[Effect of space flight on hereditary characteristics of Anabaena oryza (Cyanobacteria)]
Abstract:
A retrieved monoclonal strain AoSR16 with high nitrogenase activity was reflown in space onboard a satellite, and characteristics differentiation was found again when the sample was retrieved and isolated in the laboratory. Some isolates still kept their nitrogenase activity on the same level of original strain, while other isolates like AoSR16-17 expressed higher nitrogenase activity. After 2 years of maintaining culture, the activity of nitrogenase in AoSR16-17 remained continuously high. Comparative studies between AoSR16-17 and the original strain were carried out in regard of genetic features. The polymorphism of total genomic DNA in AoSR16-17 and the original strain was studied by RAPD analysis, using 120 10-mer random primers. Of approximately 500 amplified electrophoresis bands, 4 polymorphic fragments were discernible between AoSR16-17 and the original one, the polymorphism was thus calculated to be around 0.08 %. These four bands had been purified and further work is under way.
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