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Studies the energetics of embryonic development and growth in the lizard Sceloporus undulatus. Effect of incubation temperature on the energetic cost of development; Mechanisms underlying the relationship of hatching size to incubation temperature; Extent to which female thermoregulation and nest site availability may influence hatchling body size.

The article highlights the Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins which opened in February 2007 at the American Museum of Natural History. A sweeping and expansive look at human evolution, the author stresses that the hall braids together the complementary and mutually reinforcing evidence from the fossil record and genomic studies. The exhibit is expertly curated by paleo-anthropologist Ian Tattersall and genomics researcher Rob DeSalle. He also discloses that the Hall of Human Origins provides an excellent example of the museum's ability to interpret difficult and complex subjects in ways that the general public will find both approachable and enjoyable.

The article reviews the exhibitions "Darwin," at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, through May 29, 2006.

The article presents information on the exhibition "William Hodges 1744-1797: The Art of Exploration. The exhibition, organized by and first shown at the National Maritime Museum in London, England is at Yale University through 24 April, 2005. Most of the works have not been previously displayed in the United States; some of the paintings, such as the paired pieces "A View of Matavai Ray" in the Island of Otaheite and "A View Taken in the Bay of Otaheite Peha," have not been exhibited together since 1776.

This article presents information about an art and genomics exhibition entitled "Genesis," organized by the Henry Art Gallery, the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Eduardo Kac's installation piece Genesis (1999) is a disturbing amusement. Viewers activate an ultraviolet light to illuminate and mutate transgenic bacteria that contain a Bible-inspired artificial gene. The work transcends its technology to address deeper issues of social responsibility in the wake of the Human Genome Project.

Coral reef restoration is a rapidly growing movement galvanized by the accelerating degradation of the world's tropical coral reefs. The need for concerted and collaborative action focused on the recovery of coral reef ecosystems coalesced in the creation of the Coral Restoration Consortium (CRC) in 2017. In March 2020, the CRC leadership team met for a biennial review of international coral reef restoration efforts and a discussion of perceived knowledge and implementation bottlenecks that may impair scalability and efficacy. Herein we present six priorities wherein the CRC will foster scientific advancement and collaboration to: (1) increase restoration efficiency, focusing on scale and cost‐effectiveness of deployment; (2) scale up larval‐based coral restoration efforts, emphasizing recruit health, growth, and survival; (3) ensure restoration of threatened coral species proceeds within a population‐genetics management context; (4) support a holistic approach to coral reef ecosystem restoration; (5) develop and promote the use of standardized terms and metrics for coral reef restoration; and (6) support coral reef restoration practitioners working in diverse geographic locations. These priorities are not exhaustive nor do we imply that accomplishing these tasks alone will be sufficient to restore coral reefs globally; rather these are topics where we feel the CRC community of practice can make timely and significant contributions to facilitate the growth of coral reef restoration as a practical conservation strategy. The goal for these collective actions is to provide tangible, local‐scale advancements in reef condition that offset declines resulting from local and global stressors including climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant population declines in Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata began in the 1970s and now exceed over 90%. The losses were caused by a combination of coral disease and bleaching, with possible contributions from other stressors, including pollution and predation. Reproduction in the wild by fragment regeneration and sexual recruitment is inadequate to offset population declines. Starting in 2007, the Coral Restoration Foundation™ evaluated the feasibility of outplanting A. cervicornis colonies to reefs in the Florida Keys to restore populations at sites where the species was previously abundant. Reported here are the results of 20 coral outplanting projects with each project defined as a cohort of colonies outplanted at the same time and location. Photogrammetric analysis and in situ monitoring (2007 to 2015) measured survivorship, growth, and condition of 2419 colonies. Survivorship was initially high but generally decreased after two years. Survivorship among projects based on colony counts ranged from 4% to 89% for seven cohorts monitored at least five years. Weibull survival models were used to estimate survivorship beyond the duration of the projects and ranged from approximately 0% to over 35% after five years and 0% to 10% after seven years. Growth rate averaged 10 cm/year during the first two years then plateaued in subsequent years. After four years, approximately one-third of surviving colonies were ≥ 50 cm in maximum diameter. Projects used three to sixteen different genotypes and significant differences did not occur in survivorship, condition, or growth. Restoration times for three reefs were calculated based on NOAA Recovery Plan (NRP) metrics (colony abundance and size) and the findings from projects reported here. Results support NRP conclusions that reducing stressors is required before significant population growth and recovery will occur. Until then, outplanting protects against local extinction and helps to maintain genetic diversity in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schnyder’s crystalline corneal dystrophy (SCCD) is a rare autosomal dominant eye disease with a spectrum of clinical manifestations that may include bilateral corneal clouding, arcus lipoides, and anterior corneal crystalline cholesterol deposition. We have previously performed a genome-wide linkage analysis on two large Swede-Finn families and mapped the SCCD locus to a 16-cM interval between markers D1S2633 and D1S228 on chromosome 1p36. We have collected 11 additional families from Finland, Germany, Turkey, and USA to narrow the critical region for SCCD. Here, we have used haplotype analysis with densely spaced microsatellite markers in a total of 13 families to refine the candidate interval. A common disease haplotype was observed among the four Swede-Finn families indicating the presence of a founder effect. Recombination results from all 13 families refined the SCCD locus to 2.32 Mbp between markers D1S1160 and D1S1635. Within this interval, identity-by-state was present in all 13 families for two markers D1S244 and D1S3153, further refining the candidate region to 1.58 Mbp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]