Bacterial carbon processing by generalist species in the coastal ocean

The assimilation and mineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by marine bacterioplankton is a major process in the ocean carbon cycle. However, little information exists on the specific metabolic functions of participating bacteria and on whether individual taxa specialize on particular components of the marine DOC pool. Here we use experimental metagenomics to show that coastal communities are populated by taxa capable of metabolizing a wide variety of organic carbon compounds. Genomic DNA captured from bacterial community subsets metabolizing a single model component of the DOC pool (either dimethylsulphoniopropionate or vanillate) showed substantial overlap in gene composition as well as a diversity of carbon-processing capabilities beyond the selected phenotypes. Our direct measure of niche breadth for bacterial functional assemblages indicates that, in accordance with ecological theory, heterogeneity in the composition and supply of organic carbon to coastal oceans may favour generalist bacteria. In the important interplay between microbial community structure and biogeochemical cycling, coastal heterotrophic communities may be controlled less by transient changes in the carbon reservoir that they process and more by factors such as trophic interactions and physical conditions.     

Berthelot's anti-atomism: A ‘matter of taste’?

The influential French chemist Marcelin Berthelot spoke against the use of Dalton's atomic theory and Avogadro's hypothesis in the second half of the nineteenth century. This paper argues that Berthelot conceded that atomism might be acceptable as a system of conventions, but he feared the power of such conventions in constructing a realistic picture of atoms which was not warranted empirically. Equally, Berthelot's anti-atomism was a last-ditch effort to assert the place of chemistry within the tradition of natural history and to deny the possible reduction of chemical science to the laws of nineteenth-century physics.     

Cortical steroids: Configurations at C20 relative to C17

Zusammenfassung Sieben inaktive Begleit-Corticosteroide, die vonReichstein und anderen aus der Nebennierenrinde isoliert worden sind, enthalten ein Asymmetriezentrum in C₂₀. Es sind bisher sind noch keine Schlußfolgerungen bezüglich der Konfiguration der natürlichen Substanzen in diesem Zentrum relativ zum Rest des Moleküls gezogen worden.In der vorliegenden Abhandlung wird darauf hingewiesen, daß die Konfiguration an Hand der Betrachtung des Hinderniseffekts, welcher wahrscheinlich den sterischen Lauf der Reaktionen, die zur Partialsynthese der Verbindungen dieser Gruppe angewendet werden, reguliert, mit ziemlicher Sicherheit abgeleitet werden kann. Auf diese Weise sind die Konfigurationen aller sieben natürlichen Steroide festgesetzt und mit den Bezeichnungen der vorgeschlagenen Nomenklatur für die Beschreibung der Konfiguration in C₂₀ relativ zu der in C₁₇ unter Bezugnahme auf ein zyklisches Zwischenprodukt von festgesetzter geometrischer Orientierung ausgedrückt worden.Die Konfiguration in C₂₀ einiger synthetischer 20-Oxy-Verbindungen der 17-Isoallopregnan- und 17-Iso-⁵-pregnen-Reihe sind durch Vergleich mit den entsprechenden 17-Normal-Verbindungen mit Hilfe der Methode des Molekularrotationsunterschiedes nachBarton abgeleitet worden. Im Falle zweier epimerischer 17-Isoallopregnan-3,17,20-triole sind die optischen Eigenschaften nicht entscheidend und zwei Serien von experimentellen Tatsachen scheinen sich zu widersprechen.Experimentelles Beweismaterial, das erst nach der Fertigstellung dieser Abhandlung beigebracht worden war, zeigt, daß eine der Literaturangaben unrichtig ist, wie in der «Note added to proof» erwähnt worden ist.In der Abhandlung ist eine Reihe von Vorschlägen für die Standardisierung der Nomenklatur der Steroide eingeschlossen.     

Evolutionary differentiation within the northern Great Basin pocket gopher, Thomomys townsendii II. Genetic variation and biogeographic considerations

Geographic and nongeographic variation in morphology was examined in Thomomys townsendii . A univariate analysis of external and cranial characters from a large population sample (66 adults; fusion of cranial sutures used as aging criteria) was used to assess variation among three adult age classes and between sexes. Only minor variation is apparent among age classes; however, sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Univariate and multivariate techniques were used to analyze external and cranial measurements and pelage characters for adults throughout the species range. These analyses show little to support the seven subspecific designations recognized by Davis (1937). The general pattern is one of homogeneity throughout the range of Thomomys townsendii . With the possible exception of T. t. nevadensis samples, current subspecies are not defined as morphological units. In fact, differentiation is found among populations within some subspecies. The most apparent pattern seen in these analyses is the divergence between the Humboldt River (including Honey Lake Valley samples) and Snake River systems. These results will be considered with those of a companion paper on the genetic variation in this species to more adequately assess the patterns of differentiation in Thomomys townsendii .