Some of the most interesting papers I’ve found so far in my cataloguing of the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research (IAPGR) have been the ones on gene sequencing, molecular cloning and analysis. This is the first paper I’ve come across so far that shows an animal gene sequence next to a human one.

This image of a genomic sequence (Figure 3) in D. H. Fawcett and G. Bulfield’s article, ‘Molecular cloning, sequence analysis and expression of putative chicken insulin-like growth factor-I cDNAs’ in the Journal of Endocrinology (1990), 4, 201-211 shows the ‘potential splice donor sites at the excon 2 (5’) intron boundary in the chicken compared with the corresponding human sequence and the chicken and human cDNAs.’

The Proceedings of the 4^thWorld Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. XV: Beef Cattle, Sheep and Pig Genetics and Breeding Fibre and Fur, Meat Quality. Edinburgh 23-27 July 1990 has the best cover art I’ve seen so far out of all the off-prints I’ve catalogued. It blends prehistoric art images with modern day formulas into a harmonious whole.

On 1 October, 1989 Chris S. Haley and Alan L. Archibald, scientists at the Institute of Animal Production and Genetic Research, circulated a report entitled: Annex 1 – A Genetic and Physical Map of the Pig. In the report they note that the ‘concept of using a complete genetic map as a tool for understanding and exploiting genetic variation is not new. However, it is only with the advent of molecular genetic techniques, which provide the prospect of large numbers of genetic markers based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), that the concept has become realisable.’ The summary of their report explains:

Many of the future development in animal science and in animal improvement will depend upon the presence of species specific genome maps largely based upon RFLP markers. It is likely that such maps will be developed in all major domestic species, but the pig has several advantages for such a project. We propose here that a project is initiated to produce a genetic and physical map of the porcine genome based upon a cross between the genetically distinct Chinese Meishan and Large White breeds. Such a map would provide a basis upon which a generally applicable map could be built and would provide the first opportunity to detect and map genes controlling economically important phenotypic traits.

Image: Timetable for mapping the porcine genome

Gene or genome mapping is the creation of a genetic map assigning DNA fragments to chromosomes. For those interested in learning more about genomics, gene mapping and current research and trends in this area, here are a few websites of interest:

ERSC Genomics Network (Edinburgh): http://www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/

Dr. DJ De Koning, Roslin Institute’s research summary: http://www.roslin.ed.ac.uk/dj-de_koning/summary-of-research/

National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA, Gene Mapping Fact Sheet: http://www.genome.gov/10000715

In the AFRC News, July 1989 article, ‘Transgenesis – a new way to better livestock’, scientists Alan L. Archibald, J. Paul Simons, Ian Wilmut and A. John Clark discuss various ways that gene transformation can improve livestock. They note that transgenesis combines recombinant DNA and embryo manipulation technologies and is a new way to approach genetic improvement. According to this article, the transgenic programme at the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research (IAPGR) in Edinburgh is ‘not directed at producing agriculturally improved livestock’; instead ‘dairy animals (sheep) are being used as vehicles for the production of important human proteins such as clotting Factor IX (FIX) and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT)’. The authors write that the short term benefits of transgenic animals are mainly to ‘increase the understanding of the genetic control of performance than they are to make a contribution to agricultural production’. Since this was written in 1989, it would be interesting to know if any of these short term benefits developed into anything long term! This image shows some scientists milking transgenic sheep carrying the gene for human blood clotting Factor IX.

In the 1987 series of off-prints from the Edinburgh Research Station (ERS) – Institute of Animal Production and Genetic Research (IAPGR), I found the interesting article – “Facial nerve sensory responses recorded from the geniculate ganglion of Gallus gallus var. domesticus” by Michael J. Gentle which appeared in the Journal of Comprehensive Physiology, Volume 160, (1987), p. 683-691. In this article he discusses an experiment in which a chicken’s facial nerve response is recorded ‘from the geniculate ganglion … following chemical, mechanical and thermal stimulation of the oral cavity using glass coated tungsten microelectrodes.’ According to Gentle, ‘ [T]he results show that the facial nerve plays the major role in gustatory physiology of the chicken and these results are discussed in relation to the mammalian gustatory system.’

The photograph shows the inside of a chicken’s beak – the anterior palate (AP), the posterior palate (PP), and the anterior mandibular area (AMA).

According to scientist Peter J. Sharp in the Reproduction section of the IAPGR-ERS Report for 1986-1987, molecular geneticists and reproductive physiologists had begun work on a project ‘cloning the chicken LHRH gene…’ in which the result was the ‘molecular cloning of chicken prolactin.’ It was hoped that the ‘cloning of the chicken prolactin gene will make it possible to produce recombinant derived material for physiological studies and create opportunities for investigating immunopharmacological methods for the prevention of broodiness.’ Evidently, ’knowledge of the nucleotide sequence of the gene made it possible to predict the amino acid sequence of this hormone which had not been previously established’ and ‘the predicted amino acid sequence has been used to generate this plot of the structure of chicken prolactin showing hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. (Photo: Figure 5, p. 25)

Geneticist, Roger Burton Land’s tenure as the first Head of the Edinburgh Research Station of IAPGR from 1986 to 1988 lasted for only a brief two years owing to his early death. He began his career in 1962 when he began his studies in animal genetics at the University of Edinburgh and continued on to do his PhD. His research project focussed on the selection of mice for natural and for induced ovulation rate and his findings were reported in his thesis and in subsequent publications. In 1966 he joined the staff of the Animal Breeding Research Organisation (ABRO) and continued to pursue his research interest in the genetics of reproduction. Over the course of his employment, he was involved in many significant contributions in improving reproduction rate in sheep; physiological and metabolic issues relating to milk yield and in the ‘development of immunization against ovarian feedback hormones in order to increase reproductive rate of sheep.’ In 1983, Land was appointed acting Director of ABRO, and according to his obituary by W. G. Hill, given a ‘remit to revamp the research programme and lead it towards more basic science.’ And so his focus shifted towards molecular biology, but his main interest was still in genetics. When the AFRC was reorganised in 1986, Land was appointed Deputy Director of The Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics (IAPGR) and Head of the Edinburgh Research Station (ERS) and also took over much of the Poultry Research Centre (PRC) where he continued his work until his passed away.

The Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research was created in 1986 when the Animal Breeding Research Organisation (ABRO) and most of the Poultry Research Centre (PRC) were amalgamated to form the Edinburgh Research Station along with the Cambridge Research Station which was also known as the Institute of Animal Physiology at Babraham. These institutions developed from the animal breeding research station founded in 1919 by Dr F. A. E. Crew. While ABRO concentrated on long term breeding experiments and genotypes and their environment; the PRC concentrated on aspects of poultry biology. Both, however, developed research interests in molecular genetics which was the common denominator in the reasons for them joining together. According to P.E. Lake’s 1986-87 report, ‘the aims of the Edinburgh Research Station are to advance fundamental, scientific knowledge of the molecular, cellular and systemic processes that contribute to the development, fertility, behaviour and welfare of livestock. Further objectives are to seek genetic improvement of livestock by research on gene transfer and embryo manipulation within a framework of selected breeding derived from careful traits.’ He noted that their goal was to integrate the Research Station into one site at Roslin by 1989.

Based on the amount of papers I’ve found collected in the bound  off-print series from the Animal Breeding Research Organisation (ABRO) various aspects of animal health, diseases and genetics were just as important to research as livestock improvement and animal breeding. Many of the articles I’m cataloguing focus on immunogenetics, animal blood groups, diseases, such as scrapie, and transfer of immunoglobulins from mothers to their offspring. 

Additionally, they also researched and wrote about animal blood groups, connections between disease and heredity and immunity.  Again, there were some wonderful illustrations amongst the papers!

Since this is called the ‘Towards Dolly’ project after Dolly, the cloned sheep, created by scientists at the Roslin Institute, I was excited to find this article ‘Germline Manipulation of Livestock’ by ‘research workers’:  J. O. Bishop, A. L. Archibald, A. J. Clark, R. F. Lathe, J. P. Simons, and I. Wilmut on creating transgenic sheep in the 1986 Annual Report from the Animal Breeding Research Organisation. The article discusses the various new methods of changing animal genotypes that were recently developed. Also, how ‘a gene can be isolated from an animal or from man, altered in the laboratory, and introduced into individuals of the same or a different species of animal (usually a mouse) where it becomes incorporated into the genome and usually breeds true. Animals which have received genes in this way are said to be ‘transgenic’.’ Amongst the topics mentioned are: gene expression, cloned genes, focusing on mammary glands, the choice of sheep breed, proteins of commercial value, altering the composition of milk and ideas for the future.

I love the simplicity of the diagram showing the procedure to produce transgenic sheep!