National Repository of Grey Literature 2 records found  Search took 0.01 seconds. 
Evolution of PTC bitter taste receptors in West Africa
Holoubková, Tereza ; Černý, Viktor (advisor) ; Macholán, Miloš (referee)
The aim of this thesis is to determine whether the TASR38 gene is under selection pressure in West Africa and if its diversity varies within populations practicing different modes of subsistence. It further focuses on polymorphisms occurring in the gene and their association with sensitivity to the bitter tasting compound PTC. The thesis analyses 147 samples of saliva from three Mauritanian populations in order to sequence the DNA of the TAS2R38 gene exon. Ten polymorphic sites conditioning 16 haplotypes were observed in TAS2R38 gene. Mutations in amino acid positions 49, 262 and 296 occurred in all three populations; all eight possible haplotypes were observed. 94 % of them constitutes major PAV and AVI haplotypes and AAI haplotype, all of which were detected in each of the three populations. Additionally, 14 genotypes were identified in our sample; the most common being those created by a combination of the three haplotypes. Kruskal-Wallis test showed that TAS2R38 genotypes are strong predictors of PTC response in the examined African populations. PAV haplotype is associated with sensitivity to PTC (taster haplotype); conversely, AVI is a nontaster haplotype. At the same time, it was confirmed that PAV is an ancestral haplotype evolutionary closest to the chimpanzee TAS2R38 gene and it probably...
Evolutionary aspects of (epi)genetic determination of laterality with a special focus on upper limb
Holoubková, Tereza ; Daňková, Pavlína (advisor) ; Struška, Michal (referee)
Handedness is one of the most distinct asymmetries of the human body. There is approximately 90 % of right-handers in the population, which is the strongest bias in handedness among all primates. Handedness is connected with lateralization of brain for language and is determined both genetically and by the environment. Genetic determination of the handedness has not been yet figured out, although there are many candidate genes and regions. In addition to candidate genes, the genetic determination is shaped by the epigenetic mechanisms and the role of testosterone. Handedness occurred alongside the beginning of the human population development, approximately in the Middle Pleistocene, with the same percentage of left-handers as today. Handedness polymorphism is maintained in the population based on the frequency-dependent model because of the advantages and disadvantages associated with left-handedness.

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1 Holoubková, Táňa
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