Molecular Genetic Engineering Research Articles

Whole-genome characterization of CKX genes in Prunus persica and their role in bud dormancy and regrowth

Dud dormancy is a complex physiological process of perennial woody plants living in temperate regions, and can be affected by various phytohormones. Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenases (CKXs) are a group of enzymes essential for maintaining cytokinin homeostasis, but a comprehensive analysis in peach is lacking. Here, a total of 51 CKX members from different species, including six from peach, eleven from apple, nine from poplar, seven from Arabidopsis, eight from strawberry and ten from rice, which were identified using The Simple HMM Search tool of TBtools and a BLASTP program, were classified into four groups using phylogenetic analysis. Conserved motif and gene structure analysis of these 51 CKX members showed that ten conserved motifs were identified, and each CKX gene contained at least two introns. Cis-element analysis of PpCKXs showed that all of the PpCKX genes have light-responsive elements and at least one hormone-responsive element. The obviously changed relative expression <pg=>levels of six PpCKX genes in peach buds from endodormancy to bud-break were observed by qRT-PCR. Among them, the expression trend of PpCKX6 was almost opposite that of PpEBB1, a positive bud-break regulator in woody plants, around the bud-break stage. Y1H, EMSA, and dual-luciferase assays indicated that PpEBB1 negatively regulated PpCKX6 through direct binding to a GCC box-like element located in the promoter region of PpCKX6. In addition, a transient assay showed that overexpression of PpCKX6 delayed bud-break of peach. These results indicate that the PpCKX genes play an important role in the dormancy-regrowth process and PpCKX6 may act downstream of PpEBB1 directly to regulate bud-break process, which further improves the hormone-regulatory network of dormancy-regrowth of woody plants, and provides new insights for molecular breeding and genetic engineering of peach.

Role of molecular markers in identifying genetic disorders

Molecular markers are critical tools in identifying genetic disorders, allowing for precise diagnosis, risk assessment, and personalized treatment approaches. They are classified into various categories, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), short tandem repeats (STRs), and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), each serving distinct roles in genetic diagnostics. SNPs are widely used in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genetic predispositions to complex diseases, while STRs are valuable in diagnosing disorders like Huntington's disease. RFLPs, though less commonly used today, remain important in specific diagnostic contexts. The application of molecular markers spans a wide range of genetic disorders, from monogenic conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF) to complex diseases like hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome and fragile X syndrome. These markers enable early detection and targeted interventions, improving patient outcomes. However, several challenges hinder their widespread adoption, including difficulties in interpreting genetic data, limited access to genetic screening, and ethical concerns related to privacy and genetic discrimination. Future directions in the use of molecular markers for genetic screening involve integrating advanced technologies like next-generation sequencing and combining molecular data with other omics approaches to provide a more comprehensive understanding of genetic disorders. Addressing the challenges of data interpretation, accessibility, and ethical issues will be crucial in expanding the utility of molecular markers in clinical practice. The advancements in molecular marker technology and their applications in detecting specific genetic disorders hold promise for improving diagnostic accuracy and personalized treatment strategies. However, ensuring that these technologies are accessible and ethically implemented will be key to their success in transforming healthcare. The ongoing evolution of molecular markers and genetic screening technologies suggests a future where early diagnosis and personalized medicine become standard care for genetic disorders.

Bridging tradition with innovation: Revolutionzing sericulture through biotechnological advancements

Sericulture, the practice of rearing silkworms (Bombyxmori L.) for silk production, has been an integral part of global textile industries for millennia. With the advent of biotechnology, particularly advancements in molecular biology and genetics, new avenues have opened up to enhance various aspects of sericulture. This abstract clearly indicates the multifaceted applications of biotechnology in sericulture, focusing on genetic improvement of silkworms, disease management strategies, enhancement of silk production efficiency and promotion of environmental sustainability. Sericulture encompasses the entire process of silk production, from silkworm rearing to silk reeling and textile manufacturing. Historically significant and economically vital in many regions, sericulture faces contemporary challenges such as disease outbreaks, genetic limitations and environmental pressures. Biotechnology offers promising solutions by leveraging tools and techniques from molecular biology, genetics and bioprocess engineering to address these challenges and enhance the productivity, quality and sustainability of silk production.

Cardiovascular Pharmacogenetics: From Discovery of Genetic Association to Clinical Adoption of Derived Test.

Recent breakthroughs in human genetics and in information technologies have markedly expanded our understanding at the molecular level of the response to drugs, i.e., pharmacogenetics (PGx), across therapy areas. This review is restricted to PGx for cardiovascular (CV) drugs. First, we examined the PGx information in the labels approved by regulatory agencies in Europe, Japan, and North America and related recommendations from expert panels. Out of 221 marketed CV drugs, 36 had PGx information in their labels approved by one or more agencies. The level of annotations and recommendations varied markedly between agencies and expert panels. Clopidogrel is the only CV drug with consistent PGx recommendation (i.e., "actionable"). This situation prompted us to dissect the steps from discovery of a PGx association to clinical translation. We found 101 genome-wide association studies that investigated the response to CV drugs or drug classes. These studies reported significant associations for 48 PGx traits mapping to 306 genes. Six of these 306 genes are mentioned in the corresponding PGx labels or recommendations for CV drugs. Genomic analyses also highlighted the wide between-population differences in risk allele frequencies and the individual load of actionable PGx variants. Given the high attrition rate and the long road to clinical translation, additional work is warranted to identify and validate PGx variants for more CV drugs across diverse populations and to demonstrate the utility of PGx testing. To that end, pre-emptive PGx combining genomic profiling with electronic medical records opens unprecedented opportunities to improve healthcare, for CV diseases and beyond. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Despite spectacular breakthroughs in human molecular genetics and information technologies, consistent evidence supporting PGx testing in the cardiovascular area is limited to a few drugs. Additional work is warranted to discover and validate new PGx markers and demonstrate their utility. Pre-emptive PGx combining genomic profiling with electronic medical records opens unprecedented opportunities to improve healthcare, for CV diseases and beyond.

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with Metachronous Mutations of EGFR and ALK Genes: A Case Report and Literature Review

Multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC) refers to patients with two or more primary lesions of lung cancer. It can be divided into synchronous MPLC (sMPLC) and metachronous MPLC (mMPLC) based on the timing of occurrence. In recent years, the detection rate of MPLC has gradually increased. However, considerable controversy exists in distinguishing MPLC from intrapulmonary metastasis (IM), especially when the histopathological types are identical. Given the significant differences in treatment strategies and prognosis in clinical practice currently, accurate diagnosis of MPLC is crucial for personalized precision therapy. Molecular genetics and sequencing technologies offer effective strategies for assessing the clonal origin of tumors. There have been reports of coexisting mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion genes in non-small cell lung cancer, but case of EGFR mutation following an ALK mutation has not been mentioned. This article accurately diagnoses and retrospectively analyzes the clinical data of a case of ALK mutant adenocarcinoma in a male patient who developed an EGFR mutation with multiple metastases four years after surgery, and reviews the relevant literature. This paper aims to deepen the understanding of mMPLC and provide clinical references for the diagnosis and treatment of such patients. .

Hospital environment microbiome

The aim of the review is to give a brief description of the biodiversity and structure of the hospital environment microbiome based on molecular genetic research methods. Until a certain time, studies of the hospital environment microbiota for the purposes of epidemiological surveillance and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) were based on routine microbiological identification of clinically relevant bacterial taxa. Discovery of DNA, the development of sequencing technologies, PCR and cloning techniques enabled the investigation of microbial communities using cultivation-independent, DNA and RNA-based approaches. At the current level of knowledge, the hospital environment can be considered as a superorganism with its own microbiome. Multiomic technologies, including meta-transcriptomic, meta-proteomic and metabolomic approaches, provide detailed information about microbial activity in the environment. Now it has been established that there is a stable core of the hospital microbiome where the vast majority of microorganisms are necessary for the functioning of the hospital ecosystem and are not classified as human pathogens. The hospital microbiome has a homogeneous structure composed by a massive dominance of a few taxa and microbial network with low connectivity forming a clustered topology. A keystone species is a taxon whose importance for maintaining community structure is relatively higher than others and its identification is of paramount importance. Due to the lack of knowledge of the hospital environment microbiome by molecular genetic technologies, there is no single shared point of view on the microbial diversity in different healthcare facilities. But there is no doubt that molecular genetic technologies will shed light on the evolution of hospital strains and determine which indicators are the most informative for monitoring and prognosis of HAIs.

Understanding the nucleotide composition and patterns of codon usage in the expression of human oral cancer genes

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is primarily known as oral cancer (OC) that mostly occurs in mouth, lips and tongue. Mutations in some of the genes cause OC and some genes are risk factors for progression of OC. In this study, we analyzed the compositional features and pattern of codon usage in genes involved in OC using computational method as no work was reported yet. Compositional features suggested that the overall GC content was higher i.e. genes were GC rich. Effective number of codons (ENC) values ranged from 34.6 to 55.9 with a mean value of 49.03±4.22 representing low codon usage bias (CUB). Correspondence analysis (COA) suggested that the codon usage pattern was different in different genes. In genes associated with OC, highly significant correlation was observed between GC12 and GC3 (r=0.454, p<0.01) suggesting that directional mutation affected all the three codon positions. This is the first report on pattern of codon usage pattern on genes involved in OC, which not only alludes a new perspective for elucidating the mechanisms of biased usage of synonymous codons but also provide valuable clues for molecular genetic engineering.

Rice Big Grain1 improves grain yield in ectopically expressing rice and heterologously expressing tobacco plants.

Functional genomics through transgenesis has provided faster and more reliable methods for identifying, characterizing, and utilizing genes or quantitative trait loci linked to agronomic traits to target yield. The present study explored the role of Big Grain1 (BG1) gene of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in yield improvement of crop plants. We aimed to identify the genetic variation of OsBG1 in various indica rice cultivars by studying the allelic polymorphism of the gene, while also investigating the gene's potential to increase crop yield through the transgenic approach. Our study reports the presence of an extra 393bp sequence having two 6bp enhancer elements in the 3' regulatory sequence of OsBG1 in the large-grain cultivar IR64 but not in the small-grain cultivar Badshahbhog. A single copy of the OsBG1 gene in both the cultivars and a 4.1-fold higher expression of OsBG1 in IR64 than in Badshahbhog imply that the grain size is positively correlated with the level of OsBG1 expression in rice. The ectopic expression of OsBG1 under the endosperm-specific glutelin C promoter in Badshahbhog enhanced the flag leaf length, panicle weight, and panicle length by an average of 33.2%, 33.7%, and 30.5%, respectively. The length of anthers, spikelet fertility, and grain yield per plant increased in transgenic rice lines by an average of 27.5%, 8.3%, and 54.4%, respectively. Heterologous expression of OsBG1 under the constitutive 2xCaMV35S promoter improved the number of seed pods per plant and seed yield per plant in transgenic tobacco lines by an average of 2.2-fold and 2.6-fold, respectively. Improving crop yield is crucial to ensure food security and socio-economic stability, and identifying suitable genetic factor is the essential step towards this endeavor. Our findings suggest that the OsBG1 gene is a promising candidate for improving the grain yield of monocot and dicot plant systems by molecular breeding and genetic engineering.

The influence of metal nanocarboxylates on the nitrogen-fixing activity of symbiotic soybean systems grown under field conditions

Background. Numerous scientific and industrial studies have proven the high effectiveness of using micronutrients in nanoscale form in agricultural crop cultivation technologies. Among them, special attention is drawn to soybeans, which hold a leading position in terms of sown areas among other leguminous crops in the country. They can provide up to 70 % of their own nitrogen needs through the fixation of its molecular form from the atmosphere in symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium japonicum nodulating bacteria. New methods of molecular biology, biotechnology, and genetic engineering, along with classical methods of microbiology, plant physiology, genetics, and agrochemistry, allow for addressing both fundamental questions regarding the characteristics of formation and functioning of legume-rhizobial systems, and practical approaches to correcting the interactions between symbiotic partners with the aim of creating highly effective symbioses. Therefore, research aimed at significant increasing the current level of biological nitrogen fixation and adapting symbiotic systems to negative environmental factors is currently relevant. The use of nanotechnology, in particular, the study of the effect of iron, germanium, and cobalt nanocarboxylates on the formation and functioning of the soybean-rhizobial symbiosis under field conditions in combination with seed inoculation with rhizobial bacteria may be promising. Materials and Methods. The objects of the investigation were symbiotic systems created with the participation of the Almaz variety of soybean and the Bradyrhizobium japonicum B1-20 rhizobacteria, and with the introduction of nanocarboxylates of iron (Fe), germanium (Ge) and cobalt (Co) into their cultivation medium. Physiological, microbiological, biochemical, and statistical research methods were used. Results. It was found that under field conditions, before the pod formation stage, the vegetative mass of soybean plants inoculated with rhizobial bacteria with the introduction of nanoparticles of carboxylates of iron, germanium, or cobalt into their cultivation medium was at the level of control plants or slightly exceeded them. It has been shown that under the effects of chelated micronutrients, the number of root nodules increased compared to control plants during the flowering and pod formation stages, and their mass was greater from the three trifoliate leaf stage, which ensured efficient functioning of the legume-rhizobial symbiosis. It has been noted that the used metal nanocarboxylates promote active functioning of the symbiotic apparatus in soybean plants, as an increase in nitrogen-fixing activity was observed at the stages of three trifoliate leaf development and flowering, ranging from 26–70 % depending on the microelement used. Conclusions. During field cultivation of soybeans, the effectiveness of pre-sowing seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum B1-20 rhizobia was demonstrated through the introduction of iron, germanium, or cobalt nanocarboxylates into their cultivation medium. This opens up opportunities for increasing the efficiency of symbiotic systems of soybeans.

A Review on Plant Tissue Culture

Plant tissue and cell culture involve the aseptic cultivation and propagation of plant cells, tissues, and organs in a meticulously controlled laboratory setting. This innovative method harnesses the potential of nutrient-rich media to efficiently replicate plant cells on a large scale, resulting in the rapid production of mature and disease-free plants. The cornerstone of commercial technology in this field is micropropagation, a process that achieves swift proliferation from minute plant cuttings, axillary buds, and, to a limited extent, from somatic embryos and cell clumps in suspension cultures and bioreactors. Micropropagation, a pivotal aspect of plant tissue and cell culture, holds immense value in generating high-quality and consistent planting materials. These materials find applications across diverse fields, including molecular genetic engineering, plant breeding, horticulture production, and environmental preservation. The process of micropopagation unfolds through several distinct stages, including propagation, subculture of explants for proliferation, shooting and rooting, and hardening. These stages collectively form a universal framework for large-scale multiplication of plants. This technique plays a critical role in overcoming the limitations of traditional plant propagation methods. By allowing for controlled and accelerated growth in a laboratory environment, plant tissue and cell culture contribute to the efficient production of disease-resistant and genetically uniform plant materials. This not only supports advancements in various scientific disciplines but also addresses practical needs in agriculture, horticulture, and environmental conservation. The continuous refinement and application of plant tissue and cell culture methods underscore their significance in meeting the growing demands for sustainable and high-quality plant materials across diverse sectors.

Microengineered InVitro Assays for Screening and Sorting Manufactured Therapeutic T Cells.

Adoptively transferred T cells constitute a major class of current and emergent cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of disease, including but not limited to cancer. Although key advancements in molecular recognition, genetic engineering, and manufacturing have dramatically enhanced their translational potential, therapeutic potency remains limited by poor homing and infiltration of transferred cells within target host tissues. In vitro microengineered homing assays with precise control over micromechanical and biological cues can address these shortcomings by enabling interrogation, screening, sorting, and optimization of therapeutic T cells based on their homing capacity. In this article, the working principles, application, and integration of microengineered homing assays for the mechanistic study of biophysical and biomolecular cues relevant to homing of therapeutic T cells are reviewed. The potential for these platforms to enable scalable enrichment and screening of next-generation manufactured T cell therapies for cancer is also discussed.

Cyto-molecular characterization of rDNA and chromatin composition in the NOR-associated satellite in Chestnut (Castanea spp.)

The American chestnut (Castanea dentata, 2n = 2x = 24), once known as the “King of the Appalachian Forest”, was decimated by chestnut blight during the first half of the twentieth century by an invasive fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica). The Chinese chestnut (C. mollissima, 2n = 2x = 24), in contrast to American chestnut, is resistant to this blight. Efforts are being made to transfer this resistance to American chestnut through backcross breeding and genetic engineering. Both chestnut genomes have been genetically mapped and recently sequenced to facilitate gene discovery efforts aimed at assisting molecular breeding and genetic engineering. To complement and extend this genomic work, we analyzed the distribution and organization of their ribosomal DNAs (35S and 5S rDNA), and the chromatin composition of the nucleolus organizing region (NOR)-associated satellites. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), we have identified two 35S (one major and one minor) and one 5S rDNA sites. The major 35S rDNA sites are terminal and sub-terminal in American and Chinese chestnuts, respectively, originating at the end of the short arm of the chromosome, extending through the secondary constriction and into the satellites. An additional 5S locus was identified in certain Chinese chestnut accessions, and it was linked distally to the major 35S site. The NOR-associated satellite in Chinese chestnut was found to comprise a proximal region packed with 35S rDNA and a distinct distal heterochromatic region. In contrast, the American chestnut satellite was relatively small and devoid of the distal heterochromatic region.

Biotransformation and detoxification of tetrabromobisphenol A by white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624

The bulky phenolic compound tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a brominated flame retardant used in a wide range of products; however, it diffuses into the environment, and has been reported to have toxic effects. Although it is well-known that white-rot fungi degrade TBBPA through ligninolytic enzymes, no other metabolic enzymes have yet been identified, and the toxicity of the reaction products and their risks have not yet been examined. We found that the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 converted TBBPA to TBBPA-O-β-D-glucopyranoside when grown under non-ligninolytic-enzyme-producing conditions. The metabolite showed less cytotoxicity and mitochondrial toxicity than TBBPA in neuroblastoma cells. From molecular biological and genetic engineering experiments, two P. sordida glycosyltransferases (PsGT1c and PsGT1e) that catalyze the glycosylation of TBBPA were newly identified; these enzymes showed dramatically different glycosylation activities for TBBPA and bisphenol A. The results of computational analyses indicated that the difference in substrate specificity is likely due to differences in the structure of the substrate-binding pocket. It appears that P. sordida YK-624 takes up TBBPA, and reduces its cytotoxicity via these glycosyltransferases.

Exploring the memory: existing activity-dependent tools to tag and manipulate engram cells.

The theory of engrams, proposed several years ago, is highly crucial to understanding the progress of memory. Although it significantly contributes to identifying new treatments for cognitive disorders, it is limited by a lack of technology. Several scientists have attempted to validate this theory but failed. With the increasing availability of activity-dependent tools, several researchers have found traces of engram cells. Activity-dependent tools are based on the mechanisms underlying neuronal activity and use a combination of emerging molecular biological and genetic technology. Scientists have used these tools to tag and manipulate engram neurons and identified numerous internal connections between engram neurons and memory. In this review, we provide the background, principles, and selected examples of applications of existing activity-dependent tools. Using a combination of traditional definitions and concepts of engram cells, we discuss the applications and limitations of these tools and propose certain developmental directions to further explore the functions of engram cells.

Employing emerging technologies such as motion capture to study the complex interplay between genotype and power-related performance traits.

Exercise genomics has progressed alongside advancements in molecular genetic technologies that have enhanced our understanding of associations between genes and performance traits. This novel field of research incorporates techniques and tools from epidemiology, molecular genetics, exercise physiology and biostatistics to investigate the complex interplay between genotype and specific quantitative performance traits, such as muscle power output. Here I aimed to illustrate how interdisciplinary training can ensure the effective use of new emerging technologies, such as motion capture, to examine the influence of genetic and epigenetic factors on power-related quantitative performance traits. Furthermore, this study raises awareness about the present research trends in this field, and highlights current gaps and potential future developments. The acquired knowledge will likely have important future implications in the biotech industry, with a focus on gene therapy to combat age-related muscle power decline, personalized medicine and will drive advancements in exercise program design.

Современные стратегии лечения дегенеративно-дистрофических заболеваний позвоночника: Обзор литературы

Currently, there is a wide range of methods for the treatment of herniated intervertebral disc, such as: conservative treatment, the use of epidural injections, therapeutic spinal blockades, methods of molecular therapy and genetic engineering, various methods of surgical treatment.The purpose of this review is to study the currently existing treatment methods for degenerative diseases of the spine, including their advantages and disadvantages.Level I studies have shown the advantages of surgical treatment methods. In the application of the surgical approach, there is currently a wide range of techniques (minimally invasive surgeries using endoscopy, interbody spondylodesis using various grafts and cages, including those using cellular technologies), which also complicates the task of choosing a particular treatment tactic. Surgical treatment options for intervertebral disc disease are controversial, with a medium- to low-quality evidence base supporting each modality: decompression, discectomy, spondylodesis formation, and interbody disc replacement. Surgical interventions carry certain risks and complications and should be offered after conservative measures have failed to improve the patient's quality of life. In general, the goal of all types of spinal surgeries for the pathology under study is to provide definitive treatment to the patient for long-term pain relief, reduce the incidence of complications and reoperations, and ensure good patient satisfaction. Recent advances in regenerative and reconstructive treatment strategies for degenerative-dystrophic spine diseases in molecular science in the areas of cell, gene therapy and intervertebral disc growth factor therapy are evolving in the hope of disc repair and regeneration, have some challenges but also show promising results. Surgery is the last option, with the choice of surgical treatment tactics being a matter of debate among physicians.Keywords: degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine, interbody fusion, cage, lumbar spine, treatment.

Strategies for the control of Cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV): Unveiling molecular mechanisms, overcoming challenges, and pursuing sustainable solutions

Cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) represents a critical threat to cotton cultivation, significantly impacting the agricultural sector through its influence on host-pathogen dynamics. This review delves into the nature of CLCuV, outlining the molecular mechanisms underlying the virus-host interactions and its broader implications on crop yield and quality. Recent advancements in sustainable disease management are explored, highlighting the integration of genetic engineering techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9 and advancements in remote sensing technologies, which offer promising pathways for developing disease-resistant cotton varieties. The manuscript provides a comprehensive analysis of current strategies and innovations in combating CLCuV, including the role of genetically modified cotton and integrated pest management in enhancing crop resilience. Furthermore, it discusses the potential of molecular biology and genetic engineering to usher in a new era of sustainable agriculture. Looking ahead, this work underscores the importance of continued research and collaboration in developing eco-friendly and efficient disease management strategies. Ultimately, this review contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering new insights into the molecular basis of CLCuV resistance, paving the way for innovative approaches to safeguard global cotton production.

A review on molecular breeding techniques: Crucial approach in livestock improvement

For underdeveloped countries, molecular breeding (MB) has a lot of promise. However, the implementation in developing countries is far from uniform. Livestock improvement programs aim to improve the genetics of domesticated animal populations by selecting males and females who, when mated, will produce progeny that perform better than the current generation's average. The amount of genetic progress made through conventional selection and breeding methods for quantitative traits in livestock is successful, but limitations such as routinely recording phenotypes, animal sacrifice for meat quality traits, recording in particular sex for sex-limited traits, and so on the limit the amount of genetic progress made through conventional selection and breeding methods. Marker-assisted selection (MAS), genome-wide selection (GWS), marker-assisted recurrent selection (MARS), and genome-wide sequencing (GS) are examples of modern breeding procedures. Molecular genetics technology may provide a technique to choose breeding animals at an early age (even embryos), to select for a wide variety of features and to improve the accuracy of forecasting an individual's mature phenotype. This paper examines the challenges and potential of applying molecular breeding techniques to improve livestock in developing countries.

Mexico, 1980: the construction of bacterial molecular genetics

At the beginning of the new millennium, in 2001 to be precise, a work began that at the time turned out to be a titanic task. The project of sequencing the genome of the bacterium Rhizobium etli -a nitrogen-fixing bacterium symbiotic with the bean plant- was the first to be carried out in Mexico and the results were not published until a few years later. But how did molecular biology and genetic engineering arrive in Mexico? Among the many ways and paths that can lead to an answer, we chose the laboratory work of Dr. Fernando Bastarrachea Avilés and his trajectory to answer this question but mainly how the practice of bacterial molecular genetics was constructed in Mexico during the last years of the Cold War (1970-1980). As a first step we used the global history of science, where the units of historical analysis are the circulation of knowledge and collaborative networks. As a second step, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with former students of that laboratory in the ‘80s. Consequently, our aim is to account for the process of building socio-technical networks, focused on the field of microbiology.

Discussion on the status quo and solutions to the prevention and control of birth defects among primary obstetricians and gynecologists in the era of molecular genetic testing

Birth defects are an important factor for the quality of newborn population. With the development of molecular genetic technology, an increasing number of genetic disorders leading to birth defects can now be detected. The lack of the knowledge for the basics and clinical applications of molecular genetic techniques have emerged as a shortcoming for primary care physicians who have formed the first tier prevention for birth defects. Currently, government has paid more attention to the above problems and formulated more training programs for primary obstetricians and gynecologists, e.g., "Prenatal Screening and Prenatal Diagnosis Post Training Program", "National Birth Defects Training Program", "National Primary Obstetrician Training Program". To some extent, such programs have met the urgent need for birth defect prevention in primary hospitals. But at the same time, some problems have also emerged. For instance, the knowledge for birth defects among primary obstetricians and gynecologists is poor, and there is lack of young personnel. This article has aimed to discuss the strategies to systematically improve the ability for preventing birth defects among primary care physicians by analyzing the obstacles and challenges for primary obstetricians and gynecologists in the era of molecular genetic testing.