This work deals with vertebrates bone preparation of birds and mammals to enrich the science classes at secondary school. It also expands the collection of vertebrate skeletons at the department of biology and enviromental studies. The display would be enriched by Talpa europea, apodemus sylvaticus, rattus rattus, alectoris rufa and skulls of octodon degus. In this work there are described ways how to prepare taxidermy and bone preparation is described from the beginning of collecting vertebrates, then methods of preparation (maceration, hot water maceration, dermestidae bettles and more) including degreasing and bleaching and final treatment not the get it damaged by insect. This work is completed by survey. There are involved teachers of biology at elementary schools. The idea of questionnaire was to find out what's equipment like and how often do teachers use nature products to enrich the lessons. Key words - taxidermy, osteological preparation, birds, mammals

by Yam Kwok Fai. / Year shown on spine: 1997. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-149). / Acknowledgments --- p.i / List of Contents --- p.ii / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.xii / List of Primers --- p.xiii / Abbreviations --- p.xiv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Growth Hormone (GH) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR) --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Tissue Distribution of GHR --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Biosynthesis and Degradation of GHR --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Regulation of GHR Level --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- The Structure of GHR --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- The Structure of GHR Gene --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- Growth Hormone Binding Protein (GHBP) --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.7 --- The GH/Prolactin/Cytokine/Erythropoietin Receptor Superfamily --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.8 --- Proposed Signal Transduction Pathway --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.9 --- GHR Related Dwarfism --- p.22 / Chapter i). --- Substitution of certain amino acid residues in the extracellular domain --- p.22 / Chapter ii). --- Deletion of the extracellular domain --- p.23 / Chapter a). --- deletion of a small portion of the binding protein / Chapter b). --- deletion of a large portion of the binding protein / Chapter c). --- deletion of a large portion of the binding domain and the whole transmembrane domain / Chapter iii). --- Associated with normal GHBP --- p.24 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives of Cloning Vertebrate GHR cDNAs --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- General Experimental Methods / Chapter 2.1 --- Preparation of Ribonuclease Free Reagents and Apparatus --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2 --- Isolation of Total RNA --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3 --- Isolation of mRNA --- p.26 / Chapter a). --- directly from tissue / Chapter b). --- from isolated total RNA / Chapter 2.4 --- Spectrophotometric Quantification and Qualification of DNA and RNA --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5 --- First Strand cDNA Synthesis --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) --- p.30 / Chapter 2.7 --- Agarose Gel Electrophoresis --- p.31 / Chapter 2.8 --- Formaldehyde Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of RNA --- p.31 / Chapter 2.9 --- Capillary Transfer of DNA/RNA to a Nylon Membrane (Southern/Northern Blotting) --- p.32 / Chapter a). --- DNA denaturing / Chapter b). --- Capillary transfer / Chapter 2.10 --- DNA Radiolabelling --- p.33 / Chapter a). --- By random primer translation / Chapter b). --- By nick translation / Chapter 2.11 --- Spuncolumn Chromatography --- p.34 / Chapter 2.12 --- Hybridization of Southern/Northern Blot --- p.35 / Chapter 2.13 --- Autoradiography --- p.35 / Chapter 2.14 --- Linearization and Dephosphorylation of Plasmid DNA --- p.36 / Chapter 2.15 --- Restriction Digestion of DNA --- p.36 / Chapter 2.16 --- Purification of DNA from Agarose Gel using GENECLEAN® Kit --- p.36 / Chapter 2.17 --- 3' End Modification of PCR Amplified DNA --- p.37 / Chapter 2.18 --- Ligation of DNA Fragments to Linearized Vector --- p.37 / Chapter 2.19 --- Preparation of Escherichia coli Competent Cells --- p.38 / Chapter 2.20 --- Transformation of the Escherichia coli Strain DH5a --- p.38 / Chapter 2.21 --- Minipreparation of Plasmid DNA --- p.39 / Chapter 2.22 --- DNA Purification by Phenol/Chloroform Extraction --- p.39 / Chapter 2.23 --- Ethanol Precipitation of DNA and RNA --- p.40 / Chapter 2.24 --- Preparation of Plasmid DNA using Wizard´ёØ Minipreps DNA Purification Kit from Promega --- p.40 / Chapter 2.25 --- Preparation of Plasmid DNA using QIAGEN-tip100 --- p.41 / Chapter 2.26 --- DNA Sequencing --- p.42 / Chapter 2.26.1 --- DNA Sequencing Reaction / Chapter a). --- T7 sequencing / Chapter b). --- PCR sequencing / Chapter 2.26.2 --- DNA Sequencing Electrophoresis --- p.44 / Chapter i). --- Preparation of 8% polyacrylamide gel solution / Chapter ii). --- Casting the gel / Chapter iii). --- Electrophoresis / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Molecular Cloning of Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) GHR cDNA / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experimental Methods / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Animals and Tissues --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- PCR Cloning of GHR cDNA Fragments in the Cytoplasmic Domain --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Primer design and PCR strategy --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- PCR studies on the hamster liver and kidney first strand cDNA --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Southern analysis of the PCR products --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Subcloning and sequencing of PCR amplified cDNA fragments --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Screening of a Hamster Liver cDNA Library --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Preparation of the plating bacteria --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Phage titering of the λ ZAP library --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Primary screening of the amplified hamster liver cDNA library --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Plaque uplifting and hybridization with hamster GHR cDNA fragment --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2.3.5 --- Purification of putative clones from primary screening --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.3.6 --- Checking the size of the DNA insert --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.3.7 --- In vitro excision to release phagemid from the phage vector --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.3.8 --- Plasmid minipreparation of the putative clones --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.3.9 --- Nucleotide sequencing of the DNA inserts of different clones --- p.56 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Tissue Distribution of GHR in Hamster Tissues and the Relative Expression Level of GHR mRNAin these tissues --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Cloning of the Full-length GHR cDNA into a Mammalian Vector --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2.5.1 --- PCR amplification of the full-length hamster GHR cDNA --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2.5.2 --- Preparation of the hamster GHR cDNA insert for ligation --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.5.3 --- Linearization of pRc/CMV expression vector --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2.5.4 --- Ligation of the linearized expression vector with the full-length hamster GHR cDNA --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results / Chapter 3.3.1 --- PCR Amplification of Hamster GHR cDNA Fragments --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- RT-PCR --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.1.3 --- Subcloning and nucleotide sequencing of PCR amplified hamster GHR cDNA fragments --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Screening of an Amplified λZAP Hamster Liver cDNA Library --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Preparation of the cDNA probe and phage titering --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Screening of the cDNA library --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- PCR study of the 5' and 3' regions of the DNA insert of the clones selected for secondary screening --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.3.4 --- Nucleotide sequencing of the full-length hamster GHR cDNA --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.3.5 --- Tissue distribution of GHR in hamster and the relative expression level of the GHR mRNA in these tissues --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.3.6 --- Cloning of the full-length hamster GHR cDNA into a mammalian expression vector --- p.79 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Cloning of the Full-length hamster GHR cDNA --- p.81 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Comparison of the Nucleotide and the Predicted Amino Acid Sequences of the Hamster GHR with other Cloned GHRs --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Tissue Distribution of GHR in Hamster and the Relative Expression Level of the GHR mRNA in these Tissues --- p.89 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Further Studies on Hamster GHR --- p.90 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Molecular Cloning of Chinese Bullfrog (Rana tigria rigulosa) GHR cDNA from Adult Frog Liver / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2 --- Experimental Methods / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Animal and Tissues --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Cloning of the Cytoplasmic Domain of Frog GHR cDNA by PCR --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- RT-PCR --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Southern blot analysis of PCR amplified products --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Subcloning and sequencing of PCR amplified DNA fragments --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.2.4 --- Restriction analysis of GHR cDNA fragment between GHR p1 and GHR p2 --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.2.5 --- PCR cloning of other portions of frog GHR cDNA --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.2.6 --- Subcloning and sequencing of PCR amplified GHR cDNA fragment using primers other than GHR p1 and GHR p2 --- p.97 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Cloning of the Intracellular Domain of Frog GHR cDNA by RT-PCR --- p.97 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- RT-PCR --- p.97 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.98 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Subcloning and sequencing of PCR amplified DNA fragments --- p.98 / Chapter 4.3.1.4 --- Restriction enzyme analysis of GHR cDNA fragments --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3.1.5 --- PCR cloning of other portions of frog GHR cDNA --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.1.6 --- Subcloning and sequencing of PCR products from other portions of frog GHR cDNA --- p.103 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Cloning of the Full-length frog GHR cDNA --- p.109 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Further Studies on Frog GHR --- p.117 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Attempts on the Molecular Cloning of Teleost GHR cDNA / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.119 / Chapter 5.2 --- Experimental Methods / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Animals and Tissues --- p.120 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- PCR Cloning of Teleost GHR cDNA fragments --- p.120 / Chapter 5.2.2.1 --- Design of PCR primers --- p.120 / Chapter 5.2.2.2 --- Preparation of mRNA and synthesis of first strand cDNA --- p.122 / Chapter 5.2.2.3 --- PCR studies on dace and snakehead fish liver first strand cDNA --- p.122 / Chapter 5.2.2.3.1 --- PCR studies on dace liver first strand cDNA --- p.122 / Chapter 5.2.2.3.2 --- PCR studies on snakehead fish liver first strand cDNA --- p.122 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- "Northern Analysis on Dace, Snakehead fish and Eel mRNA" --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Molecular Studies on Dace GHR cDNA --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3.1.1 --- PCR studies on dace first strand cDNA --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- PCR Studies on Teleost First Strand cDNA --- p.128 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Northern Analysis on Teleost mRNA --- p.128 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.130 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- PCR Studies on Teleost GHR cDNA --- p.130 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Northern Analysis on Teleost mRNA --- p.131 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- General Discussion / Chapter 6.1 --- Achievement of this Project --- p.134 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Hamster GHR --- p.134 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Frog GHR --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Teleost GHR --- p.136 / Chapter 6.2 --- Postulation on Cloned GHRs at the Molecular Level --- p.136 / Bibliography --- p.141 / Appendices --- p.150

During development of the nervous system, signals from specialized organizing centers generate distinct cell types. The signaling molecule, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) is expressed by the floor plate (FP) and is sufficient to specify the ventral midbrain pattern. In the spinal cord, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) expressed in the roof plate (RP) specify dorsal cell-fates. The attenuation of BMP signaling is required for SHHmediated patterning of the ventral hindbrain and spinal cord, while BMP signaling is required in conjunction with SHH for ventral forebrain patterning. This thesis will focus on the function of SHH and BMPs in the midbrain by examining the molecules ability to pattern and regulate development. Midbrains of Shh[superscript -/-] mice were examined. Some ventral cell fates are specified in the Shh[superscript -/-] mouse in a Ptc1 and Gli1 independent manner. Ventral midbrain induction was observed to be Hh-independent by the existence of a Pax7-negative ventral midbrain territory before embryonic day 9. Interestingly, dorsal markers are not uniformly altered and increased cell death was seen in Shh[superscript -/-] dorsal midbrains. These results suggest specific regulation of dorsal patterning by Shh, rather than a simple deregulation. Several BMPs and their antagonists are expressed in a spatial and temporal manner in the midbrain. Expression of BMPs is seen in the RP, and rostral FP (rFP), which also expresses SHH. BMP signaling was manipulated using in vivo electroporation. NOGGIN misexpression resulted in a loss of RP and a reduction of dorsal cell-fates that was preceded by cell-shape changes, delamination of cells into the lumen and their elimination. This was accompanied by a reduction and alteration of midbrain size and shape. BMP blockade changed N-Cadherin distribution and perturbed pseudostratified morphology of the neurepithelium. Ventrally, BMP blockade resulted in a decrease of proliferation, while increasing differentiation, Notch signaling molecules at the rFP and medial FP markers. However ventral midbrain cell-fates were correctly specified. Notch-Delta signaling was examined in the Mib[superscript -/-] mouse. Different regulation of cell-fates was observed in the midbrain and spinal cord. Mib[superscript -/-] midbrains lacked a mature lateral FP, however ventral cell-fates are specified. Mib[superscript -/-] spinal cords lose Shh expression and several ventral cell-fates. / text

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Vertebrate hard tissues first appeared in the dermal skeletons of early jawless vertebrates (ostracoderms) and were further modified in the earliest jawed vertebrates. Fortunately, histological information is usually preserved in these early vertebrate fossils and has thus been studied for more than a century, done so by examining thin sections, which provide general information about the specific features of vertebrate hard tissues in their earliest forms. Recent progress in synchrotron X-ray microtomography technology has caused a revolution in imaging methods used to study the dermal skeletons of early vertebrates. Virtual thin sections obtained in this manner can be used to reconstruct the internal structures of dermal skeletons in three-dimensions (3D), such as vasculature, buried odontodes (tooth-like unites) and osteocytes. Several body scales of early vertebrates have been examined using this imaging method and in situ 3D models of internal structures are created. Andreolepis (an early osteichthyan) scale shows linear growth pattern of odontodes in early developmental stage, which is not observable in traditional thin sections. The scale of another early osteichthyan Psarolepis was studied in the same way. Comparison between Andreolepis and Psarolepis shows that cosmine, a tissue complex in dermal skeleton of early sarcopterygians, originated by a developmental change of odontode shape. Two scales of osteostracans, a group of extinct jawless vertebrates, were studied in 3D and more details have been revealed in comparison to previous results based solely on 2D thin sections. 3D data enables us to compare the vasculature and canal system in different taxa in great detail, which forms the basis of formulating primary homology hypothesis and phylogenetic characters. The new data resulting from this study suggests that vertebrate fossils have preserved much more histological information than we currently appreciate, and provide a new data source of microanatomical structures inside the fossils that can contribute new characters for phylogenetic analysis of early jawed vertebrates.

All cellular processes depend on the coordinate expression of genes and their interactions. Regulatory sequences encoded in the genome stipulate the necessary instructions interpreted by sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs) to control the spatial-temporal output of gene expression. Detection of cis-regulatory signals is challenging, owing to the lack of distinguishing features such as open reading frames and an overwhelming excess of spurious to functional TF binding site matching sequences embedded within the vast non-coding regions of vertebrate genomes. From an evolutionary standpoint, functional alterations in cis-regulatory architecture are thought to be important in diversifying morphology and physiology in the evolution of vertebrates, which share a similar body plan and complement of genes. Correspondingly, recent studies have highlighted the plasticity of cis-regulatory architecture organization over evolutionary time, finding associations with examples of both diverged and conserved patterns of gene expression. These observations underscore the gap in our collective knowledge with respect to the rules by which TFs recognize and bind their targets in vivo, as well as how this process evolves in vertebrates, and serve as a motivating basis for this thesis work. To begin, I probed the extent of conservation and divergence of sequence and expression profiles across tissues of diverse vertebrate species, identifying thousands of candidate genes with conserved expression by microarray analysis. However, corresponding conservation of non-exonic and potentially regulatory sequence was lacking, suggestive of binding site turnover over evolutionary time. Next, I analyzed the sequence specificity of a wide array of mouse and yeast TFs, finding great diversity and complexity in their binding preferences, with many factors recognizing multiple distinct motifs. Furthermore, comparative analysis of orthologous TFs suggest well conserved binding specificities. I also demonstrate the likely biological relevance of sequences highly preferred by these TFs by revealing distinctive signatures in their distribution and organization within putative regulatory regions in each genome. Lastly, I have begun to explore the organization of cis-regulatory sequences active in vertebrate tissues by high-throughput sequencing of open chromatin. Together, these data help illuminate the organization and evolution of vertebrate regulatory architectures, providing a useful toolkit for the testing of new models and hypotheses.

The Deadhorse Coulee Member of the Milk River Formation of southern Alberta preserves one of the oldest well-documented non-marine vertebrate assemblages in Canada. In this study, the taxonomic diversity of this member is updated, and vertebrate localities are placed in geographic and stratigraphic context. The stratigraphic provenance of specimens indicates all vertebrate material from this member is latest Santonian (83.5 Ma). A new species of turtle is described. Analyses of the rank and relative abundances of taxa support interpretations of this member as a prograding clastic wedge with localities approximately 40 km from the palaeoshoreline at time of deposition. Results support high local abundances of vertebrates in western North America, with faunal provincialism regulated by distance to the palaeoshoreline and mean annual temperatures. Morphologic changes in small theropod taxa through the latest Cretaceous of western North America act as a case study for evaluating species turnover of vertebrate microfossil material. / Systematics and Evolution

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online through Digital Dissertations.