Turtle genome analysis sheds light on turtle ancestry and shell evolution

Apr. 28, 2013 ? From which ancestors have turtles evolved? How did they get their shell? New data provided by the Joint International Turtle Genome Consortium, led by researchers from RIKEN in Japan, BGI in China, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the UK provides evidence that turtles are not primitive reptiles but belong to a sister group of birds and crocodiles. The work also sheds light on the evolution of the turtle's intriguing morphology and reveals that the turtle's shell evolved by recruiting genetic information encoding for the limbs.

Turtles are often described as evolutionary monsters, with a unique body plan and a shell that is considered to be one of the most intriguing structures in the animal kingdom.

"Turtles are interesting because they offer an exceptional case to understand the big evolutionary changes that occurred in vertebrate history," explains Dr. Naoki Irie, from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, who led the study.

Using next-generation DNA sequencers, the researchers from 9 international institutions have decoded the genome of the green sea turtle and Chinese soft-shell turtle and studied the expression of genetic information in the developing turtle.

Their results published in Nature Genetics show that turtles are not primitive reptiles as previously thought, but are related to the group comprising birds and crocodilians, which also includes extinct dinosaurs. Based on genomic information, the researchers predict that turtles must have split from this group around 250 million years ago, during one of the largest extinction events ever to take place on this planet.

"We expect that this research will motivate further work to elucidate the possible causal connection between these events," says Dr. Irie.

The study also reveals that despite their unique anatomy, turtles follow the basic embryonic pattern during development. Rather than developing directly into a turtle-specific body shape with a shell, they first establish the vertebrates' basic body plan and then enter a turtle-specific development phase. During this late specialization phase, the group found traces of limb-related gene expression in the embryonic shell, which indicates that the turtle shell evolved by recruiting part of the genetic program used for the limbs.

"The work not only provides insight into how turtles evolved, but also gives hints as to how the vertebrate developmental programs can be changed to produce major evolutionary novelties." explains Dr. Irie.

Another unexpected finding of the study was that turtles possess a large number of olfactory receptors and must therefore have the ability to smell a wide variety of substances. The researchers identified more than 1000 olfactory receptors in the soft-shell turtle, which is one of the largest numbers ever to be found in a non-mammalian vertebrate.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by RIKEN, via AlphaGalileo.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Zhuo Wang, Juan Pascual-Anaya, Amonida Zadissa, Wenqi Li, Yoshihito Niimura, Zhiyong Huang, Chunyi Li, Simon White, Zhiqiang Xiong, Dongming Fang, Bo Wang, Yao Ming, Yan Chen, Yuan Zheng, Shigehiro Kuraku, Miguel Pignatelli, Javier Herrero, Kathryn Beal, Masafumi Nozawa, Qiye Li, Juan Wang, Hongyan Zhang, Lili Yu, Shuji Shigenobu, Junyi Wang, Jiannan Liu, Paul Flicek, Steve Searle, Jun Wang, Shigeru Kuratani, Ye Yin, Bronwen Aken, Guojie Zhang, Naoki Irie. The draft genomes of soft-shell turtle and green sea turtle yield insights into the development and evolution of the turtle-specific body plan. Nature Genetics, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/ng.2615

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/8zHOVHrvis0/130428144848.htm

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'The Bible' On The Big Screen Is The Week's Biggest News

By Amelia Mularz Nope, Mel Gibson's not involved. This one's all Mark Burnett, the producer who's partly to blame for giving Donald Trump his own show ("The Apprentice"), as well as Sarah Palin ("Sarah Palin's Alaska"), and his wife Roma Downey of "Touched by an Angel" fame. They're taking their 10-part TV miniseries for the [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/04/26/the-bible-weeks-biggest-news/

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Bethenny Frankel to expand Skinnygirl product line

NEW YORK (AP) ? Bethenny Frankel plans to expand her Skinnygirl line of wine and spirits and power bars to include more food products.

"You'll definitely see Skinnygirl food," the former reality TV star said in a recent interview. "If it's something that I'm passionate about, if it's something that solves a problem for women in particular because that's who I connect with the most, and (it's) any product that I can improve upon or any problem that I can solve, then Skinnygirl will be attached to that."

She has added what she calls "The New Girls" to her popular line of ready-to-serve drinks, including Moscato, White Cherry Vodka, Mojito and Sweet 'n Tart Grapefruit Margarita.

Frankel, whose entrepreneurial reach also includes diet books and videos, and a novel, had a six-city run of "bethenny" on Fox-owned stations last year. The show will air in cities across the country this fall.

"Initially people were afraid of me doing the talk show," Frankel said. "I kind of had to push through and be tested, but I think as women we're always being tested (and) the reward is so much sweeter. You've got to fight for what you want, but if you really are passionate and you really have drive, then you (can) pretty much accomplish anything."

Frankel was a runner-up on "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." She appeared on "The Real Housewives of New York City," where she became a breakout star, then starred in a pair of her own reality shows.

She believes her honesty about the ups and downs of her personal life has helped people relate to her.

Frankel filed for divorce from her husband, Jason Hoppy, in January. They have a daughter, Bryn, who will soon celebrate her third birthday.

"Bryn's great. She is so sweet," said Frankel. "I just love taking her to school and going to the park. I do try to do a lot of different activities. She has such a great life."

Frankel said when she decided to do reality television, "I was going to "put it all out there and be honest about my flaws and the struggles."

"That's what really ended up creating a connection between me and women and I think what enabled (me) to have a talk show," she said. "It's just really a dialogue. It's been a trust and a relationship and a conversation that's gone for years."

___

Online:

http://www.bethenny.com/

http://www.skinnygirldaily.com/

___

Alicia Rancilio covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her online at http://www.twitter.com/aliciar .

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bethenny-frankel-expand-skinnygirl-product-line-191858266.html

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House Republican offers few assurances on immigration bill

By Thomas Ferraro and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The push for comprehensive immigration legislation faces an uncertain fate in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives even as Senate supporters voiced optimism on Thursday for overwhelming backing in that chamber.

As the Democratic Party-controlled Senate pushed ahead on an 844-page bill that aims to rewrite America's immigration law, the Republican-controlled House was still undecided on how broad of a bill it might consider - or even if it would advance legislation this year.

That was the message delivered Thursday by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, who told reporters that he would be introducing a series of individual bills, starting with legislation to help farmers get foreign workers and improving an electronic system to help businesses be sure they are hiring legal workers.

"We have made no decisions about how to proceed," Goodlatte said at a news conference, adding he did not know whether his committee would try to advance "individual bills or whether it would pertain to a larger bill."

He did however say that he hoped some sort of legislation could pass in 2013.

Goodlatte's uncertainty is in contrast to senators who have advanced a comprehensive immigration bill that is expected to be debated next month by the Senate Judiciary Committee. That measure would put the 11 million people living illegally in the United States on a 13-year path to citizenship.

Two authors of that bipartisan bill said on Thursday they are hopeful most Senate Democrats and Republicans will support their White House-backed measure.

"It is very doable," Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona said of the prospects of attracting wide bipartisan backing. Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York agreed.

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to debate, and most likely amend, the newly introduced bill as Democrats aim to get full Senate approval by late June.

Goodlatte refused to set up any such timetable for House action.

Referring to the November, 2014 congressional elections, the Virginia Republican said: "Election years are more difficult than non-election years" for passing major, controversial legislation. "But I'll also say that it is far more important that we get this right this time...than live by any particular timetables."

Similarly, Goodlatte was non-committal when asked whether House legislation would contain provisions letting those who came to the United States illegally or overstayed their visas to eventually become U.S. citizens.

"What exactly can be done there remains to be seen," Goodlatte said.

On the hot-button issue of potential citizenship for undocumented residents, Goodlatte said: "I prefer not to see a special pathway to citizenship but a status that would give them some kind of legal status."

A 'NON-STARTER'

Immigration reform advocates have long insisted that legislation must be addressed in a comprehensive way rather than piecemeal and that the 11 million undocumented immigrants must be "brought out of the shadows" and set onto a road to citizenship. It is a 13-year-long road in the Senate bill that includes the payment of penalties for people who either entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed their visas.

McCain and Schumer, speaking at a breakfast roundtable with reporters sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, said legislation without a pathway to citizenship would be a "non-starter."

They said their aim is to muster strong support, as many as 70 votes in the 100-member Democratic-led chamber, to help the measure's chances in the Republican-led House.

"It is a balanced bill," Schumer said. "I'm optimistic it will pass."

McCain and Schumer drafted the comprehensive measure with six other senators, three Democrats and three Republicans. It would bolster border security, help provide low- and high-skilled workers for businesses and create an earned pathway to U.S. citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.

McCain said he called Representative Paul Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee, on Wednesday to thank him for publicly voicing support in recent days for comprehensive immigration reform.

"I believe in it," McCain quoted Ryan as telling him. Ryan is seen as an influential voice among conservatives who could help propel any bill in the House.

Even so, many conservative Republicans question whether any broad immigration legislation should be attempted until further security measures are in place along the southwestern border with Mexico.

(Editing by Fred Barbash and Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/key-u-lawmakers-hopeful-bipartisan-immigration-bill-pass-131633337.html

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Four children die in S. Carolina mobile home fire

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (AP) ? Authorities say four children have died in a fire that swept through a mobile home in the South Carolina city of Hartsville.

A spokesman for the city, Russell Cox, said firefighters found the bodies Wednesday afternoon after taking about 10 minutes to put out the blaze. Cox says a local coroner has not yet released the names or ages of the victims.

A photograph taken by the Darlington County sheriff showed the charred interior of the mobile home while the outside appeared to be relatively undamaged. A tricycle and another children's toy could be seen in the yard.

Investigators have just begun to look through the home's charred interior and had no immediate report on a possible cause.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/official-4-children-killed-sc-mobile-home-fire-195420381.html

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Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/301272852?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Conviction politics is back, they say. But will the politicians keep it up ...

If you believe that there is such a thing as truth, then you have to tell those who disagree with you, voters or not, that they are just wrong

Now that Lady Thatcher?s funeral is safely over (and turned out, or so it seemed to me, to have been far more warmly supported, in the event, by public opinion than it had been supposed it would be) it looks as though the Thatcher phenomenon is not yet fading from public attention as I supposed that by now it would be. The explanation, of course, is the publication of multiple serial extracts from the first volume of Charles Moore?s biography and the impending publication of the door-stopper volume itself (I look forward with keen anticipation to its weightless arrival tomorrow on my Kindle).

So my subject today will certainly be as current for the next day or so as, according to Janet Daly, it has been since the funeral. The ?magic word of the week?, she says, was ?conviction?: ?there was no longer any question, apparently, about whether ?conviction politics? was a good or a bad thing, or whether it was an optional extra for political leaders. (How did that notion ever get off the ground, anyway? After all, what is the alternative: lack-of-conviction politics?) Convictions are simply strongly held, principled beliefs. What business would you have pursuing power if you had no strong principled beliefs about what was right for the country??

But as she points out, the trouble with that is that until ?about 20 minutes ago, it was fashionable to imply that there was something faintly demonic about being a conviction-led leader: that it was tantamount to demagoguery or just implacable bloody-mindedness?. And as she rightly points out, no one has been more guilty of spreading this notion than Cameron?s generation of Tories (she could have added, however, that there are at least two exceptions to that in the cabinet, ie Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith, though both to my sorrow are voting the wrong way over same-sex ?marriage?).

?Something like real politics is back?, or so she thinks. ?Even if nobody is absolutely sure what it might consist of, we have a pretty clear idea of what it should look like. It is fairly crucial that the people who espouse it sound as if they believe in something?. Ah, ?sound as if?. There?s the rub. We are used by now to politicians being good at sounding as if they believe this, that or the other. But, as she says, it?s a start.

More than anything, thinks Mrs Daley, what people want ? as the nostalgia of last week made undeniably clear ? is ?a sense of moral mission. Government should be about something. So the present lot of Conservative leaders now realise that they must transform themselves from looking like managers who may be trusted to take common-sense decisions, into the bearers of a sacred duty on which they will never renege.?

But will they be able to keep it up: which is another way of asking ?do they really believe it?? In the end, I strongly suspect, they think that convictions passionately held are what they call ?divisive?. Admirable Mrs Thatcher may have been in many ways, courageous and far-sighted and all that, but she was also ?divisive?: and what that means, they think, is people not voting for you (they think this despite the fact that Mrs Thatcher won three General Elections and they have won none). And being divisive is also uncomfortable. Much better to be tolerant, all things to all men, live and let live?. Mrs Thatcher, after all, was a Christian. Christians bring people together, don?t they? Well, no, actually, not necessarily:

Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.

12:52. For there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided: three against two, and two against three.

12:53. The father shall be divided against the son and the son against his father: the mother against the daughter and the daughter against her mother: the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law and the daughter- in-law law against her mother-in-law. (Douai-Challenor)

The truth is undoubtedly divisive: so much is obvious. Unless, that is, like all those whose idea of society is built on the need for consensus in all things, harmful or not, you are someone who doesn?t really believe in truth, someone who thinks that ?truth? is a kind of joke: and what does that remind you of? The famous opening sentence of Francis Bacon?s essay ?Of Truth? is all most people remember of it: ?What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer?; but the whole essay is worth reading. Its last sentence is less memorable but more powerful than the first: ?Surely the wickedness of falsehood, and breach of faith, cannot possibly be so highly expressed, as in that it shall be the last peal, to call the judgments of God upon the generations of men; it being foretold, that when Christ cometh, he shall not find faith upon the earth.? Scary.

Thinking of that contradiction between truth and consensus, I remembered, first, Francis Bacon on ?jesting Pilate?, and then Mgr Ronald Knox, in The Creed in Slow Motion, on the same subject. He has been talking of Our Lady?s title ?Mother of God? as the touchstone of Christian Orthodoxy. Then he speaks of the only other named non-divine human person in the Creed: ?Pilate wasn?t the touchstone of anything; certainly not of truth?he didn?t even believe in truth?. The trouble about him, I suppose, was that he was so anxious to please everybody. He wanted to please Caiphas, he wanted to please the Jewish mob, he wanted to please his wife, he wanted to please Herod, he wanted to please our Lord, he wanted to please St Joseph of Arimathea; and like most people who want to please everybody, he pleased nobody?.

?Pilate didn?t dislike Our Lord at all? And yet it was Pilate who crucified him. It was the world of worldly people, with its dislike of a scene, its dislike of a fuss, its doctrine of ?live and let live? that put Jesus Christ to death.?

In the end, it was Pilate?s horror of ?divisiveness? that led him to do the most terrible thing a human being has ever done. Let us hope, then, that the current fashion for politicians who believe something, who have principles, disruptive or not, lasts a little longer than I fear it may. Let us hope for a durable access of courage to be divisive.

Source: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2013/04/24/politicians-should-not-fear-conviction/

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