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Fate of contaminating t(14; 18)+ lymphoma cells during ex vivo expansion of CD34-selected hematopoietic progenitor cells.

The use of ex vivo expanded CD34-selected hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) for autologous stem cell support or gene therapy is a major area of research and is likely to increase in the future. At present, little is known about the fate of contaminating malignant cells during ex vivo expansion of CD34-selected HPCs. We established a competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) titration assay to determine the number of residual lymphoma cells before and after selection and ex vivo expansion of CD34-selected HPCs in patients with t(14; 18) translocation carrying non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Seven bone marrow (BM) and 2 mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cell samples from 8 patients without histologic BM involvement at the time of the harvest were analyzed by competitive PCR titration assay and determined to contain between < or = 10 and 4,000 lymphoma cells/ 10(6) mononuclear cells (MNCs). Immunoadsorption enriched CD34+ cells from a mean of 5% (range, 1% to 9%) to a mean of 88% (range, 76% to 94%) of MNCs and resulted in a 1 to 4 log depletion of contaminating tumor cells. Two HPC samples became PCR negative after CD34 selection, whereas 7 samples still contained < or = 10 to 200 residual lymphoma cells/10(5) MNCs. CD34-selected cells were consecutively expanded in suspension culture in the presence of stem cell factor, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-3, and IL-6. The mean increase of cells was 13-fold (range, 4- to 22-fold) at day 7 and 65-fold (range, 43- to 110-fold) at day 14 of culture. Expansion resulted predominantly in myelomonocytic differentiation, whereas B-cell antigen-expressing cells became undetectable. Six of the seven PCR-positive CD34-selected samples became PCR-negative for the t(14; 18) translocation at day 7 and/or 14 of expansion. One PCR-positive and one PCR-negative CD34-selected sample were PCR-positive after ex vivo expansion, but the number of residual lymphoma cells remained at the limit of detection. We conclude that CD34-selection does not eliminate contaminating lymphoma cells in the majority of t(14; 18)+ HPC harvests. However, during ex vivo expansion of CD34-selected HPCs, residual t(14; 18)+ lymphoma cells do not proliferate and become undetectable by PCR in the majority of cases.

Antigens, CD34↗

A shift from negative to positive selection of autoreactive T cells by the reduced level of TCR signal in TCR-transgenic CD3 zeta-deficient mice.

T cell selection is thought to be determined through the interaction between TCR and Ag/MHC. However, the contribution of the level of TCR signal to thymic selection remains unclear. To address this issue, we analyzed T cell selection of male Ag (HY)-specific TCR transgenic (HYTg) mice crossed with CD3 zeta-deficient (zeta KO) mice (HYTg/zeta KO), which have impaired signaling through TCR. In male HYTg/zeta KO mice, the number of thymocytes was comparable to that in normal mice, and almost all the peripheral T cells were HY specific, although these positively selected cells were anergic to male Ag. From these observations, the decrease in TCR signaling by CD3 zeta deficiency resulted in both the avoidance of negative selection and the acquisition of positive selection of autoreactive T cells in male HYTg/zeta KO mice. There was a shift of T cell selection from positive to no selection of HY-specific T cells in female HYTg/zeta KO mice also. Collectively, these findings suggest that the level of TCR signal directly regulates T cell selection; furthermore, the findings have integrated the models of T cell selection into a concept based on the quantity of TCR signal.

Animals↗

Mortality, morbidity and health selection among metal workers.

Workers are selected into and out of physically demanding jobs with regard to their health. The study of occupational mortality and morbidity is hampered by this selection. Furthermore, social selection and rapid turnover are involved in health selection. Because different stages of disease form only one continuum (dissatisfaction-death), the correct interpretation of the results also requires measures softer than mortality. Earlier studies have concluded that soft and hard measures of health follow one another as explanations for the termination-of-employment rate. The aim of this study was to determine which age and exposure categories are the most prone to health selection. Mortality and morbidity were studied on three different exposure levels defined primarily according to the physical demands of the work: heavy level (iron foundries); medium level (manufacture of metal products); and light level (manufacture of electrical devices). The population comprised 15,714 men hired in 1950-1976 to work in the three branches of the metal industry. Another cohort, a cross-sectional one, of 1292 workers (who had been hired earlier and were still working in 1950) in the three industrial branches was used to clarify selection due to disability and mortality. Data for the mortality and disability analyses were obtained from national death and disability registers. The period of follow-up was 1950-1978. A questionnaire on occupational history, morbidity, and the causes of turnover was sent to 400 current and 600 former workers from each industrial branch. A questionnaire concerning occupational history was also sent to the nearest relatives of a total of 450 decidents. The occupational histories of the current and former workers were compared for changes in the exposure level throughout their complete occupational histories. The occupations during the workers' life-times were also classified into three exposure levels on the basis of physical demands (heavy, medium, and light). The three exposure levels showed different patterns of change according to age throughout the workers' complete occupational histories. Selection into and out of jobs within and between different exposure levels appeared to be a continuous process, a chain of selection. This conclusion was ascertained when the complete occupational histories were analyzed according to the exposure levels (heavy, medium, light) of the occupations from which the workers came and to which they transferred. The foundry workers entered the industry from either heavy or medium-level occupations, and most of them sought lighter work in medium-level occupations. The metal product workers either began their work lives within the metal product industry or they transferred to it from work that entailed the same exposure level. After leaving a job, the metal product workers generally moved to medium (i.e., the same level) or light occupations. The electrical workers switched from medium-level work, or they began their worklives within that industrial branch. When they left a job, they chose medium or light work in the metal industry. Due to the chain of selection from one exposure level to another, the mortality and morbidity rates for a certain exposure level can be underestimated or overestimated if complete occupational histories are not available. The selection process was different for different diseases and was manifested as different stages of disease. Ache or pain in the musculoskeletal system within the last 12 months was more frequent among the foundry and metal product workers than among the electrical workers. Both the currently employed and former foundry workers had significantly more earlier-diagnosed musculoskeletal diseases than the electrical workers. The younger age classes of foundry workers (< 45 years) had a higher occurrence of musculoskeletal diseases than the metal product workers; in the older age classes the opposite was true. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Adolescent↗

A comparison of two selective interrupted suture removal techniques for control of post keratoplasty astigmatism.

PURPOSE: Two selective interrupted suture removal techniques were compared to determine which technique resulted in earliest, best visual acuity and least postoperative astigmatism. METHODS: Sixty-five consecutive optical penetrating keratoplasties were performed using 12 interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures and a 12-bite continuous 10-0 nylon suture, and were alternately assigned to 1 of 2 selective suture removal groups. All patients had refraction, keratometry, and videokeratoscopy postoperatively, starting at 6 weeks. Six weeks postoperatively, Group I underwent simultaneous removal of six alternate sutures, with the first of the 6 sutures removed at the steepest meridian, while Group II had selective sutures removed only at the steepest meridian, if associated with greater than 2 diopters of astigmatism in that meridian. Subsequently, interrupted sutures were then selectively removed until the resultant astigmatism approached 3.0 diopters or less. Measurements of resultant astigmatism are reported prior to selective suture removal, following selective suture removal, at 6 months postoperatively, at the completion of all selective suture removal, and at the final visit. RESULTS: At 6 months, residual astigmatism after the 2 techniques of selective suture removal, as measured by refraction, keratometry, and computer-assisted videokeratoscopy, was 2.8, 3.0 and 3.4 diopters for Group I, and 2.2, 2.6 and 3.7 diopters for Group II. At 1 year, the average final visit, astigmatism was 2.5, 2.4 and 2.7 diopters for Group I, and 2.1, 2.0 and 2.3 diopters for Group II. By the final visit, a best corrected vision of 20/50 or better was achieved in 86% of eyes in Group I and in 65% of eyes in Group II, and there was a significant difference in average keratometry of 47.4 diopters in Group I compared to 46.0 diopters in Group II and, as measured by videokeratoscopy, 47.9 diopters in Group I compared to 45.8 diopters in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: Selective suture removal by either technique reduces keratoplasty astigmatism with residual interrupted and continuous sutures in place. The combined use of refraction, keratometry, and videokeratoscopy probably provides more reliable and reproducible quantitative measurements of astigmatism. Minimizing astigmatism by selective suture removal is a major factor in the attempt to achieve excellent and visual function in the majority of patients who have undergone penetrating keratoplasty.

Adult↗

The Spatial and Temporal Repeatability of Genomic Responses to Natural Selection as Demonstrated in Stickleback Populations Experiencing Highly Dynamic Environments.

The evolution of genotypic parallelism under shared environmental conditions provides strong evidence for the role of natural selection. However, analyses typically examine genomic signatures of selection long after the putative selection event and only assess the repeatability of responses across spatial population replicates. This impedes our ability to attribute a particular response to a given selection pressure and to distinguish non-parallel responses caused by stochastic processes from those caused by local selection. As such, the consistency of natural selection over space and time is unknown, and the role of persistent local selection pressures is unclear. Here, we leveraged the natural bar-built estuary system of Santa Cruz, California, to examine the repeatability of seasonal genomic change in threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) over space and time. By comparing allele-frequency shifts that are shared across locations (spatial repeatability) with those that are shared across years within locations (temporal repeatability), we identified both spatially shared and local components of putative selection. We found that repeated seasonal outlier responses occurred more often than expected under a neutral null model. Although repeatability declined as the number of estuaries sharing an outlier increased, enrichment above neutral expectations increased with broader spatial sharing, particularly for outliers repeated across both years. While the precise outlier SNPs varied across years, estuary-specific patterns of responses were broadly consistent, suggesting an important role for local conditions. Together, our findings show that temporal sampling can reveal components of putative selection that would be missed from spatial comparisons alone. More broadly, they highlight the importance of examining repeatability over both space and time to understand the parallel and non-parallel components of adaptive genomic change.

Animals↗

Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection: a review.

Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection have disproven some of the central tenets of both the handicap mechanism and the 'sexy son' hypothesis. These results suggest that the 'good genes' approach to sexual selection may often lead to erroneous results. Runaway sexual selection seems possible under a wide variety of circumstances. Quantitative genetic models have revealed runaway processes for sexually selected attributes expressed in both sexes and for attributes of parental care. Furthermore, the runaway could occur simultaneously in a series of populations that straddle an environmental gradient. While the models support the feasibility of runaway processes, empirical studies are needed to evaluate whether runaways actually happen. Estimates of critical genetic parameters are particularly needed, as well as measures of natural and sexual selection acting on the same population. The models also show that sexual selection has tremendous potential to produce population differentiation, particularly in epigamic traits. Differentiation is promoted by indeterminancy of evolutionary outcome, transient differences among populations during the final slow approach to equilibrium, sampling drift among equilibrium populations, and the tendency of sexual selection to amplify geographic variation arising from spatial differences in natural selection. Recent work with two- and three-locus models of sexual selection has produced results that parallel the results of the polygenic models (Kirkpatrick, 1982, 1985, 1986; Seger, 1985). Thus the feature of indeterminate equilibria (outcome dependent on initial conditions) is common to both types of model.

Animals↗

Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection.

Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection have disproven some of the central tenets of both the handicap mechanism and the 'sexy son' hypothesis. These results suggest that the 'good genes' approach to sexual selection may generally lead to erroneous results. Runaway sexual selection seems possible under a wide variety of circumstances. Quantitative genetic models have revealed runaway processes for sexually selected attributes expressed in both sexes and for attributes of parental care. Furthermore, the runaway could occur simultaneously in a series of populations that straddle an environmental gradient. While the models support the feasibility of runaway processes, empirical studies are needed to evaluate whether runaways actually happen. Estimates of critical genetic parameters are particularly needed, as well as measures of natural and sexual selection acting on the same population. The models also show that sexual selection has tremendous potential to produce population differentiation, particularly in epigamic traits. Differentiation is promoted by indeterminancy of evolutionary outcome, transient differences among populations during the final slow approach to equilibrium, sampling drift among equilibrium populations, and the tendency of sexual selection to amplify geographic variation arising from spatial differences in natural selection. Recent work with two- and three-locus models of sexual selection has produced results that parallel the results of the polygenic models. Thus the feature of indeterminate equilibria (outcome dependent on initial conditions) is common to both types of model.

Animals↗

Genetic evidence for gametophytic selection of wilt resistant alleles in chickpea.

Gametophytic selection can drastically reduce the number of selection cycles during crop improvement programs. The objective of the present investigation was to test whether the nature of inheritance of two unlinked disease-resistant loci, h(1) and h(2), against Fusarium wilt in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under gametophytic (pollen) selection was similar to that already observed at sporophytic level. A homozygous dominant (H(1)H(1)H(2)H(2)) susceptible genotype JG-62 was crossed to a recessive (h(1)h(1)h(2)h(2)) resistant genotype WR-315 to produce 20 F(1) hybrid seeds. In the following generation, flower buds of 10 F(1) hybrid plants were subjected to toxin stress before anthesis and the remaining ten control F(1) plants' flowers were sprayed with water. Thirty-four selected BC(1) plants were generated by test crossing resistant WR-315 individuals with pollen from toxin-stressed F(1) individuals. Both control and treated F(1) plants were selfed to produce respective F(2) generations. Two DNA markers, CS-27(700bp) and A07C(430bp), linked to susceptible alleles H(1) and H(2), respectively, were used to study the inheritance patterns of h(1) and h(2) loci in the F(2) and BC(1) generations. One hundred and forty-four selected F(2), 129 control F(2), and 34 selected backcross individuals were tested for the presence or absence of DNA markers. Except for the control F(2), observed ratios of selected F(2) and BC(1) populations exhibited significant chi-square deviations from expected monogenic and digenic ratios. Our results suggest that gametophytic selection is as effective as that realized at the sporophytic level, and that the gametophytic selection can be an effective breeding tool for plant breeding programs.

Agriculture↗

Differential sensitivity to acute administration of Ritalin, apomorphine, SCH 23390, but not raclopride in mice selectively bred for hyperactive wheel-running behavior.

RATIONALE: Previous studies of mice ( Mus domesticus) selectively bred for high voluntary wheel running have suggested that the hyperactivity is associated with dysfunction in the dopaminergic neuromodulatory system and that high-running mice may represent a useful genetic model for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that mice from the four replicate hyperactive lines would respond differently to methylphenidate (Ritalin), apomorphine (non-selective dopamine agonist), SCH 23390 (selective D1-like dopamine antagonist), and raclopride (selective D2-like dopamine antagonist) than individuals from the four replicate, randomly bred, control lines. METHODS: After animals were habituated (3 weeks) to their cages with attached wheels, drugs were administered via intraperitoneal injections, at night, during peak wheel-running activity. Revolutions on wheels 10-70 min post-injection were used to quantify drug responses. RESULTS: Ritalin (15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) increased wheel running in control lines but decreased running in selected lines. A low-dose (0.125 mg/kg) of apomorphine reduced wheel running by a similar amount in control and selected lines; however, higher doses of apomorphine (0.25 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg) produced greater reductions in wheel running in the control lines. SCH 23390 (0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/kg) caused greater reductions in wheel running in control than in selected lines. Raclopride (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg) reduced wheel running by a similar amount in control and selected lines. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the interpretation that genetically determined hyperactive wheel-running behavior is associated with altered dopaminergic function in this mouse model. More specifically, results suggest that D1-like (D1 or D5), but not D2-like (D2, D3, or D4), dopamine receptors have reduced function in the high-running mice. The fact that Ritalin decreased wheel running in selected lines further supports their use as an animal model of ADHD.

Animals↗

Tests for positive selection on immune and reproductive genes in closely related species of the murine genus mus.

We examine variation among species of Mus in four genes involved in reproduction and the immune response for evidence of positive selection: the sperm recognition gene Zp-3, the testis-determining locus Sry, the testicular cell surface matrix protein Tcp-1, and the immune system protein beta(2) m. We use likelihood ratio tests in the context of a well-supported phylogeny to determine whether models that allow for positively selected sites fit the sequences better than models that assume purifying selection. We then apply a Bayesian approach to identify particular sites in each gene that have a high posterior probability of being under positive selection. We find no evidence of positive selection on the Tcp-1 gene, but for Zp-3, Sry, and beta(2) m, models that allow for positively selected sites fit the sequences better than alternatives. For each of these genes, we identify sites that have a high (> 95%) posterior probability of being positively selected. For Zp-3, two of these sites occur near the sperm-binding region, while one occurs in a region whose functional role remains unstudied but where the pattern of change predicts functional importance. A single site in Sry shows an elevated rate of replacement substitution but occurs in a region of apparently little functional importance; therefore, relaxation of functional constraints may better explain the rapid evolution of this site. Three sites in beta(2) m have a posterior probability > 50% of being under positive selection. While the functional role for two of these sites is unknown, the third is known to influence the ability of MHC class I molecules to present antigens to the immune system; therefore, the elevated rate of replacement substitutions at this site is consistent with selection acting to promote variability in immune system proteins.

Animals↗

Positive and negative selection in the beta-esterase gene cluster of the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup.

We examine the pattern of molecular evolution of the beta-esterase gene cluster, including the Est-6 and psiEst-6 genes, in eight species of the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup. Using maximum likelihood estimates of nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratios, we show that the majority of Est-6 sites evolves under strong (48% of sites) or moderate (50% of sites) negative selection and a minority of sites (1.5%) is under significant positive selection. Est-6 sites likely to be under positive selection are associated with increased intraspecific variability. One positively selected site is responsible for the EST-6 F/S allozyme polymorphism; the same site is responsible for the EST-6 functional divergence between species of the melanogaster subgroup. For psiEst-6 83.7% sites evolve under negative selection, 16% sites evolve neutrally, and 0.3% sites are under positive selection. The positively selected sites of psiEst-6 are located at the beginning and at the end of the gene, where there is reduced divergence between D. melanogaster and D. simulans; these regions of psiEst-6 could be involved in regulation or some other function. Branch-site-specific analysis shows that the evolution of the melanogaster subgroup underwent episodic positive selection. Collating the present data with previous results for the beta-esterase genes, we propose that positive and negative selection are involved in a complex relationship that may be typical of the divergence of duplicate genes as one or both duplicates evolve a new function.

Animals↗

A multilocus analysis of intraspecific competition and stabilizing selection on a quantitative trait.

The equilibrium structure of an additive, diallelic multilocus model of a quantitative trait under frequency- and density-dependent selection is derived. The trait is under stabilizing selection and mediates intraspecific competition as induced, for instance, by differential resource utilization. It is assumed that stabilizing selection is weak, but the strength of competition may be arbitrary relative to it. Density dependence is caused by population regulation, which may be of a very general kind. The number and effects of loci are arbitrary, and stabilizing selection is not necessarily symmetric with respect to the range of phenotypic values. All previously studied models of intraspecific competition for a continuum of resources known to the author reduce to a special case of the present model if overall selection is weak. Therefore, in this case our results are applicable as approximations to all these models. Our central result is the (nearly) complete characterization of the equilibrium and stability structure in terms of all parameters. It is derived under the sole assumption that selection is weak enough relative to recombination to ignore linkage disequilibrium. In particular, necessary and sufficient conditions on the strength of competition relative to stabilizing selection are found that ensure the maintenance of multilocus polymorphism and the occurrence of disruptive selection. In this case, explicit formulas for the number of polymorphic loci at equilibrium, the allele frequencies, the genetic variance, and the strength of disruptive selection are obtained. For two loci, the effects of linkage are investigated analytically; for several loci, they are studied numerically.

Alleles↗

Plant native tryptophan synthase beta 1 gene is a non-antibiotic selection marker for plant transformation.

Gene transformation is an integral tool for plant genetic engineering. All antibiotic resistant genes currently employed are of bacterial origin and their presence in the field is undesirable. Therefore, we developed a novel and efficient plant native non-antibiotic selection system for the selection of transgenic plants in the model system Arabidopsis. This new system is based on the enhanced expression of Arabidopsis tryptophan synthase beta 1 (AtTSB1) and the use of 5-methyl-tryptophan (5MT, a tryptophan [Trp] analog) and/or CdCl2 as selection agent(s). We successfully integrated an expression cassette containing an AtT-SB1 cDNA driven by a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter into Arabidopsis by floral dip transformation. Transgenic plants were efficiently selected on MS medium supplemented with 75 microM 5MT or 300 microM CdCl2 devoid of antibiotics. TSB1 selection was as efficient as the conventional hygromycin selection system. Northern blot analysis of transgenic plants selected by 5MT and CdCl2 revealed increased TSB1 mRNA transcript whereas uneven transcript levels of hygromycin phosphotransferase II (hpt) (control) was observed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed 10-15 fold greater free Trp content in AtT-SB1 transgenic plants than in wild-type plants grown with or without 5MT or CdCl2. Taken together, the TSB1 system provides a novel selection system distinct from conventional antibiotic selection systems.

Arabidopsis↗

Reversed selection responses in small populations of the housefly (Musca domestica L.).

We compared the efficacy of artificial and natural selection processes in purging the genetic load of perpetually small populations. We subjected replicate lines of the housefly (Musca domestica L.), recently derived from the wild, to artificial selection for increased mating propensity (i.e., the proportion of male-female pairs initiating copulation within 30 min) in efforts to cull out the inbreeding depression effects of long-term small population size (as determined by a selection protocol for increased assortative mating). We also maintained parallel non-selection lines for assessing the spontaneous purge of genetic load due to inbreeding alone. We thus evaluated the fitness of artificially and 'naturally' purging populations held at census sizes of 40 individuals over the course of 18 generations. We found that the artificially selected lines had significant increases in mating propensity (up to 46% higher from the beginning of the protocol) followed by reversed selection responses back to the initial levels, resulting in non-significant heritabilities. Nevertheless, the 'naturally' selected lines had significantly lower fitness overall (a 28% reduction from the beginning of the protocol), although lower effective population sizes could have contributed to this effect. We conclude that artificial selection bolstered fitness, but only in the short-term, because the inadvertent fixation of extant genetic load later resulted in pleiotropic fitness declines. Still, the short-term advantage of the selection protocol likely contributed to the success of the speciation experiment since our recently-derived housefly populations are particularly vulnerable to inbreeding depression effects on mating behavior.

Animal Population Groups↗

Levamisole resistance in Haemonchus contortus selected at different stages of infection.

Resistance to the anthelmintic levamisole is common amongst most genera of trichostrongylid nematodes of sheep, but is relatively rare in the species Haemonchus contortus. The level of resistance in at least one strain of this species varies during the life cycle. Investigation of this phenomenon, especially in parasitic stages of the parasite may reveal information on resistance mechanisms and factors affecting the selection of resistance. Compared with adult worms of the same resistant strain, immature worms are more susceptible to levamisole both in in vitro contraction assays and an in vivo efficacy experiment. To ascertain if immature parasitic worms of a susceptible strain could be selected for resistance, 3 lines of worms were selected with levamisole for 9 generations. Lines were selected with the same dose rate (2 mg kg-1) at the 4th and 24th day of infection. In addition, because levamisole is less active against immature worms a further line was selected at the 4th day with a higher dose (8 mg kg-1) but similar efficacy to the selection at day 24. In in vitro assays the line selected at day 4 with the lower dose of levamisole showed no resistance compared with an unselected line. The other 2 lines developed high levels of resistance indicating that resistance can develop after selection at either stage. In addition these data directly show that selection pressure is important in determining the rate of development of resistance.

Animals↗

Sexual selection and fertility.

Genetic models are analyzed in which sexual selection is combined with fertility selection. In these models, the sexual selection acts on males, the fertility selection on either males, females or both sexes. The phenotypes thus selected may be determined either by dominant and recessive alleles or by each homozygous and heterozygous genotype. Polymorphisms of dominant and recessive phenotypes can be maintained in equilibrium by a balance between sexual and fertility selection. Generally fertility selection has a greater effect than viability selection in determining the point of equilibrium. The dominant phenotype is maintained at a lower frequency when at a fertility disadvantage than when at a viability disadvantage. When about 20% or more of the females mate preferentially, the models show that equilibria will be established at very different frequencies depending on whether fertility selection acts on males, females or both sexes. These results, applied to data of preferential mating of melanic two-spot ladybirds, predict differences in fertility which can be use to test the models. Symmetric models of preferences for each genotype also give rise to polymorphisms if the heterozygotes obtain an overall advantage.

Animals↗

Artificial selection on laterality in the teleost fish Girardinus falcatus.

We performed five generations of artificial selection on laterality of eye preference in Girardinus falcatus using a detour test. Two lines were selected for right turning when encountering a potential predator, two for left turning, one for no turning bias and one unselected line was used as control. We observed a prompt response to directional selection in all lines and the response was approximately symmetrical in left and right turning lines. However, the response to selection ceased after the first or the second generation and unexpectedly in all lines the average laterality score slowly decreased in subsequent generations. After selection was suspended for three generations, no significant variation in mean laterality was observed in most cases, indicating that natural selection was not actively opposing artificial selection during the experiment. After five generations, selected lines maintained substantial additive variance as evidenced by the possibility of rapidly reversing the direction of laterality bias in just one generation of counter-selection.

Animals↗

A survey of resident selection procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze the current procedures used in oral and maxillofacial surgery resident selection, to compare these selection procedures with those used 2 decades ago, to determine whether any differences exist in the selection procedures between 4-year certificate programs and programs that offer formal medical education, and to provide criteria to assist in the counseling of dental students on the application process for oral and maxillofacial surgery residencies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to the 106 oral and maxillofacial surgery graduate training programs accredited by the American Dental Association. To provide for a more direct comparison to the study completed in 1976, the current questionnaire was developed, using the original survey as a model. It was divided into 5 sections: general information, information obtained from the formal application and letters of recommendation, the interview, the decision process, and a retrospective view of past decisions. The results were tabulated and the Pearson chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance when comparing the 4-year certificate programs to the programs that offer formal medical education. RESULTS: Seventy-one responses (75.5%) from nonmilitary programs were returned and analyzed. Thirty-nine responses represented dual-degree (MD) programs. Factors that were considered very important when judging a candidate's written application included dental school class rank (76.1%), dental school basic science grades (70.4%), and dental school clinical grades (63.4%). Dual-degree programs placed a greater emphasis on predental basic science grades (P < .01) and dental national board scores (P < .05). When asked about prior resident selection, 86.7% of the respondents said they would select 80% of their former residents again. In addition, 89.9% of the respondents were satisfied with their current selection process. CONCLUSIONS: The procedures used to select oral and maxillofacial surgery residents are relatively constant among programs. Although the dual-degree and 4-year certificate programs use the same criteria for resident selection, the dual-degree programs place greater emphasis on predental academic performance and on the results of the national dental boards. Criteria used 22 years ago to select residents are still applicable, but there has been a shift in the importance of some variables.

Certification↗