A computer of a microbial community analysis system includes an input unit configured to input a plurality of data groups including information indicating a nucleotide sequence of a gene of each of a plurality of microorganisms included in activated sludge in which a water treatment is performed; a similarity calculating unit configured to calculate a similarity between data groups on the basis of the nucleotide sequences included in the input data groups, and a coordinates calculating unit configured to calculate coordinates in a multidimensional space of each of the data groups on the basis of the calculated similarity.

A computer of a microbial community analysis system includes an input unit configured to input a plurality of data groups including information indicating a nucleotide sequence of a gene of each of a plurality of microorganisms included in activated sludge in which a water treatment is performed; a similarity calculating unit configured to calculate a similarity between data groups on the basis of the nucleotide sequences included in the input data groups, and a coordinates calculating unit configured to calculate coordinates in a multidimensional space of each of the data groups on the basis of the calculated similarity.

One variation of a pathogen detection system includes an air sampler and a cartridge. The air sampler includes: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a tunnel arranged within the housing and extending between the inlet and the outlet; a charge electrode arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet; a cartridge receptacle arranged proximal the outlet and comprising a cartridge terminal; and a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the charge electrode and the cartridge terminal. The cartridge includes: a substrate; a collector plate arranged on the substrate and configured to collect charged bioaerosols moving through the tunnel; and a connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the substrate and the collector plate within the tunnel and electrically couple the collector plate to the cartridge terminal.

One variation of a pathogen detection system includes an air sampler and a cartridge. The air sampler includes: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet; a tunnel arranged within the housing and extending between the inlet and the outlet; a charge electrode arranged within the tunnel proximal the inlet; a cartridge receptacle arranged proximal the outlet and comprising a cartridge terminal; and a power supply configured to drive a voltage between the charge electrode and the cartridge terminal. The cartridge includes: a substrate; a collector plate arranged on the substrate and configured to collect charged bioaerosols moving through the tunnel; and a connector configured to transiently engage the cartridge receptacle to locate the substrate and the collector plate within the tunnel and electrically couple the collector plate to the cartridge terminal.

Disclosed is an SNP marker related to wool traits of a fine-wool sheep, and a detection primer set, a detection method and use thereof, which belong to the technical field of molecular marker detection; the SNP marker is located at 133486008bp on sheep chromosome 3. There is an A/C base mutation at the site, which is significantly related to the wool traits of fine-wool sheep. The SNP marker of the present disclosure may be used in molecular marker assisted breeding of sheep. The molecular marker provided by the present disclosure is not limited by the age, sex, etc. of the sheep, may be used for fine-wool sheep breeding (even a sheep at birth may be accurately screened), and significantly promotes the breeding process of fine-wool sheep.

Disclosed is an SNP marker related to wool traits of a fine-wool sheep, and a detection primer set, a detection method and use thereof, which belong to the technical field of molecular marker detection; the SNP marker is located at 133486008bp on sheep chromosome 3. There is an A/C base mutation at the site, which is significantly related to the wool traits of fine-wool sheep. The SNP marker of the present disclosure may be used in molecular marker assisted breeding of sheep. The molecular marker provided by the present disclosure is not limited by the age, sex, etc. of the sheep, may be used for fine-wool sheep breeding (even a sheep at birth may be accurately screened), and significantly promotes the breeding process of fine-wool sheep.

A method for discriminating between live and dead microbes in a sample, by discriminating between transcriptionally-active and inert microbial nucleic acid sequences in the sample. In particular, the method is based on the comparison of levels of nucleotide substitution in a sample cultured in presence of an RNA-labelling agent. Also, a diagnosis method of microbial infections in a subject; and methods of assessing the risk of contamination of a sample, implementing the method for discriminating between live and dead microbes in a sample.

An SNP molecular marker for weight gain trait selection and genetic sex identification of Ictalurus punctatus as well as a screening method and application of the SNP molecular marker are provided. At least one of 17 SNP molecular markers for weight gain trait selection of Ictalurus punctatus and a molecular control means for genetic sex and weight gain trait selection and control of Ictalurus punctatus are further provided. Efficient and scientific identification of Ictalurus punctatus is achieved by means of simple PCR reactions and nucleic acid test strips, and the accuracy rate reaches 100%. A traditional agarose gel electrophoresis method is not used in the whole identification process, the cumbersome steps of gel preparation and running electrophoresis are omitted, nucleic acid dyes are not used, and the experimental process is safe and environmentally friendly.

An SNP molecular marker for weight gain trait selection and genetic sex identification of Ictalurus punctatus as well as a screening method and application of the SNP molecular marker are provided. At least one of 17 SNP molecular markers for weight gain trait selection of Ictalurus punctatus and a molecular control means for genetic sex and weight gain trait selection and control of Ictalurus punctatus are further provided. Efficient and scientific identification of Ictalurus punctatus is achieved by means of simple PCR reactions and nucleic acid test strips, and the accuracy rate reaches 100%. A traditional agarose gel electrophoresis method is not used in the whole identification process, the cumbersome steps of gel preparation and running electrophoresis are omitted, nucleic acid dyes are not used, and the experimental process is safe and environmentally friendly.

Described are techniques for determining population structure from identity-by-descent (IBD) of individuals. The techniques may be used to predict that an individual belongs to zero, one or more of a number of communities identified within an IBD network. Additional data may be used to annotate the communities with birth location, surname, and ethnicity information. In turn, these data may be used to provide to an individual a prediction of membership to zero, one or more communities, accompanied by a summary of the information annotated to those communities.