Human metapneumovirus ( hMPV ) is a negative single-stranded RNA virus of the family Paramyxoviridae and is closely related to the avian metapneumovirus ( AMPV ) subgroup C. It was isolated for the first time in 2001 in the Netherlands by using the RAP-PCR ( RNA arbitrarily primed PCR ) technique for identification of unknown viruses growing in cultured cells.

The genomic organisation of hMPV is analogous to RSV, however hMPV lacks the non-structural genes, NS1 and NS2, and the hMPV antisense RNA genome contains eight open reading frames in slightly different gene order than RSV ( viz.

The identification of hMPV has predominantly relied on reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR ) technology to amplify directly from RNA extracted from respiratory specimens.

One concern with this therapeutic strategy is the use of genetically engineered viruses, which limits certain aspects of phage therapy.

Biomedical research on these parasites is challenging because it is often difficult, if not impossible, to maintain live parasite cultures in the laboratory and to genetically manipulate these organisms.

The field of modern biotechnology is thought to have largely begun on June 16, 1980, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that a genetically modified microorganism could be patented in the case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty.

Modern biotechnology is often associated with the use of genetically altered microorganisms such as E. coli or yeast for the production of substances like synthetic insulin or antibiotics.

The bacterium Escherichia coli is routinely genetically engineered.

After a few divisions, the egg cell is placed into a uterus where it is allowed to develop into a fetus that is genetically identical to the donor of the original nucleus.

There is a genetically altered salmon with an increased growth rate being considered for FDA approval.

Bt corn is a variant of maize, genetically altered to express the bacterial Bt toxin, which is poisonous to insect pests.

It will for example let countries ban imports of a genetically modified organism if they feel there is not enough scientific evidence the product is safe and requires exporters to label shipments containing genetically modified commodities such as corn or cotton.

Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually.

In Portugal, the industrial biotechnology company Biotrend is producing natural all-trans-β-carotene from a non genetically modified bacteria of the Sphingomonas genus isolated from soil.

Charcot – Marie – Tooth disease ( CMT ), also known as Charcot – Marie – Tooth neuropathy, hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy ( HMSN ) and peroneal muscular atrophy ( PMA ) — is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of inherited disorders of the peripheral nervous system characterised by progressive loss of muscle tissue and touch sensation across various parts of the body.

In one opinion, this pattern is clearly present among the modern Romance tongues, with Italian and Spanish having a high degree of mutual comprehensibility, which neither language shares with French, despite some claiming that both languages are genetically closer to French than to each other: In fact, French-Italian and French-Spanish relative mutual incomprehensibility is due to French having undergone more rapid and more pervasive phonological change than have Spanish and Italian, not to real or imagined distance in genetic relationship.

Duesberg does not suggest that HIV is an endogenous retrovirus, a virus integrated into the germ line and genetically heritable:

This unit is also the basis of a multi-generational extended family, which is embedded in socially as well as genetically inter-related communities, nations, etc., and ultimately in the whole human family past, present and future.

Estonian has been influenced by Swedish, German ( initially Middle Low German, later also standard German ), and Russian, though it is not related to them genetically.

The personal quality of Samuel Beckett is similar to qualities I had found in the plays.

The career of Charles 12, is obviously very similar to that of Napoleon.

A similar amateurish characteristic is revealed in Adams' failure to check the accuracy and authenticity of his informational sources.

But there is, nevertheless, always a subtle difference in the way in which supposedly similar opinions are held.

First of all there is ample area in East Greenwich already zoned in the classification similar to that which petitioner requested.

What was missing in the Governor's argument, as in so many similar arguments, was a premise which would enable one to make the ethical leap from what might be militarily desirable to what is right.

Although a similar situs for tangible property is mentioned in the statute, this is cancelled out by the provision that definite kinds of property `` and all other tangible property '' situated or being in any town is taxable where the property is situated.

The resulting setup, it was declared, `` would be similar to that which is in successful operation in a number of metropolitan counties as large or larger than Rhode Island ''.

Super-Set No. 2 is made up of similar exercises, but this time done with dumbbells, and using both `` moon '' and flat benches.

Chuck a length of 1/8'' '' dia. drill rod into a drill press or some similar turning device and while it is rotating file the end square and then file a slight taper 1/8'' '' long.

There is the free intra-city `` rent it here, leave it there '' service, as an example, the free delivery and collection at the airport, dockside or your hotel, luggage racks, touring documents and information and other similar services.

There is one exception to the above statement as has been pointed out, and that is that fluids can relax by flowing into fields of lower rates of shear, so the statement should be modified by stating that the mechanics are similar.

) This is, of course, a similar type of behavior to that indicated by birefringence studies.

The life history of the alkali bee is similar to that of Andrena, but the first activity of the adults does not take place until summer, and the individuals hibernate in the prepupal stage.

In litters of eight mice from similar parents, the number of mice with straight instead of wavy hair is an integer from 0 to 8.

This theorem is similar to the theorem of Kakutani that there exists a circumscribing cube around any closed, bounded convex set in Af.

In hunger stimulates man too the situation is very similar.

) These general facts are mentioned to make clear that the total situation in the two families is similar enough to warrant comparison.

It will be seen that where the scope is similar, the Athabascan ratios come out somewhat higher ( as indeed they ought to with a total ratio of 2.8 as against 3.5 or 4: 5 ) except for verbs, where alone the Athabascan ratio is lower.

For example, suppose another excess profits tax similar to prior laws is enacted, providing for carryover of excess profits credits.

In species that feed on mammalian or avian blood, hosts whose blood pressure is high, the mosquito feeds selectively from active blood vessels where the pressure assists in filling the gut rapidly.

However, homologues to the avian DMRT1 gene on platypus sex chromosomes X3 and X5 suggest that it is possible the sex-determining gene for the platypus is the same one that is involved in bird sex-determination.

The protein tyrosine kinase pp125 is one of the major phosphotyrosine – containing proteins in unaffected ( untransformed ) avian and rodent fibroblast cells ( fibroblast cells are explained above in some detail ).

Because the clays release minerals and absorb other cations as part of the same process of cation exchange, it remains challenging to determine which function is the more important motivator in any given instance of avian geophagy.

In birds, the correspondence is sufficiently well established that most anatomists refer to the medial pallial zone as the " avian hippocampus ".

The avian magnetic compass of the Robin has been extensively researched and uses Vision-Based Magnetoreception, in which the Robin's ability to sense the magnetic field of the earth for navigation is affected by the light entering the bird's eye.

The genus Trichophilopterus is also found on mammals ( lemurs ) but probably belongs to the " avian Ischnocera " and represents a host switch from birds to mammals.

The Gambia is also usually the first African destination for many European birders, in view of its easily accessed and spectacular avian fauna.

The avian retina is highly developed.

The pecten is a specialised structure in the avian retina.

The Golden Eagle is one of the most powerful predators in the avian world.

Golden Eagles are avian apex predators, meaning a healthy adult is not preyed upon.

The Red-throated Loon is susceptible to avian influenza and Type E botulism, and is regularly killed by the ingestion of neurotoxins produced by " red tide " algal blooms.

The introduced Common Blackbird is, together with the native Silvereye ( Zosterops lateralis ), the most widely distributed avian seed disperser in New Zealand.

An alternate hypothesis is an epidemic of avian malaria, as implicated in the extinctions of birds in the Hawaiian islands.

An important requirement for attraction is conspicuousness to birds, which reflects the properties of avian vision and habitat features.

It is parasitised externally by fleas and mites, including the " House Martin Flea ", Ceratophyllus hirundinis, and internally by endoparasites such as Haemoproteus prognei ( avian malaria ), which are transmitted by blood-sucking insects including mosquitoes.

Adults are avian apex predators and have no natural predators but must defend their eggs and nestlings against nest predators such as corvids or currawongs and in Tasmania there is often conflict with the white breasted sea eagle over nest sites.

Recent research suggests that the saliva of birds is a better indicator of avian influenza than are faecal samples.

He is also remembered for several theories he proposed about avian evolution which are now regarded as having been ahead of their time, particularly his 1915 hypothesis that the evolution of bird flight passed through a four-winged or " Tetrapteryx " stage, which has been supported by the 2003 discovery of Microraptor gui.

This duck's population is affected by predators, parasites and avian diseases.

It is susceptible to a range of parasites including Cryptosporidium, Giardia, tapeworms, blood parasites and external feather lice, and is also affected by other avian diseases.