The present world faces a new threat of ancient microbes and resistomes that are locked in the cryosphere and now releasing upon thawing due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. The ...cryosphere act as the best preserving place for these microbes and resistomes that stay alive for millions of years. Current reviews extensively discussed whether the resurrection of microbes and resistomes existing in these pristine environments is true or just a hype. Release of these ancient microorganisms and naked DNA is of great concern for society as these microbes can either cause infections directly or they can interact with contemporary microorganisms and affect their fitness, survival, and mutation rate. Moreover, the contemporary microorganisms may uptake the unlocked naked DNA, which might transform non-pathogenic microorganisms into deadly antibiotic-resistant microbes. Additionally, the resurrection of glacial microorganisms can cause adverse effects on ecosystems downstream. The release of glacial pathogens and naked DNA is real and can lead to fatal outbreaks; therefore, we must prepare ourselves for the possible reemergence of diseases caused by these microbes. This study provides a scientific base for the adoption of actions by international cooperation to develop preventive measures.
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•Cryosphere comprises entrapped ancient microbes and resistome.•Melting of cryosphere would unlock these microbes into environment.•Release of these microbes and ancient naked DNA is of great concern for society.
Speculates about personal continuity through the transformation of resurrection. Outlines theories within a Christian framework that explain what constitutes the human person and the continuity of ...personal identity over time. Highlights the role of embodiment as the ground for personal identity, then explores how the continuity and discontinuity of the pre- and post-resurrection bodies may be located in features other than those which at first seem best suited for heavenly life. Considers the suggestion that persons with disabilities in this life may retain those disabilities in their resurrection bodies in the new creation to come. Shows how the prospect of a perfected, yet still disabled, resurrection body challenges our underlying assumptions about what it means to be human and what human flourishing entails. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.
The Y or W sex chromosome of a heteromorphic pair is usually heterochromatinised and degenerated. However, whether chromosome degeneration constantly proceeds toward an extreme end is not fully ...understood. Here, we present a case of intermittent evolution of W chromosomes caused by interpopulation hybridisation in the Japanese soil-frog, Glandirana rugosa. This species includes two heteromorphic sex chromosome systems, which are separated into geographic populations, namely the XY and ZW groups. In this study, to uncover the evolutionary mechanisms of the heterogeneous W chromosomes, we genetically investigated the geographic differentiation of the ZW populations along with the closely located XY populations. Analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences detected three distinct clades, named ZW1, ZW2, and ZW3. High throughput analyses of nuclear genomic DNA showed that autosomal alleles of XY populations were deeply introgressed into the ZW3 sub-group. Based on the genotypes of sex-linked single nucleotide polymorphisms, W-borne androgen receptor gene expression, and WW developmental mortality, we concluded that the X chromosomes were recycled to W chromosomes. Upon inclusion of two cases from another group, Neo-ZW, we observed that the X chromosomes were recycled independently at least four times to the new W chromosomes: a repetition of degeneration and resurrection.
Abstract
Resurrection plants are vascular species able to sustain extreme desiccation in their vegetative tissues. Despite its potential interest, the role of leaf anatomy in CO2 diffusion and ...photosynthesis under non-stressed conditions has not been explored in these species. Net CO2 assimilation (An) and its underlying diffusive, biochemical, and anatomical determinants were assessed in 10 resurrection species from diverse locations, including ferns, and homoiochlorophyllous and poikilochlorophyllous angiosperms. Data obtained were compared with previously published results in desiccation-sensitive ferns and angiosperms. An in resurrection plants was mostly driven by mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm) and limited by CO2 diffusion. Resurrection species had a greater cell wall thickness (Tcw) than desiccation-sensitive plants, a feature associated with limited CO2 diffusion in the mesophyll, but also greater chloroplast exposure to intercellular spaces (Sc), which usually leads to higher gm. This combination enabled a higher An per Tcw compared with desiccation-sensitive species. Resurrection species possess unusual anatomical features that could confer stress tolerance (thick cell walls) without compromising the photosynthetic capacity (high chloroplast exposure). This mechanism is particularly successful in resurrection ferns, which display higher photosynthesis than their desiccation-sensitive counterparts.
Photosynthesis measurements in 10 resurrection fern and angiosperm species show how these desiccation-tolerant species compensate the CO2 diffusion limitation of their thick cell walls by chloroplast exposure in the mesophyll.
A vigorous ethical debate is underway about disability rights and selective abortion. One prodisability group criticizes the ableism of abortion based on prenatal screening. Another group supports ...legalized abortion but harbors serious concerns about disability bias. This essay moves the debate forward by reflecting on the ethics of selective abortion from a particular theological perspective: eschatology. I critically examine the claim that selective abortion contradicts the principle of Samaritan hospitality and the claim that envisioning disabled people in heaven means that selective abortion is an illegitimate use of women’s moral agency. This essay proposes a view of the resurrection using what philosopher call emergence theory, which I argue is prodisability because it conceptualizes how the bodies of beings affected with a disability who die in utero might attain heaven. I also present a view of divine providence that is supportive of women’s self‐determination and self‐trust in reproductive issues, including selective abortion.
A persistent question in evolutionary biology is how complex phenotypes evolve and whether phenotypic transitions are reversible. Multiple losses of floral pigmentation have been documented in the ...angiosperms, but color re-gain has not yet been described, supporting that re-gain is unlikely. Pollinator-mediated selection in Petunia has resulted in several color shifts comprised of both losses and gains of color. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor AN2 has been identified as a major locus responsible for shifts in pollinator preference. Whereas the loss of visible color has previously been attributed to repeated pseudogenization of AN2, here, we describe the mechanism of an independent re-gain of floral color via AN2 evolution. In P. secreta, purple color is restored through the improbable resurrection of AN2 gene function from a non-functional AN2-ancestor by a single reading-frame-restoring mutation. Thus, floral color evolution in Petunia is mechanistically dependent on AN2 functionality, highlighting its role as a hotspot in color transitions and a speciation gene for the genus.
•The R2R3-MYB transcription factor AN2 is a hotspot for evolutionary change•Resurrection of AN2 by a 2-bp deletion during reversal to bee pollination•Complex trait modified by two regulatory mutations of large effect•Trait reversal is possible in recent radiations
Floral color is a crucial signal to attract pollinators. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor AN2 is a hotspot for color evolution in Petunia. Esfeld, Berardi, Moser, et al. document the resurrection of AN2 from a pseudogene background that led to the re-gain of purple pigmentation in Petunia secreta.
Most higher plants are unable to survive desiccation to an air-dried state. An exception is a small group of vascular angiosperm plants, termed resurrection plants. They have evolved unique ...mechanisms of desiccation tolerance and thus can tolerate severe water loss, and mostly adjust their water content with the relative humidity in the environment. Desiccation tolerance is a complex phenomenon and depends on the regulated expression of numerous genes during dehydration and subsequent rehydration. Most of the resurrection plants have a large genome and are difficult to transform which makes them unsuitable for genetic approaches. However, technical advances have made it possible to analyze changes in gene expression on a large-scale. These approaches together with comparative studies with non-desiccation tolerant plants provide novel insights into the molecular processes required for desiccation tolerance and will shed light on identification of orphan genes with unknown functions. Here, we review large-scale recent transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies that have been performed in desiccation tolerant plants and discuss how these studies contribute to understanding the molecular basis of desiccation tolerance.
Myrothamnus flabellifolia is the only woody resurrection plant found in the world and can survive from long-term desiccation. Therefore, M. flabellifolia could be considered as a valuable resource ...for study of plant adaptation to abiotic stress. However, few genes related to its drought tolerance have been functionally characterized and the molecular mechanisms underlying the stress tolerance of M. flabellifolia are largely unknown. The phytochrome interacting factor (PIF) family is a group of basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors and functions as the core regulator in plant growth and development. However, less is known of its participation in abiotic stress response. In this study, we isolated and characterized a dehydration-inducible PIF gene MfPIF8 from M. flabellifolia. Heterologous expression of MfPIF8 in Arabidopsis enhanced tolerance to drought and salinity stresses at seedling and adult stages. It significantly increased primary root length and stomatal aperture (ration of length/width) under stress treatments and decreased water loss rate. Compared with WT, the transgenic lines overexpressing MfPIF8 exhibited higher chlorophyll content and lower malondialdehyde accumulation. The abilities of osmotic adjustment and reactive oxygen species scavenging were also enhanced in MfPIF8 transgenic lines. These results suggest that MfPIF8 may participate in the positive regulation of abiotic stress responses. Additional investigation of its mechanism is needed in the future.
This article studies the role and identity of the Spirit of resurrection in Rom. 8. First, possible references to the Spirit of resurrection in the OT and Jewish literature of the Second Temple ...period are explored. Next, the argumentation of Rom. 8 is analysed, where the apostle links the Spirit of resurrection with the work of Christ (Rom. 8.1-4, 10-11), describes its function of making believers resemble the Son (Rom. 8.5-6, 9-11, 14-17) and shows it as sustaining hope for the legacy of glory with the Firstborn (Rom. 8.18-30). The Spirit of resurrection is argued to be a specifically Pauline idea which differs both from the OT and from the Jewish literature of the Second Temple period.
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