The Experts below are selected from a list of 54 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Peter W. Atkinson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2020Co-Authors: Jennifer A. Wright, Ryan C. Smith, Nancy L. Craig, Li Xianghong, Peter W. AtkinsonAbstract:Transposons are used in Insect science as genetic tools that enable the transformation of Insects and the identification and isolation of genes though their ability to insert in or near to them. Four transposons, piggyBac, Mos1, Hermes and Minos are commonly used in Insects beyond Drosophila melanogaster with piggyBac, due to its wide host range and frequency of transposition, being the most commonly chosen. The utility of these transposons as genetic tools is directly proportional to their activity since higher transposition rates would be expected to lead to higher transformation frequencies and higher frequencies of insertion throughout the genome. As a consequence there is an ongoing need for hyperactive transposases for use in Insect Genetics, however these have proven difficult to obtain. IPB7 is a hyperactive mutant of the piggyBac transposase that was identified by a genetic screen performed in yeast, a mammalian codon optimized version of which was then found to be highly active in rodent embryonic stem cells with no apparent deleterious effects. Here we report the activity of IPB7 in D. melanogaster and the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Somatic transposition assays revealed an increase in IPB7’s transposition rate from wild-type piggyBac transposase in D. melanogaster but not Ae. aegypti. However the use of IPB7 in D. melanogaster genetic transformations produced a high rate of sterility and a low transformation rate compared to wild-type transposase. This high rate of sterility was accompanied by significant gonadal atrophy that was also observed in the absence of the piggyBac vector transposon. We conclude that IPB7 has increased activity in the D. melanogaster germ-line but that a component of the sterility associated with its activity is independent of the presence of the piggyBac transposon.
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IPB7 transposase behavior in Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2013Co-Authors: Jennifer A. Wright, Ryan C. Smith, Xianghong Li, Nancy L. Craig, Peter W. AtkinsonAbstract:Abstract Transposons are used in Insect science as genetic tools that enable the transformation of Insects and the identification and isolation of genes though their ability to insert in or near to them. Four transposons, piggyBac, Mos1, Hermes and Minos are commonly used in Insects beyond Drosophila melanogaster with piggyBac, due to its wide host range and frequency of transposition, being the most commonly chosen. The utility of these transposons as genetic tools is directly proportional to their activity since higher transposition rates would be expected to lead to higher transformation frequencies and higher frequencies of insertion throughout the genome. As a consequence there is an ongoing need for hyperactive transposases for use in Insect Genetics, however these have proven difficult to obtain. IPB7 is a hyperactive mutant of the piggyBac transposase that was identified by a genetic screen performed in yeast, a mammalian codon optimized version of which was then found to be highly active in rodent embryonic stem cells with no apparent deleterious effects. Here we report the activity of IPB7 in D. melanogaster and the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Somatic transposition assays revealed an increase in IPB7's transposition rate from wild-type piggyBac transposase in D. melanogaster but not Ae. aegypti. However the use of IPB7 in D. melanogaster genetic transformations produced a high rate of sterility and a low transformation rate compared to wild-type transposase. This high rate of sterility was accompanied by significant gonadal atrophy that was also observed in the absence of the piggyBac vector transposon. We conclude that IPB7 has increased activity in the D. melanogaster germ-line but that a component of the sterility associated with its activity is independent of the presence of the piggyBac transposon.
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Insect transgenesis and its potential role in agriculture and human health.
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2004Co-Authors: Alan S. Robinson, Gerald Franz, Peter W. AtkinsonAbstract:The ability to genetically engineer Insects other than Drosophila melanogaster has further extended modern genetic techniques into important Insect pest species ranging from fruit fly pests of horticulture to mosquito vectors of human disease. In only a relatively short period of time, a range of transgenes have been inserted into more than 10 Insect pest species. Genetic transformation of these pest species has proven to be a very important laboratory tool in analyzing gene function and effects on phenotype however the full extension of this technology into the field is yet to be realized. Here we briefly review the development of transgenic technology in pest Insect species and discuss the challenges that remain in this applied area of Insect Genetics and entomology.
Takaaki Daimon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Highly Efficient Targeted Gene Disruption in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, Using Genome Editing Tools
Targeted Genome Editing Using Site-Specific Nucleases, 2014Co-Authors: Takaaki DaimonAbstract:The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a classic model organism in studies of Insect Genetics and physiology. As B. mori and most other lepidopteran species (moths and butterflies) are generally refractory to RNA interference (RNAi), it has been very difficult to conduct loss-of-function studies of genes in lepidopterans. However, recent advances in genome engineering tools, such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated (CRISPR/Cas) system, have dramatically changed this situation. Although efficiency of targeted mutagenesis in B. mori was very low in an early experiment using ZFNs, recent studies using TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 have induced highly efficient mutagenesis of the target genes in B. mori, even when the mutant phenotype was unknown. Genome editing tools facilitate sophisticated genetic manipulation and breeding of a wide variety of both beneficial and pest Insects. This chapter summarizes recent advances in genome editing techniques in B. mori and proposes guidelines for experimental design and strategy for successful gene knockout experiments using this species.
Allen L. Szalanski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Genetic evidence for honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) of middle eastern lineage in the United States.
Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: R. Magnus, Allen L. SzalanskiAbstract:Honey bees, Apis mellifera L. are the principle managed pollinator of agriculture and horticulture crops in the United States. Apis mellifera is not native to the United States and the first record of this species in the United States was during the early to mid 17th century when European settlers brought it to the United States. The mitochondrial DNA COI-COII intergenic region of A. mellifera exhibits a high degree of genetic variability within and among A. mellifera lineages and is useful for differentiating lineages as well as detecting unique mitotypes. We conducted a study of the genetic diversity of honey bees from central and south central United States from primarily feral populations. Of the 469 samples from 14 states subjected to DNA sequencing we found evidence of four mitotypes from the ‘O’ lineage: O5, O5d, O5’’b, and O2. Only one of these mitotypes, O2, has been previously observed (in Lebanon). Within the feral population, this lineage accounted for 5% of the observed mitotypes. Of the 24 ‘O’ lineage samples mitotype O5 was the most common and accounted for 52% of the total observed ‘O’ mitotypes. Bayesian and maximum parsimony (MP) phylogenetic analysis revealed that O2, O5, and O5d were more closely related to those found in Libya (O5b, O5a, O4a, O4b), Lebanon (O1b, O2, O3), and Egypt (O1c). However, O5”b appears to have no close relationship to any of the other mitotypes. The existence of the Middle Eastern ‘O’ lineage in the south central and central United States suggests that further molecular genetic studies of the honey bee population is needed for utilizing and conserving the genetic variation which most likely exists in the Unites States. Furthermore, this study also suggests that feral honey bees are surviving despite the introduction of the varroa mite in the 1980s which reduced the feral and managed populations. Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Insect Genetics Research Laboratory, Fayetteville, AR, USA 72701. *Corresponding author: email:aszalan@uark.edu 285 286 Sociobiology Vol. 55, No. 1B, 2010
Jennifer A. Wright - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2020Co-Authors: Jennifer A. Wright, Ryan C. Smith, Nancy L. Craig, Li Xianghong, Peter W. AtkinsonAbstract:Transposons are used in Insect science as genetic tools that enable the transformation of Insects and the identification and isolation of genes though their ability to insert in or near to them. Four transposons, piggyBac, Mos1, Hermes and Minos are commonly used in Insects beyond Drosophila melanogaster with piggyBac, due to its wide host range and frequency of transposition, being the most commonly chosen. The utility of these transposons as genetic tools is directly proportional to their activity since higher transposition rates would be expected to lead to higher transformation frequencies and higher frequencies of insertion throughout the genome. As a consequence there is an ongoing need for hyperactive transposases for use in Insect Genetics, however these have proven difficult to obtain. IPB7 is a hyperactive mutant of the piggyBac transposase that was identified by a genetic screen performed in yeast, a mammalian codon optimized version of which was then found to be highly active in rodent embryonic stem cells with no apparent deleterious effects. Here we report the activity of IPB7 in D. melanogaster and the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Somatic transposition assays revealed an increase in IPB7’s transposition rate from wild-type piggyBac transposase in D. melanogaster but not Ae. aegypti. However the use of IPB7 in D. melanogaster genetic transformations produced a high rate of sterility and a low transformation rate compared to wild-type transposase. This high rate of sterility was accompanied by significant gonadal atrophy that was also observed in the absence of the piggyBac vector transposon. We conclude that IPB7 has increased activity in the D. melanogaster germ-line but that a component of the sterility associated with its activity is independent of the presence of the piggyBac transposon.
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IPB7 transposase behavior in Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2013Co-Authors: Jennifer A. Wright, Ryan C. Smith, Xianghong Li, Nancy L. Craig, Peter W. AtkinsonAbstract:Abstract Transposons are used in Insect science as genetic tools that enable the transformation of Insects and the identification and isolation of genes though their ability to insert in or near to them. Four transposons, piggyBac, Mos1, Hermes and Minos are commonly used in Insects beyond Drosophila melanogaster with piggyBac, due to its wide host range and frequency of transposition, being the most commonly chosen. The utility of these transposons as genetic tools is directly proportional to their activity since higher transposition rates would be expected to lead to higher transformation frequencies and higher frequencies of insertion throughout the genome. As a consequence there is an ongoing need for hyperactive transposases for use in Insect Genetics, however these have proven difficult to obtain. IPB7 is a hyperactive mutant of the piggyBac transposase that was identified by a genetic screen performed in yeast, a mammalian codon optimized version of which was then found to be highly active in rodent embryonic stem cells with no apparent deleterious effects. Here we report the activity of IPB7 in D. melanogaster and the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Somatic transposition assays revealed an increase in IPB7's transposition rate from wild-type piggyBac transposase in D. melanogaster but not Ae. aegypti. However the use of IPB7 in D. melanogaster genetic transformations produced a high rate of sterility and a low transformation rate compared to wild-type transposase. This high rate of sterility was accompanied by significant gonadal atrophy that was also observed in the absence of the piggyBac vector transposon. We conclude that IPB7 has increased activity in the D. melanogaster germ-line but that a component of the sterility associated with its activity is independent of the presence of the piggyBac transposon.
R. Magnus - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Genetic evidence for honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) of middle eastern lineage in the United States.
Sociobiology, 2020Co-Authors: R. Magnus, Allen L. SzalanskiAbstract:Honey bees, Apis mellifera L. are the principle managed pollinator of agriculture and horticulture crops in the United States. Apis mellifera is not native to the United States and the first record of this species in the United States was during the early to mid 17th century when European settlers brought it to the United States. The mitochondrial DNA COI-COII intergenic region of A. mellifera exhibits a high degree of genetic variability within and among A. mellifera lineages and is useful for differentiating lineages as well as detecting unique mitotypes. We conducted a study of the genetic diversity of honey bees from central and south central United States from primarily feral populations. Of the 469 samples from 14 states subjected to DNA sequencing we found evidence of four mitotypes from the ‘O’ lineage: O5, O5d, O5’’b, and O2. Only one of these mitotypes, O2, has been previously observed (in Lebanon). Within the feral population, this lineage accounted for 5% of the observed mitotypes. Of the 24 ‘O’ lineage samples mitotype O5 was the most common and accounted for 52% of the total observed ‘O’ mitotypes. Bayesian and maximum parsimony (MP) phylogenetic analysis revealed that O2, O5, and O5d were more closely related to those found in Libya (O5b, O5a, O4a, O4b), Lebanon (O1b, O2, O3), and Egypt (O1c). However, O5”b appears to have no close relationship to any of the other mitotypes. The existence of the Middle Eastern ‘O’ lineage in the south central and central United States suggests that further molecular genetic studies of the honey bee population is needed for utilizing and conserving the genetic variation which most likely exists in the Unites States. Furthermore, this study also suggests that feral honey bees are surviving despite the introduction of the varroa mite in the 1980s which reduced the feral and managed populations. Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Insect Genetics Research Laboratory, Fayetteville, AR, USA 72701. *Corresponding author: email:aszalan@uark.edu 285 286 Sociobiology Vol. 55, No. 1B, 2010