So far in this course we have dealt entirely with the evolution of characters that are controlled by simple Mendelian inheritance at a single locus. There are notes on the course website about gametic disequilibrium and how allele frequencies change at two loci simultaneously, but we didn’t discuss them. In every example we’ve considered we’ve imagined that we could understand something about evolution by examining the evolution of a single gene. That’s the domain of classical population genetics. For the next few weeks we’re going to be exploring a field that’s actually older than classical population genetics, although the approach we’ll be taking to it involves the use of population genetic machinery. If you know a little about the history of evolutionary biology, you may know that after the rediscovery of Mendel’s work in 1900 there was a heated debate between the “biometricians” (e.g., Galton and Pearson) and the “Mendelians” (e.g., de Vries, Correns, Bateson, and Morgan). Biometricians asserted that the really important variation in evolution didn’t follow Mendelian rules. Height, weight, skin color, and similar traits seemed to

Human biochemical genetics

Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires

A reviewer for the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society of England comments \"This is the first book covering in one volume all important topics in genetical statistics.\" Written to provide basic probability ideas in terms of genetic situations, since the theory of genetics is a probability theory; to give a definitive treatment of applications of these ideas to genetic theory; and to describe statistical methods appropriate to the data models that are developed.

An Introduction to Genetic Statistics

Estimates of genetic and environmental variability in soybeans (Glycine max. L.) [Egypt].

This article explores the uses of Web 2.0 and social media by the 2008 Obama presidential campaign and asks three primary questions: (1) What techniques allowed the Obama campaign to translate online activity to on-the-ground activism? (2) What sociotechnical factors enabled the Obama campaign to generate so many campaign contributions? (3) Did the Obama campaign facilitate the development of an ongoing social movement that will influence his administration and governance? Qualitative data were collected from social media tools used by the Obama ‘08 campaign (e.g., Obama ‘08 Web site, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, e-mails, iPhone application, and the Change.gov site created by the Obama-Biden Transition Team) and public information. The authors find that the Obama ‘08 campaign created a nationwide virtual organization that motivated 3.1 million individual contributors and mobilized a grassroots movement of more than 5 million volunteers. Clearly, the Obama campaign utilized these tools to go beyond educating the public and raising money to mobilizing the ground game, enhancing political participation, and getting out the vote. The use of these tools also raised significant national security and privacy considerations. Finally, the Obama-Biden transition and administration utilized many of the same strategies in their attempt to transform political participation and civic engagement.

Examining the Impact of Web 2.0 and Social Media on Political Participation and Civic Engagement in the 2008 Obama Campaign

The Odd Frѐchet-G Family of Probability Distributions

Comparative mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of gamma rays and Ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) were studied in two desi (Pb2000 and C44), one kabuli (Pb1) and one desi x kabuli introgression line (CH40/91) of chickpea. The treatments included two doses each of gamma rays and EMS calculated on the basis of their LD30. The results revealed that EMS was almost seven times more effective and its efficiency was two times higher than that of gamma rays. Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency were found to depend upon mutagen type and the genotype and both were higher at lower doses of EMS in three genotypes except in desi genotype C44. The overall trend of mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency in both gamma radiation and EMS was in the order i.e. CH40/91>Pb2000>Pb1>C44. The introgression line desi x kabuli genotype was found to be most resistant towards mutagenic treatments than desi and kabuli types.

Induced genetic variability in chickpea (cicer arietinum l.) ii. comparative mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of physical and chemical mutagens

Thirty two chickpea genotypes were evaluated for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, primary branches, secondary branches, pods per plant, 100 seed weight and grain yield per plant. Genetic parameters, correlations, path coefficients and partial regressions were estimated for all the traits. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters. Broad sense heritability estimates for various traits ranged from 39 – 97%. Grain yield per plant showed highly significant positive correlation with days to maturity, primary branches, secondary branches and 100 seed weight and significant positive correlation with pods per plant. Path coefficient analysis revealed that pods per plant and 100 seed weight had the highest direct effect on grain yield per plant followed by secondary branches. The total variability calculated through multiple correlation in the population for yield improvement accounted by secondary branches, pods per plant and 100 seed weight was 88.6% compared to 89.4% accounted by the all characters. The pods per plant and 100 seed weight showed highly significant and secondary branches showed significant partial regression coefficients with grain yield per plant. Results revealed that more number of secondary branches, pods per plant and bold seed size are major yield contributing factors in selecting high yielding chickpea cultivars.

Variation and inter-relationships of quantitative traits in chickpea (cicer arietinum l.)

Line x tester experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of 30 hybrids along with 13 parents in tomato. Variance due to treatments, crosses and lines x testers was significant for days to fruiting, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, number of fruit per plant and yield per plant. The estimate of variance of gca, sca, their ratio and degree of dominance indicated preponderance of non-additive gene action for all the traits suggesting that selection might not be made in the early generations and recurrent selection with periodic intercrossing appeared to be the best method. Narrow sense heritability was low in all traits but moderate for fruit weight, while genetic advance was low to high in aforementioned traits. Contribution of lines towards the total variance was more than that of testers. Line x tester interactions contributed more in days to fruiting, number of fruit per plant and yield per plant than that of lines and testers. Based on mean performance and gca effects, line 88572 and UC-134 and tester Nagina were better for yield and its various components. Considering mean performance, sca effects and heterobeltiosis, three hybrids 88572 × Riogrande, Picdeneto × Riogrande and H-24 × Riogrande were superior for yield and recommended for further evaluation.

Genetic analysis to identify suitable parents for hybrid seed production in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.).

Line × tester experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of 27 F1 hybrids along with 12 parents in Basmati rice. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among treatments, parents, parents vs. crosses and crosses for number of tillers per plant, panicle length, number of grains per panicle, fertility percentage, 1000-grain weight and yield per plant. Lines were significant for number of tillers per plant, number of grains per panicle and 1000-grain weight while testers and lines × testers were significant for all the traits. The estimates of variance of specific combining ability effects, ratio of variance of general combining ability to specific combining ability and degree of dominance indicated preponderance of non-additive gene effects for each trait. On over all basis, role of testers in the expression of most of the yield components was more than lines and line × tester interaction. However, line × tester interaction contributed more than lines and testers for yield per plant. Three lines viz., Basmati 2000, Super Basmati and Kashmir Basmati and one tester Basmati-385 were identified as good general combiners based on their mean performance and GCA effects for yield and its various traits. Hybrids like Basmati Pak × Basmati-385, Super Basmati × Basmati-385, DM-107-4 × Basmati-385, Basmati 2000 × EL-302-1, Basmati 2000 × DM-25, DM-16-5-1 × Basmati-385 and Kashmir Basmati × DM-25 showed high mean performance, SCA effects and heterobeltiosis for grain yield and are proposed for heterosis breeding.

Muhammad Ahsan ul Haq

Papers

The Odd Frѐchet-G Family of Probability Distributions

Induced genetic variability in chickpea (cicer arietinum l.) ii. comparative mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of physical and chemical mutagens

Variation and inter-relationships of quantitative traits in chickpea (cicer arietinum l.)

Genetic analysis to identify suitable parents for hybrid seed production in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.).

Combining ability analysis for yield and related traits in Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.).