Decreased stability of methane hydrates in marine sediments owing to phase-boundary roughness

Below water depths of about 300 metres, pressure and temperature conditions cause methane to form ice-like crystals of methane hydrate. Marine deposits of methane hydrate are estimated to be large, amassing about 10,000 gigatonnes of carbon, and are thought to be important to global change and seafloor stability, as well as representing a potentially exploitable energy resource. The extent of these deposits can usually be inferred from seismic imaging, in which the base of the methane hydrate stability zone is frequently identifiable as a smooth reflector that runs parallel to the sea floor. Here, using high-resolution seismic sections of seafloor sediments in the Cascadia margin off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, we observe lateral variations in the base of the hydrate stability zone, including gas-rich vertical intrusions into the hydrate stability zone. We suggest that these vertical intrusions are associated with upward flow of warmer fluids. Therefore, where seafloor fluid expulsion and methane hydrate deposits coincide, the base of the hydrate stability zone might exhibit significant roughness and increased surface area. Increased area implies that significantly more methane hydrate lies close to being unstable and hence closer to dissociation in the event of a lowering of pressure due to sea-level fall.     

A new H-2-linked class I gene whose expression depends on a maternally inherited factor

The maternally transmitted antigen (Mta) is expressed on the cells of most strains of mice. It is a medial histocompatibility antigen, that is, it is recognized by unrestricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes as are major H antigens, but unlike these it is a weak transplantation antigen and does not itself restrict the T-cell recognition of minor H antigens. All other medial H antigens are encoded by genes closely linked to the major histocompatibility complex, H-2 in the mouse. By contrast, Mta appeared to follow extrachromosomal, maternal inheritance. Several substrains of NZB, NZO and non-inbred European NMRI mice are Mta-negative. Females of these strains bear only Mta- offspring, while females of the inbred Mta+ strains bear only Mta+ offspring. Repeated backcrossing from Mta+ females to NZB or NMRI males has shown that, given the right cytoplasmic genes, the chromosomal genes of these Mta- strains permit expression of Mta2. As the Mta type of a mouse cannot be influenced by embryo transfer or foster nursing, we concluded that it was determined by a cytoplasmic factor (Mtf), transmitted through the egg. We now show that a gene, Hmt, closely linked to the H-2 complex, is also required for expression of Mta.     

Cell lineage-specific undermethylation of mouse repetitive DNA

Several distinct cell lineages are established during mouse embryogenesis. The trophectoderm and primitive endoderm give rise to extraembryonic structures alone, while the primitive ectoderm becomes the fetus proper. Recent studies suggest that the levels of DNA modification are lower in inactive X chromosomes from extraembryonic tissues than in embryonic and adult somatic tissues. Using HpaII/MspI isoschizomers, Southern blots and cloned probes, we show here that repetitive DNA sequences from all derivatives of the two extraembryonic lineages, trophectoderm and primitive endoderm, are substantially undermethylated compared with primitive ectoderm derivatives. This contrasts with the highly methylated state of these repetitive elements observed in adult somatic tissues. Specific demethylation or inhibition of de novo methylation, or a combination of both mechanisms, may be involved. These findings suggest that elements of gene regulation dependent on DNA modification may be different in extraembryonic cell lineages.     

Reproduction of three species of pocket mice ( Perognathus ) in the Bonneville Basin, Utah

Data on reproduction of three species of pocket mice ( Perognathus ) occurring in northern Utah are summarized. Perognathus parvus and P. formosus bred in spring but not the remainder of the year. This occurred despite mild fall and winter temperatures and shallow snowcover. Litter sizes for P. parvus and P. formosus were similar to those reported by previous investigators. A small sample of P. longimembris indicated they may have much larger litters (averaging 5.78 young) than previously reported for laboratory populations. Adult body mass was positively correlated with testis mass in all species, and with litter size in P. parvus .     

Muscular and nervous systems of the cubopolyp (Cnidaria)

Summary New observations on the morphology, anatomy, asexual reproduction and metamorphosis of the formerly unknown polyp of the tropical Cubomedusae resulted in the conclusion that a new class Cubozoa must be established and positioned between the Scyphozoa and Hydrozoa. This conclusion could be confirmed by the histological investigation of the cubopolyp's muscular and nervous systems by light and transmission electron microscopy.     

渤海湾盆地早第三纪构造样式与油气藏的关系

渤海湾盆地早第三纪构造样式可归结为５种基本类型和３个演化序列。研究结果表明,构造样式及其演化控制着烃源岩的发育,决定着油气藏的类型和展布,制约着含油气系统的范围。综合考虑含油气系统的各个要素,在渤海湾盆地可划分出６个大的含油气系统,分别位于各个坳陷中,并受坳陷的限制。进一步考虑坳陷内凸起构造单元的分割作用,可划分出１３个小的含油气系统。