inheritance of altered metabolic phenotypes associated with environmental exposures are discussed. Lastly, potential mechanisms that could explain the impact of semen RNAs to both early embryogenesis and paternal epigenetic inheritance are suggested.

Amyloid-like Assembly Activates a Phosphatase in the Developing Drosophila Embryo.

Prion-like proteins can assume distinct conformational and physical states in the same cell. Sequence analysis suggests that prion-like proteins are prevalent in various species; however, it remains unclear what functional space they occupy in multicellular organisms. Here, we report the identification of a prion-like protein, Herzog (CG5830), through a multimodal screen in Drosophila melanogaster. Herzog functions as a membrane-associated phosphatase and controls embryonic patterning, likely being involved in TGF-β/BMP and FGF/EGF signaling pathways. Remarkably, monomeric Herzog is enzymatically inactive and becomes active upon amyloid-like assembly. The prion-like domain of Herzog is necessary for both its assembly and membrane targeting. Removal of the prion-like domain impairs activity, while restoring assembly on the membrane using a heterologous prion-like domain and membrane-targeting motif can restore phosphatase activity. This study provides an example of a prion-like domain that allows an enzyme to gain essential functionality via amyloid-like assembly to control animal development.

The different effects of viral and bacterial mimics maternal stimuli on ethology of hens and reproduction of their offspring.

Environmental stimuli resulting from immunological stress can induce transgenerational phenotypic inheritance, but few similar studies are found in avian. Here, we challenged F0 hens with polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid [Poly(I: C)] and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 53 wk of age, and then investigated the ethology of the challenged hens. In the unchallenged F1 descendants, the egg quality at 23 wk of age and laying rate (LR) at different stages were measured. Mortality rate (MR) and the days of population LR reaching 50% (D50%LR) at 33 wk of age were also tested in F1 hens. Pearson correlation analysis was subsequently calculated between F1 peripheral blood lymphocytes transcriptome and LR (in L vs. C) and EW (in P vs. C), respectively. The results showed that the ethology and egg-laying variations of stimuli-challenged hens and their descendants could be affected by the 2 kinds of immune stimuli. Poly(I: C) was likely to increase LR, especially in the early laying period and advance the D50%LR in F1 hens. It also reduced the MR, albumen height, and Haugh units of the unchallenged offspring. Whereas LPS could induce a sickness behavior of the challenged F0 hens, it also reduced the LR of F1 hens throughout the study, prolonged the D50%LR, and faded the eggshell color. Correlation analysis showed that Poly(I: C) mainly affected EW, while LPS mainly influenced LR of F1 offspring. All findings in the present study were the first time to be revealed in laying chickens, suggesting the different effects of Poly(I: C) and LPS on chickens and their descendants, and laying the foundation for the study of the influence of maternal experience on offspring in avian.

Complex Patterns of Cannabinoid Alkyl Side-Chain Inheritance in Cannabis

The cannabinoid alkyl side-chain represents an important pharmacophore, where genetic targeting of alkyl homologs has the potential to provide enhanced forms of Cannabis for biopharmaceutical manufacture. Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) synthase genes govern dicyclic (CBDA) and tricyclic (THCA) cannabinoid composition. However, the inheritance of alkyl side-chain length has not been resolved, and few studies have investigated the contributions and interactions between cannabinoid synthesis pathway loci. To examine the inheritance of chemical phenotype (chemotype), THCAS and CBDAS genotypes were scored and alkyl cannabinoid segregation analysed in 210 F2 progeny derived from a cross between two Cannabis chemotypes divergent for alkyl and cyclic cannabinoids. Inheritance patterns of F2 progeny were non-Gaussian and deviated from Mendelian expectations. However, discrete alkyl cannabinoid segregation patterns consistent with digenic as well as epistatic modes of inheritance were observed among F2THCAS and CBDAS genotypes. These results suggest linkage between cannabinoid pathway loci and highlight the need for further detailed characterisation of cannabinoid inheritance to facilitate metabolic engineering of chemically elite germplasm.

Transgenerational inheritance: how impacts to the epigenetic and genetic information of parents affect offspring health.

A defining feature of sexual reproduction is the transmission of genomic information from both parents to the offspring. There is now compelling evidence that the inheritance of such genetic information is accompanied by additional epigenetic marks, or stable heritable information that is not accounted for by variations in DNA sequence. The reversible nature of epigenetic marks coupled with multiple rounds of epigenetic reprogramming that erase the majority of existing patterns have made the investigation of this phenomenon challenging. However, continual advances in molecular methods are allowing closer examination of the dynamic alterations to histone composition and DNA methylation patterns that accompany development and, in particular, how these modifications can occur in an individual's germline and be transmitted to the following generation. While the underlying mechanisms that permit this form of transgenerational inheritance remain unclear, it is increasingly apparent that a combination of genetic and epigenetic modifications plays major roles in determining the phenotypes of individuals and their offspring. Information pertaining to transgenerational inheritance was systematically reviewed focusing primarily on mammalian cells to the exclusion of inheritance in plants, due to inherent differences in the means by which information is transmitted between generations. The effects of environmental factors and biological processes on both epigenetic and genetic information were reviewed to determine their contribution to modulating inheritable phenotypes. Articles indexed in PubMed were searched using keywords related to transgenerational inheritance, epigenetic modifications, paternal and maternal inheritable traits and environmental and biological factors influencing transgenerational modifications. We sought to clarify the role of epigenetic reprogramming events during the life cycle of mammals and provide a comprehensive review of how the genomic and epigenomic make-up of progenitors may determine the phenotype of its descendants. We found strong evidence supporting the role of DNA methylation patterns, histone modifications and even non-protein-coding RNA in altering the epigenetic composition of individuals and producing stable epigenetic effects that were transmitted from parents to offspring, in both humans and rodent species. Multiple genomic domains and several histone modification sites were found to resist demethylation and endure genome-wide reprogramming events. Epigenetic modifications integrated into the genome of individuals were shown to modulate gene expression and activity at enhancer and promoter domains, while genetic mutations were shown to alter sequence availability for methylation and histone binding. Fundamentally, alterations to the nuclear composition of the germline in response to environmental factors, ageing, diet and toxicant exposure have the potential to become hereditably transmitted. The environment influences the health and well-being of progeny by working through the germline to introduce spontaneous genetic mutations as well as a variety of epigenetic changes, including alterations in DNA methylation status and the post-translational modification of histones. In evolutionary terms, these changes create the phenotypic diversity that fuels the fires of natural selection. However, rather than being adaptive, such variation may also generate a plethora of pathological disease states ranging from dominant genetic disorders to neurological conditions, including spontaneous schizophrenia and autism.

Inheritance of foliage color of common rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos (L.)) subspecific hybrids

BackgroundCommon rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos (L.)) is a native wetland perennial taxon that has been widely used as an ornamental landscape plant for several decades. Its showy blooms, attractive form and foliage, and hardiness attracted the attention of plant enthusiasts, leading to extensive hybridization and subsequent selection of superior genotypes. Red foliage color is a desirable trait, therefore we investigated the mode of inheritance of this trait in H. moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos (Cavanilles) O. J. Blanchard with intraspecific hybrids of H. moscheutos subsp. moscheutos (L.).ResultsTwo red-foliaged seed parents of Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. moscheutos (L.) were crossed with green-foliaged paternal parent H. moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos. Two F2 full-sib families (n = 192 and 238) were each found to fit a 3 red: 1 green segregation ratio for foliage color using a Chi square goodness-of-fit analysis. For further evaluation of this segregation pattern, each parent was selfed, as were two red-foliaged F2 plants. The two red-foliaged parents yielded the expected all-red progeny (n = 53 and 178, 1 red: 0 green) and the green-foliaged parent yielded 244 green and 6 red plants, fitting the expected 0 red: 1 green (P = 0.704) ratio. Additionally, progeny from the two red-foliaged F2 plants fit the expected 1 red: 0 green ratio (n = 135 and 120).ConclusionsResults indicate the appearance of red foliage, in any amount, in the two subspecies utilized and our hybrids of hibiscus to be controlled by a single locus with a dominant allele for red foliage. We propose the gene be called “green foliage” where the dominant allele, G, yields a red foliage phenotype. When the recessive allele, g, is present in the homozygous form, progeny consist of an all-green foliage phenotype for Hibiscus moscheutos (L.). Understanding the mode of inheritance of red-foliage phenotype in hibiscus would prove useful in further ornamental breeding work.

Parental stressor exposure simultaneously conveys both adaptive and maladaptive larval phenotypes through epigenetic inheritance in the zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Genomic modifications occur slowly across generations, whereas short-term epigenetic inheritance of adaptive phenotypes may be immediately beneficial to large numbers of individuals, acting as a bridge for survival when adverse environments occur. In the present study, crude oil was used as an example of an environmental stressor. Adult zebrafish (P0) were dietarily exposed for 3weeks to no, low, medium or high concentrations of crude oil. The F1 offspring obtained from the P0 groups were then assessed for transgenerational epigenetic transfer of oil-induced phenotypes. The exposure did not alter body length, body and organ mass or condition factor in the P0 groups. However, the P0 fecundity of both sexes decreased in proportion to the amount of oil fed. The F1 larvae from each P0 were then exposed from 3 hpf to 5dpf to oil in their ambient water. Remarkably, F1 larvae derived from oil-exposed parents, when reared in oiled water, showed a 30% enhanced survival compared with controls (P<0.001). Unexpectedly, from day 3 to 5 of exposure, F1 larvae from oil-exposed parents showed poorer survival in clean water (up to 55% decreased survival). Additionally, parental oil exposure induced bradycardia (presumably maladaptive) in F1 larvae in both clean and oiled water. We conclude that epigenetic transgenerational inheritance can lead to an immediate and simultaneous inheritance of both beneficial and maladaptive traits in a large proportion of the F1 larvae. The adaptive responses may help fish populations survive when facing transient environmental stressors.