Endocast analysis of the brain Homo floresiensis by Falk et al. (Reports, 8 April 2005, p. 242) implies that the hominid is an insular dwarf derived from H. erectus, but its tiny cranial capacity cannot result from normal dwarfing. Consideration of more appropriate microcephalic syndromes and specimens supports the hypothesis of modern human microcephaly.

Tagged as victims of 'the world's biggest, longest running industrial disaster; dwarfing Chernobyl', 10 000 known silicosis-affected Southern African gold miners are finally set to negotiate a payout that could induce a painful paroxysm of shareholder coughing across the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

One of the most important characteristics of breeding modern, high-yielding, hexaploid bread wheat cultivars is the utilization of reduced height genes (Rht) or dwarfing genes, which reduces plant height and simultaneously increases adaptability and grain yield potential (Worland et al., 2001). The most frequently used height reducing genes with strong effect on plant height shortening are Rht-...

Wheat is a major staple food crop providing about 20% of dietary energy and proteins, and food products made of whole grain wheat are a major source of micronutrients like Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Magnesium (Mg), Vitamin B and E. Wheat provides about 40% intake of essential micronutrients by humans in the developing countries relying on wheat based diets. Varieties with genetically...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The gibberellin-insensitive Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b dwarfing genes are known to reduce the size of cells in culms, leaves and coleoptiles of wheat. Resulting leaf area development of gibberellin-insensitive wheats is poor compared to standard height (Rht-B1a and Rht-D1a) genotypes. Alternative dwarfing genes to Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b are available that reduce plant height, such as ...

The most common dwarfing genes in wheat, Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b, classified as gibberellin-insensitive (GAI) dwarfing genes due to their reduced response to exogenous GA, have been verified as encoding negative regulators of gibberellin signaling. In contrast, the response of gibberellin-responsive (GAR) dwarfing genes, such as Rht12, to exogenous GA is still unclear and the role of them, if any, ...

Abstract It is necessary to understand the molecular mechanism of banana dwarfing mutation in order improve high stem character varieties and breed new excellent dwarf lines. To elucidate molecular-level regulation mutations identify relevant genes, complete cDNA sequence gibberellin 2-oxidase gene ( GA2ox ) its wild type was cloned by RT-PCR encoded amino acid sequences bioinformatically analy...