Genome Mapping And Genomics In Human And Non Human Primates

This book provides an introduction to the latest gene mapping techniques and their applications in biomedical research and evolutionary biology. It especially highlights the advances made in large-scale genomic sequencing. Results of studies that illustrate how the new approaches have improved our understanding of the genetic basis of complex phenotypes including multifactorial diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity), anatomic characteristics (e.g., the craniofacial complex), and neurological and behavioral phenotypes (e.g., human brain structure and nonhuman primate behavior) are presented. Topics covered include linkage and association methods, gene expression, copy number variation, next-generation sequencing, comparative genomics, population structure, and a discussion of the Human Genome Project. Further included are discussions of the use of statistical genetic and genetic epidemiologic techniques to decipher the genetic architecture of normal and disease-related complex phenotypes using data from both humans and non-human primates.

(tentative) What bring about biodiversity are not always genes. As is the case with humans, cultural diversity of non-human animals has also been found. Most of well-known examples of animal cultures are those of food acquisition behaviors, such as sweet-potato-washing by Japanese macaques and nut-cracking by chimpanzees. First author, Naofumi Nakagawa, introduces cultural diversity of social behaviors in wild Japanese macaques, such as the embracing behaviors between adult females in a wild group in each population of Yakushima, Kinkazan, and Shimokita. The subtle local difference in embracing can be identified as the first evidence for social customs in wild Japanese macaques. The next author, Michael A. Huffman, introduces the self-medicative behavior in non-human primates, which is a relatively new study in primatology. Parasites cause a variety of diseases that affect the behavior and reproductive fitness of an individual. He classifies health maintenance and self-medicative behaviors observed in non-human primates into four levels. Not only humans but also apes and monkeys are maintaining their health. The third authors, Hiroo Imai, Masaki Tomonaga, and Yasuhiro Go, are promoting comparative cognitive sciences of primates including human and chimpanzees. Recently, human personal genome projects progresses as related to the phenotypes including cognition, while there was no similar project for non-human primates. They started personal genome and transcriptome projects of chimpanzees in Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, years ago. They introduce recent progresses of the project and related results based on the primate genome sciences.

Geneticist Eugene Harris presents us with the complete and up-to-date account of the evolution of the human genome.

Annotation Report of the Committee on [title]. Discusses the desirability and feasibility of a gigantic project. Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

Heritable human genome editing - making changes to the genetic material of eggs, sperm, or any cells that lead to their development, including the cells of early embryos, and establishing a pregnancy - raises not only scientific and medical considerations but also a host of ethical, moral, and societal issues. Human embryos whose genomes have been edited should not be used to create a pregnancy until it is established that precise genomic changes can be made reliably and without introducing undesired changes - criteria that have not yet been met, says Heritable Human Genome Editing. From an international commission of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the U.K.'s Royal Society, the report considers potential benefits, harms, and uncertainties associated with genome editing technologies and defines a translational pathway from rigorous preclinical research to initial clinical uses, should a country decide to permit such uses. The report specifies stringent preclinical and clinical requirements for establishing safety and efficacy, and for undertaking long-term monitoring of outcomes. Extensive national and international dialogue is needed before any country decides whether to permit clinical use of this technology, according to the report, which identifies essential elements of national and international scientific governance and oversight.

Recognizing the important contributions that genomic analysis can make to agriculture, production and companion animal science, evolutionary biology, and human health with respect to the creation of models for genetic disorders, the National Academies convened a group of individuals to plan a public workshop that would: (1) assess these contributions; (2) identify potential research directions for existing genomics programs; and (3) highlight the opportunities of a coordinated, multi-species genomics effort for the science and policymaking communities. Their efforts culminated in a workshop sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. The workshop was convened on February 19, 2002. The goal of the workshop was to focus on domestic animal genomics and its integration with other genomics and functional genomics projects.

The series "Genome Mapping and Genomics in Animals" provides comprehensive and up-to-date reviews on genomic research on a large variety of selected animal systems, contributed by leading scientists from around the world. The huge amount of information hitherto dispersed in journals is now available in this clearly structured reference work. Arthropods covered here include honeybee, bumblebee, the parasitic Jewel Wasp, silkworm, pea aphid, mosquito, Hessian fly and tick.

Mapping of animal genomes has generated huge databases and several new concepts and strategies, which are useful to elucidate origin, evolution and phylogeny. Genetic and physical maps of genomes further provide precise details on chromosomal location, function, expression and regulation of academically and economically important genes. The series Genome Mapping and Genomics in Animals provides comprehensive and up-to-date reviews on genomic research on a large variety of selected animal systems, contributed by leading scientists from around the world. This volume summarizes the first era of genomic studies of aquaculture species, in which the tools and resources necessary to support whole-genome sequencing were developed. These tools will enhance efforts toward selective breeding of aquaculture species. Included in this volume are summaries of work on salmonids, cyprinids, catfish, tilapias, European sea bass, Japanese flounder, shrimps and oysters.