Natural hybridization inDrosophila

Summary Although at least 159 cases of interspecific hybridization between closely related species ofDrosophila have been obtained under laboratory conditions, only 7 cases of natural interspecific hybridization have been recorded. We report yet another case, concerningD. malerkotliana andD. bipectinata.Thanks are due to the University Grants Commission for supporting the research project of J.P.G. and to the Head of the Department for laboratory facilities.     

Antagonism of amphetamine stereotyped behavior by diastereoisomeric dihydrodibenzothiepin neuroleptics

Summary Differences in neuroleptic activity were observed between the diastereoisomers of a dihydrodibenzothiepin derivative, while no potency differences were seen between their respective enantiomorphs.Supported by USPHS grant NS-10203.     

Synthesis of Seselin and its hydroderivatives

Zusammenfassung Die Synthese des Naturstoffes Tetrahydroseselin aus der FruchtSeseli indicum wird beschrieben.

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Part X of a seriesCoumarins and Related Compounds. Part IX, A. K.Das Gupta, R. M.Chatterje and K. R.Das, J. chem. Soc. (C), (1969), 2618.     

On the isolation and cultivation of intracellular symbiotes ofOryzaephilus surinamensis L. (Cucujidae: Coleoptera)

Zusammenfassung Bakterienähnliche Symbionten von Eiern derO. surinamensis sind auf künstlichem Laktose-Nährboden mit Erfolg gezüchtet worden. Die Zuchtformen sehen gleich aus wie die Symbionten der Eier.     

Pendulin,a new biscoclaurine alkaloid fromCocculus pendulus diels

Zusammenfassung Ein Biscoclaurin Alkaloid, Pendulin (C₃₇H₄₀N₂O₆), mp 192–194°, []_D + 265°, wurde aus Blättern und Stamm vonCocculus pendulus Diels isoliert und seine Struktur (I) inklusive der sterischen Anordnung an beiden Asymetriezentren aufgeklärt.

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Communication No. 1414 from the Central Drug Research Institute.     

Lipids in the silk-glands ofBombyx mori and their probable role in secretory metabolism

Résumé Dans les glandes séricigènes des mues de la chenille duBombyx mori, les lipides sudanophiles s'accumulent progressivement jusqu'à la 5e mue et s'épuisent complètement pendant la formation du cocon. Une étude systématique des divers systèmes d'enzymes montre que les lipides fournissent par oxydation-réduction l'énergie nécessaire au métabolisme sécrétoire des cellules des glandes pendant les dernières mues.     

Chromosome number and sex chromosome mechanism in some more species of the Indian mantids

Zusammenfassung Über Chromosomenzahl und Mechanismus der Geschlechtschromosomen von 13 Arten (8 Unterfamilien) indischer Mantiden wird berichtet. Die GattungenHumbertiella, Didymocorypha, Novo Genus der Gruppe Gonypetae vic.Cimantis-Eumantis, Parathespis, Creobroter, Empusa und die ArtDeiphobe brunneri zeigen im Geschlecht dasXO-System.Hierodula coarctata, Cheddikulama straminea undDeiphobe indica zeigen 2n=27 undX ₁ X ₂ Y.

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I am deeply grateful to Prof. G. P.Sharma for his able guidance, laboratory facilities and kind permission to accompany the zoological trip of the department to Rameshwaram Island, for the collection of mantids.     

Negative epistasis between the malaria-protective effects of alpha+-thalassemia and the sickle cell trait

The hemoglobinopathies, disorders of hemoglobin structure and production, protect against death from malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, two such conditions occur at particularly high frequencies: presence of the structural variant hemoglobin S and alpha(+)-thalassemia, a condition characterized by reduced production of the normal alpha-globin component of hemoglobin. Individually, each is protective against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but little is known about their malaria-protective effects when inherited in combination. We investigated this question by studying a population on the coast of Kenya and found that the protection afforded by each condition inherited alone was lost when the two conditions were inherited together, to such a degree that the incidence of both uncomplicated and severe P. falciparum malaria was close to baseline in children heterozygous with respect to the mutation underlying the hemoglobin S variant and homozygous with respect to the mutation underlying alpha(+)-thalassemia. Negative epistasis could explain the failure of alpha(+)-thalassemia to reach fixation in any population in sub-Saharan Africa.