Unraveling Avian Genetics - Sex linked traits in poultry

 Embarking on a scholarly exploration into avian genetics, this report, curated exclusively for the University of Kentucky, unravels the intricate tapestry of sex-linked crosses in poultry. In mirroring the structure of the University of Kentucky report, we delve into the genetic determinants of avian sex and the profound implications of selective breeding. In the avian kingdom, sex determination follows the ZW system, where males are ZZ and females are ZW. Echoing the genetic foundations outlined in the University of Kentucky report, we acknowledge the role of genes while emphasizing that they aren't the sole arbiters of outcomes in sex-linked crosses. Parallel to the University of Kentucky's focus on mating selection, we delve into the strategic pairing of specific breeds for sex-linked crosses. Much like the emphasis on environmental factors in the original report, we underscore the importance of this genetic dance in achieving desired traits in the offspring. Mating Selection: A Genetic Ballet: In tune with the format, we explore the nuanced art of mating selection, highlighting that certain genetic combinations influence the expression of traits. Drawing a parallel with the University of Kentucky's discussion on the interaction between genes and the environment, we emphasize the role of the breeding environment in shaping outcomes. As discussed in the University of Kentucky report, resulting offspring from sex-linked crosses are hybrids. Emphasizing the significance of genetic diversity, we stress the notion that, akin to the breeding of hybrids, understanding the nuances of genetics is paramount in achieving specific traits in poultry. Practical Example - Black Sex-Link (Rock Reds): As a real-world illustration, we present the creation of the Black Sex-Link, a product of specific crossbreeding. Emphasizing genetic traits manifested in the offspring, we highlight the significance of understanding genetic contributions in achieving the desired outcome, mirroring the practical example presented in the original report.   In line with the University of Kentucky's approach, we conclude by underscoring the significance of both genetic understanding and environmental considerations in the world of poultry breeding. "Genes may co-determine the outcome, but our breeding practices and environmental choices collectively shape the success of sex-linked crosses." This encapsulates the essence that successful avian genetics requires a comprehensive approach, incorporating both genetic insights and strategic environmental considerations.

Sources: https://afs.ca.uky.edu/poultry/sex-linked-crosses#:~:text=The%20sex%2Dlinked%20cross%20involves,their%20mother%2C%20as%20shown%20below.

https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/chickens-101/understanding-sex-link-hybrid-chickens/#:~:text=Sex%2Dlink%20crossbred%2Fhybrid%20chickens,link%20chickens%20offer%20no%20advantage.

New genetic details may make roses smell like roses

An international team of researchers has discovered new genes and 22 uncharacterized steps that plants can take in the process that gives their flowers their fragrance. Because rose breeders tend to aim for plants that are more visually appealing, those plants that are known more for their fragrance have fallen off. This new paper focuses on "rosa chinensis" which is a contributor to modern hybrids and it has been found that the genes for scent and color tend to go against eachother. With this new knowledge in hand breeders can now have a better handle on trying to control the tradeoffs that occur when breeding for specifically showy colors in roses.

I find this interesting but also funny at the same time that a genetic fix has been discovered to make roses.... smell like.... roses. And that the initial reason for these same roses losing their original scent was because of crossbreeding(genetics). I wonder if this will be something that is done for other flowers, fruits, or vegetables that may have lost certain characteristics due to continuous cross-breeding.

Link: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/roses-scent-genetics-fragrance

2nd Link: https://www.zmescience.com/science/rose-genome-sequenced-30042018/

The Foundations of Parenting

In a new study conducted by a team of researchers, they uncover the genetics behind parental behaviors by exploring links between specific genes and parenting in different mice species. In their study, they were able to determine that the gene that produces the hormone vasopressin is found to be linked to nest-building behavior in mice. 

Before discovering this, the researchers studied the behavior of male and female Oldfield mice and deer mice. They looked at how often each species took part in nest building, licking, and huddling their young. From this observation, they found that the females in both species were attentive mothers, but of the males, the Oldfield mice fathers were just as involved while the deer mice fathers had little participation. The scientist then places deer mice pups with Oldfield mice parents, then observed how those pups evolved as parents. After conducting this experiment, they determined that genetics plays a role in parenting, and decided to cross breed the two species of mice, and eventually creating a second generation of hybrid mice with genes from both species. They then looked at the genome and the hypothalamus to determined parental behavior.

I found this article very interesting because it has opened the door for researchers to study the brain's function in parenting behavior, by looking at specific genes. It was also interesting to learn about the approach the researchers took in order to collect their data.

 article

About Vasopressin

     

  

Bad News, Bulldogs

According to this article on Science Alert, the increasingly popular English bulldog is approaching a crucial tipping point due to their genetic similarity. In a study of 102 bulldogs, a group of researchers from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine found that the genetic diversity of these bulldogs was so low that breeders are likely incapable of selectively breeding them with healthier phenotypes. Crossbreeding is the most viable option for selecting healthy phenotypes without risking the animals' health, however this may result in a breed that will not fit the English bulldog specifications. This means that the English bulldog as we know it will likely not be around for long since they will express traits of the breed of dog they would be crossed with.
As an aspiring veterinarian and all-around animal enthusiast, this is a topic that I have a considerable amount of experience with, namely family and friends who either own or have owned purebred English bulldogs. I also owned a bulldog mix, of which he had noticeably less medical issues due to his breed than the purebred individuals. It is well known that purebred breeds have significantly more medical issues than mixed breeds and the English bulldog is infamous for having an extensive list of such issues. I strongly believe that English bulldogs should be crossbred with a different breed in order to increase their genetic variability and significantly reduce the number of unhealthy, purebred individuals by educating the public on the suffering that purebred English bulldogs endure simply by existing.

Cross Breeding between tomatoes

White flies can become serious pests of certain vegetable crops, such as a green house tomato plants. These flies can damage the tomato plant by removing the plants sap, which contains the plants nutrients. This leaves the plant weakened with the leaves changing color. Whiteflies take more of the sap then they need, they emit the extra as a sticky material refereed to as honeydew. The honeydew covers the surface and eventually grows mold, with this and the plants sap removed it interferes with photosynthesis. Except a wild type tomato plant has not been truly identified but thought to have some sort of particular mechanism which repels whiteflies. This plant supplies a chemical reaction which makes the plant sap stick to the flies feeding tube. Now researches state, the wild type tomato and green house tomato are closely related with domestic varieties, meaning they believe they could crossbreed them to offer a resistance against whiteflies.

It makes sense the wild type tomatoes have a genetic change associated with them because they have been dealing with the flies for many years now and should be able to in away defend themselves. The indoor plants must have lost this gene somewhere along the way, but if crossbreeding is able to produce these plants that are all resistance one day it will be beneficial. After many years of dealing with this issue it is great to maybe finding away to keep these plants healthy as much as possible.

Don't Take Away Our Coffee!

If you are like myself or the majority of other college students, you need your coffee to start your day. Unfortunately, the coffee industry is expected to see a massive (almost 50% reduction) in their harvested coffee plants during this upcoming 2013-2014 season due to a new fungus outbreak. This orange fungus, commonly referred to as "coffee rust" has been rapidly affecting coffee leaves throughout Mexico and Central America and inabling photosynthetic growth.

"When the fungus enters pores on the basis of leaves, it consumes tissue until the leaves die, and occasionally fall off."

Coupled with the humidity of global warming, scientists are also attributing this outbreak to increased systematic use of fungicides and pesticides, creating resistant mutations of new fungi. In addition, new rainfall patterns are becoming culprits. Rather than heavy storms that can, in essence, "wash away" the emerging fungi off of leaves, these Central American areas are enduring frequent light rains that are maintaining adequate moisture levels and harboring the fungi's growth.

The course of action? Scientists are now attempting to cross breed the coffee plants with more rust-resistant strains. The crossbred flavor might not be ideal or quite the same, but improvements are in the works to be made.

For more on this topic, you can check out the following links:

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/fighting-off-the-coffee-curse/

http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/fungi/Basidiomycetes/Pages/CoffeeRust.aspx

New Broccoli breed to help fight heart disease

A new breed of broccoli has been developed in England by a team of scientists led by Richard Mithen at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich, England. This new breed called "Beneforte" contains a higher concentration of a nutrient called glucoraphanin which research suggests can help prevent heart disease by lowering the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Mithen and his team created this new hybrid by crossbreeding a common British variety of broccoli that was green with a flowering top and a Sicilian strain of nonflowering broccoli that is bitter but has a high content of glucoraphanin. The resulting hybrid has a taste and appearance similar to the the green common variety of broccoli but has the high glucoraphanin content of  its Sicilian parent. This new breed of broccoli is part of a new generation of produce that provide atypical nutrients that the conventional strain is either lacking or low in. The article mentions other examples of this, like a mushroom breed that has a higher content of vitamin D. Interestingly enough, the team that derived this new breed of broccoli did not did so through means of genetic modification but instead through 14 years of carefully selected crosses. It was nice to see that this method of genetic engineering was employed here, but the fact that it took them 14 years makes me wonder whether or not the assistance of genetic modification would have expedited the process. Overall, these new types or produce are a nice addition to our diets because they are some people who do not believe in taking supplements/vitamins so this new method of including /increasing different types of nutrients could help cater to their nutritional needs. Ultimately, this is just another reason to reach for your greens at dinner time.

http://healthland.time.com/2011/10/27/british-scientists-grow-super-broccoli/#more-45784 (article link)