Commentary: the wizard of oughts.
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Ethicists↗
Biomedical subjects
G Scofield
Publications and source records attributed to G Scofield.
Response: Narcissus meets Pandora.
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Ethicists↗
A nimA-like protein kinase transcript is highly expressed in meristems of Antirrhinum majus.
In plants, cell proliferation occurs mostly within meristems but a significant amount also occurs at other well-defined sites during specific stages of development. We have developed molecular markers to follow the location and progress of cell division within multicellular plant organs and thereby gain some insight into how cell division might be regulated during morphogenesis. As in other eukaryotes, cell division in plants is regulated by a highly conserved set of protein kinases and phosphatases. The molecular information available on these molecules from other eukaryotes has allowed the design of strategies by which plant homologues can be isolated. In this report we describe the identification of a nimA-like gene from Antirrhinum majus and describe the pattern in which its transcript is expressed. Comparison of the pattern of AmnimA gene expression with that of genes which are expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner suggests that this gene is expressed in actively dividing tissues but expression is not specific to any particular phase of the cell cycle nor specific to any particular tissue type.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Cloning and characterization of a dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Arabidopsis thaliana.
A cDNA encoding a dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex has been isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. A cell culture cDNA expression library was screened with a monoclonal antibody (JIM 63) raised against nuclear matrix proteins, and four clones were isolated. One of these was 2175 base pairs in length, and it contained an open reading frame with an amino acid sequence and domain structure with strong similarity to the E2s of other eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. The organization and number of functional domains within the Arabidopsis protein are identical to those of the human E2, although the amino acid sequences within these domains are equally similar to those of the yeast and human proteins. The predicted amino acid sequence reveals the presence of a putative amino-terminal leader sequence with characteristics similar to those of other proteins, which are targeted to the plant mitochondrial matrix. The cross-reactivities of plant mitochondrial matrix proteins with JIM 63 and antibodies raised against the E2 and protein X components of eukaryotic pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes are consistent with the clone encoding a mitochondrial form of E2 and not the smaller protein X. The E2 mRNA of 2.2 kilobases was expressed in a range of Arabidopsis and Brassica napus tissues.
Acetyltransferases↗
Defense-related gene induction in Brassica campestris in response to defined mutants of Xanthomonas campestris with altered pathogenicity.
We have studied the induction of beta-1,3-glucanase (BGL) in turnip following inoculation with pathovars of Xanthomonas campestris and derived mutants. BGL transcript accumulated more rapidly in leaves in the incompatible interactions with X. c. pv. armoraciae and X. c. pv. raphani than in the compatible interaction with X. c. pv. campestris. No accumulation was seen in response to wounding or inoculation with water, salicylic acid, or Escherichia coli. Deletion of the hrp cluster from the X. campestris pathovars caused a reduction in the level of transcript accumulation; these effects were much more pronounced in the incompatible than in the compatible interaction, in which bacterial growth was also affected. In the compatible interaction, bacterial growth and BGL transcript accumulation were not altered by mutation of bacterial genes involved in the regulation of the synthesis of extracellular enzymes or their export from the cell, or by mutation of the structural genes for extracellular endoglucanase and serine protease. Mutation of genes involved in the synthesis of extracellular polysaccharide or lipopolysaccharide reduced bacterial survival in planta, so that the numbers were between two and three orders of magnitude lower than the number of wild-type bacteria. However, total BGL transcript accumulation after inoculation with these mutants was about 80% of that seen after inoculation with the wild-type bacteria, suggesting that one aspect of the role of extracellular polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide in pathogenesis is to mask the presence of bacteria in the plant. Our results are discussed in the context of work on other plant-microbe interactions.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
A good death: is euthanasia the answer?
Euthanasia--particularly active voluntary euthanasia--and assisted suicide are subjects of continuing controversy. Historical attitudes, current concerns, the situation in the Netherlands, and the positions of various medical associations are reviewed. Major arguments for and against active euthanasia are presented, with special consideration to the role that health care providers might be asked to perform should active euthanasia and assisted suicide be given societal sanction. The authors conclude that better pain management and A willingness to provide care within already established ethical and legal guidelines, not the legalization of active euthanasia and assisted suicide, are the appropriate responses to current proposals for assistance in dying.
Attitude↗
Informed consent for fertility control services.
Informed consent has special relevance for patients seeking fertility control services who are not ill in the usual sense. Genuine informed consent requirements should not be confused with spurious ones induced by political pressure.
Abortion, Legal↗