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A worldwide pollutant may cause gene loss http://apocadocs.com/s.pl?1235401532
A new study suggests that long term exposure to a common water pollutant reduced the genetic diversity of the midge - a common water insect.
Aquatic insects are the foundation of healthy waterways. Other insects, invertebrates and fish depend on the tiny creatures for food. A loss of their genetics is a loss for ecosystem diversity.
The pollutant, called tributyltin (TBT), is a widely used pesticide. While TBT affected the growth, survival and reproduction of the midge insect, the greatest effects were found in the genes. TBT-exposed insects lost gene diversity two times greater than non-exposed insects.... Most toxicity studies look at high dose, single generation effects. But, in reality, organisms -- including humans -- are exposed to low-levels of chemicals over long periods, sometimes for many generations. Little is known about how these types of exposures may affect health.
In this study, scientists exposed the midge to TBT at levels found in the environment for 12 generations. They monitored growth, weight, mortality and genetic diversity, which was determined by studying DNA sequences known as microsatellites.
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[Read more stories about:
pesticide runoff, endocrine disruptor]
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Your Quips:
Bradley says: "Right -- only about 94 percent of them. Hope the TBT doesn't affect the ones you share!"
Annarama says: "I heard it was only about 60 percent with fruitflies. Almost cousins!"
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'Doc Jim says:
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If I were a midge, I'd be worried. Thank goodness I don't share any DNA with midges!
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