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Using CRISPR/Cas9 to develop a serglycin-deficient canine mammary tumor cell line
Get PDFCanine mammary tumor (CMT) is the most common form of cancer in bitches and is a common cause of death. Around a third to a half of the CMT are malignant, and carcinomas are a majority of those. In this study a cell line, called CMT-U27, derived from a canine mammary carcinoma was subjected to an attempt to knock out a gene by using the common gene editing method CRISPR/Cas9. With CRISPR/Cas9 it is possible to create a double-strand break in the DNA and insert a piece of donor DNA to give the cell certain desired abilities. In this study the donor DNA used contained sequences for fluorescent proteins and antibiotic resistances to enable the selection of the cells with a successful knock-out.
The goal was to knock out the gene for serglycin, a proteoglycan expressed by a wide variety of cells. Serglycin is strongly associated with inflammation and has normally many different functions. Among them, it has an important role in storage and secretion of bioactive substances in different immune cells and plays a part in regulation of inflammation. Changes in the expression of serglycin has been reported in multiple forms of cancers and serglycin has been linked to an increased malignancy. Establishing a serglycin-deficient cell line would facilitate further research about the involvement of serglycin in carcinogenesis.
The CMT-U27 cell line were transfected with the donor DNA by using the method electroporation. The cells then underwent an antibiotic selection to try to discern the transfected cells from the others.
The cells showed promising results early after the transfection. Some of the cells emitted green and/or red fluorescence which is a sign that the donor DNA have been incorporated and expressed. A double fluorescence can indicate a bi-allelic knock-out which is the desired outcome. Unfortuna-tely, the cells did not survive the antibiotic selection. A possible reason for their death could be an unsuccessful integration of the donor at the desired location or a too immediate start of the antibiotic selection after the transfection. No confirmed serglycin-deficient cell line was able to be established due to a lack of time but experiences from this experiment will be valuable for future trials
The knowledge spread and role of kitchen gardens in Kenyan drylands.Including a fertiliser experiment with human urine
Get PDFDrylands covers nearly half of the earths land surface and is home to one third of the world’s population, i.e. 2 billion people. Poverty and food insecurity resulting from land degradation and climate change is common which leads to malnutrition and other health risk factors for the people. People have lived in the drylands as pastoralists for many years but the development of increased population, climate change and conflicts have caused more and more people to seek alternative livelihoods. A portion of the population in this area experience malnutrition, based on lack of variety of the food intake. The farming situation in drylands is mostly based on stable crops as sorghum, millet, and sunflower, which are adapted to the climate and are both highly ranked in their cultural food, and the crop residues can be given to livestock. However, the periods of drought and flooding disturbs the fields more than it should, due to the degradation and instability properties of the soils. To build up and restore the land and soils again will need both new and old methods to play a role to reduce the vulnerability of farmlands to weather factors.
This study consists of interviews to follow-up after a series of kitchen garden trainings, an on-farm field experiment and evaluation of data from a household survey. The objectives of this study were to understand whether there are differences in food intake and food security in households having a kitchen garden; how the knowledge of kitchen garden farming is shared within the community, and to examine the effect of human urine on the growth of kitchen garden vegetables.
The household data collection was carried out in West Pokot and Turkana Counties in Kenya, as well as in Moroto and Napak Districts in Uganda. These four areas are included in an area called the Karamoja cluster located in semi-arid and arid drylands. The individual interviews and fertilisation experiment was carried out in West Pokot County only. The results showed differences between the areas in consumption of vegetables, and in Turkana all households interviewed, worried more about having enough food as compared to the other dryland sites. Of households not worrying about having enough food, 65% had a kitchen garden, compared to only 35 % of those that were worried about having enough food. The growth experiment did only show one significant result on the watermelon leaf measurements, probably due to poor germination caused by delayed rains. The adoption of half-moon-shaped kitchen gardens had developed among the trainer of trainers were 16 of 20 household had adopted the practise by spring 2023. It had not yet spread in the communities; however, 50% of the people that had been to the training had shared the knowledge with their community
Effect of breed and previous social experience on the responce of Swedish and Duch Yorkshire gilts in a challangeing feed test
Get PDFThis master's thesis aimed to examine the differences between breeds of gilts and the effect of their previous social experience on their response in a feed challenge test (challenged by not giving access to the feed provided in the feed stall promptly). The test was performed in their home group pen approximately 2 weeks before they gave birth to their first litter (at 8-9 months of age). The 65 gilts to be determined were between the two gilt breeds, and they were also exposed to two different social experiences (Early and Late social experiences). The results show that Swedish Yorkshire gilts were more exploratory and engaged more socially during the feed challenges test than Dutch Yorkshire gilts, suggesting that breed-specific tendencies, shaped by their historical breeding practices, affected their behaviour. Moreover, this research also emphasizes the impact of previous social experiences of gilts on their future behaviours. The gilts introduced to additional social mixing at 10 weeks of age exhibited aggressive behaviours of either a competitive or dominant nature compared to the gilts without that additional social mixing experience. This indicates the possibility that the previous social experiences will not only shape each gilts' behaviours but also affect their welfare and group interactions. The results of this thesis suggest that a deeper understanding of breed-specific behaviours and the impact of previous social environments can guide more welfare-oriented breeding, housing, and management strategies
Urval och planteringsförbandets betydelse för tillväxt och kvalitetsegenskaper hos Tall (Pinus sylvestris)
Get PDFKvaliteten i planterade svenska tallskogar har länge varit på nedgång. För att förstå hur detta kan motverkas har konkurrensens påverkan på kvalitetsegenskaper som grendiameter studerats i hög grad. Dock i mindre utsträckning har studier om urvalets betydelse studerats för att utröna vilka fördelar det har på tallskog. Detta arbete är en uppföljning av två forskningsförsök som startades 1976 & -77, 1645 och 1646 i Silvaboreal. Försöken är belägna i Dalarnas län på ca 270 meter höjd vid 61 breddgraden. Syftet med de försöken, och detta arbete, är att utreda sambandet mellan urvalsintensitet och volymproduktion vid tidigt fenotypurval i planteringar. Insamlade data från försöken är brösthöjdsdiameter, krongränshöjd, höjd, barktjocklek och grövsta kvistdiameter vid fyra meters höjd. Utifrån dessa har volym och löpande tillväxt beräknats för varje parcell. Dessa data låg till grund för de variansanalyser som gjordes. Resultatet av dessa är att ingen skillnad i volym eller löpande tillväxt kan härröras från urvalsintensitet. Samplet var sannolikt för litet i volym och tillväxtsanalysen. Kvalitetsmåttet visade på högre kvalitet i en-, två- och tremetersförbanden än i fyrametersförbandet. Kvalitetsmåttet kan ha påverkats av konkurrens trots att det försökt undvikas, till följd av detta är det svårt att klargöra om urvalet eller förbandet påverkat kvistdiametern. Därför borde ett bättre kvalitetsmått än kvistdiameter användas, då kvistdiameter påverkas i hög grad av konkurrens i mindre förband. Något som noterades vid arbetet var att stammarna i fyrametersförbandet hade betydligt högre andel krök i rotstocken än hos övriga förband. Även en bedömning av varje parcells gallringsbehov utfördes. Ovanpå det räknades ett avverkningsnetto för vidare jämförelser av olika åtgärdsprogram. Det lönsammaste alternativet är att avverka samtliga parceller när de uppnått lägsta slutavverkningsålder, 60 år.The quality of planted Scot pines stands in Sweden have long been in decline. To understand how this can be mitigated the study of competition on quality aspects such as knot diameter has been much explored. But in much less advances are the studies of selection intensity and its importance for improving pine stands. This work is a continuation of two existing research trials that were established in 1976 & -77, 1645 and 1646 in the database Silvaboreal. They are in Dalarna County at an altitude of 270 meters and around latitude 61 N. The purpose of the research trials, and this work, is to further the understanding of selection intensity effect on volume production at early phenotype selection in planted stands. The gathered data during this work included diameter at breast height, crown heigh, height, bark thickness, and thickest knot diameter on the fourth meter. From these volume and current growth was calculated for each repetition. It is on this that variance analyses were performed on. The results show no significant differences on volume or growth between trials of different selection intensity. This was probably due to low sample size. The measure of quality showed higher quality in the one, two and three -meter spacing than in the four-meter spacing. Despite efforts to rule out competition during early years it may still have had effect on the quality measure of this study, making a conclusion whether selection intensity or competition affected knot diameter. Thus, a better quality of measure than knot diameter should be used, as knot diameter is known to be largely influenced by competition. During field work it was also noted how the stems in the four-meter spacing had a measurable higher percentage of stem crooks in the buttstock than the other spacings. An additional judgement of selection readiness was performed on each plot. Subsequently a logging operation net gain was calculated for each plot. The most profitable alternative was for each plot to do a final harvest at earliest allowed age by forest law, 60 years stand age
Fåglar som förekommer i hänsynsytor i nordboreal skog i Sverige
Get PDFUnder de senaste årtiondena har den biologiska mångfalden i skogen främjats, främst för att det har utvecklats nya arbetssätt, lagar och certifieringar för att bevara och skydda skogar med höga naturvärden. Dagens skogsbruksmetoder utgörs till stor del av trakthyggesbruk med fokus på produktion och volym, där biologisk mångfald och naturvärden ibland har fått stå tillbaka. Ett intensivt skogsbrukande påverkar skogslevande arter i varierande grad.
Syftet med denna studie är att ta reda på vilka fågelarter som utnyttjar sparade hänsynsytor efter skogsavverkning. Studien genomfördes med fältundersökningar där provytorna valdes ut runt Bodens kommun, Norrbotten. Kartmaterialet kommer ifrån skogliga grunddata, det vill säga Skogsstyrelsens hemsida. Totalt 50 hänsynsytor undersöktes. Av dem, 24 stycken klassades som blandskog och 26 som tallskog.
Resultaten visar att hänsynsytor i medelborealt skogslandskap i Sverige hyser en relativt rik fågelfauna (33 skogliga fågelarter registrerades i studien) och därför kan konstateras att hänsynsytor är viktiga för bevarande av biologisk mångfald. I studien gällde detta såväl i blandskog som i tallskog. De registrerade fåglarna inkluderade flera stannfåglar som används som miljöindikatorer. Varken storlek eller typ av hänsynsyta (blandskog eller tallskog) kunde dock här förklara förekomst och artrikedom av skogliga fågelarter. Däremot kunde konstateras att ytor med förekomst av död ved hade statistiskt signifikant lägre artrikedom än hänsynsytor utan död ved (p < 0,05). Detta var ett resultat som avvek från det förväntade.
Applikationen Merlin Bird ID fungerade ganska bra som huvudstöd i fågeldatainsamlingen. Huvudproblemet var att bestämma om ljudproduktionen skedde inne i hänsynsytan eller utanför denna. Detta var särskilt ett problem när många olika fågelarter vara aktiva samtidigt.
Sammanfattningsvis kan konstateras att fler studier på större material försöksytor behövs för att förstå på vilket sätt kan man optimera planeringen av dessa så att de stödjer en hög biologisk mångfald inklusive en rik fågelfauna.In recent decades, forest biodiversity has been promoted, mainly because new practices, laws and certifications have been developed to preserve and protect forests with high conservation values. Today's forestry methods largely consist of clear-cutting with a focus on production and volume, where biodiversity and natural values have sometimes been left behind. Intensive forestry affects forest species to varying degrees.
The purpose of this study is to find out which bird species use saved consideration areas after deforestation. The study was carried out with field surveys where the sample plots were selected around the municipality of Boden, Norrbotten. The map material comes from forest basic data, i.e. the Swedish Forest Agency's website. A total of 50 consideration areas were investigated. Of these, 24 were classified as mixed forests and 26 as pine forests.
The results show that consideration areas in the medium boreal forest landscape in Sweden are home to a relatively rich bird fauna (33 forest bird species were registered in the study) and therefore it can be concluded that consideration areas are important for the conservation of biodiversity. In the study, this applied to both mixed and pine forests. The recorded birds included several sedentary birds that are used as environmental indicators. However, neither the size nor the type of consideration area (mixed forest or pine forest) could explain the occurrence and species richness of forest bird species. On the other hand, it could be found that areas with the presence of dead wood had statistically significantly lower species richness than consideration areas without dead wood (p < 0.05). This was a result that deviated from what was expected.
The Merlin Bird ID application worked quite well as the main support in bird data collection. The main problem was to determine whether the sound production took place inside the consideration area or outside it. This was especially a problem when many different bird species were active at the same time.
In summary, it can be stated that more studies on larger material test plots are needed to understand in what way one can optimize the planning of these so that they support a high biodiversity including a rich bird fauna
Entry Barriers for you agricultural entrepreneurs
Get PDFYoung farmers are struggling to get into the agricultural sector due to various different challenges such as the large number of older farmers that are unwilling to give up their businesses to the younger generation, investment challenges, changing weather conditions as well as other risks threatening agricultural businesses. However, the interest to become a farmer is significant among young people and there are many that wish to start there on business. To reach success as a farmer in today's society it is of the utmost importance not only to be an adequate farmer, but also to be a successful entrepreneur. The entrepreneurial characteristics needed are often more observed by young people compared to older which makes the prerequisites for the younger generation to succeed after entering the sector very bright.
This study aims to gain deeper knowledge of how young farmers tackle barriers when entering the agricultural sector in times of changing external factors. More specifically the authors would like to identify how young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector strategize and manage their operations and resources to overcome the financial barriers and challenges connected with managing an own agricultural business. To reach the study´s aim a case study based on interviews with eight young farmers has been conducted. The questions in the interview were intended to get a deeper understanding of how young farmers in Sweden have strategized to overcome the identified barriers to entry as well as how they have handled potential risks and challenges treating their farm businesses. The collected empirical data has been transcribed and analysed to find themes and keywords which helped the authors to gain a deeper understanding making it possible to connect the data with the existing research on the subject. The result of the study lead to conclusions regarding how the young farmers had overcome the existing barriers. The respondents ability to act entrepreneurial was clear and their ability to use their resources and be diversified has helped them in their development of their businesses. It was also concluded that the financial challenges with the bank was the bigger barrier to overcome, but they had all managed to overcome these challenges with strategies and risk reversion. The study has contributed to research regarding entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector as well as a deeper understanding of the many barriers that young farmers face today and how they can be overcome by using the right tools and strategies. In addition the study has shown how important social capital is and that the ability to network by young farmers is a great strength
Att lyckas med ett generationsskifte inom lantbruk
Get PDFLandsbygdsutvecklingen står inför flera hinder, inklusive det växande problemet med åldrande lantbrukare och bristen på efterträdare. Det finns ett behov av att analysera befintliga policyrekommendationer för generationsskifte i Europa för att förstå hur dessa kan stärka processerna för ett framgångsrikt generationsskifte. Denna studie undersöker problematiken kring generationsskifte inom lantbruket och syftar till att identifiera potentiella policylösningar i befintlig vetenskaplig litteratur som kan underlätta denna process och främja en hållbar och livskraftig lantbrukssektor. Genom en litteraturstudie och tillämpning av principerna för evidensbaserad policyutformning, strävar studien efter att skapa en kunskapsbas för svenska beslutsfattare. En fördjupad förståelse av dynamiken och komplexiteten i generationsskifteprocessen i olika europeiska länder kan bidra till att informera om effektiva strategier för den svenska lantbrukssektorn. Studien ger specifika rekommendationer för policyåtgärder som ekonomiskt stöd, utbildningsprogram och rådgivningstjänster. Dessutom betonas den gemensamma jordbrukspolitikens betydelse och hur den både kan främja och begränsa generationsskifte beroende på regionens specifika utmaningar.Rural development faces several challenges, including the growing issue of aging farmers and the lack of successors. There is a need to analyze existing policy recommendations for generational renewal in Europe to understand how these can strengthen the processes for successful generational transitions. This study examines the issues surrounding generational renewal in agriculture and aims to identify potential policy solutions in the existing scientific literature that can facilitate this process and promote a sustainable and viable agricultural sector. Through a literature review and the application of evidence-based policy-making principles, the study aims to create a knowledge base for Swedish policymakers. An in-depth understanding of the dynamics and complexities of the generational renewal process in various European countries can contribute to informing effective strategies for the Swedish agricultural sector. The study provides specific recommendations for policy measures such as financial support, educational programs, and advisory services. Additionally, the significance of the Common Agricultural Policy is emphasized, along with how it can both promote and constrain generational renewal depending on the specific challenges of the region
Påverkar smaksatt kraftfoder kotrafiken i automatiskt mjölkningssystem? – Utvärdering på gård
Get PDFKor är mer motiverade att äta kraftfoder än att besöka mjölkningsroboten enbart och smaktillsatser har använts för att öka mjölkningsfrekvensen i automatiska mjölkningssystem (AMS). På en svensk mjölkgård fanns det en attraktiv bageribiprodukt som ansågs bidra till hög kotrafik i mjölkningsrobotarna. Men när tillgången på biprodukten försvann blev det intressant att undersöka om ett smaksatt kraftfoder kunde bidra till ökad avvisnings- och mjölkningsfrekvens om på en mjölkgård med AMS. Det fanns två grupper på gården med 200 mjölkande kor i respektive grupp som fick äta smaksatt kraftfoder under två olika perioder.
Mjölkningsfrekvensen sjönk vid smaksatt foder men avvisningsfrekvensen ökade i ena gruppen medan den andra gruppen minskade. Smaksatt kraftfoder minskade inte heller antal hämtkor i någon av grupperna. Däremot bekräftades det positivt samband mellan mängden kraftfoder i mjölkningsroboten och mjölkningsfrekvens samt mellan mjölkmängd och mjölkningsfrekvens. Det var även ett negativt samband mellan laktationsvecka och mjölkningsfrekvens. Slutsatsen blev att tilldelning av smaksatt kraftfoder i mjölkningsoroboten ej bidrog till att öka mjölkningsfrekvensen på gården eller att minska antal hämtkor.Cows are more motivated to eat concentrate feed than to visit the milking robot. Flavor additives have been used to increase milking frequency in automatic milking systems (AMS). At a Swedish commercial dairy farm, an attractive bakery by-product was believed to contribute to high cow traffic in the milking robots. However, when the by-product availability disappeared, it became interesting to investigate whether a flavored concentrate feed could contribute to increased rejection and milking frequency on a dairy farm with AMS. There were two groups on the farm, each consisting of 200 lactating cows fed flavored concentrate feed during two different periods.
Milking frequency decreased with flavored concentrate, but rejection frequency increased in one group while it decreased in the other group. Flavored concentrate also did not reduce the number of fetch cows in either group. However, a positive correlation between the amount of concentrate feed in the milking robot and milking frequency, as well as between milk yield and milking frequency, was confirmed. There was also a negative correlation between lactation week and milking frequency. The conclusion was that the allocation of flavored concentrate feed in the milking robot did not increase the farm's milking frequency or decrease the number of fetch cows
From Kiruna to Giron
Get PDFThis independent project addresses the decolonization of the Kiirunavaara Mine’s landscape post-closure, focusing on landscape remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation guided by Sami perspectives to promote the return of the ecosystem services, focusing on reindeer herding. Indigenous communities have the right to self-determination and deserve the restoration of their lands. This project serves as an example of decolonization and sets a precedent for land rehabilitation as other mines across Sweden close.
The project identifies a research gap due to limited literature on the decolonization of mines and the return of land to indigenous peoples. It specifically explores how the decolonization of the Laevas and Gabna Sami Villages' winter pastures, encroached by the Kiirunavaara mine, could be achieved.
To address these objectives, the research includes a comprehensive literature review on the historical and physical context of the area, theories on decolonization and sense of place, and the Sami concept of meahcci to start understanding their perspective on the landscape. Site analysis through visits and mapping exercises, along with art analysis of Duodji, roughly translated to Sami art, further inform the project. The outcome is a conceptual proposal integrating remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation practices, presented through three consecutive scenarios spaced 15 years apart, representing the transition from Kiruna to Giron.
Key findings highlight the importance of participation and community involvement in the decolonization process, which spans decades. The project reflects an understanding of landscape decolonization through traditional Sami knowledge, learned from Sami sources, and Sami art analysis, extended to the landscape design. However, it acknowledges limitations, particularly the absence of direct Sami participation, which is a significant gap in the research and design process.
In conclusion, this thesis proposes a design solution for the remediation of the Kiirunavaara mine and calls for broader recognition and respect for the Sami's cultural and environmental rights. By reimagining Kiruna as Giron, the project aims to heal the land and restore the cultural heritage of the Sami people, offering a path toward reconciliation and a new sense of place
May the Yeast Whisper Secrets of Trees
Get PDFThe Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands as one of Sweden’s most valuable natural resources, yet its slow reproductive cycle poses challenges for swift breeding in response to climate change, spanning 20-25 years to reach reproductive maturity. The discovery of the natural early cone-setting variant,
acrocona, offers insights into the genetic mechanisms governing cone development timing. Notably, the SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-like-1 (PaSPL1) gene has been linked to this trait through a mutation in a micro-RNA-regulated region.
This study focused on creating yeast libraries containing potential transcription factors (TFs) of PaSPL1, intended for Yeast 1-hybrid mating experiments. These libraries will be complemented by yeast libraries containing PaSPL1 promoters from genotypes with irregular cone-setting phenotypes and will help elucidate the regulatory network of PaSPL1. As acrocona only produces early female
cones, we also aimed to develop entry clones carrying putative B-class (“male-forming”) genes DEFICIENT AGAMOUS LIKE12 (DAL12) and DAL13, that will be used for transforming acrocona calli and evaluation of their role in cone development. Lastly, protocols for stable calli transformation, alongside novel methods for transient transformation of seedlings with RUBY vectors, were established and evaluated