Research

Genetic Conspecifity in Two Habitat Morphs of the Limpet Patella Candei Gomesii Drouët (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Patellidae) Reinforces Limpet Morphological Plasticity

Genetic Conspecifity in Two Habitat Morphs of the Limpet Patella Candei Gomesii Drouët (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Patellidae) Reinforces Limpet Morphological Plasticity

In the Azorean Archipelago, the limpet Patella candei gomesii Drouët (1858) exhibits two distinct habitat morphs with respect to shell morphology: mosca, which is highly conical and commonly found above high tide mark, and mansa, which is flatter and intertidal. Although both morphs occur microsympatrically, their distribution is not random. This paper examines the genetic diversity between the two morphs over a set of 10 enzyme loci. Specimens of both forms were sampled on the two most oriental islands of this archipelago. High genetic identity values were found, thus rejecting the notion of reproductive isolation within these populations or between both habitat morphs.

Beta-catenin Mediated Wnt Signaling as a Marker for Characterization of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Connective Tissue Progenitor Cells

Beta-catenin Mediated Wnt Signaling as a Marker for Characterization of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Connective Tissue Progenitor Cells

This study was designed to determine if Wnt signaling mediated through beta-catenin plays a role in the early proliferation and differentiation of human connective tissue progenitor cells (CTPs). Bone Marrow was aspirated from nine human donors. Marrow was processed to isolate CTPs in vitro using established methods, and cells were plated onto 16-well Lab-Tech chamber slides. At day 6, the cells were fixed using 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), blocked with goat serum in PBS, and incubated/stained with a monoclonal mouse anti- beta-catenin antibody and a fluorescent secondary.