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1. Developing immortal cell lines from Xenopus embryos , four novel cell lines derived from Xenopus tropicalis

   https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.220089  

   Gorbsky, Gary J.; Daum, John R.; Sapkota, Hem; Summala, Katja; Yoshida, Hitoshi; Georgescu, Constantin; Wren, Jonathan D.; Peshkin, Leonid; Horb, Marko E. (July 2022, Open Biology)

   The diploid anuran Xenopus tropicalis has emerged as a key research model in cell and developmental biology. To enhance the usefulness of this species, we developed methods for generating immortal cell lines from Nigerian strain (NXR_1018, RRID:SCR_013731) X. tropicalis embryos. We generated 14 cell lines that were propagated for several months. We selected four morphologically distinct lines, XTN-6, XTN-8, XTN-10 and XTN-12 for further characterization. Karyotype analysis revealed that three of the lines, XTN-8, XTN-10 and XTN-12 were primarily diploid. XTN-6 cultures showed a consistent mixed population of diploid cells, cells with chromosome 8 trisomy, and cells containing a tetraploid content of chromosomes. The lines were propagated using conventional culture methods as adherent cultures at 30°C in a simple, diluted L-15 medium containing fetal bovine serum without use of a high CO 2 incubator. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the four lines were distinct lineages. These methods will be useful in the generation of cell lines from normal and mutant strains of X. tropicalis as well as other species of Xenopus . 

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2. Distinct Adult Eclosion Traits of Sibling Species Rhagoletis pomonella and Rhagoletis zephyria (Diptera: Tephritidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

   https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaa148  

   Yee, Wee L; Goughnour, Robert B; Feder, Jeffrey L (November 2020, Environmental Entomology)

   Schilder, Rudolf (Ed.)

   Abstract Closely related phytophagous insects that specialize on different host plants may have divergent responses to environmental factors. Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) and Rhagoletis zephyria Snow (Diptera: Tephritidae) are sibling, sympatric fly species found in western North America that attack and mate on plants of Rosaceae (~60 taxa) and Caprifoliaceae (three taxa), respectively, likely contributing to partial reproductive isolation. Rhagoletis zephyria evolved from R. pomonella and is native to western North America, whereas R. pomonella was introduced there. Given that key features of the flies’ ecology, breeding compatibility, and evolution differ, we predicted that adult eclosion patterns of the two flies from Washington State, USA are also distinct. When puparia were chilled, eclosion of apple- and black hawthorn-origin R. pomonella was significantly more dispersed, with less pronounced peaks, than of snowberry-origin R. zephyria within sympatric and nonsympatric site comparisons. Percentages of chilled puparia that produced adults were ≥67% for both species. However, when puparia were not chilled, from 13.5 to 21.9% of apple-origin R. pomonella versus only 1.2% to 1.9% of R. zephyria eclosed. The distinct differences in eclosion traits of R. pomonella and R. zephyria could be due to greater genetic variation in R. pomonella, associated with its use of a wider range of host plants than R. zephyria. 

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3. XRF Analysis of Village and Urban Basalt Architecture in the Hippos Territorium during the Roman Period

   https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12975  

   Osband, Mechael; Eisenberg, Michael; Ferguson, Jeffery R (April 2024, Archaeometry)

   Abstract This case study examines the use of X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) as an effective method for defining distinct chemical compositions of local basalt stone from different sources in the Roman period, even when their quarries have not been identified. It also deals with the archaeological question if public and monumental structures from a village and urban site shared the same stone sources and stonemason's workshops. Ninety‐six samples from the HipposTerritorium, mainly from the polis of Hippos and the village of Majduliyya, were analyzed. XRF was found to be an effective method for defining distinct chemical compositions of local basalt materials from different sources. The distinct composition of the basalt stones between the two sites provided valuable insights into socio‐economic relationships, shedding light on the nature of city–village dynamics in the region. Additionally, it aids in discerning whether diverse basalt sources were utilized in both private and public constructions, as well as installations within a single site. Methodological questions and the application of this method in the archaeological research of basalt‐based architecture are also addressed. 

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4. Molecular systematics of Crassiphycus and Hydropuntia (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) with the description of poorly known taxa in the Western Atlantic Ocean

   https://doi.org/10.1080/09670262.2020.1814424  

   Gurgel, Carlos Frederico; Soares, Luanda P.; Norris, James N.; Fujii, Mutue T.; Schmidt, William E.; Fredericq, Suzanne (January 2020, European Journal of Phycology)

   null (Ed.)

   This study builds on recent treatments of the marine red algal family Gracilariaceae (Gracilariales) focusing in detail on Hydropuntia and Crassiphycus. Species in these two genera often present identification problems due to high levels of morphologial similarity among genetically distinct species, and high levels of phenotypic plasticity, leading to pseudocryptic speciation and homoplasies. In order to resolve long standing problems, clarify some species concepts and better understand the evolution of the group, we performed phylogenetic analyses of all plastid rbcL DNA sequences available for known Hydropuntia and Crassiphycus species, including newly sequenced specimens. Our results revealed the presence of potentially undescribed species, the existence of strong phylogeographic patterns below and above the species level and helped re-delineate morphologically similar taxa. New detailed morphological descriptions for three common yet poorly known Western Atlantic species are provided: C. secundus, C. usneoides and H. rangiferina. H. rangiferina from the Indo- Pacific is a distinct species from the true H. rangiferina and represents a putative undescribed species. We also provide a time-calibrated phylogeny for the six genera in the Gracilariales to identify past geological and climatic processes associated with their origin and diversification. 

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5. Ultraviolet vision in larval Neogonodactylus oerstedii

   https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243256  

   McDonald, Marisa S.; Palecanda, Sitara; Cohen, Jonathan H.; Porter, Megan L. (February 2022, Journal of Experimental Biology)

   Stomatopod crustaceans have among the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom, with up to twelve different color detection channels. The capabilities of these unique eyes include photoreception of ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths (<400 nm). UV vision has been well characterized in adult stomatopods but has not been previously demonstrated in the comparatively simpler larval eye. Larval stomatopod eyes are developmentally distinct from their adult counterpart and have been described as lacking the visual pigment diversity and morphological specializations found in adult eyes. However, recent studies have provided evidence that larval stomatopod eyes are more complex than previously thought and warrant closer investigation. Using electroretinogram recordings in live animals we found physiological evidence of blue and UV sensitive photoreceptors in larvae of the Caribbean stomatopod species Neogonodactylus oerstedii. Transcriptomes of individual larvae were used to identify the expression of three distinct UV opsins transcripts, which may indicate the presence of multiple UV spectral channels. This is the first paper to document UV vision in any larval stomatopod, expanding our understanding of the importance of UV sensitivity in plankton. Similar to adults, larval stomatopod eyes are more complex than expected and contain previously uncharacterized molecular diversity and physiological functions. 

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