Molecular Biology in Marine Science Scientific Questions, Technological Approaches, and Practical Implications (1994) / Chapter Skim
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2 Life in the Oceans: Temporal and Spatial Distributions
2 Life in the Oceans: Temporal and Spatial Distributions
Pages 11-28
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From page 11... ...
Marine biologists have led the study of ecological interactions for several decades, but molecular techniques have not been widely used in this field. Molecular methods can allow us to proceed beyond descriptions of population structures to discern the mechanisms that govern population regulation, migration, and distributions.
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From page 12... ...
In recent years molecular genetic characterization of endangered and threatened species, including cetaceans and sea turtles, has avower] better definition of population structures, genetic diversity of populations, and variability
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From page 13... ...
Most of these species have not yet been named because they are not distinguishable morphologically from one another and cannot be cultured for taxonomic, ecological, and physiological studies. Using RNA and DNA sequences to identify microbial groups, a data base describing the microbial diversity at the genetic level has been developed (Fox et al., ~ 977, ~ 980; Woese, ~ 9371.
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From page 14... ...
En ~c or Go By o = o ~ - ~ \ c = o Led Emit ~ two o to , \ ~1 o ° I U o/ o ~0 a)
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From page 15... ...
DNA sequence analysis. Isozyme Analysis: For almost three decades, e~ectrophoresis of cell extracts followed by histochemica~ staining to identify specific protein e~ectromorphs, has uncovered a wealth of genetic variations at the molecular level, both within and among species (Figure 3~.
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From page 16... ...
16 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY IN MARINE SCIENCE Gene Products ! Identical I Species 2 S
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From page 17... ...
Digestion of genomic DNA, mitochondria~ DNA, or chioroplast DNA by enzymes that target specific DNA sequences (restriction enzymes) generates DNA fragments that can be separated by electrophoresis to form distinctive patterns that can then be analyzed by standard statistical techniques.
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From page 18... ...
Later they demonstrated that a nucleic acid hybridization probe could detect highly polymorphic minisatellites that could be used as DNA fingerprints specific to an individual. DNA fingerprinting is now commonplace in biomedical research and is routinely employed in a variety of legal situations.
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From page 19... ...
Nucleotide sequences of specific genes are also used to establish taxonomic relationships, to study the genetic architecture of natural populations, to manage enclangered species, and to study the evolution of marine organisms. During the past five years, there has been an increase in these types of studies in the marine science community (reviewed by Avise, 1993; Powers, 19931.
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From page 20... ...
This type of analysis will be even more useful when fully automated 2D gel techniques are developed. Once appropriate proteins have been identified for characterization, a technique termed "e~ectrob~otting" can be used to transfer proteins from 2D gels directly onto appropriate materials from which their amino acid sequences may be determined.
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From page 21... ...
Fluorescent DNA sequencing technology allows analysis of between 40,000 and 60,000 bases per weel< by single technician operating one machine. This output represents an enormous increase in the capacity for processing DNA sequences, so that genes from a large number of samples can be characterized on a greatly increased scale suitable for population studies.
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From page 22... ...
Applications of this analytical approach include water-qua~ity monitoring, rapid and quantitative detection of indicator organisms, and monitoring of the distribution and abundance of selected microbial species in polluted estuaries and harbors by the enumeration of different metabolic groups of bacteria (e.g., sulfate reducers, denitrifiers, nitrogen fixers, nitrifiers, methanogens, or other microbes) , many of which play critical roles in the biogeochemical cycles controlling greenhouse gases.
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From page 23... ...
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could be enhanced by using molecular techniques for studying these processes. DOE has started a new initiative ca~eci Molecular Approaches to Ecosystems Research and has used this to augment its Ocean Margins Program, and the Office of Naval Research has a molecular biological component to its new Marine Environmental Quality program.
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From page 24... ...
FIGURE 2-3. The daily carbon flux caught in sediment traps moored on the continental shelf, slope, and rise of the Mid-AtIantic Bight during April 1984 (after P
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From page 25... ...
. Information needed to answer questions of stocI< size and genetic diversity could be gathered by combining data obtained using molecular techniques with a better understanding of the physics ant]
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From page 26... ...
26 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY IN MARINE SCIENCE 800 ~ cool A soot I 1 Y $ 600 ~/\ ., 400 t / \ =c 300 ~ / \ J i/ 200 l 100E 100 Abundance Landings .~!
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From page 27... ...
Status of U.S. living marine resources.
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