1,783,708 research outputs found
Insights into the Musa genome: Syntenic relationships to rice and between Musa species
Full text linkAbstract Background Musa species (Zingiberaceae, Zingiberales) including bananas and plantains are collectively the fourth most important crop in developing countries. Knowledge concerning Musa genome structure and the origin of distinct cultivars has greatly increased over the last few years. Until now, however, no large-scale analyses of Musa genomic sequence have been conducted. This study compares genomic sequence in two Musa species with orthologous regions in the rice genome. Results We produced 1.4 Mb of Musa sequence from 13 BAC clones, annotated and analyzed them along with 4 previously sequenced BACs. The 443 predicted genes revealed that Zingiberales genes share GC content and distribution characteristics with eudicot and Poaceae genomes. Comparison with rice revealed microsynteny regions that have persisted since the divergence of the Commelinid orders Poales and Zingiberales at least 117 Mya. The previously hypothesized large-scale duplication event in the common ancestor of major cereal lineages within the Poaceae was verified. The divergence time distributions for Musa-Zingiber (Zingiberaceae, Zingiberales) orthologs and paralogs provide strong evidence for a large-scale duplication event in the Musa lineage after its divergence from the Zingiberaceae approximately 61 Mya. Comparisons of genomic regions from M. acuminata and M. balbisiana revealed highly conserved genome structure, and indicated that these genomes diverged circa 4.6 Mya. Conclusion These results point to the utility of comparative analyses between distantly-related monocot species such as rice and Musa for improving our understanding of monocot genome evolution. Sequencing the genome of M. acuminata would provide a strong foundation for comparative genomics in the monocots. In addition a genome sequence would aid genomic and genetic analyses of cultivated Musa polyploid genotypes in research aimed at localizing and cloning genes controlling important agronomic traits for breeding purposes.</p
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Musa Barkeji on Closing the Breast Cancer Survival Gap for Black Women
No full textIn this vital episode of Voices of Resilience, host Mary Mosoeunyane speaks with Mr. Musa Barkeji, Consultant General and Oncoplastic Surgeon at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London. With over two decades of experience in breast cancer surgery, Mr. Barkeji sheds light on why cancer outcomes for Black women remain disproportionately poor — and what must change to close the survival gap.
Drawing on both research and frontline clinical practice, Musa explains the complex web of factors that contribute to these disparities: from late-stage diagnoses and limited awareness to cultural taboos, mistrust of the healthcare system, and underrepresentation in clinical trials. He speaks candidly about the myths and fears that still surround cancer in Black communities — including the silence that often delays lifesaving treatment — and urges a collective effort to normalise open conversations about breast health.
Mary and Musa also explore the transformative role of oncoplastic surgery — a field that combines cancer treatment with reconstructive techniques to preserve body image and confidence. He offers powerful insights into how culturally sensitive outreach, community engagement through churches and grassroots groups, and earlier screening could dramatically improve outcomes for Black women.
This episode is both educational and urgent — a call to action for awareness, early detection, and compassion in cancer care. As Musa reminds us, “Breast cancer is real — but survival depends on how soon we act.
MUSA WP7: Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation
Full text linkThis presentation covers the Communication and Dissemination (C&D) activities of the whole MUSA project, with particular emphasis on the transfer of MUSA technical outcomes beyond the project’s partner
Major achievements of the EC MUSA project
No full textInternational audienceMaturity of severe accident (SA) codes, progress in the computational methods, and computer infrastructures were considered a sound platform to conduct, for the first time in SA modelling, a systematic and broad application of Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis (UaSA) in this domain. The overall objective of the HORIZON-2020 project on "Management and Uncertainties of Severe Accidents (MUSA)" was to quantify the uncertainties of SA integral codes when modelling reactor and spent fuel pool (SFP) accident scenarios of Gen II and Gen III reactor designs for the prediction of the radiological source term. This paper presents the major achievements accomplished by MUSA. To name a few: a database on input parameter uncertainties has been assembled; SA codes and statistical tools, either in-house built or existing ones, have been properly coupled by scripting or interfaces; major specific challenges have been identified and different solutions have been worked out; and, applications to several reactor types and SFP scenarios have shown interesting insights of this simulation approach, particularly when dealing with Source Term variables as figures of merit. No less important, major challenges were found and are here discussed as needs to be addressed before achieving an effective implementation of UaSA in the SA domain
Analysis of non-TIR NBS-LRR resistance gene analogs in <it>Musa acuminata </it>Colla: Isolation, RFLP marker development, and physical mapping
Full text linkAbstract Background Many commercial banana varieties lack sources of resistance to pests and diseases, as a consequence of sterility and narrow genetic background. Fertile wild relatives, by contrast, possess greater variability and represent potential sources of disease resistance genes (R-genes). The largest known family of plant R-genes encode proteins with nucleotide-binding site (NBS) and C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains. Conserved motifs in such genes in diverse plant species offer a means for isolation of candidate genes in banana which may be involved in plant defence. Results A computational strategy was developed for unbiased conserved motif discovery in NBS and LRR domains in R-genes and homologues in monocotyledonous plant species. Degenerate PCR primers targeting conserved motifs were tested on the wild cultivar Musa acuminata subsp. burmannicoides, var. Calcutta 4, which is resistant to a number of fungal pathogens and nematodes. One hundred and seventy four resistance gene analogs (RGAs) were amplified and assembled into 52 contiguous sequences. Motifs present were typical of the non-TIR NBS-LRR RGA subfamily. A phylogenetic analysis of deduced amino-acid sequences for 33 RGAs with contiguous open reading frames (ORFs), together with RGAs from Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, grouped most Musa RGAs within monocotyledon-specific clades. RFLP-RGA markers were developed, with 12 displaying distinct polymorphisms in parentals and F1 progeny of a diploid M. acuminata mapping population. Eighty eight BAC clones were identified in M. acuminata Calcutta 4, M. acuminata Grande Naine, and M. balbisiana Pisang Klutuk Wulung BAC libraries when hybridized to two RGA probes. Multiple copy RGAs were common within BAC clones, potentially representing variation reservoirs for evolution of new R-gene specificities. Conclusion This is the first large scale analysis of NBS-LRR RGAs in M. acuminata Calcutta 4. Contig sequences were deposited in GenBank and assigned numbers ER935972 – ER936023. RGA sequences and isolated BACs are a valuable resource for R-gene discovery, and in future applications will provide insight into the organization and evolution of NBS-LRR R-genes in the Musa A and B genome. The developed RFLP-RGA markers are applicable for genetic map development and marker assisted selection for defined traits such as pest and disease resistance.</p
Summary of the work done in MUSA WP7
No full textSummary of the activities in the MUSA WP7 and highlights of the difficultie
Update on Major Accomplishments for MUSA WP7
No full textUpdate on Major Accomplishments from Dec. 2020 to March 2021 for the MUSA WP
MUSA WP7 COREDIS Status
No full textMUSA WP7 covers C&D activities of the whole project, with particular emphasis on the transfer of MUSA technical outcomes beyond the project’s partners
Communication activities will be intense both into and out of the project:
High intensity during this first year in which the project brand identity and the project website have be developed, and the first key messages to target
audiences (SNETP, NUGENIA/SARNET communities, NEA/WGAMA, etc.) sent
Beyond this first year, activities will mature and “MUSA presence” in conferences, events and academic journals is expected to be profuse
Attention to training “young researchers” and Ph.D. /Masters students through several mechanism
Musa Jarullah Bigiyev
Full text linkMusa Jārullāh Bigiyev was a Muslim Tatar religious scholar, journalist, politician, educator and a prolific writer, who devoted his entire life to reconciling Islam with modern progress. He published more than sixty books in Arabic and Old Ottoman dealing with the issues of Islamic jurisprudence, theology, sciences of the Qur’an, sciences of the hadith, literature, economics, law, politics and history
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