L.A.J. Al-Hassan

Phosphoglucose isomerase polymorphism in the shrimp Metapenaeus affinis

Abstract Three phenotypes of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) were detected in abdominal muscle extracts from the shrimp ( Metapenaeus affinis ) by starch-gel electrophoresis. The observed phenotypes were assumed to be under the control of two allelic genes. This assumption was supported by the observed distribution of phenotypes. There were no significant differences in the distribution of PGI phenotypes among samples of shrimp taken from Basrah waters, Iraq and from Kuwaiti waters, Arab Gulf. The three PGI alleles observed in M. affinis appear to be the same in the two localities.

Freshwater shark attacks at Basrah, Iraq

Abstract Eleven, separate shark attacks on humans in freshwater are reported from Basrah, Iraq. Two attacks were fatal. The shark species involved is probably Carcharhinus leucas.

Isoenzymes of cyprinids from the vicinity of Basrah in relation to classification

Abstract Tissue extracts of muscle, heart, brain, eye lens and liver were examined electrophoretically for phosphoglucomutase, tetrazolium oxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in nine species belonging to the family Cyprinidae. PGM, TO and G6PD have been found in all the species studied coded at a single locus; PGM can be consider as a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate Bertinius subquincunciatus ; TO to differentiate Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi and Cyprinus carpio , and G6PD to differentiate Bertinius from the remaining cyprinids studied. The biochemical data reported indicates that the different genera of the family Cyprinidae could probably all be differentiated from each other by the mobility of PG M isozymes.

Enzyme polymorphisms in the Mullet, Liza dussumeiri from Shatt-al-Arab river, Khor al-Zubair and the Arabian Gulf

Samples of the muscles and other tissues of Lisa dussumeiri were collected from the Shatt al-Arab river, Khor al-Zubair and Kuwait (Arabian Gulf) and subjected to starch gel electrophoretic analysis of two enzymes-coding loci. All loci at all localities were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Allele frequencies at the two loci were remarkably constant throughout the area studied. The data provide no evidence of subpopulation differentiation and there is one stock of L. dussumeiri in the area studied.

Morphological variance and enzyme heterozygosity in Eleutheronema tetradactylum and Strongylura strongylura collected from Khor Al-Zubair area, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract Eleutheronema tetradactylum and Strongylura strongylura were studied in testing the association of enzyme heterozygosity with decreased morphological variance. Six polymorphic loci and three meristic characters were used in this test. The results show that such a relationship, although observed by several other workers may not be universal and hence such a hypothesis was not confirmed.

Phosphoglucose isomerase polymorphism in the freshwater crab Sesarma boulengeri

Abstract Three phenotypes of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) were detected in abdominal muscle extracts from freshwater crab ( Sesarma boulengeri ) by starch-gel electrophoresis. The observed phenotypes were assumed to be under the control of two allelic genes. This assumption was supported by the observed distribution of phenotypes. There were no significant differences in PGI phenotype distribution among samples of crab taken from Karmat Ali, and Abu Al-Khasib locations along Shatt Al-Arab River. The three PGI alleles observed in S. boulengeri appear to be the same in specimens from the two locations.

Phosphoglucose isomerase and phosphoglucose mutase isozymes in some freshwater fishes from Basrah, Iraq

Abstract Two phosphoglucose isomerases and one phosphoglucose mutase with different specificities have been found in all groups of teleostean fishes studied. PGI and PGM proved to be good taxonomic criteria to differentiate members of the families Cyprinidae and Mugilidae from the other teleost families.

Phosphoglucose isomerase isozymes in teleostean fishes from the Arabian Gulf

Abstract Two phosphoglucose isomerases (PGI) with different electrophoretic mobilities have been found in all groups of teleostean fishes studied, with the exception of the Clupeomorpha. PGI proved to be a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate members of the Nemipteridae, Sciaenidae, Platycephalidae and Stromateidae from the other teleost families.

Comparative electrophoretic studies of muscle and eye lens proteins in freshwater fish of Iraq

Abstract Muscle myogens and eye lens proteins have been studied in ten species of freshwater fish from Iraq. The electrophoretic analysis revealed that the muscle myogens can be considered as a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate the family Mugilidae from the Cyprinodontidae and Cyprinidae, but not between the families Poeciliidae and Cyprinodontidae. Within the Cyprinidae the muscle myogens can be used to diferentiate Barbus grypus from the remaining species of this family. Eye lens proteins are not considered a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate the members of the four families studied, but can distinguish B. belawayei and B. grypus from the other Cyprinid species.

Comparative electrophoretic studies of muscle, eye lens and heart protein in fishes from the Arabian Gulf

Abstract Muscle myogen, eye lens and heart protein have been studied in 31 species of fishes from Kuwait, Arabian Gulf. The electrophoretic analysis revealed that muscle myogen can be considered a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate the families Ariidae, Belonidae and Lutjanidae from the other fish families studied. Within the Lutjanidae and Pomadasyidae the muscle myogens can be used to differentiate Lutjanus kasmira and Pomadasys argenteus , respectively. The muscle myogens can also be used to differentiate Sardinella perforata, Platycephalus inducus, Drepane longemana and Psethodes erumei . Eye lens protein can be considered a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate between the fish species studied and especially among the families Belonidae, Lutjanidae, Pomadsyidae, Sparidae and Scaenidae. Within the Lutjanidae and Sparidae, the eye lens protein can be used to differentiate Lutjanus kasmira and Acanthopagrus berda , respectively. Heart protein is not considered a good taxonomic criterion to differentiate the species of fishes studied, but can distinguish Lutjanus coccineus from the remaining species studied.