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Featured: Database discussions

Elizabeth synthesizes!

yes scientists do use social network tools like the common of human being! It is not incompatible with using books, inventories and databases. < … snip … >
I would suggest tagging this discussion with few keywords (perhaps using an automatic ‘tagger’ ), e.g. the name of the varieties involved in the pedigrees and trait names so we could link this discussion to a web site, to the content of a scientific or bibliographic database or a photos repository, etc.

Good thinking. We probably don’t make nearly enough use of tags for things like species names. NB: Commenters can add tags (I think).

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Mapping European alcoholic diversity

A map over at Strange Maps seems to suggest that the most diverse place in Europe in terms of drinks traditions is the area where Hungary, Romania and Ukraine — and thus the wine, beer and vodka belts — meet. Check it out:

But is it true? Have any of our readers been there? And can they recall anything about the visit?

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Cracking the code of dog diversity

Another contribution from Michael Kubisch.

Ever wondered why your rat terrier looks so different from your neighbor’s mastiff? Well, eons of selective breeding, of course, which have resulted in genetic differences between these two and other dog breeds. Man’s best friend was undoubtedly among the very first animals to be domesticated, although the huge variety of breeds found today is probably a much more recent phenomenon. Which part of the dog genome, or more pertinently which genes, were involved in generating this diversity remains largely a mystery — but one that many geneticists would like to solve.

A first glimpse has now been provided by a group of scientists who compared genomic data from dogs belonging to ten different breeds using what is called single-nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs for short. SNPS are very helpful because the presence of a particular SNP sometimes is indicative of the presence of a specific allele at a nearby gene. Similarly, if there are SNPs that differ between two dog breeds it is possible that nearby genes may be different as well and that those genes may have played a role in what sets these breeds apart.

The study revealed 150 areas of the dog genome containing more than 1000 candidate genes that appeared highly variable between those breeds that were examined. Not surprisingly perhaps, several of these genes are known to determine things like coat color, size, skeletal morphology and behavior. However, interestingly, several candidates included genes that are known to act as regulators of other genes, suggesting that some evolutionary changes are not the result of variant alleles of genes but changes in how these genes are controlled. More interesting insights are sure to follow.

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Oh dear: biodiversity in the firing line

Richard Black, a BBC environment correspondent, has stirred up the most remarkable hornet’s nest with a post yesterday predicting that the conservation of biodiversity would become as controversial as climate change — at least to a rabid few — because both require people to change the way they live. He analyses US objections to ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity and points out that the fear that the CBD might cramp unfettered US access to the world’s biodiversity was the underlying reason for many of the politicians who blocked ratification. And here’s how he explains the problem:

Here’s a hypothetical example raised at the InterAcademy panel meeting.

Let’s say you want to protect the Amazon rainforest and the rich biodiversity it contains.

One way you might look to do that is by reducing deforestation; and one of the main causes of Amazonian deforestation is clearance for cattle ranches.

So you might choose to campaign among Western consumers, or to lobby Western governments, to reduce the amount of beef consumed on Western plates; less beef equals more trees.

Does the issue look uncontroversial now?

See! Farming and the supply of food is the enemy of biodiversity conservation. Black doesn’t actually talk about the need to conserve the biodiversity on which our food supply depends — although buried among the outpourings from commenters who agree that biodiversity is useless and has no value are some who point out that it might help to feed us. But hey, who cares about that?

Thanks to catofstripes for the pointer.