Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a crop of high nutritional interest widespread throughout the world. This research had two objectives. On the one hand, the development and validation of an analytical method to quantify fatty acids in dry beans based on the extraction and derivatization in a single step and later quantification by gas chromatography. On the other, its application to characterize the fatty acid content in a diversity panel consisting of 172 lines. The method was successfully validated in terms of accuracy, precision and robustness. Among the 14 fatty acids that constitute the fatty acid profile of dry bean, the most quantitatively important were linolenic acid, the major fatty acid in all cases, with an average value of 6.7 mg/g, followed by linoleic acid (3.9 mg/g), palmitic acid (2.9 mg/g) and oleic acid (1.5 mg/g). The concentrations of fatty acids in dry bean were influenced by the gene pool, with the Mesoamerican gene pool showing a higher content of palmitic, stearic, linoleic and linolenic acids and the Andean gene pool a higher level of cis-vaccenic acid. Also, the expression of fatty acid content showed high heritability. The information generated constitutes a robust database of interest in food technology, nutrition and breeding programs.

The aim of this study was to analyze suitable genetic models and selection indices to estimate the genetic parameters and breeding values of native Thai roosters. A total of 3475 records of seven semen traits (mass movement, semen pH, semen color, volume, sperm viability, sperm abnormalities, and sperm concentration) from 242 Thai native grandparent roosters were analyzed. Multiple-trait random regression test-day models with five covariance functions were used to analyze the variance components, genetic parameters, and breeding values. The selection index (SI) was calculated to determine the optimal genetic value for different selection percentages. The results showed that a multiple-trait random regression test-day model with a second-order Legendre polynomial function was the most appropriate genetic model for this population. The estimated heritability values were low to moderate, ranging from 0.110 to 0.112 (mass movement), 0.040 to 0.051 (semen pH), 0.092 to 0.097 (semen color), 0.220 to 0.225 (semen volume), 0.067 to 0.083 (sperm viability), 0.086 to 0.099 (sperm abnormalities), and 0.134 to 0.138 (sperm concentration). The repeatability values exceeded the heritability values and were within the range of 0.133 to 0.688. The genetic correlations among semen traits ranged from -0.332 to 0.677, and phenotypic correlations ranged from -0.260 to 0.460. When considering heritability and genetic correlation values, semen volume, sperm concentration, and mass movement were the top three priority semen traits calculated as selection indices. Finally, the top 10% of the selection index was recommended for creating the next generation. Our findings provide useful information on genetic parameters and an appropriate selection index of semen traits for selecting the genetics of individual Thai native grandparent roosters. The heritability estimates for semen traits reported here suggest an adequate response to selection through a genetic evaluation approach. Our results indicate that it is possible to select grandparent roosters with better reproductive performance.

Mithun (Bos frontalis), a domestically raised herbivore, holds significant economic importance for the farming community of Northeast India. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic parameters governing Mithun body weight traits across different ages using data from the sole organized semi-intensive Mithun farm in India. Information was gathered from 110 Mithuns born over a period spanning from 2011 to 2022. Body weight taken at week 1 (W1), 1-month (M1), 3-months (M3), 6-months (M6), 9-months (M9), 12-months (M12), 30-months (M30) and 45-months (M45) were considered for the study. The genetic parameters estimation employed the BLUPF90 suite of programs, incorporating univariate Gibbs sampler animal model with fixed effects; season and period of birth, and sex of the animal. Variance and covariance components, including direct additive genetic effects, were estimated. Heritability estimates for the eight body weight traits ranged from 0.47 ± 0.0050 to 0.50 ± 0.0043, indicating varying genetic influence across growth stages. Results revealed that Mithun herd has a substantial genetic variability for growth traits and therefore there is ample scope to select for a better growth rate. Here, we conclude that Month 12 (M12) and Month 9 (M9) body weights exhibit higher heritability, indicating potential for genetic improvement through selective breeding.

Success in life is linked to executive functions, a collection of cognitive processes that support goal-directed behaviors. Executive functions is an umbrella term related to cognitive control, self-control, and more. Variations in executive functioning predict concurrent success in schooling, relationships, and behavior, as well as important life outcomes years later. Such findings may suggest that certain individuals are destined for good executive functioning and success. However, environmental influences on executive function and development have long been recognized. Recent research in this tradition demonstrates the power of social contextual influences on children\'s engagement of executive functions. Such findings suggest new interpretations of why individuals differ in executive functioning and associated life outcomes, including across cultures and socioeconomic statuses. These findings raise fundamental questions about how best to conceptualize, measure, and support executive functioning across diverse contexts. Future research addressing real-world dynamics and computational mechanisms will elucidate how executive functioning emerges in the world.

BACKGROUND: Epigenetic clocks were known as promising biomarkers of aging, including original clocks trained by individual CpG sites and principal component (PC) clocks trained by PCs of CpG sites. The effects of genetic and environmental factors on epigenetic clocks are still unclear, especially for PC clocks.
METHODS: We constructed univariate twin models in 477 same-sex twin pairs from the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) to estimate the heritability of five epigenetic clocks (GrimAge, PhenoAge, DunedinPACE, PCGrimAge, and PCPhenoAge). Besides, we investigated the longitudinal changes of genetic and environmental influences on epigenetic clocks across 5 years in 134 same-sex twin pairs.
RESULTS: Heritability of epigenetic clocks ranged from 0.45 to 0.70, and those for PC clocks were higher than those for original clocks. For five epigenetic clocks, the longitudinal stability was moderate to high and was largely due to genetic effects. The genetic correlations between baseline and follow-up epigenetic clocks were moderate to high. Special unique environmental factors emerged both at baseline and at follow-up. PC clocks showed higher longitudinal stability and unique environmental correlations than original clocks.
CONCLUSIONS: For five epigenetic clocks, they have the potential to identify aging interventions. High longitudinal stability is mainly due to genetic factors, and changes of epigenetic clocks over time are primarily due to changes in unique environmental factors. Given the disparities in genetic and environmental factors as well as longitudinal stability between PC and original clocks, the results of studies with original clocks need to be further verified with PC clocks.

Intracranial volume (ICV) reflects maximal brain development and is associated with later-life cognitive abilities. We quantified ICV among first- and second-generation Hispanic and Latino adults from the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Cognitive Aging - MRI (SOL-INCA-MRI), estimated ICV heritability, and tested its associations with previously reported genetic variants, both individually and as a genetic risk score (GRS). We also estimated the association of ICV with early life environmental measures: nativity or age of immigration and parental education. The estimated heritability of ICV was 19% (95% CI, 0.1%-56%) in n=1781 unrelated SOL-INCA-MRI individuals. Four of 10 tested genetic variants were associated with ICV and an increase of 1 SD of the ICV-GRS was associated with an increase of 10.37 cm3 in the ICV (95% CI, 5.29-15.45). Compared to being born in the continental United States, immigrating to the United States at age 11 years or older was associated with 24 cm3 smaller ICV (95% CI, -39.97 to -8.06). Compared to both parents having less than high-school education, at least 1 parent completing high-school education was associated with 15.4 cm3 greater ICV (95% CI, 4.46-26.39). These data confirm the importance of early life health on brain development.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis with well recognized multifactorial nature. While several environmental factors such as older age, obesity and previous joint injury are strongly associated with its development, a genetic influence on OA has been recognized for over 80 years. Identification of genes associated with OA has received considerable attention over the last two decades, aided by the rapidly evolving genotyping and sequencing technologies. More than 300 genomic loci have been identified to be associated with OA at different joints. These findings are likely to help our better understanding of the pathogenesis of OA and lead to important therapeutic and diagnostic advances in this most common disabling rheumatic disorder. This article will review the data that support the role of genetic factors in common idiopathic OA.

Phenotypic plasticity and rapid evolution are fundamental processes by which organisms can maintain their function and fitness in the face of environmental changes. Here we quantified the plasticity and evolutionary potential of an alpine herb Wahlenbergia ceracea. Utilising its mixed-mating system, we generated outcrossed and self-pollinated families that were grown in either cool or warm environments, and that had parents that had also been grown in either cool or warm environments. We then analysed the contribution of environmental and genetic factors to variation in a range of phenotypic traits including phenology, leaf mass per area, photosynthetic function, thermal tolerance, and reproductive fitness. The strongest effect was that of current growth temperature, indicating strong phenotypic plasticity. All traits except thermal tolerance were plastic, whereby warm-grown plants flowered earlier, grew larger, produced more reproductive stems compared to cool-grown plants. Flowering onset and biomass were heritable and under selection, with early flowering and larger plants having higher relative fitness. There was little evidence for transgenerational plasticity, maternal effects, or genotype-by-environment interactions. Inbreeding delayed flowering and reduced reproductive fitness and biomass. Overall, we found that W. ceracea has the capacity to respond rapidly to climate warming via plasticity, and the potential for evolutionary change.

There is increasing evidence that competent handling of social interactions among conspecifics has positive effects on individual fitness. While individual variation in social competence has been appreciated, the role of long-term experience in the acquisition of superior social skills has received less attention. With the goal of promoting further research, we integrate knowledge across disciplines to assess social expertise, defined as the characteristics, skills and knowledge allowing individuals with extensive social experience to perform significantly better than novices on a given social task. We focus on three categories of social behaviour. First, animals can gain from adjusting social behaviour towards individually recognised conspecifics that they interact with on a regular basis. For example, there is evidence that some territorial animals individually recognise their neighbours and modify their social interactions based on experience with each neighbour. Similarly, individuals in group-living species learn to associate with specific group members based on their expected benefits from such social connections. Individuals have also been found to devote considerable time and effort to learning about the spatial location and timing of sexual receptivity of opposite-sex neighbours to optimise reproduction. Second, signallers can enhance their signals, and receivers can refine their response to signals with experience. In many birds and insects, individuals can produce more consistent signals with experience, and females across a wide taxonomic range can adaptively adjust mating preferences after perceiving distinct male signals. Third, in many species, individuals that succeed in reproducing encounter the novel, complex task of caring for vulnerable offspring. Evidence from a few species of mammals indicates that mothers improve in providing for and protecting their young over successive broods. Finally, for social expertise to evolve, heritable variation in social expertise has to be positively associated with fitness. Heritable variation has been shown in traits contributing to social expertise including social attention, empathy, individual recognition and maternal care. There are currently limited data associating social expertise with fitness, most likely owing to sparse research effort. Exceptions include maternal care, signal refinement, and familiarity with neighbours and group members. Overall, there is evidence that individuals in many species keep refining their social skills with experience throughout life. Hence we propose promising lines of research that can quantify more thoroughly the development of social expertise and its effects on fitness.

The study aimed to assess performance traits in Hardhenu cattle by analysing data from 445 animals born to 59 sires and 227 dams. The investigation focused on estimating (co)variance components and genetic parameters for reproduction and production traits in dairy cattle. Results from least-squares analysis indicated a significant effect (p < .01) of the period of calving (POC) on key production traits, including first lactation milk yield (FLMY), 300-day milk yield (FLMY300), first peak yield (FPY) and total lactation milk yield (TLMY) in studied population. The least squares means for these traits were reported as follows: FLMY (2665.68 ± 45.66 kg), FLMY300 (2425.52 ± 34.41 kg), FLL (312.95 ± 3.83 days), FPY (11.52 ± 0.15 kg) and TLMY (9282.44 ± 167.03 kg) in Hardhenu cattle. In the studied population, only additive genetic variability was found to be present and there was absence of any significant maternal effect with respect to targeted traits in the resource population. Direct heritability estimates (h2) for FLMY, FLMY300, FLL, FPY, TLMY and other traits ranged from 0.03 to 0.41 in Hardhenu cattle. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic factors influencing performance traits, contributing to the enhancement of breeding and management practices in Hardhenu cattle.