Serap Ergene

First Assessment of Mitochondrial DNA Diversity in the Endangered Nile Softshell Turtle, Trionyx triunguis, in the Mediterranean

Abstract We assessed mitochondrial DNA diversity in Trionyx triunguis from the Mediterranean basin (22 samples) and continental Africa (4 samples). The continental African group comprised 4 different and newly described haplotypes, while the Mediterranean group consisted of only 1 previously known haplotype, with the nucleotide divergence between the 2 groups being 1.5% ± 0.7%.

Chromosomal data on six araneomorph spiders belonging to the families Lycosidae and Gnaphosidae

Abstract The karyotype and the course of meiosis in six species of araneomorph spiders of the families Lycosidae and Gnaphosidae are analysed, based on material from Israel, Turkey and the Czech Republic. The number of diploid chromosomes (2n) and the sex-determining system of males were determined as follows: Pardosa alacris (C. L. Koch, 1833) and Pardosa saltans (Töpfer-Hofman, 2000) (Lycosidae) 2n=28 (26+X1X2), Callilepis cretica (Roewer, 1928), Drassodes pubescens (Thorell, 1856), Drassylus pumilus (C. L. Koch, 1839) and Zelotes strandi (Nosek, 1905) (Gnaphosidae) 2n=22 (20+X1X2). Pardosa alacris and P. saltans have 13 autosomal bivalents and two univalent sex chromosomes at prophase and metaphase of the first meiotic division. In contrast to this, all gnaphosids have 10 autosomal bivalents and two sex chromosomes during these meiotic stages.

The evaluation of toxicity and mutagenicity of various drinking waters in the human blood lymphocytes (HULYs) in vitro

The aim of the study was to evaluate the toxic and mutagenic effects of bottled purified and natural spring waters for drinking. The study presents the genotoxicologic results of drinking water samples packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Genotoxic agents have the potential to interact with DNA and may cause DNA damage. Endpoints analyzed included mitotic index (MI), replication index (RI), and sister chromatid exchange (SCE). An analysis of variance test (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate the results. A significant decrease in MI and RI was observed compared with negative control cultures, respectively, (p<0.05, p<0.01). It is found that SCE frequency increases compared with negative control. There is no significant difference between negative control and drinking water samples and among drinking water samples for sister chromatid exchange induction (p>0.05).

In vitro evaluation of the genotoxicity of CeO2 nanoparticles in human peripheral blood lymphocytes using cytokinesis-block micronucleus test, comet assay, and gamma H2AX

Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are used in a wide range of applications because of their unique properties. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) are one of the important ENPs, and they can cause negative health effects, such as genotoxicity, in humans and other living organisms. The aim of this work was to analyze the genotoxic effects of short-term (3–24 h) CeO2 NPs exposure to cultured human blood lymphocytes. Three genotoxicity systems “cytokinesis-block micronucleus test, comet assay, and gamma H2AX test” were used to show the genotoxic potential of CeO2 NPs (particle size <25 nm, concentrations: 6, 12, and 18 µg/mL). Hydrogen peroxide was selected as the positive-control genotoxic agent. Our results indicate that CeO2 NPs have genotoxic potential on human peripheral blood lymphocytes cells even at 3–24 h exposure under in vitro conditions.

Cytogenetic studies on five species of spiders from Turkey (Araneae: Gnaphosidae, Lycosidae)

Abstract The chromosome diploid number (2n) and the sex chromosome system in males of five species belonging to the families Gnaphosidae and Lycosidae were determined as 2n  =  22 (20 + X1X2) and 2n  =  28 (26 + X1X2), respectively. Nomisia conigera (Spassky 1941), Haplodrassus morosus (O. Pickard-Cambridge 1872) and Haplodrassus dalmatensis (L. Koch 1866) have 10 autosomal bivalents and two univalent sex chromosomes, while Pardosa bifasciata (C.L. Koch 1834) and Arctosa cinerea (Fabricius 1777) have 13 autosomal bivalents and two univalent sex chromosomes during first meiotic stages of prophase I and metaphase I. All species have acrocentric chromosomes and chiasmatic meiosis.

A chromosomal analysis of five spider species (Araneae: Gnaphosidae, Miturgidae and Philodromidae) from Turkey

Karyotypes and meiosis of five spider species belonging to the families Gnaphosidae, Miturgidae and Philodromidae were studied using standard Giemsa staining. The male diploid chromosome numbers (2n) and the sex chromosome systems were as follows: Drassodes lutescens: 2n = 21 (X0), Micaria albovittata: 2n = 22 (X1X20), Cheiracanthium mildei: 2n = 26 (X1X20), Cheiracanthium pennyi: 2n = 26 (X1X20) and Philodromus lividus: 2n = 28 (X1X20). Chromosomes of all specimens were telocentric. During the first meiotic division, 10, 10, 12, 12 and 13 autosomal bivalents, respectively, and two sex chromosomes were obtained, with the exception of Drassodes lutescens, which had a different type of sex chromosome system (♂X0/♀XX). During the second meiotic division, two types of nuclei were determined, with or without the sex chromosomes. These karyological data are useful for a better understanding of the chromosomal evolution of araneomorph spiders.