The genome of living organisms is constantly subjected to the environmental influences that result in different negative, negligible or positive impacts. The ability to maintain the genome integrity and simultaneously provide its flexibility is the main determinant for the evolutionary success of any species. One of the important aspects of genome maintenance is the precise regulation of the DNA repair machinery. Results reported here indicate the existence of a tight, age-dependent regulation of homologous recombination, one of the two main DNA double-strand break repair pathways. We show that recombination is influenced by conditions such as the change of temperature (cold or warm), day length, water availability (drought or overwatering stress) and salinity. These stresses not only influence the genome stability of stress-subjected generations but also change the recombination in subsequent generations. This indicates the possible involvement of homologous recombination in plant evolution and development of plant stress tolerance. / xiv, 121 leaves ; 29 cm.

The rate of recombination and parasite load of species of anuran from Peruvian Amazonia were examined to test the idea that recombination functions to diversify progeny in order to resist the continual counter-adaptation of parasites. The anurans were found to be hosts to over 32 species of macroparasite, as well as a wide variety of protistan and moneran parasites. It was found that a combination of three variables (diet, habitat, abundance), together with host body size accounted for a substantial proportion of the variation in mean parasite richness and parasite species distribution among host species. The relationship between parasites and ecology was found to be independent of host phylogeny. The demonstration of substantial environmental heterogeneity in parasitization predicates that a positive relationship between parasite richness and recombination should be found in this case. This prediction was supported by the data: highly parasitized species of anuran had higher rates of recombination. This is the first study to demonstrate a direct positive relationship between recombination (rather than sex) and parasites.

Bibliography: p. 96-108. / 108, [31] p., [9] leaves of plates : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The major aim of this thesis is the identification and characterisation of Polycomblike (PCL) protein interactors. The study analyses the ability of PCL to bind directly to DNA anchoring the Pc-G complex to the genes which they repress. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Genetics, 1997

[Truncated abstract] Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy Lom (HMSNL) is a severe autosomal recessive peripheral neuropathy, the most common form of demyelinating Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease in the Roma (Gypsy) population. The mutated gene, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) on chromosome 8q24, is widely expressed and has been implicated in a wide range of processes and pathways. In this study we have aimed to assess the overall contribution of this gene to the pathogenesis of peripheral neuropathies, in cases where the most common causes of CMT disease havebeen excluded, as well as to gain clues about its function through the identification of its interactions with other proteins. Sequence analysis of NDRG1 in 104 patients with CMT disease and of diverse ethnicity identified one novel disease-causing mutation, IVS8-1G>A (g.2290787G>A), which affects the splice-acceptor site of IVS8 and results in the skipping of exon 9 . . . The results suggest a defect in Schwann cell lipid trafficking as a major pathogenetic mechanism in CMT4D. At the same time, database searches showed that the chromosomal location of NDRG1 coincides with a reported High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Quantitive Trait Locus (HDL-CQTL) in humans and in mice. A putative role of NDRG1 in the general mechanisms of HDL-mediated cholesterol transport was supported by biochemical studies of blood lipids, which revealed an association between the Gypsy founder mutation, R148X, and decreased HDL-C levels. These findings suggest that while peripheral neuropathy is the drastic result of NDRG1 deficiency, the primary role of the protein may be related to general mechanisms of lipid transport⁄metabolism.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-161).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2007. / Title from title screen (viewed Apr. 12, 2007). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Medicine. Includes bibliography. Also issued in print.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-150) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-125). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.